Chapter 2

Ethan found me on the kitchen floor.

My cheek was swelling fast, my lip split open again.

He didn' t say anything, just scooped me up.

His face was pale, his jaw tight with fury.

"I' m calling 911, Maya. This has to stop."

I tried to protest, the usual fear twisting in my gut.

"No, Ethan, please, she' ll..."

But he was already dialing.

The police officers were surprisingly gentle.

One was a woman, Officer Davies. She looked at me with kind eyes.

They were asking Mom questions, and Brenda was calm, too calm.

"It was a disagreement, officer. Maya is very emotional."

Officer Davies wasn' t buying it. "Ma'am, her injuries suggest more than a disagreement. We' re going to have to take you in for assault."

Just as they were about to cuff her, Brenda sighed, a theatrical sound.

She pulled out her smartphone.

"Officer, perhaps this will provide some context. Ethan, you should see this too."

She played the video for Ethan first, holding the phone so only he could see the screen.

I watched his face.

The color drained from it, leaving him chalky white.

His eyes widened, then flickered with something I' d never seen before – disgust, and fear.

He started to tremble.

He stammered to Officer Davies, "Wait. It... it was a misunderstanding. A family argument. I overreacted."

The police looked confused, then annoyed.

After a few more minutes of Ethan insisting I was fine, just clumsy and upset, they left, warning Brenda about domestic disturbances.

The moment the door closed, Ethan turned to Brenda, his voice shaking.

"She... she needs to be stopped. You should... you should make sure she can' t hurt anyone else."

Then he looked at me, his eyes cold, all the love gone.

"Maya, you' re sick. You' re dangerous. We' re done."

He walked out, and didn' t look back.

The video. It always came back to that damned video.

What was on it that could turn everyone against me?