Absolution | +18

Chapter 46

Val

It had been days, and the dim light filtering through the window felt like a cruel reminder of time slipping away. Silas lay there, drifting in and out of consciousness, his fever still clinging to him like a shadow. I spent countless hours by his side, the weight of worry pressing down on my chest. Each shallow breath he took sent a ripple of anxiety through me, gnawing at my resolve.

As I watched him, I couldn't shake the thought of leaving, of slipping away to The Underground, where I could find some semblance of control and escape. This was the perfect time—the chaos around us provided the perfect cover. But every time I entertained the idea, a heavy guilt settled over me. The last time I left him, I'd nearly lost him. The thought of abandoning him again was unbearable.

I stood up from the bed, my heart aching as I glanced back at him, feeling a sense of loss wash over me. I needed to get a new rag to cool his forehead, something to help bring down the fever. But as I turned to walk away, I felt a sudden tug on my wrist. Silas's hand closed around me, pulling me back toward him.

"Bambi..." His voice was weak, barely a whisper, his eyes half-closed but still managing to convey a depth of emotion that sent a jolt through me.

"Silas," I said softly, kneeling beside him, my heart racing at the concern etched across his face. "You need to rest. I'm just getting a rag."

His grip tightened, and he blinked slowly, trying to focus on me. "Don't go," he murmured, his voice laced with a desperation that made my chest ache. "Please."

I swallowed hard, the fear in his gaze cutting deeper than any wound. "I won't leave you," I promised, leaning closer so he could see the sincerity in my eyes. "I just need to help you."

He seemed to struggle with his words, wrestling with some internal battle as his eyes searched mine. "Don't... don't leave me alone."

My heart shattered at his vulnerability. "I'm right here, Silas. I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

With a heavy breath, he let go of my wrist but kept his hand close, brushing against my fingers as if he needed that connection to ground him. I felt a rush of warmth flood through me, a reminder of how much he needed me and how much I needed him. In this moment, there was no underground, no escape from the weight of our past. It was just us—two broken souls fighting to stay whole.

I leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead, feeling the heat radiating from him. "I'll always be here for you," I whispered, more for my own reassurance than his. I wouldn't leave him again. I couldn't.

I climbed into bed beside Silas, the sheets still warm from his feverish body. The space felt small, but it was comforting, the weight of his presence enveloping me like a blanket. I settled against him, my hand instinctively rubbing his chest in slow, soothing circles, hoping to ease some of his discomfort.

He lay there, his eyes half-open, a haze of confusion and exhaustion clouding his expression. I could feel the tension in his muscles, the remnants of the fever still clinging to him. I wanted to erase that tension, to chase away the pain that held him captive.

As I rubbed my hand gently over his chest, I could feel his heartbeat thumping steadily beneath my palm. He seemed to absorb the warmth of my touch, but there was a flicker of awareness in his gaze as he took me in—searching, almost as if he were trying to piece together a puzzle.

Then his eyes landed on my neck, and I felt a jolt of unease ripple through me. I'd almost forgotten about the mark, the dark bruise that had formed there—a reminder of that moment of chaos, the way he had wrestled with his own demons and lost control. I could see the realization dawning in his eyes, and it twisted my stomach.