Beneath The Surface

Chapter 43: Rebuilding Trust

--- Marco's POV ---

I step out of the hallway and into my room, the weight of my regret nearly suffocating me. Every harsh word, every moment of anger I directed at Raven, plays on a relentless loop in my mind. How could I have been so blind? How could I have pushed away the one person who meant so much to me?

I sit on the edge of my bed, placing my head in my hands, the pressure of my own thoughts almost unbearable. The silence of the room is deafening, amplifying the echo of my mistakes.

Before I can drown any further in my self-loathing, Ace walks in. He doesn't say a word, but his actions speak volumes. He heads straight to the closet, pulling out a set of Raven's pajamas that somehow still remained there, a painful reminder of what once was and what I had destroyed.

Ace turns and walks back to the door, still silent. I can feel the weight of his disappointment, his unspoken reminder that the chaos we’re in is my doing. His steps out of the room leave a hollow echo, amplifying the guilt that gnaws at my insides.

I sit there, shoulders sagging under the burden of my actions. This was all my fault. Every bit of pain Raven is feeling, every moment of fear and torment she's endured, can be traced back to my unforgivable mistake.

I let my head fall back into my hands, the darkness of the room closing in around me. I need to make this right. Somehow, I need to find a way to make her see how truly sorry I am, how much I regret every moment I let her down.

But for now, the silence of my regret is all I have.

After what feels like hours drowning in regret, I finally muster the strength to move. The weight of my guilt is unbearable, pressing down on my chest with every breath. I make my way down to the kitchen, craving the numbing solace of a strong drink. It feels like I've been doing a lot of drinking these last few weeks. But how else am I supposed to cope? I need to drown out these thoughts, these memories of my failures.

In the kitchen, I pour myself a glass of whiskey. The first glass goes down in one burning gulp, a brief escape from the torment in my mind. I pour another, this time deciding to take the glass and the bottle back to my room.

As I climb the stairs, my eyes drift to the guest room door where Raven is. A pang of longing and guilt hits me, but I know she needs space. I reluctantly turn away and head back to my room.

Back in my room, I sit on the edge of the bed again, the bottle of whiskey my only companion. I sip slowly this time, letting the alcohol work its way through my system, numbing the pain ever so slightly. The darkness in the room seems to match the darkness in my soul.

I replay every moment in my mind, every word I spat at Raven, every decision that led us here. The regret is a constant, gnawing presence. I wish I could go back, change it all, but I can't. All I can do now is try to make it right, somehow.

But for now, the whiskey is my only solace. I take another sip, feeling the familiar burn down my throat, and let the darkness close in around me once more.

The next morning, I'm jolted awake by the sudden, icy shock of cold water splashing across my face. I shoot up in bed, my heart racing, and immediately fix a death glare on Ace, who stands over me with an infuriatingly blank expression.

"What the hell was that for?" I bark, running a hand down my face to wipe off the water.

Ace doesn't flinch. "We need to talk," he says simply, his tone serious. "I think something more serious might have happened to Raven during her time in Moscow. Something we might not be aware of."

I frown, my mind struggling to shake off the remnants of sleep and whiskey-induced haze. "What do you mean?"

Ace's expression remains stoic, but there's a flicker of concern in his eyes. "She's not just rejecting you, Marco. She's rejecting me too. And that doesn't add up. Not with how things were between us before. It feels like something more happened. Something that made her shut down completely."

A chill runs through me that has nothing to do with the water soaking my face. "You think she was...hurt?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ace nods, his jaw tightening. "I don't know for sure. But whatever it is, it's bad. And it's eating her alive. We need to figure out what happened and how to help her. But first, we need to gain her trust back."

I sit there, letting his words sink in. The guilt that has been gnawing at me since I kicked Raven out now feels like a vice around my heart. If something terrible did happen to her, it's my fault. I wasn't there to protect her because I let my anger and pride get in the way.

Ace's usually calm demeanor is strained, his eyes dark with worry. "She's different, Marco. The way she looks at us, the way she moves...it's like she's carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. We need to tread carefully. We can't push her, but we can't leave her alone either."

I nod slowly, the reality of the situation settling in. "You're right. We'll take it one step at a time. Be there for her, but give her space. She needs to know she can trust us again."

Ace crosses his arms, his gaze unwavering. "I think she wants to trust us. But whatever happened, it's made her doubt everything. We need to show her that we're here for the long haul."

My mind races, thinking of ways to make it right. "We'll start by giving her some space, but we should also make sure she knows we're here for her. Maybe small gestures, things that show we care without overwhelming her."

Ace nods in agreement. "I'll make sure she has everything she needs. Comforts, anything that can help her feel safe and at home."

The mention of home hits me hard. This is supposed to be her home, but I've made it a place of pain and uncertainty. I clench my fists, anger at myself bubbling up. "I'll talk to her. Apologize again. Make sure she knows I'm sincere."

Ace places a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm. "We both will. We need to show her that we're a team, that we're united in this."

I take a deep breath, the path ahead daunting but clear. "For her, we'll do whatever it takes. We'll earn her trust back."

As Ace leaves the room, I feel a mix of determination and fear. The road to redemption won't be easy, but for Raven, it's a journey I'm willing to make. No more mistakes. No more letting her down. We will get through this together, and I will prove to her that she belongs with us, where she is loved and cherished.

With a newfound resolve, I get up, ready to face the day and the challenges ahead. For Raven, I will move mountains. It's time to make things right.