FRAGILE - Hierarchy

• 011 •

Before she could react, the doorbell rang again, more urgently this time, heightening Ellie's panic. With trembling hands, she stood frozen, unsure what to do.

Then, a crash echoed through the apartment, startling her into action. Dropping her phone, she rushed to unlock the door, heart pounding.

As she struggled with the lock, a shadowy figure lunged, knocking her down hard. Ellie screamed in terror, fighting desperately against the intruder's grasp, kicking and clawing. Adrenaline surged as fear overwhelmed her senses.

In the chaos, Rian's voice rang out from a distance, urgent and furious. "Ellie!" he shouted, but his words felt distant amidst her struggle.

The intruder, undeterred by Rian's approach, grabbed a letter opener nearby. In a split-second decision, Ellie threw herself between Rian and the attacker, taking a sharp blow to her side as the letter opener pierced her.

Pain shot through Ellie, causing her to cry out in agony. Blood trickled down as she collapsed, her strength fading fast. She looked up at Rian, tears streaming, struggling to breathe.

Rian froze, horror etched on his face, seeing Ellie sacrifice herself to protect him. Anguish and rage twisted his features as he lunged at the intruder, but it was too late. With a final push, the assailant broke free, fleeing into the night.

Rian knelt beside Ellie, hands trembling as he held her gently. "Ellie," he whispered hoarsely, filled with anguish. "Hang on, help's coming."

Struggling to stay conscious, Ellie clung to Rian, her vision blurring. Sirens grew louder as police arrived, apprehending the intruder who had escaped.

Medics rushed to tend Ellie's wound as Rian stayed by her side, consumed with guilt. He felt he'd failed to protect her in her moment of need.

As Rian had been at the party, mingling with friends and trying to enjoy himself despite the underlying tension from recent events, he suddenly received a text message.

His phone, lying momentarily unattended on a table while he chatted with Hera, Jae-i, and a few others, flashed with a notification.

Curious, he picked it up and unlocked the screen to find a picture from the party: Hera, Jae-i, and himself laughing together, captured in a moment of camaraderie.

But beneath the picture, there was a message that caught Rian off guard—a stark warning in hastily scrawled letters:

"Ellie's in danger. Come quick."

Rian's heart sank as he read those words. Without a moment's hesitation, he excused himself from the group, leaving Jae-i and the others mid-conversation. His thoughts raced with worry for Ellie—what kind of danger could she be in? Who would threaten her?

With a sense of urgency, Rian sprinted out of the building, his mind focused solely on Ellie's safety. Adrenaline surged through him as he fumbled with his keys upon reaching his car. Once inside, he started the engine with shaky hands and sped towards Ellie's apartment, his heart pounding in his chest.

The streets were unusually quiet at this late hour, the night air cold and unwelcoming. Every second felt like an eternity as Rian raced against time, praying fervently that he would reach Ellie in time to prevent any harm.

As he approached Ellie's building, dread twisted in his gut. He parked hastily and dashed towards the entrance, not bothering to wait for the elevator. Taking the stairs two at a time, he reached her floor breathless and anxious.

The corridor seemed unnervingly silent as Rian hurried to Ellie's apartment door. His hand trembled as he knocked urgently, calling out her name with a mixture of fear and urgency. There was no response. Panic clawed at his chest as he pounded on the door harder, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios.