Innocent Until Found Dead

Chapter Ten

"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is the fear of the unknown."

--H.P. Lovecraft

 Hunter took a deep breath before opening the door to the Beverly house after weaving his way through a couple of movers, catching the faint, dusty smell that lingered from the open moving boxes. The usual warmth of her home was replaced by the earthy scent of cardboard, mixed with a hint of packing tape and the stale air stirred up by the heavy shuffling of shelves and boxes. Men were moving steadily in and out, their boots thudding against the wood floor, adding a sense of urgency to the scene. The once-familiar space felt hollow, stripped of its usual warmth as the last traces of home were packed into the truck outside–other than the pieces of furniture that the newest buyers of the house asked to purchase.

Hunter stepped further inside, quietly closing the door behind him. He found Laura in the kitchen, sorting through the last few boxes stacked on the counter. She stood by the island, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, eyes heavy with fatigue but warm when she saw him. She'd been working nonstop for days–trying to keep everything organized, finding a buyer for the house, and swamping herself in paperwork, but she offered him a welcoming smile.

"Hey, Hunter," she said, her voice soft. A hint of exhaustion lingered beneath the warmth.

"Hey, Laur," he replied, his voice subdued. He offered her a small smile in return, though it quickly faded. "How's everything coming along?"

Laura glanced around the half-empty room, releasing a sigh as her gaze fell on an open box ready to be closed. "Almost done," she said, giving a weary nod. "It's hard, though, seeing it all packed up like this...knowing what it means. I bet it's hard for you, too, I'm sure."

He shifted his weight, his gaze drifting to the stairs that led up to Quinn's room. "Yeah... it's harder than I expected," he murmured, almost as if talking to himself. "I knew this was coming, and I've tried to prepare for it, but now that it's actually happening... it still doesn't feel real." His voice trailed off, and he swallowed, stepping closer to Laura, his tone dropping to a near whisper. "And honestly, it's not just the move, Laura. This past week, it feels like she's her old self." He looked at her meaningfully, his eyes searching hers for some kind of reaction.

Laura's expression softened, a blend of concern and curiosity flickering across her face. "Yes, she's mentioned her dreams more than once—talked about pieces of her past that she shouldn't remember. But what makes you think it's more than just her memory?"

Hunter hesitated, trying to find the right words. "It's hard to explain. She's been... different," he said slowly, his eyes searching for something to anchor his thoughts. "She's more open with me, like she's letting me in again. And it's... well, it feels like the way things used to be between us. I think we're finally starting to have something again." He paused, glancing down, his voice turning almost wistful. "It's strange, Laura. It's like she's slipping back into our old rhythm—falling into the same patterns without even realizing it."

Laura gave him a thoughtful look, her brow creasing just a bit. "I'm happy for you in that sense," she said gently. "But if she is remembering, we know it's going to be hard on her. She's been through a lot, and this... it could stir up things she might not be ready for. We have to be cautious. Don't dismiss the message on that note you found. It might be a warning for something like this."

Hunter nodded, taking in her words. "I know," he replied quietly. "I'm not pushing her. But being around her like this feels like I'm getting a second chance. And it's hard not to want that."