Mimi's face was barely recognizable anymore—streaked with tears, snot, and a smear of blood from where her lip had split against the stage floor. Bruises were already darkening along her cheekbone and jaw, blooming ugly purple under the harsh white lights.
"I hate you, Elena Zhang!" The words came out raw, shredded, more sob than scream.
Elena looked down at her without expression. "I noticed."
She planted one heel between Mimi's shoulder blades and pressed down—slow, deliberate, enough weight to pin without quite crushing. Her fingers twisted into the girl's sweat-matted hair, yanking her head back just far enough to keep her from wriggling free.
Mimi thrashed anyway. Nails scraped uselessly against polished wood. Her legs kicked, heels drumming frantic little rhythms. "I'm going to kill you, you evil bitch!"
"You don't have the ability," Elena said, almost bored.
"Boss, watch out!"
Simon's shout cracked through the noise like a whip.
Elena didn't look. She didn't need to.
