haunted.

sadness

TW- mention of self harm & suicide.

A few days passed, and Rohit had returned to his office routine, leaving Virat at home. Although Pip continued to visit and keep him company, there were still moments when Virat found himself alone. During these quiet times, the whispers of Edmund's voice returned, filling his mind with degrading thoughts and insidious lies.

"You're worthless," the voice taunted. "You'll never be the same. No one can truly help you."

The relentless barrage wore Virat down, and the darkness he had been fighting off crept back in. One particularly bad day, overwhelmed by the despair, he found himself in the kitchen, staring at a knife. The sharpness of the blade seemed to promise a way to silence the torment, if only for a moment.

With shaking hands, Virat took the knife and made a small cut on his arm, hidden beneath his hoodie sleeve. The physical pain provided a fleeting sense of relief, a momentary distraction from the mental anguish. He quickly bandaged the wound, feeling a grim sense of satisfaction as he pulled his sleeve back down.

When Rohit returned home that evening, he was tired but hopeful. He made dinner for them, trying to maintain a sense of normalcy. As they sat down to eat, the silence between them was heavy but familiar. Virat wore a hoodie, concealing the fresh scar on his arm.

"How was your day?" Rohit asked, attempting to engage Virat in conversation.

"It was okay," Virat replied, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. He picked at his food, not really eating.

Rohit could sense something was off, but he didn't want to push Virat too hard. Instead, he focused on being present and supportive, hoping that with time, Virat would open up again.

After dinner, they settled into their usual routine. Rohit noticed that Virat seemed more withdrawn than usual, but he attributed it to the ongoing struggle with his mental health. He watched as Virat retreated to the bedroom, his heart heavy with concern.

Before bed, Rohit quietly entered the bedroom, finding Virat sitting on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the floor. He approached slowly, sitting beside him and wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

"I'm here for you, Virat," Rohit said softly. "No matter what, I'm always here."

Virat leaned into Rohit's embrace, feeling the warmth and comfort he so desperately needed. But the secret of the cut burned inside him, a reminder of the darkness he was still fighting. He knew he needed to tell Rohit, but the fear of burdening him held him back.

For now, he stayed silent, grateful for the momentary peace that Rohit's presence provided, even as the battle within him raged on.

The next day, Rohit went back to the office, leaving Virat alone in their mansion. As soon as Rohit left, the oppressive silence settled in, and Virat felt the familiar grip of Edmund's flashbacks tightening around his mind. The horrifying memories played on a loop, making it hard for Virat to distinguish between reality and the torment in his head.

The whispers grew louder, and Virat's breathing quickened. He felt an overwhelming sense of panic rise within him, his vision blurring as the walls seemed to close in. Desperate and unable to calm himself, he fell to the floor, gasping for air, his body shaking uncontrollably.

Just then, Pip and Ravi arrived, their timing a stroke of luck. They found Virat on the floor, struggling with a full-blown panic attack. Pip immediately knelt beside him, speaking in a soothing tone.

"Virat, it's okay. We're here. Breathe with me," she instructed, taking slow, deep breaths to guide him.

Ravi joined them, gently placing a hand on Virat's shoulder. "You're safe, Virat. Focus on our voices."