Whispers of a Monster

Chapter 8 : Path to Darkness

The rain had cleared by evening, leaving the streets with a fresh glisten under the light. Evelyn pulled her coat tighter around her, replaying last night's events over in her mind as she walked towards her house. The weight of her confession still lingered, yet sharing it with Edward had lifted a part of the burden she'd carried.

With a sigh, Evelyn turned the corner onto her street. She paused by a small street vendor selling delicate bracelets, rings, bangles, all glinting in the night light. One bracelet, a thin silver band with intricate floral engravings, caught her eye. Her grandmother would have loved it. On impulse, she bought it, tucking it into her pocket with a faint smile.

But as she approached her house, the smile faded. A knot of unease tightened in her stomach as she noticed flashing lights in the distance. Police cars and an ambulance were parked outside her house, red and blue lights casting an eerie glow over her street. She broke into a run, her heart pounding with each step.

As she neared, the low murmur of voices filled the air, neighbors gathering around the commotion, whispering among themselves. "Someone was killed..." "It's that old lady from B-block" she heard a voice murmur. Her chest tightened, dread pooling in her stomach as she pushed through the crowd.

At the center of it all, she saw a stretcher bearing a body, covered from head to toe, being lifted into the ambulance. Her legs trembled. No... it couldn't be.

"Grandma!" she cried, her voice cracking. Panic clouded her vision as she stumbled forward, desperation driving her through the small throng of people.

A hand grasped her shoulder, pulling her back gently but firmly. It was Detective Ryan. "Evelyn, I'm so sorry..." His voice was somber, his eyes filled with sympathy.

She shook her head, refusing to believe it. Pushing past him, she ran to the stretcher, ignoring the voices urging her to stop. With trembling hands, she reached for the cloth covering her grandmother's face. A nurse tried to warn her. "It might be too much to see..."

Ignoring the nurse, Evelyn pulled the cloth back, revealing her grandmother's peaceful face, eyes closed as if she were merely sleeping. She felt the bracelet in her pocket, her heart shattering as she realized she would never have the chance to give it to her.

"No... no!" She dropped to her knees, clutching her grandmother's hand, her body wracked with sobs. "Why... why did this happen?" She cried openly, her grief spilling out as the full weight of her loss bore down on her.

Detective Ryan knelt beside her, his hand resting on her shoulder in a quiet attempt at comfort. But Evelyn shook him off, overwhelmed by the enormity of it all, feeling utterly alone in a way she hadn't felt since childhood.

As Evelyn was led away, Detective Ryan moved toward the stretcher. A faint glimmer caught his eye.. her grandmother's fists were tightly clenched. Gently, he pried one of her hands open, revealing a small, crumpled piece of photo paper. The image was faint, unclear, yet he pocketed it, his mind churning with questions. He knew he needed to find answers, not just for Evelyn's sake but for the promise he felt he owed her grandmother.

Edward's Pov :
I blinked against the harsh fluorescent lights, the steady beep of the machines beside me grounding me to reality. Every inch of me felt heavy, weighed down by more than just pain. I pushed myself upright, a sharp ache stabbing through my ribs. I barely made it halfway before a firm hand pressed down on my shoulder.

"Sir, you need to rest," the nurse said, her tone a mix of patience and command. She tried to guide me back to the bed, but I shook my head.

"I can't stay here," I muttered, gritting my teeth. "There's too much happening out there."