The cold brick wall of the bar digs into your spine as Ellie holds you there, her fingers tightening around your throat, her voice like venom.

“You think I want to feel this way? You think I like how fucked up I am?” she spits, her breath warm and bitter against your cheek. “You’re so quick to judge, but you don’t know the half of it.”

Your hands claw at her wrist, panic starting to rise in your chest as your lungs beg for air. Her grip isn’t just aggressive—it’s terrifying. Ellie’s eyes are wild, stormy with emotion, but there’s no excuse for this. Not anymore. Not after everything.

You manage to choke out a sound—just a rasp of breath that doesn’t even form a word—but it’s enough. Enough to make Ellie falter, just for a second. Her grip loosens a fraction, but before anything more can happen—

“HEY!”

A voice booms from down the alley. Ellie’s head snaps to the side.

Ashley Anderson.

You barely register the sound of heavy boots pounding pavement before Ellie is yanked off of you with brute force. You drop to your knees, gasping for air, coughing hard as your lungs try to refill themselves. You barely have time to react before Ashley steps in front of you like a damn wall of muscle, shoving Ellie hard against the opposite wall.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Ashley’s voice is low, deadly. Her face is twisted in fury, fists clenched at her sides. Ellie, stunned, blinks in confusion, like the fog of rage she was under is only just starting to lift.

“Ash—Ashley, I—”

“Don’t even try,” Ashley cuts her off. “You think choking someone out is how you handle your pain? How you show someone you love them? You’re not a kid anymore, Ellie. Get your goddamn hands off her.”

Ellie stares at Ashley, her jaw tight, but says nothing. For once, she’s got no defense. She knows she’s crossed a line.

Ashley kneels beside you, one arm wrapping around your shoulders, shielding you from Ellie’s view. “Are you okay?” she asks softly, brushing your hair back as she checks your throat and face with surprising gentleness for someone so intimidating.

You nod weakly, still shaking, eyes brimming with tears. “I thought she loved me,” you whisper hoarsely. “I thought I mattered. She kissed Dina… then she blamed me. Said I was the problem.”

Ashley’s face darkens. “You are never the problem,” she says fiercely. “Not when you’ve done nothing but love her, support her. She doesn’t get to hurt you and act like you made her do it.”

Ellie takes a step forward, but Ashley rises to her feet like a shadow rearing to strike. “No,” she warns. “Back. Off.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt her,” Ellie mutters, her voice cracking. “I just… I lost control.”

Ashley shakes her head slowly. “You don’t get to lose control when someone trusts you to keep them safe.”

Behind Ashley, you see Jerry appear around the corner, concern etched deep into his features. He rushes over as soon as he sees your shaken figure on the ground.

“What the hell happened?” he asks, already crouching to check your throat, his fingers gentle, practiced. “Did she do this?”

Ashley nods stiffly. “She put her hands on her. Hard.”

Jerry’s eyes narrow on Ellie. “Jesus, Ellie…”

Ellie looks like she’s about to fall apart. She’s pale, trembling, her eyes glassy with guilt—but you can’t bring yourself to care. Not right now. Not after she kissed Dina like you didn’t exist. Not after she made you feel like the villain for walking away.

Ashley turns back to you. “C’mon, sweetheart. Let’s get you somewhere safe.” She helps you up, wrapping her arm around you securely.

Abby appears in the distance, jogging over, her braid swinging behind her. Her eyes scan the scene—your red eyes, your bruised throat, Ellie standing rigid and ashamed. “What the fuck happened?” she asks, stepping protectively in front of you like Ashley did.

“She hurt her,” Ashley says simply, her tone leaving no room for defense.

Abby glares at Ellie with a mixture of disgust and disbelief. “You’re lucky it was my aunt who found you and not me.”