Beneath His Cold Charm

05

In the Shadows

★★★

The air was thick with tension at Zoey's house when she got home from school that day. The argument had escalated earlier, and she had barely managed to escape to the library before things turned physical. Now, she was back, and the shadows in the living room loomed larger than ever.

Her dad was pacing back and forth, his voice raised, while her mom sat on the couch, her hands covering her face in despair. Zoey tried to remain unseen, slipping through the front door as quietly as possible, but her dad's booming voice echoed through the small space.

"Do you think this is easy for me?" he shouted, his frustration palpable. "You think I enjoy sitting around, doing nothing? I'm trying!"

"Trying isn't enough!" her mom yelled back, her voice cracking. "We're falling apart, and you just stand there, expecting everything to be fine!"

Zoey's heart raced as she took a step back, trying to disappear into the shadows. She had seen this play out before—her dad's anger rising like a tide, overwhelming everything in its path. She felt the familiar knot of anxiety settle in her stomach, her breath quickening.

"Just leave me alone!" her dad's voice boomed, and Zoey knew that meant he was on the edge.

In an instant, the front door swung open, and Zoey's heart sank. Her dad stormed out, his fists clenched. She could hear him muttering under his breath as he walked toward the driveway, leaving her mom behind, shaking and sobbing.

Without thinking, Zoey slipped into the kitchen, seeking the only relief she had left. The small blade felt familiar in her hand as she sat on the cold tile floor, the weight of her father's anger pressing down on her like a heavy blanket.

Just one cut, she told herself. Just enough to feel something—anything other than the pain of being trapped in this family.

With a deep breath, she pressed the blade against her skin, flinching as the sharp edge broke through. Relief washed over her in waves, and for a brief moment, the chaos around her faded. The physical pain felt like a release, a way to let out the emotions she couldn't express.

She just wanted to feel something.

But as she drew the blade away, the reality of what she had done hit her like a punch to the gut. She hated herself for this weakness, for needing to hurt herself to feel something real.

---

Meanwhile, At stuniolo's House

Chris and Nick were sitting on the couch, playing video games and bickering like usual. The laughter and banter provided a much-needed escape from the reality of school and their family dynamics.

"Dude, you're so bad at this," Chris laughed, pausing the game to throw a pillow at Nick. "What were you even trying to do there?"

Nick scoffed, picking up the pillow and throwing it back. "At least I'm not the one who just wasted a power-up! You could have saved that for the boss fight!"

Chris rolled his eyes, grinning. "Oh, please. You act like you're some kind of expert. I'm the one who's actually winning here."

Nick smirked, leaning back on the couch. "Yeah, but only because I let you. You know I could crush you any day of the week."

Their playful banter continued for a while, but as the game progressed, Chris's expression turned serious. "Hey, have you talked to Zoey lately?"

Nick shrugged, pausing the game. "Why? Is she okay?"