Decay - The Matter Maelstrom

Thirteen || Jewelry Designer

The next morning, I'm still down in the basement, though now, with Charles' presence and comforting words lingering in my mind, I don't feel as completely lost. He stayed with me until I finally drifted into an uneasy sleep, his warmth a reassuring presence against the cold walls. But when I wake, he's gone, leaving only a faint scent of his cologne behind.

The faint light from the small, barred window high on the wall filters into the room, casting long shadows that stretch across the floor. I sit up slowly, still feeling the remnants of fear and guilt weighing me down. It's not completely gone, but it's manageable now, like a wound that's starting to scab over, still raw but beginning to heal.

The door creaks open, and I look up to see Hank standing there, his large frame filling the doorway. His expression is softer than usual, filled with concern. "Lauren," he says, his voice gentle, "how are you feeling?"

"Better," I manage to say, though my voice is rough, still heavy with everything I went through last night. "But... it's still hard, Hank."

He nods, understanding in his eyes as he steps inside, shutting the door quietly behind him. "I can't imagine how terrifying that must have been for you."

I don't answer, just nod slightly, and Hank takes a seat on the edge of the bed.

Hank pulls a small, velvet box from his coat pocket and holds it out to me. It's nothing special, just a simple box that looks like it might hold a piece of jewelry, but the way Hank's looking at it makes me think it's much more than that.

With hesitant fingers, I take the box from him and open it. Inside, nestled on a cushion of black velvet, is a pair of earrings. They're simple, silver studs.

"The earrings..." I say with wide eyes.

"They won't make you invulnerable, but they should give you a significant level of protection. Enough to keep you safe from another attack like the one last night."

The relief that washes over me is overwhelming. I hadn't realized just how tense I'd been, how much fear had taken root inside me, until the possibility of relief was handed to me in this small velvet box.

"Thank you, Hank. Thank you so much."I whisper, my voice breaking slightly as I look up at Hank, tears threatening to spill over again, but this time from a place of gratitude rather than fear.

Hank smiles, a warm, comforting smile that makes me feel a little lighter. "You don't need to thank me, Lauren. We're all in this together. And Charles... he'd do anything to keep you safe. This is just one way we can help."

The mention of Charles makes my heart twist, remembering the look in his eyes last night, the way he'd fought to reach me, even when I was the one hurting him. I'll never forget that, never forget how close I came to losing him. But maybe, with these, I can make sure it never happens again.

I take one of the earrings out of the box, holding it delicately between my fingers. It's surprisingly light, almost weightless, and as I look at it, I can't help but feel a sense of empowerment, like this small piece of metal might be the key to reclaiming my strength, my control.

"Do you want me to help you put them on?" Hank offers gently.

I nod, handing him the earring. He takes it carefully and then moves closer, his hands steady as he reaches for my ear. His touch is gentle, and as he secures the first earring in place, I feel a strange sensation, like a faint hum at the edge of my mind, and then... quiet. A silence that feels different from the usual hum of thoughts and emotions that I've grown used to.

The faint buzzing that was in the back of my head since yesterday fades away.

He moves to the other side, placing the second earring, and when he's done, I reach up to touch them, feeling their cool metal against my skin. The difference is subtle but noticeable. My mind feels clearer, more focused, and the ever-present fear that Echo might slip into my thoughts is muted, pushed back to the farthest reaches of my consciousness.