RIKA
The cuts burn like hellfire across my forearms tonight. Fresh ones layered over old scars that never healed right because I kept reopening them whenever the memories got too loud. My hands won't stop shaking. Haven't stopped for days now.
I'm terrified Athena will spill the truth about me. About what happened when I was too young to understand. Too small to fight back. Too scared to tell anyone.
She's been threatening it for weeks with those subtle comments. Those knowing looks. Those times she corners me in empty hallways to whisper how Sloane would hate me if she knew. How Damon would look at me differently. Even Kade, though I care less what he thinks most days.
She's so confident because she knows Damon protects her. Keeps her close because she was his mother's best friend.
I
