The Crimson Silence

The Awakening Storm

The crisp October breeze drifted through the streets of New York, carrying a hint of winter’s approach as morning light filtered into Jake’s apartment. He woke up feeling more rested than he had in days. The clock read at 9:30 AM, and he turned to see Alexandra still asleep beside him, her bare back illuminated by the sunlight streaming through the window. For a moment, he watched her, the peacefulness of her face contrasting with the whirlwind of emotions he’d felt since she had reappeared in his life. Shaking off his reverie, he slipped out of bed and went to the kitchen to make coffee.

A few minutes later, Jake was pouring a cup when Alexandra entered, walking over casually, completely naked and unembarrassed.

“Bonjour, mon amour,” she greeted, her voice soft and slightly raspy from sleep.

He cleared his throat, a little taken aback, and handed her a mug. She leaned in, pressing a brief kiss to his lips before sipping her coffee. Smiling, she turned and wandered toward the bathroom. Jake exhaled, still processing all that had happened between them.

As he cleaned up in the kitchen, his phone buzzed. Seeing Lisa’s name on the screen, he answered,

“Hey, Lisa."

“Hi, Jacob… is the water leak fixed?” she asked.

For a moment, he was caught off-guard, then remembered the excuse he had given her to leave the hospital the night before. He took a breath to steady himself.

“Oh yeah. All good now,” he replied, trying to keep his tone casual.

“How’s Katie? And Mathew?”

Lisa’s voice softened as she said, “Katie’s doing okay, considering. And Mathew’s finally out of the ICU."

How about you? Did you get some rest?” he asked.

“Yes, Cynthia’s dad arranged a room for us to sleep,” she replied.

“Good,” he said, feeling a measure of relief. “I’ll be there by the afternoon.”

“Alright. See you soon, Jake.”, Lisa hung up.

Jake felt a pang of guilt for not being entirely honest with Lisa, but he shook it off.

After a while, Jake and Alexandra were ready and headed to the hospital. As they entered the parking lot, he spotted Angela, who’d just parked her car and seemed absorbed in thought. When she saw them approaching, her expression shifted, and Jake caught a hint of tension as she took in his closeness with Alexandra.

“Hi,” Jake said, attempting a neutral tone.

“Jacob… Hi,” Angela replied, a little guarded.

Turning to Alexandra, he introduced, “This is FBI Director Angela… Martin,” then gestured back, “and this is Alexandra… my… friend.” Alexandra and Angela exchanged polite nods, but Jake could sense a faint tension between them.

Inside, Lisa waved at them. She smiled at her brother and offered a nod of acknowledgment to Alexandra as they approached. Sam and Cynthia were with Katie, so Jake and Alexandra waited outside. Jake thought of checking on Mathew, taking the chance to visit him while Alexandra stayed behind.

Inside Mathew’s room, a few officers stood around, including Officer Francis, who exited just as Jake entered. “Morning, Lieutenant,” Jake greeted.

Mathew’s voice was tired but warm. “Morning, Jacob. Good to see you.” They spoke briefly, with Jake glad to see Mathew doing a bit better. As Jake was leaving Mathew’s room, Officer Francis was waiting outside, giving Jake a nod.