KAIREN
The hallway stretched endlessly before me, each step heavier than the last. My legs felt like they were wading through concrete, my chest tight, lungs struggling to pull in air that didn't taste like smoke and decay. The gathering had drained me, every fake smile, every forced handshake, every second standing beside my father like a trained dog waiting for a command.
Behind me, Viktor's footsteps echoed, steady, measured, relentless. Always there. Always watching.
I wanted to scream at him. Tell him to fuck off. To leave me alone for five goddamn minutes. But I didn't have the energy. Not anymore.
My mind was slipping.
I could feel it—the edges fraying, thoughts scattering like smoke. The pills weren't enough anymore. The alcohol barely dulled the edge. I was spiraling, clawing at anything that might keep me tethered to something resembling sanity, but my grip was weakening.
"Maybe I'm tired of fighting."
