Found Obsession

Chapter 30: Photograph

Rose sat at Raven's kitchen table, her hands wrapped around the warm cup of tea, though she barely felt it. The warmth was distant, as if it was meant for someone else, not her. She stared blankly ahead, her mind drifting back to the sight of Henry's body-motionless, his eyes empty, blood pooling around him. The horrific image lingered in her thoughts, making her stomach churn.

"Rose?" Raven's voice broke through her haze, pulling her back to the present. She blinked, realizing he had been calling her for a while. He stood in front of her, a first aid kit in hand, his expression full of concern.

She looked up at him, struggling to focus, her fingers trembling around the cup. She hadn't even noticed she was shaking.

"I need to clean you up," Raven said gently, kneeling beside her. "Is there something that hurts more than normal?"

Rose blinked again, her gaze falling to her hands, still stained with dried blood. She hadn't thought about her own pain, hadn't even checked for injuries. The numbness was overwhelming.

"I... I don't know," she whispered, her voice barely audible. The shock was still heavy on her, weighing her down, pulling her away from the moment.

Raven nodded he eyed her and stood up, soon coming back.

Raven worked in silence, his focus steady as he dipped the small towel into the warm water, wringing it out gently before pressing it softly against Rose's hands. The blood-stained water swirled, turning a light crimson as he wiped away the dried evidence of the night's horrors. His movements were careful, deliberate, as though he feared causing her more harm. Each stroke was tender, as if he was trying to erase not just the blood, but the pain that came with it.

He rinsed the towel, the water now red, and refilled the basin before continuing. This time, he moved to her face, cleaning her cheeks, then her forehead, moving down to her lips. The touch was gentle, almost reverent. Rose sat still, letting him do the work, barely flinching at the contact. Her thoughts were scattered, fragmented by the trauma she couldn't yet fully process.

Raven's hand paused for a moment, his thumb brushing against her skin as if to check for any sign of her returning to herself. But Rose remained quiet, her mind far away, lost in the images that replayed in her head. He didn't push her to speak, knowing she needed the quiet. He just kept cleaning, as if in this small act, he could help her find her way back to solid ground.

Raven refilled the basin again, the water now clear, ready to continue. He hesitated this time before sitting down in front of Rose, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and uncertainty.

"I need to clean your neck," he whispered gently, his voice low, careful not to startle her.

Rose didn't respond at first, her focus drifting back to the warm cup in her lap that was held with her hands. But when Raven's gaze shifted slightly, she followed it, looking down at her blouse. Blood had soaked into the fabric, the dark stains vivid against the material. For a moment, it didn't even seem real to her-the blood, the events, everything.

Raven's voice broke through the fog again. "Your blouse..." he began, unsure of how to proceed, but the unspoken words hung between them.

My blouse..." She repeated.

Rose's fingers trembled slightly as she looked at the mess covering her, slowly realizing the weight of everything that had happened. She nodded faintly, a silent acknowledgment of what had to be done, though her movements were slow, her mind still miles away.

Rose set the cup of tea down on the table, her fingers trembling as they reached for the first button of her blood-stained blouse. The simple act seemed monumental, her hands shaking uncontrollably, taking longer than it should have. When she finally managed to undo the first button, her breath hitched as if the effort had drained the last bit of her strength.