ALEX
I can feel the cold steel of the barrel pressing against my temple, sending shivers down my spine. Violet's eyes are wild, brimming with fury and something else - obsession. The girl I once knew, Melody's former friend, is a stranger to me now.
"Violet, please," I plead, trying to keep my voice steady despite the pounding in my chest. "You don't want to do this."
"Shut up!" she snarls, her grip on the gun tightening. Her gaze flickers between me and the mouth of the alley, as if Melody might walk through it any second. The thought both terrifies and comforts me; the last thing I want is for Melody to see this, but I know she'd be able to talk some sense into Violet.
"Violet, listen to me." My words come out slow and deliberate, as if speaking to a frightened animal. "This isn't
