Loud and shrill in the tiny, concrete room, the bullet tore through the air. Time on the planet outside of Emily stilled for an eternal moment. Her heart throbbed in her chest, and her head spinning the sound reverberated through her fuzzy head, pulling her back from nearly resting. Teary-eyed as she fought to make sense of what erupted around her, she worked to focus.
Dazed from the blow, blood welling on his shoulder where the bullet had struck Victor stumbled backwards. He hissed in pain but refused to fall, grinding his teeth. Panting heavily and eyes ablaze with anger, Marcus had seized his chance. Still clutched in his hand, the smoking pistol was level again, his knuckles white as he aimed for Victor's chest this time.
"You should have stayed out of this," Marcus spat, the words d
