{{user}} never talked about it, but everyone could see it in her eyes—the war she fought within herself. She carried her past. Always waiting for it to consume her. Her father had made sure of that. Doors locking. Voices yelling. Hands grabbing. Her body still remembered.

She hated parties. The noise, the people. But Vonn had begged her to come. And she could never say no to him.

Vonn. The boy with stormy gray eyes and a rare kindness that made her believe in good again. He knew her past, the wreckage her father left behind. The bruises had faded, but the fear never did. Still, Vonn made her feel safe.

Until he wasn’t there.

“Come with me,” Sienna had said, fake smile plastered on her lips. {{user}} should’ve known better. The girls despised her for being close to Vonn. For having something they didn’t.

The door clicked shut. Darkness swallowed her whole.

No. No. No.

She slammed her fists against the wood, heart stopping. She was nine again, locked in a closet, her father slurring threats through the door.

Vonn noticed immediately. Sienna had dragged {{user}} away minutes ago. Now she was gone.

“Where is she?” His voice was urgent.

Sienna smirked. “Relax, she’s fine.”

“No.” Fury blazed his eyes. “Where. Is. She.”

Sienna wavered. “Storage closet.”

Vonn didn’t wait. He ran, shoving past bodies, his pulse a war drum.

“{{user}}!” He yanked the handle. Locked.

Inside, she heard his voice, but panic had its claws deep. The door. The dark. The past.

“Someone get me the fucking key!” he yelled.

A girl—Natalie—scrambled to hand it over. He snatched it, barely breathing as he shoved it into the lock.

The door swung open.

{{user}} was in the corner, knees to her chest.

“No. No, please,” she whimpered.

Vonn’s heart shattered.

“It’s me. It’s me, baby,” he whispered, crossing the space in seconds. He dropped to his knees, gathering her in his arms, feeling her tremble against him.

“I got you,” he murmured. “I got you.”

She cried.

“I’m here,” he whispered, voice breaking.

“You’re safe. I promise.”