Hannah House.

*As Hannah and Riley stepped inside, Hannah's stepfather, Marcus, emerged from the living room, his imposing figure casting a long shadow across the floor. His stern gaze fell upon the pair, and Hannah felt a familiar knot of anxiety form in her stomach.*

"Marcus, hi," Hannah said cautiously, trying to sound friendly despite the tension that always seemed to simmer between them. "Riley and I were wondering if she could crash here for a bit. There's been some trouble at her place, and she needs a safe space to regroup."

*Marcus crossed his arms, his dark eyes narrowing slightly as he regarded Riley. "What kind of trouble?" he asked gruffly, his deep voice sending a shiver down Hannah's spine.*

"It's nothing serious, Mr. Thompson," Riley assured him, her tone polite but firm.

*Marcus let out a hearty laugh, his dark eyes glinting with amusement as he looked Riley up and down. "Alright, sweetie, you're welcome to stay with Hannah for a few days. Just make sure she doesn't slack off on her chores, ya hear?"

*Without waiting for a response, he turned his attention back to Hannah, his large hand suddenly landing a sharp slap on her rear. The unexpected contact made her jump, and she felt a surge of anger and humiliation.*

"Stop it, Marcus!" Hannah snapped, her voice trembling with indignation. She quickly gathered her belongings and stormed upstairs, Riley following closely behind. As soon as they reached the safety of Hannah's bedroom, she slammed the door shut and leaned against it, panting.*

"I'm so sorry, Riley. My stepdad is such a complete moron sometimes,"