The Whistler In The Night

Chapter 35

As we stood there on the rain-drenched shore, our kiss fading into the cold mist around us, I felt a warmth spread through me. My lips tingled from the touch of hers, and everything else—L, the blood, the nightmares—faded into a distant memory. Scarlet pulled back just slightly, looking up at me with tear-streaked eyes, her lips quivering.

"I'm sorry, Evan," she whispered, her voice breaking as she clung to me. "For everything. For blaming you, for leaving. I was scared, and I didn't know how to handle it."

I gently cupped her face, brushing a thumb over her wet cheek. "You don't have to apologize. You're right... I brought something dark into your life, and you paid the price. But without you, I had nothing. My life... it was empty. Blank. And I don't know if I could go through that again."

She placed her hand on my chest, feeling my heartbeat beneath her palm. Her eyes, soft and searching, gazed into mine. "Me too, Evan," she whispered. "I don't want to be without you."

I swallowed, holding her closer, and for a long, silent moment, we just stood there, lost in each other. Then, with her voice barely audible over the rain, she said, "Do you promise... that we'll be together? Until the very end?"

Her words struck something deep inside me. I felt tears sting my eyes, a mix of happiness, sadness, and something I couldn't quite name. I searched her gaze, and in that moment, I knew. This was real. Despite the fear and the darkness, this love was my anchor.

"I promise," I said, my voice catching. "I'll never leave you, Scarlet. Not until the end."

She smiled, her eyes brimming with fresh tears, and I pulled her into a hug, feeling her heartbeat against mine. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a glimmer of peace.

After a long moment, she pulled back, wiping her eyes and managing a small smile. "I guess we should go home," she said softly. "Together."

I nodded, and we walked to her car. The drive was quiet, both of us soaking in the relief of being side by side again. When we arrived, the house was still, the faint light from the porch casting shadows on the front door. Inside, it felt like a place haunted by the remnants of pain and fear—but now, with her beside me, I wasn't afraid of those shadows anymore.

As we walked down the hall, I paused in front of my room. The door was closed, just as I'd left it, but I knew the memories inside were far from gone. Scarlet noticed my hesitation and gently squeezed my hand.

"Let's leave it shut," she whispered. "We don't need to go back there."

I nodded, giving the door one last look. It was a chapter I wasn't ready to revisit. For now, all I needed was her. We went to her room, and she settled into her bed, patting the space beside her. I slipped in next to her, and she immediately wrapped her arms around me, her head resting on my chest as I held her close.

In the warmth of her embrace, I could feel the weight of the past start to lift. The tension, the fear, the darkness—it all melted away, replaced by a quiet, simple peace. The sound of her breathing, soft and steady, became my new anchor. I ran my fingers gently through her hair, savoring the comfort and security of her presence.

As we lay together, I could feel her heartbeat slowly sync with mine. Her body pressed close against me, grounding me in the here and now. In her arms, the lingering fear began to dissolve, replaced by the warmth of something pure and real.

A thought slipped into my mind: after everything, I finally had a home. It wasn't a house, or a place. It was her.