15-05-2021-052358It-Ends-with-Us

Jesus, he thinks this is something else entirely. I take a step forward
and shake my head. “He’s not like that, Atlas. It wasn’t like that. Ryle
is a good person.”
He tilts his head and leans it forward a little bit. “Funny. You sound
just like your mother.”
His words sting. I immediately try to reach around him for the
door, but he grabs my wrist. “Leave him, Lily.”
I yank my hand away. I turn my back to him and inhale a deep
breath. I release it slowly as I face him again. “If it’s any comparison at
all, I’m more scared of you right now than I’ve ever been of him.”
My words make Atlas pause for a moment. His nod starts out slowly,
and then gets more prominent as he steps away from the door. “I
certainly didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.” He motions
toward the door. “Just trying to repay the concern you’ve always
shown me.”
I stare at him for a moment, unsure how to take his words. He’s
still raging on the inside, I can see it. But on the outside, he’s calm—
collected. Allowing me to leave. I reach forward and unlock the door,
then pull it open.
I gasp when my eyes meet Ryle’s. I quickly glance over my shoulder
to see Atlas filing out of the bathroom with me.
Ryle’s eyes fill with confusion as he looks from me to Atlas. “What
the fuck, Lily?”
“Ryle.” My voice shakes. God, this looks so much worse than it is.
Atlas steps around me and turns toward the doors to the kitchen,
as if Ryle doesn’t even exist to him. Ryle’s eyes are glued to Atlas’s
back. Keep walking, Atlas.
Right when Atlas reaches the kitchen doors, he pauses.
No, no, no. Keep walking.
In what becomes one of the most dreadful moments I can imagine,
he spins around and strides toward Ryle, grabbing him by the collar
of his shirt. Almost as soon as it happens, Ryle forces Atlas back and
slams him against the opposite wall. Atlas lunges for Ryle again, this
time shoving his forearm against Ryle’s throat, pinning him against
the wall.
“You touch her again and I’ll cut your fucking hand off and shove
it down your throat, you worthless piece of shit!”