NIKO.
The moment Alex heard my mother’s voice outside the room, she froze. It was almost comical how fast fear took over her body.
She scrambled out of bed so quickly that the sheets tangled around her legs, nearly sending her to the floor. “Oh God, Niko,” she whispered sharply, hands shaking as she reached for her clothes. “She’s here. She’s actually here.”
“Alex,” I said calmly, sitting up. “Hey. Look at me.”
She didn’t look at me. She was already pulling on her shirt, fingers fumbling with the buttons, breath uneven. “This is bad. This is really bad. She hates me already. She’s going to—”
I stood up and crossed the room in two strides, gently gripping her wrists to stop her frantic movements. “Alex.”
She finally looked at me, eyes wide, pupils blown with panic.
“Breathe,” I said
