The Silent City

Chapter 24

A Brother's Worry

The clock on Isabelle’s nightstand glowed a dim, soft blue in the darkness of her room. It was just past 2:00 AM, and the house was quiet, the stillness of the night broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves outside her window. She lay curled up on her bed, her thoughts spinning endlessly as she tried to process the events of the evening.

The dim light from a small lamp on her desk cast long shadows across the room, illuminating the delicate floral patterns on her wallpaper and the soft, pastel colors that adorned the space. Her bookshelves, filled with novels and trinkets from her travels, stood sentinel in the corner, while Max, her loyal golden retriever, slept at the foot of her bed, his soft snores a comforting reminder that she wasn’t entirely alone.

But despite the familiar comfort of her surroundings, Isabelle couldn’t shake the unease that clung to her like a shroud. Her mind kept replaying the encounter in the alley—those cold, emotionless eyes staring back at her, the sensation of her heart pounding as she swung the stick, and the shock of seeing the man stumble and flee.

The realization that she might have come face-to-face with the serial killer had left her rattled, her normally optimistic outlook clouded by fear and uncertainty. She had tried to focus on the comforting sounds of Max’s breathing, the weight of the blankets on her bed, anything to distract her from the dark thoughts that refused to leave her alone.

Just as she was beginning to drift off into a restless sleep, the door to her room burst open, startling her awake.

“Isabelle!”

Her brother Jacob stood in the doorway, his tall frame backlit by the hallway light. He looked every bit the authoritative CEO he was—broad-shouldered, impeccably dressed, and with an air of command that made people fall in line without question. But tonight, there was something else in his eyes—fear.

Isabelle sat up quickly, the covers pooling around her waist. “Jacob? What are you doing here?”

Jacob crossed the room in three long strides, his face etched with concern as he knelt beside her bed. His usually intimidating presence was softened by the way he reached out to brush a stray lock of hair from her face, his touch uncharacteristically gentle.

“I just got back from the office,” he said, his voice low but tinged with urgency. “Mom and Dad told me what happened. Why didn’t you call me?”

“I didn’t want to worry you,” Isabelle replied, her voice small as she looked up at him. “You’re always so busy with work, and I didn’t think... I didn’t think it was that big of a deal.”

“Not that big of a deal?” Jacob’s voice rose slightly, a mixture of frustration and concern. “Izzy, you could have been seriously hurt. You ran into a killer tonight! Do you even realize how dangerous that was?”

Isabelle flinched at the sharpness in his tone, but she knew it was only because he cared. Jacob had always been protective of her, ever since they were kids. Even now, as an adult and the CEO of their family’s conglomerate, he never hesitated to drop everything when it came to her safety.

“I’m sorry, Jacob,” she whispered, her eyes downcast. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just... I had to do something. That girl... she was going to die.”

Jacob sighed heavily, his expression softening as he realized how shaken she truly was. He sat down on the edge of her bed, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I know, Izzy. I know you were just trying to help. But you have to understand—your safety comes first. I can’t lose you.”

Isabelle looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes as the weight of everything hit her. “I was so scared, Jacob. I thought... I thought he was going to kill me, too.”

Jacob’s heart clenched at the sight of his usually strong and resilient sister so vulnerable. Without a word, he pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her as if he could shield her from the horrors of the world.

“You’re safe now,” he murmured into her hair. “I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise.”

Isabelle clung to him, grateful for the warmth and protection he offered. Despite their occasional sibling squabbles, she had always known that Jacob would be there for her, no matter what. Tonight, that knowledge was the only thing keeping her grounded.

For a long moment, they just sat there, the silence between them filled with unspoken words of comfort and reassurance. Jacob’s presence was a calming force, his steady breathing and strong arms a reminder that she wasn’t alone in this.

Finally, Jacob pulled back slightly, looking down at her with a serious expression. “Listen, I’m going to make some calls tomorrow. We’ll have extra security around the house, and I’ll make sure you’re never alone when you go out. I don’t care if it’s just to walk Max—you’re not taking any risks, got it?”

Isabelle nodded, too exhausted to argue. “Okay.”

“And if anything else happens, anything at all, you call me. I don’t care what time it is or where I am—I’ll be there.”

“I promise,” she said, managing a small smile. “Thank you, Jacob.”

He nodded, finally allowing himself to relax a little. “Get some rest, Izzy. We’ll talk more in the morning.”

He stood up, giving Max a gentle pat on the head before heading toward the door. But before he left, he turned back to her, his expression softening.

“I’m proud of you, you know,” he said quietly. “You did something really brave tonight.”

Isabelle felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words. “Thanks, Jacob. That means a lot.”

With a final nod, Jacob left the room, closing the door softly behind him. Isabelle lay back down, feeling a little more at ease now that her brother had been there to comfort her. Max shifted closer to her, his warm body pressing against her leg as if sensing she needed the extra reassurance.

As she drifted off to sleep, the fear that had gripped her earlier began to fade, replaced by a sense of safety that only Jacob could provide. But even in the safety of her home, she knew that the events of the night would stay with her, a reminder of the darkness that lurked just beyond the edges of her world.