Broken Hearts...

Nine

## Chapter 4: The Darkness Deepens

Harry woke with a start, a cold sweat clinging to his skin. The remnants of a nightmare lingered, images of faceless shadows and relentless chases fading into the oppressive darkness of his room. He glanced at the clock-2:34 AM. His heart pounded in his chest, a relentless drumbeat that matched the pain in his back.

He turned to check on Emma, her small form barely visible in the dim light. She was still asleep, her soft breaths a fragile reassurance. Harry exhaled slowly, trying to steady himself. But the unease from the nightmare clung to him, refusing to dissipate.

The door creaked open, and April slipped into the room. Her presence was like a cold wind, chilling the already frigid air. She moved silently, her eyes locking onto Harry's. For a moment, they stared at each other, the tension thick and suffocating.

"Why are you awake?" April's voice was barely a whisper, yet it carried the weight of a threat.

"I- I had a nightmare," Harry stammered, trying to sound casual. "Just couldn't sleep."

April's eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering across her face. "Nightmares, huh? I wonder what you're so afraid of."

Harry swallowed hard, his mind racing. He couldn't let her see his fear, couldn't let her suspect anything. "It was nothing. Just stress, I guess."

April moved closer, her fingers trailing along the edge of the bed. "Stress? You have no idea what stress is, Harry. You have everything you need here. A family. A home. Isn't that enough?"

Harry nodded, his throat dry. "Of course, April. It's more than enough. I'm just... tired."

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before she finally turned away, heading back to the door. "Get some rest. You'll need your strength."

As the door closed behind her, Harry let out a shaky breath. He knew her words were a warning, a reminder of her control. He couldn't let his guard down, not even for a moment.

The next day was a blur of tension and unease. Harry moved through the motions, taking care of Emma, doing his chores, all the while feeling April's eyes on him. She was always watching, always waiting for him to slip up.

By afternoon, Harry felt the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him. He sat on the couch, trying to catch a moment of peace while Emma napped. But the silence was broken by the sharp ring of the doorbell.

April appeared in the doorway, her expression unreadable. "We have a visitor," she said, her voice cold.

Harry's heart sank as he saw who stood at the door-Detective Collins, a stern-faced man with piercing blue eyes. He stepped inside, his gaze sweeping the room before settling on Harry.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Styles," Collins said, his tone clipped. "I hope I'm not interrupting."

Harry forced a smile, his mind racing. "Not at all, Detective. How can I help you?"

Collins took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. "I'm following up on some concerns raised by your friends. They've been worried about you, Harry. Haven't heard from you in a while."

Harry felt April's presence like a vise tightening around his throat. He glanced at her, her eyes a warning. "I've been... busy. Family stuff. You know how it is."

Collins didn't look convinced. "Busy, huh? That's interesting. Because your friends seem to think something else might be going on. Something you might need help with."

Harry's heart pounded, the walls closing in. He felt trapped, suffocated by the weight of April's control and the detective's scrutiny. "I appreciate their concern, Detective, but everything's fine. Really."

Collins' gaze hardened. "Is that so? Because you don't look fine, Harry. You look like a man under a lot of pressure. Maybe from someone close to you."

April stepped forward, her smile icy. "Harry's just been tired, Detective. Parenting is hard work. But we're managing just fine."

Collins looked between them, his eyes sharp and probing. "If you say so. But remember, Harry, if you ever need help, there are people who care about you. People who want to see you safe."

Harry nodded, the words catching in his throat. "I'll remember that. Thank you, Detective."

Collins gave a curt nod and turned to leave, his eyes lingering on Harry for a moment longer. As the door closed behind him, the silence that followed was suffocating.

April's smile vanished, replaced by a look of cold fury. "What did you tell him?"

"Nothing," Harry whispered, his voice trembling. "I didn't say anything."

April's eyes blazed with anger. "You better not have. Because if I find out you've been talking to anyone about us, there will be consequences. Do you understand?"

Harry nodded, his fear choking him. "I understand."

April leaned in, her voice a deadly whisper. "Good. Now, get back to work."

As she walked away, Harry felt the weight of her words pressing down on him. He knew he had to be more careful, more vigilant. The glimmer of hope he had felt was now overshadowed by a deeper, more pervasive darkness.

He went through the rest of the day in a daze, his mind consumed by fear and dread. He knew he couldn't keep this up forever, but the path to freedom seemed more treacherous than ever.

That night, as he lay in bed, the pain in his back a constant reminder of his suffering, Harry made a silent vow. He would find a way out. For Emma. For himself. No matter the cost.

But as the darkness closed in around him, he couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out. And that the shadows that haunted his dreams were creeping ever closer, threatening to consume him whole.