The world seemed to slow down as I watched Ethan's foot come flying towards me. Adrenaline surged through my veins, a primal instinct to protect myself kicking in. I caught his foot mid-air, the momentum causing me to twist and shove, sending Ethan sprawling onto the cold, hard floor.
The room erupted into chaos. Voices rose and fell, a cacophony of accusations and judgments. The streamers, their faces contorted with a mixture of shock and excitement, scrambled to capture the moment. Their cameras flashed, the bright lights blinding me, turning the room into a kaleidoscope of confusion.
"Did you see that? He's violent!" one of them shouted, their voice shrill with excitement.
"Look how skilled he is at fighting—he must have done this before!" another added, their words dripping with malice.
I stood there, my heart pounding in my chest, my hands still tingling from the contact with Ethan. I could feel the eyes of the streamers on me, their judgment heavy and suffocating. I wanted to explain, to tell them that I wasn't the man they thought I was, but the words caught in my throat.
Ethan scrambled to his feet, his face flushed with anger. He lunged at me, but I sidestepped him easily, my body moving on instinct. I could see the surprise in his eyes, the momentary flicker of doubt. He had expected me to be an easy target, a man broken by prison and desperate for any kindness.
But I was no one's victim.
The streamers continued to shout, their voices blending into a single, angry drone. I could feel their hatred, a tangible force that threatened to consume me. They wanted a villain, someone to blame for the mess of their own lives, and I was the perfect scapegoat.
I turned to face them, my eyes scanning the room. I could see the eagerness in their eyes, the hunger for a fight. They wanted blood, and they didn't care whose it was.
But I refused to give them what they wanted.
"Enough!" I roared, my voice cutting through the noise. The room fell silent, the streamers staring at me with wide eyes. I could see the fear in their eyes, a flicker of uncertainty.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging inside me. I turned to Ethan, my voice low and steady. "Ethan, I don't know what's going on here, but I'm not your enemy. I've just gotten out of prison, and the last thing I want is more trouble."
Ethan stared at me, his eyes hard and unyielding. "You're a liar," he spat. "You've been manipulating Sophie, using her for your own gain."
I shook my head, the anger inside me simmering just below the surface. "I've been in prison for three years, Ethan. I've sacrificed everything for Sophie, and this is the thanks I get?"
Ethan's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes. But then his expression hardened again, and he spat on the floor at my feet. "You're nothing but a user and a liar."
I clenched my fists, the urge to hit him almost overwhelming. But I knew that violence wouldn't solve anything. It would only give the streamers what they wanted, another excuse to paint me as the villain.
Instead, I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. "Ethan, I understand that you're angry and hurt, but attacking me won't solve anything. We need to talk to Sophie and get to the bottom of this."
Ethan hesitated, his eyes flicking to the streamers and then back to me. I could see the indecision in his eyes, the struggle between his anger and his desire for the truth.
"Fine," he finally growled, his voice tight with anger. "But if you're lying to me, I swear I'll make you pay."
I nodded, my heart heavy with the weight of the situation. "I understand."
The streamers grumbled, clearly disappointed that their fight had been averted. But as Ethan and I turned to leave, they began to pack up their equipment, their excitement already fading as they sought out the next spectacle.
As we walked out the door, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. The truth was out there, waiting to be uncovered, and I had a feeling that it was going to be more complicated than any of us could have imagined.