Amber's POV
**Triggering scene ahead**
The kitchen was quieter than the rest of the house, though the muffled bass of the music still vibrated through the walls. I leaned against the counter and poured myself a cup of water from a pitcher someone had left behind. My throat was dry, and the cool liquid was a welcome relief after dancing for what felt like hours.
As I put the cup down, I noticed a guy walking toward me. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his dark hair slicked back in a way that screamed effort despite his otherwise disheveled appearance. The smell of alcohol hit me before he even opened his mouth.
"Hey there, beautiful," he slurred, leaning against the counter a little too close to me. His bloodshot eyes roamed over me, making my skin crawl.
"Hi," I replied curtly, stepping back slightly.
"You've been dancing all night, huh?" he said, his words slow and heavy. "Bet you need a real man to show you a good time."
I forced a smile, hoping to end this conversation quickly. "No, thanks. I'm good."
"Oh, come on," he said, his grin widening as he took a step closer. "Don't be shy. I've been watching you. You're way too gorgeous to be alone tonight."
"I'm not alone," I said firmly, setting my cup down and turning toward the door.
Before I could leave, his hand shot out and grabbed my wrist. "Hey, don't be like that," he said, his tone darker now.
I yanked my arm away, my heart racing. "I said no. Leave me alone."
The guy stared at me for a moment, his expression hardening, but before he could say anything else, Sapphire walked into the kitchen.
"There you are!" she said, oblivious to the tension. She noticed the guy and gave him a once-over before raising a questioning eyebrow at me.
"Let's go find Luna," I said quickly, ignoring the guy and grabbing Sapphire's hand.
"Alright, alright," Sapphire said, following me out of the kitchen. As we reached the edge of the crowd, I let out a shaky breath.
"Are you okay?" Sapphire asked, noticing my unease.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I lied. "Can you go find Luna and Marco? I need to use the bathroom before we leave."
Sapphire nodded. "Sure. Meet us by the front door in ten minutes?"
"Yeah," I said, already heading for the stairs.
The upstairs hallway was quieter, the sounds of the party fading as I walked toward the nearest open door. I stepped inside what looked like a guest room and headed for the bathroom. The dim light and the faint scent of air freshener made it feel oddly comforting after the chaos downstairs.
After finishing in the bathroom, I washed my hands and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My cheeks were flushed, and my hair was slightly tousled from dancing. I smoothed it down with my fingers, taking a deep breath before opening the door to leave.
The moment I stepped into the room, my heart dropped. The guy from the kitchen was standing there, his drunken smirk twisted into something more sinister.
"You're a hard girl to find," he said, his voice low and slurred.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice trembling.
He stepped closer, blocking the doorway. "You walked away before we could finish our conversation."
"I told you I wasn't interested," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Let me pass."
He laughed, a dark and humorless sound. "Oh, you're feisty. I like that."
I took a step back as he moved toward me. "Get out of my way," I said, my voice firmer now.
Instead of answering, he lunged forward and grabbed my arm, his grip like iron. I struggled against him, panic surging through me as he shoved me against the wall.
"You're not going anywhere," he growled, his hands rough as he tried to pin me in place.
"Let me go!" I screamed, clawing at his arms.
He slapped a hand over my mouth, his breath hot and reeking of alcohol. "You're only making this harder for yourself," he hissed.
Tears streamed down my face as I struggled against him. He was stronger than me, and the more I fought, the more desperate I became. His hands moved to my dress, tugging at the fabric until I heard the sound of it tearing.
I thought it was over.
But then the door burst open with a deafening crash.
The guy barely had time to react before a figure grabbed him by the collar and threw him across the room. He hit the ground hard, groaning in pain.
I blinked through my tears, my vision blurry, and saw Alex standing there, his face a mask of pure rage.
"You," Alex snarled, advancing on the guy. "You're dead."
The guy tried to scramble to his feet, but Alex was faster. He grabbed him by the shirt and punched him square in the jaw. The sickening crack of bone echoed through the room, and the guy let out a pained yell.
Alex didn't stop. He threw punch after punch, his fists relentless as they connected with the guy's face and body. Blood splattered across the floor, and the guy's groans turned into incoherent whimpers.
"You think you can touch her?" Alex growled, his voice low and deadly. "You think you can lay a hand on her and walk away?"
The guy was barely conscious now, his face a swollen, bloody mess. Alex grabbed him by the hair and slammed his head against the floor.
"Alex, stop!" I cried, my voice shaky.
He froze at the sound of my voice, his chest heaving as he turned to look at me. His expression softened slightly when he saw me curled up on the floor, my dress torn and my face streaked with tears.
He released the guy, who slumped to the ground, completely unconscious.
Alex rushed to my side, crouching down and reaching out hesitantly. "Amber… are you okay?"
I couldn't speak. The sobs came out in waves, and I felt completely shattered.
"Hey," he said softly, his voice a stark contrast to the fury he had shown moments ago. "It's okay. He's gone. You're safe now."
I nodded, even though I didn't feel safe at all. My whole body trembled as Alex gently helped me to my feet. His hands were warm and steady, grounding me in the midst of my panic.
"Come on," he said, his voice low and soothing. "Let's get you out of here."