"Ahhhh!"
Her body hit the bed with a dull thump, bouncing once before she steadied herself on her elbows. For a heartbeat, the room fell into stunned silence.
She looked at him, absolutely shocked.
Then—
"Elion!" Mira snapped, fury flooding her voice. "What are you doing?!"
She pushed herself upright, hair falling wildly around her face, her breath sharp and uneven.
Shock and wounded pride tangled in her expression as she stared at him, like she couldn’t fathom that someone had dared to throw her like that.
Elion stood planted where he was, chest rising and falling, his pulse still racing from the sudden movement.
His eyes hardened.
"What am I doing?" he shot back, stiffling a mocking snicker. "Don’t tell me you have forgotten."
His voice cut off, jaw tightening.
He stood straighter, his expression dropping into something unreadable, something Mira had never seen on him before.
Mira noticed the change instantly.
Her breath hitched.
"Elion...?" she said softly, uncertainty creeping into her tone for the first time.
He stepped closer, slow, controlled, deliberate.
"Do you think I forgot?" His voice was low. Too calm. "Everything you did? Everything you helped William do to me?"
Mira’s eyes widened, panic beginning to replace her anger.
"Elion, that’s not, I didn’t—"
"Don’t lie," he cut her off, his voice sharp enough to make her flinch.
She swallowed, eyes darting toward the door, but her body stayed frozen on the bed as if something primal warned her not to move.
Elion stared down at her, jaw clenched, his gaze like pressure on her chest.
He wasn’t the flustered, timid boy she remembered.
He wasn’t the toy she could mess with to gain William’s approval.
He wasn’t someone she could push around anymore.
And Mira realized it.
Her voice trembled. "Elion... what are you going to do?"
He didn’t respond.
Mira’s breath trembled as Elion stepped closer, each slow, deliberate footfall tightening the knot of panic in her chest.
"Elion," she whispered, "You’re scaring me."
"Good," he said softly.
Her breath hitched.
He stopped at the edge of the bed, towering over her. Mira shrank back instinctively, her hands reflexively pressing into the mattress as if she needed something, anything, to anchor herself.
Elion’s eyes were cold, focused, merciless.
His tone was flat, undeniable. "You wanted William’s attention. And hurting me was the easiest way to get it."
Her lips parted, but no sound came out.
"Tell me I’m wrong," Elion said.
But she couldn’t.
Her silence was admission enough.
He let out a slow exhale, and Mira flinched as if the air itself had weight.
"You’re so bold, Mira," he said, eyes narrowing. "Grabbing me. Trying to use me the same way you used William. Thinking you can snap your fingers and I’ll just melt because you suddenly decided to act interested."
Mira’s cheeks flushed, but her eyes were wide with fear."I-I wasn’t thinking—"
"That’s the problem," Elion cut in, leaning down slightly. "You never think. Not about consequences. Not about who you hurt. You are a selfish, manipulative bitch!"
Mira opened her mouth again, but he moved in one fluid motion.
Before she could process it, Elion seized both of her wrists, snapping them together.
Her breath exploded in a startled gasp.
"Elion—!"
He pushed her arms down onto the bed, firmly, easily, pinning both of her wrists with just one hand.
Her eyes went huge.
She tugged.
She struggled.
But she couldn’t move.
How is he so strong!?
"Elion, please—" Her voice cracked, more from shock than fear now. "Let go, I didn’t mean, I just—"
"No, shut up, " he said quietly."Now you’re going to listen."
His face was inches from hers, his expression unreadable but heavy with the weight of every memory she’d hoped he’d forgotten.
"You spent months making me feel small," he said. "Weak. Worthless."
Mira’s breath shook violently."I—I know, I’m sorry, I—"
"But look at us now."
He tightened his grip slightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to remind her she was completely overpowered.
Mira froze, trembling, her chest rising and falling quickly.
"You don’t get to touch me," he said softly."You don’t get to want me."
"You don’t get to use me."
Her lips parted, tears gathering at the edges of her lashes.
"Elion..." she whispered, voice breaking. "I’m sorry... I really am."
Mira’s breath came out shaky as Elion slowly loosened his hold on her wrists.
For half a second, she thought he was going to step back.
He didn’t.
And in that moment of hesitation, fear, confusion, adrenaline, Mira acted on instinct.
Her hands shot up, grabbing fistfuls of his shirt, pulling him down toward her with a desperate, trembling strength.
"Elion, "Her voice cracked. "Wait, just listen to me!"
He reacted instantly.
His hand slid down, gripping her thigh with sudden, brutal force.
Mira gasped, a sharp, pained inhale, as his fingers dug in deep.
His nails pressed into her skin hard enough to make her flinch, her eyebrows pinching together.
"Elion—!" she choked out, her back arching slightly from the shock of his grip. "You’re hurting me—"
"Good," he said, his voice low, the word cutting like a blade.
Mira froze again.
His fingers tightened even more, squeezing her thigh with a punishing pressure that sent another wince flickering across her face.
She tried to wiggle free, but his hold only grew firmer, pinning her in place with terrifying ease.
Mira swallowed hard, her breath stuttering, her hands still clinging to his shirt even though she wasn’t sure why anymore, instinct, fear, or something more twisted.
"I didn’t mean to—" she breathed, wincing again as his grip tightened. "I swear—I wasn’t trying to hurt you—!"
He only tightened his grip on her thigh.
"Elion," she whispered, her voice trembling, "please... let go... it hurts..."
His eyes narrowed.
"Now you know how it felt," he said quietly. "Every single day."
Mira’s breath hitched again, but this time something cracked behind her eyes: fear, guilt, and something rawer.
She was terrified.
"Elion..." she whispered, her voice small. "I’m sorry... I’m really sorry..."
He didn’t release her yet.
But he did pause.