Everything will be alright...

Maria and Ashley stepped into the dimly lit apartment building, the sound of the rain hitting the roof echoing around them. They both stood together in the cramped elevator, a sense of unease palpable between them. Ashley fidgeted with her keys, while Maria kept her gaze fixed on the flickering light above them, lost in thought.

As the elevator doors opened to their floor, the sound of shouting and crying grew louder. They could hear a distant commotion coming from their apartment, and the hair on the back of their necks stood up. Maria's heart began to race as they approached their door.

Suddenly, a woman's piercing voice cut through the noise, crying out for help. Maria and Ashley looked at each other in alarm and ran to their apartment door, flinging it open to reveal their roommate Julia on her knees, her clothes and hair dishevelled, tears streaming down her face as she clung to a small child. The living room was in disarray, with broken glass scattered across the floor and furniture overturned.

A man, whom Maria and Ashley had never seen before, was trying to pry the child from Julia's arms, his face twisted in anger. His eyes darted between the three women as he struggled to break free from Julia's grasp. She held on tight, her knuckles turning white from the force of her grip. The child in her arms cried and whimpered, clearly terrified.

"What the hell is going on?!" Ashley shouted, her voice shaking with fear and anger.

The man turned around, revealing himself to be a stranger to Maria and Ashley. He had a crazed look in his eyes, and his grip on the child was tight.

"Who the hell are you?" Ashley demanded, taking a step forward.

"I'm Mark," the man snarled. "And this bitch is holding my daughter. Now get out of my way!"

Maria was both confused and afraid, unsure of what to do next. And all of this was nostalgic for her somehow. She had never met this man before or the little girl, but it was clear to her that he was dangerous and desperate.

The tension in the room was thick and suffocating, like a storm cloud hanging over them. Maria and Ashley stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do next.

As Mark forcefully pushed past Ashley and Julia, he shoved Maria hard, causing her to lose her balance and fall to the ground. Maria's head spun as she struggled to regain her composure, feeling a mix of fear, confusion, and pain. Tears streamed down her face as she clutched her chest, trying to catch her breath. She felt a sense of helplessness wash over her, as if she was unable to control her own body. In a weak voice, she whispered, "Mama, papa."

Ashley quickly regained her footing and assessed the situation. Seeing Julia in distress, she approached her and asked what was going on. Julia's cries only grew louder, and Ashley turned to Mark, her voice shaking with anger.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she yelled.

Mark sneered at Ashley, holding the little girl close to his chest. "This is my daughter!. And there's nothing this lying bitch or anyone else can do about it!"

Maria struggled to keep her eyes open and watched as Ashley and Julia frantically tried to stop Mark. But the man was too strong and determined to get away. Maria could hear his cold voice echoing in her ears, "Stay out of my way!"

As the situation escalated, Maria's vision started to blur, she felt as if the ground was slipping away from under her feet. The world around her was spinning, and she struggled to keep her balance. She could hear the sound of breaking glass and furniture crashing to the ground, and it made her feel even more disoriented. The chaos in the room was overwhelming, and Maria felt like she was drowning in it.

She could hear Julia's heart-wrenching sobs and pleas for mercy, and Ashley's angry voice as she yelled at the man to stop. Maria wanted to help, to do something, but she was frozen in fear and confusion. Her mind was clouded, and she couldn't think straight.

As the tension in the room reached its peak, Maria's body gave in to the overwhelming emotions. She felt a rush of adrenaline, followed by a wave of exhaustion, and then darkness. The last thing she remembered was the sound of Julia's crying and the feeling of her own body hitting the ground before she lost consciousness.

The darkness around her was complete, and Maria felt lost in it. She tried to move, to open her eyes, but her body wouldn't respond. It was as if she was suspended in time and space, unable to escape the darkness that had consumed her. Fear washed over her, and she started to panic.

Then, she heard her mother's calming voice. "Todo estará bien, hija," it said. "Everything will be alright, daughter." The voice was a balm to her frazzled nerves, and Maria felt a sense of peace wash over her. She knew that everything would be alright, and she could finally relax.