Shadows of the Twilight

Chapter 4: A Ghost from the Past

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The following year brought another unexpected twist. One evening, as the wind whistled through the trees, they received an unexpected visitor: Ethan’s estranged brother, Peter. He showed up at their doorstep, his face worn and tired, carrying news that shook them both.

"I found out what Ethan did to you two," Peter said, his voice full of regret. "I came to apologize. I should’ve done something, but I was too caught up in my own life."

Kian’s heart raced, his fists clenching instinctively. Every muscle in his body screamed to turn the man away, to shut the door on everything that tied them to that dark part of their past. But Peter seemed different—like he, too, had been running from something for a long time.

Lila was the one to speak first, her voice calm but firm. "What do you want?"

Peter looked down at the ground, his hands shaking. "I’m not asking for forgiveness. I don’t deserve that. But I wanted to tell you that Ethan... he’s gone."

Kian’s breath caught in his throat. "Gone?"

Peter nodded. "He got into a bar fight. Someone hit him too hard. It was quick. I don’t think he suffered much."

Kian felt a strange mix of emotions—relief, anger, sadness. For so long, Ethan had been the shadow hanging over their lives, the source of their nightmares. And now he was gone. Just like that.

"What are we supposed to do with this information?" Lila asked quietly.

Peter sighed. "I don’t know. I just thought you should know. Maybe it gives you some peace."

Kian looked at Lila, searching her face for any sign of what she was feeling. But all he saw was the same strength she had always carried, the same resilience that had gotten them through the worst of it.

"Thank you for telling us," Kian said finally. "But we’re okay now. We don’t need anything else from the past."

Peter nodded and left quietly, disappearing into the night like a ghost.

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