The Whistler In The Night

Chapter 16

I asked Scarlet where Kayla had gone. She told me, "I don't know. She said she was coming." I was feeling better now, the sharp pain of the stab fading, though the memory still burned in my mind. I changed into new clothes, trying to push aside the fear and confusion that hung over us like a dark cloud. As I sat beside Scarlet, I pulled her close, trying to find comfort in her presence.

"Don't be scared, I'm with you," I whispered, my voice soft but steady. "And I love you till my last breath."

She hugged me tightly, and though the pain from my wound flared up again, I smiled, knowing I needed to be strong for her. I started telling her everything I had seen—the man in the basement, his cold, haunting smile, the way he vanished into the darkness, his name: L. The weight of it all was overwhelming, but Scarlet listened, her eyes wide with concern and fear.

Before we could process any of it, there was a knock at the door. I stood up, my heart racing, hoping it was Kayla. Maybe she had come back, maybe she had somehow escaped whatever had hold of her. I rushed to the door, but when I opened it, my heart sank into an abyss.

Kayla was lying in the snow, her body motionless, blood pooling around her on the cold, white ground. The red stains spread like a horrific contrast against the purity of the snow. My breath caught in my throat as I looked up and saw him—L—standing a few feet away, smiling that same terrible smile. His eyes, dark and soulless, bore into mine as he slowly walked away, disappearing into the swirling snow like a ghost retreating into the storm.

"No... no... no..." I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief. I ran out into the cold, my feet slipping slightly as I fell to my knees beside Kayla. Tears burned in my eyes as I lifted her lifeless body into my arms. "Kayla... please, please... open your eyes. You're okay. You're gonna be okay, right?" My voice cracked, and my words felt hollow. Her skin was cold—too cold—and her eyes were shut. She was still, lifeless, and I could feel the blood soaking through my clothes.

"Kayla, open your eyes! Please... Kayla... don't do this!" My voice rose in desperation as I held her tighter, trying to will her back to life, but nothing happened. The blood continued to seep from her wounds, and her body remained limp in my arms.

Scarlet rushed out behind me, her own face pale and stricken with horror. She fell to her knees beside me, her hands shaking as she reached out to Kayla. "Kayla... no... please... no..."

Scarlet's sobs broke through the silence of the night as she cradled Kayla's face, trying to wipe away the blood, as if doing so would somehow bring her back. We both tried, clinging to her, desperate for some sign of life, but there was none.

I felt a numbness creeping over me, a coldness far more biting than the winter air around us. My hands were stained red, my mind spinning, unable to comprehend what had just happened. How could this be real? How could L take her away from us like this? The sight of her—so still, so silent—felt like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from.

Scarlet's sobs grew softer, her tears mixing with the blood as she laid Kayla gently back on the snow. She looked at me with broken eyes, her voice barely a whisper, "Why... why did this happen? Why did he do this?"

I couldn't answer. I had no words, no explanations. I felt shattered, like something deep inside me had been torn apart, and I couldn't piece it back together. All I could do was sit there, holding Kayla's hand, as the snow continued to fall around us, covering the blood and slowly burying the horror beneath its cold, indifferent blanket.

L had taken her from us, and I didn't know what we were supposed to do now. All I knew was that I would never forget the look on his face—that terrible smile—as he disappeared into the snow, leaving us in this nightmare.

Scarlet rested her head against my shoulder, her tears soaking into my shirt. We stayed like that for what felt like hours, not moving, not speaking, just mourning. Everything had changed, and there was no going back.