50. The D'erricos (Part one)

I backed away slowly, my heart thundering in my ears. "I...I need some air," I stammered out, the words feeling thick and clumsy on my tongue.

My legs trembled like a newborn calf's beneath me, but I had to get out of this suffocating room. I had to escape the D'Erricos and the toxic cloud of violence and chaos that seemed to follow this family everywhere they went.

Turning on shaky legs, I practically bolted for the door, the plush carpeting muffling my hurried footsteps. I didn't look back, didn't pause. I heard Diana's cries echoing behind me telling me to wait but I just ran blindly, my vision growing fuzzy around the edges as panic gripped me in its vice-like clutches.

I didn't even know where to go everything seemed so hazy. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I burst through the doorway and skidded to a halt in the blessedly empty passageway. I immediately bent at the waist, hands braced on my knees as I gulped down precious gulps of air. But it didn't seem to be enough