Genesis's heart pounded in her chest, fear crawling over her skin like icy fingertips. Her eyes locked on her phone—dangling carelessly from Melanie's fingers like it was something dirty or contagious. One wrong move and it would crash to the floor, shatter into a thousand pieces. The thought alone made Genesis feel frozen inside.
She couldn't let that happen. Kieran would be upset. Her eyes flicked to the girls around Melanie—her friends—laughing like this was some comedy show.
Melanie jostled the phone, her smirk widening with every little shake. Genesis watched, her stomach in knots, each motion a threat.
She took a careful step forward, reaching out. But Melanie lifted the phone higher. She was nearly five-eleven. Genesis barely made it to five-five.
Genesis rose on her toes, trying to grab it, but Melanie only raised her arm more, grinning like a wolf.
"Awwnn, the mute girl can't reach her phone?" Melanie cooed mockingly.
Genesis stopped, breath ragged, her chest rising and falling like a wave threatening to crash.
"Why don't you speak?" Sophia chimed in, walking over with a grin. "Maybe then you'll get it back."
Genesis's nose flared. Her eyes narrowed. She hated this. She just wanted her phone.
"Oi, look—she's angry," Sophia added, pointing. "Her face is turning red."
They laughed. But it wasn't an exaggeration. Genesis really was turning red—bright as a tomato, burning with shame and rage.
"What's she gonna do?" Maya laughed from behind them. "Stomp her feet? Cry?"
Genesis's hands clenched, then unclenched. Again. And again. Her fingers twitched with the urge to do something. She had never hit anyone in her life. She wasn't even sure how to fight. But that didn't mean the thought didn't tempt her.
She wanted her phone back.
"Oh my God," Melanie suddenly said, eyes wide in mock horror. "You guys should see this."
Genesis's gaze flew up.
Melanie was showing them the screen.
Genesis's breath caught—her heart plummeted.
They were reading her chat with Kieran.
No. No, no, no.
"Ewww. Who'd want to sleep with her?" Sophia sneered, eyeing Genesis like she was a bug under glass. Still, the jealousy in her voice cracked through.
"She says she's sore," Melanie read aloud, giggling. "Wow, our little ballerina's not so innocent after all."
Genesis's lungs locked up. Heat rose behind her eyes. She couldn't see straight. Couldn't think. It was like drowning in front of an audience that was clapping.
"Sore?" Sophia gasped. "You mean she actually did it? With that guy who picks her up all the time—what's his name?"
"I don't know," Maya said, smirking. "The one that looks like he walked out of a mafia flick."
Melanie wiggled the phone, her voice sugar-coated and mean. "Button," she read, fake-gagging. "Seriously, what kind of name is that?"
Then, gleefully, "Hope you're not too sore down there," she finished, pretending to throw up.
Genesis felt like the floor dropped beneath her. Her phone seemed miles away now, like it was floating in a world she no longer belonged to.
She wanted to run.
She wanted to scream.
She wanted to vanish.
But instead, she stood. Her chest heaved. Her fists clenched so hard her knuckles blanched. The cold bathroom air felt tight and choking.
Sophia leaned closer to the screen like it was a gossip blog. "Bet she begged for it. All shy in public, freak in the dark."
"Bet he didn't even last," Maya added. "She looks so fragile. One poke and snap."
Genesis's lips trembled. Not with fear.
With rage.
She looked at Melanie—tall, smug, cruel—and something inside her snapped. The invisible cage that kept her still for so long shattered.
Her body moved before her thoughts could catch up.
She lunged.
Not for Melanie—but for the phone. Her hand shot up, fingers brushing the edge—then gripping. With a sudden surge of strength she didn't know she had, Genesis yanked it free.
The phone clattered to the floor between them.
For a split second, everything froze.
Then Genesis dove for it, snatching it just before it could slide beneath the sink.
Melanie grabbed her wrist.
Genesis' breath was ragged, her eyes locked on Melanie's, burning with an anger so sharp it made the taller girl pause.
"You think just because you've got some rich boyfriend, you can act all high and mighty?" Melanie sneered, her grip tightening.
Genesis yanked her arm free, chest rising and falling fast. She took a step back, clutching the phone to her chest like it was a lifeline, her gaze never leaving theirs.
Then, slowly, with trembling fingers, she raised her hands.
One finger. Then another. Both palms moved in graceful, deliberate signs.
I'm not afraid of you.
The girls blinked, unsure what the movements meant—but they didn't need a translator. They saw it in her eyes.
The warning.
The anger.
The fire.
Melanie scoffed. "Whatever, freak. Just wait till the whole studio hears about what a dirty little mute you really are."
She turned on her heel and stormed out, Sophia and Maya trailing behind—though their laughter had lost its edge.
Genesis stood in the silence that followed, heart thundering in her ears.
Then her phone buzzed again.
Kieran:
The men are on their way.
She stared at the message, her fingers trembling as she typed back:
Thank you.
She locked the phone, pressed it to her chest, and let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding.
Then she turned toward the mirror.
Red cheeks.
Bright, wet eyes.
Hair a mess.
But something was different.
She wasn't going to be the same girl who walked into the Blackwood Estate.
Not anymore.