"Trapped Emotions"

The silence that followed was oppressive, punctuated only by the sound of Sage's quiet sobs. Viper's back was turned to her, but she could sense Sage's eyes on her, boring into her skin like a hot knife. She didn't flinch, didn't move, didn't even breathe. She just stood there, frozen in a mask of indifference. Sage, however, couldn't help but feel a surge of frustration and hurt. Why did Viper have to be so cruel? What had she done to deserve such treatment? As she stood there, trying to compose herself, she noticed something that made her heart skip a beat. Viper's shoulders were tense, her back rigid, and her hands were clenched into fists. For a moment, Sage wondered if Viper was as unaffected as she seemed. Was it possible that Viper's cold exterior was just a facade, a shield to protect herself from the world? The thought sent a spark of curiosity through Sage, and she took a step forward, her eyes fixed on Viper's back. Viper's head snapped around, her eyes flashing with warning. "Don't," she growled, her voice low and menacing. Sage hesitated, but her feet seemed to move of their own accord. She took another step forward, and then another, until she was standing right behind Viper. Viper's tension was palpable, and Sage could feel the air vibrating with her anger. Without thinking, Sage reached out and touched Viper's shoulder. It was a gentle touch, a soothing touch, but Viper's reaction was immediate. She spun around, her eyes blazing with fury, and for a moment, Sage thought she saw something else there, something that looked almost like...pain. "Don't touch me," Viper snarled, her voice barely above a whisper. Sage took a step back, her heart racing. She had never seen Viper like this before, so raw and vulnerable. It was both captivating and terrifying, and Sage didn't know how to react. As they stood there, locked in a silent standoff, the door creaked again, and this time, it was followed by the sound of footsteps. Heavy, deliberate footsteps, coming from the other side of the door. Viper's eyes flicked towards the door, and for a moment, Sage saw a glimmer of fear there. But then, Viper's expression hardened, and she turned back to Sage. "It seems we have company," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "How nice of them to join us." The footsteps stopped outside the door, and a low voice called out, "Viper? Sage? Are you in there?" Viper's eyes locked onto Sage's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them crackling like electricity. Then, without a word, Viper turned and walked towards the door, Sage following closely behind her. As they stood there, waiting for whatever was on the other side of the door, Sage couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead, and whether she and Viper would be able to face it together.