SKINTIGHT (Watty Awards 2024)

Chapter 19

Rio

Violet flails back and forth, thrashing against Isaiah as she tries to escape his grasp. I open the door to let them out, only looking back to check if Dani and Mason follow suit. They're right behind us. I can still see Jack in the kitchen. He's surrounded by his friends, all probably bitching on Violet.

She's rabid. She didn't notice us calling out to her or trying to intervene — not until she was forced away from him. She can't reach him anymore, but it hasn't registered yet. She wrestles against Isaiah, desperately clawing her way back to him. But Isaiah is twice her size. He's carried her the whole way out of the house, and she hasn't made it easy for him.

"Let me go!" she kicks against him. "I'll fucking kill him!"

"Violet, stop!" Dani begs. "You're not thinking straight."

"I fucking hate him! I hate his stupid fucking face!"

"Violet!"

"Let me go!" she lunges forward, but can't escape Isaiah's hold.

"I'm not letting you go until you calm down!" he responds.

"I'll ruin his whole fucking life! I'll destroy him! I'll burn his whole fucking house down!"

"Violet," Dani moves to stand before her. The people on the lawn file back into the house, knowing full well they'll be heard if Violet's released.

"I'll burn that motherfucker alive!"

"Violet, hey, look at me," Dani tries, but she can't get too close without getting kicked.

"I fucking hate him!"

"I know you do, but I need you to look at me right now," she insists. Violet's eyes continue to dart back to the house. "Look at me!"

"I hate him!" she spits. "I fucking hate him!"

"Violet, come on. I can't help you if you don't let me."

"Let me go!" she continues to wrestle, thumping her hands against his arms.

"Violet!"

"I'm not letting you go!" Isaiah protests.

"You're hurting Isaiah!" Dani tries, but her words don't register. She's completely lost in her own world. She's not even hearing us. She's focused on one thing and one thing only, and that's Jack.

"Let her go," I say. Dani's right. Isaiah's going to end up with more injuries than the rest of us. He won't be able to hold her much longer.

"What?" Dani turns to me confused.

"He's gonna get hurt. She needs to let her anger out."

"She'll go back inside."

"No, she won't." There are four of us out here, ready to stop her. She doesn't stand a chance. She wouldn't do it, anyway. Her mind may be on Jack, but it's her body that needs the release. She needs to tire herself out. That's the only way to stop her.

"Are you sure?" Isaiah checks.

"Trust me," I nod.

Violet breaks free from his grasp. She lands on her feet, stumbling forward until she gains her balance. She doesn't turn back to the house. Instead, she hurls towards the nearest object — a beat-up old car parked in the driveway. She attacks it with all she's got — slamming her fist against the bonnet, over and over again. She throws her feet at the tires, kicking them repeatedly. She's screaming and swearing bloody murder, completely pummelling this car.