Nora made to sidestep Leslie but Leslie grabbed her, and restrained her as she began to thrash and shout to let her go, before Jo swooped in to help Leslie, telling Nora—Love, you need to gather yourself, okay?

Please, let me go, Nora pleaded, terrified.

Howard reached out to calm her—Nora—

Don’t touch me.

We’re all in this together, he said. And we’re trying to protect you.

Let me go, now. Let go of me—she screamed, her face growing red.

Jo now had her in an almost full-body lock—Nora, I need you to focus. All right? I want you to tune with me.

Leslie asked the others for help in calming her. Mia and Damian grabbed hold of Nora’s legs to stop her from kicking. Emily hovered close with no real way to add herself to the struggle. Shawn, Kyle, and I stood a few paces back watching, horrified. I knew I should intercede but I was too stunned to know how.

Guys—Shawn shouted, over the melee.

Love, please, Emily cooed, bending down to look Nora in the face. Think of what’s at stake. Damian reminded Nora that if she walked outside now, they would arrest her, and try to break her.

Enough! Shawn shouted again, his voice drowned out.

And they’re going to turn you on us, Damian continued.

I need you to focus, Jo told Nora, who just kept screaming for them to let her go, her voice growing hoarse. Her brow was sweaty, and her hair dishevelled. I could see Kyle was also in a state of shock, watching all of this unfold.

You’re making this worse for yourself, Leslie told her.

Bring her down to the ground, Howard instructed everyone.

Guys, please—Shawn begged. This is crazy.

On the count of three, Howard said.

I finally rallied and managed to shout—Just let her go.

One—

Please!

Two—

Mia suddenly lost her grip, or maybe released it, and Nora wrested free an arm and elbowed Leslie in the stomach, who grunted and doubled over, destabilizing the mass, and Nora tumbled out, her eyes wild with fear, as she gasped for breath. Dios ten piedad de ti, she spat at us, before dashing out of the room, tearing open the front door, and running from the house.

Jo pointed frantically at the wide-open door, shouting—Lock it, lock it, lock it!

Damian scrambled to the door, slammed it, and locked it.

That was not okay, Shawn shouted.

It didn’t have to be like that, Mia said, shaking her head.

Leslie straightened up, pained and manic. Good fucking riddance, she barked towards the front door.