"Let me go...It hurts..." Phoebe's brows knitted tightly, her voice tinged with sobs.
She felt like a lone leaf tossed about by a violent storm, battered mercilessly by the raging winds.
Moments earlier, Alva had stood frozen in shock, watching Alexander roughly pin Phoebe against the wall.
Her mind went blank for an instant. But when she heard her friend's anguished cry, she snapped back to her senses.
Alva rushed forward, flipping on the stairwell light with a sharp "click."
The dim yellow glow dispelled some of the darkness. Without hesitation, Alva stormed over and tried with all her strength to pry Alexander's arm off Phoebe.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing to her?" she demanded, her eyes blazing with anger and suspicion as she glared at Alexander's menacing demeanor. S
