cut a diamond, break it down

The urge to stand up against her uncle is purely instinctual, born of too many years protecting others from bullies and adults alike. She barely has time to register it as a mistake before Shea's knife is forced into her shoulder, before his leg darts out to  knock her feet out from other her, before his other hand goes flying towards her face.

She manages, at least, to block the fist, but he just catches at her wrist and twists her arm away with a force she's certain had sprained it at the very least.

The blade in her shoulder is tugged out of it suddenly and drawn across her collarbone before its pressed against her throat. Hands larger than her own-- not Shea's, and not his second-in-command's as she'd expected, but one of the other, older boys-- force her arms to the ground, and one of Shea's knees rests against her ribcage as he bends to capture her eyes in a dark, furious gaze.

The blade descends again, and Rachel lasts only a few moments before she screams.