Chapter 82 Aria

• Before any coherent thought can form in my mind, the sharp, devastating sound of shattering glass pierces the silence of the house, reverberating through every corner. The crash echoes in my head, and my heart races wildly, pounding with panic. Before I can process what’s happening, Alexander reacts with lethal precision, pulling me down forcefully, pressing my body against the cold, rigid floor. Each heartbeat pounds painfully in my ears, and a startled scream escapes my lips.
• Terrified, I realize I am completely exposed, vulnerable. Alexander positions himself above me, his arms like shields, forming a protective barrier as his body molds to mine, offering the only shelter I have now. I feel the warmth of his breath against my skin, but all I can think about is the threat outside, the intrusion that has shattered our world. Yet his presence brings a desperate sense of safety, an irrational certainty that he is my only chance.
• “Aria, I need you to trust me, okay?” His voice is unyielding, steady like a trained soldier’s, exuding an authority that brooks no argument. He knows exactly what needs to be done. His words hit me like a command, a lifeline, and all I can do is nod silently, unable to form any words. My vocal cords feel frozen, every attempt to speak dying in my throat, crushed by the suffocating terror consuming me. Even if I wanted to scream, to call for help, the words refuse to come, leaving only fear to fill the space inside me.