You weren’t supposed to be here. The night air clung to your skin, damp and heavy, and you crept closer to the dock, your sneakers barely making a sound on the worn wood. You thought you’d just catch your breath, steal a second away from all the chaos swirling around the island. But then you heard it—shouting, frantic splashing.

When you looked up, your stomach dropped.

Sarah’s hands were flailing above the water, her face twisted in panic as she gasped for air. And then you saw who had her pinned down—Rafe. His arm was like a vice around her, shoving her head beneath the surface. His face was wet with tears, mouth open like he was caught between rage and regret.

You froze. This wasn’t real. This couldn’t be real.

“RAFE!” your voice cracked before you even realized you’d spoken.

His head snapped toward you, eyes wild, pupils blown wide like he hadn’t even registered the world beyond his own storm. For a terrifying second, you thought he might turn on you too. You could see every ounce of conflict tearing him apart—hate, fear, love twisted into something unrecognizable.

“STAY BACK!” he barked, voice breaking. His hand didn’t loosen. Sarah’s thrashing grew weaker.

Your heart slammed against your ribs. Every instinct screamed at you to run, but your feet stayed planted. “You’re going to kill her!”

Something in your tone made him hesitate. Just for a second. And in that second, you lurched forward, fingers shaking as you grabbed his wrist. He yanked back, almost taking you into the water with him.

Then— Topper.

He appeared out of nowhere, tackling Rafe, shoving him off Sarah and dragging her coughing, sputtering body onto the dock. You stumbled forward, your legs shaking so badly you could barely keep your balance.

Without thinking, you fell to your knees beside her and wrapped your arms around Sarah, holding her tight. She was trembling, shivering, her whole body shaking against yours, and you realized you were trembling too. The two of you clung to each other, terrified, trying to breathe through the chaos.

“It’s okay… it’s okay,” you whispered, even though your own voice wobbled. “You’re safe now. You’re safe…”

This wasn’t the Rafe you once knew. The boy who had teased you, dared you, laughed with reckless abandon—he was gone, swallowed by something darker. He had always stumbled through his demons, yes, but never like this… never with his own sister beneath his hands. You had believed, deep down, that he loved Sarah too fiercely to ever cross that line. And now… you didn’t even know if the love you carried for him—quiet, tangled, stubborn—could survive this.