Beastly: Sequel to "Mr. Perfect"

Chapter 43: Flights and Reconnections

🌸Faith (P.O.V.)🌸

"Give us a few minutes, please," Evan said, turning to everyone.

I didn't look at everyone, my eyes still on the screen, but I felt him walk over, felt his presence settle beside me, as it always did... quiet, warm, and grounding.

I turned my head just enough to meet his gaze. My voice dropped low, the lump in my throat already forming.

"Ever since I found out Keisha was missing...and she was in that attic..." I shook my head slowly, unable to finish that sentence right away. "I keep asking myself how it even happened, how Tybalt got her there. How I never knew. And now that I might finally get the answers to every question I've had since this nightmare started..."

My voice cracked, and I swallowed hard.

"I don't even know how to feel," I said.

Evan leaned closer.

"I know," he whispered gently. "I'm just as nervous as you are."

His hand brushed against mine, not quite grabbing it yet.

"But whatever it is, Faith...we have to know," he said.

I didn't answer, just looked at him. His face was serious, eyes soft, but alert.

"We need to know what happened to Keisha," he continued. "How Tybalt got to her. How she ended up in that attic. Maybe these sessions will give us those answers, and maybe they won't. But we need at least something that will point us in the direction of what might have happened."

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring him for a second.

"What if it's worse than I imagined?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He took my hand fully then, firm and steady.

"Then, I got you, baby," he said.

I gripped his hand tighter, holding onto it like it was the only real thing in the room.

"I'm going to be right by your side through all this," he said, locking eyes with me. "Whatever comes out...we'll face it together. And we'll get Keisha home. I promise."

I stared at him for a moment, barely breathing.

"You think it's really going to be okay?" I asked.

Before he could answer, Mason's voice cut through the moment.

"Ev, are you guys done whispering?" he asked. "Can we finish this or what? You two have—"

He stopped talking as soon as Evan looked at him sharply.

"Disregard," he said, both hands up. "Disregard. Go ahead. My bad."

Evan turned back to me.

"It's going to be alright, Faith," he said, his voice soft again. "You and me? We always find a way. We got this."

He leaned in just a little.

"Trust me," he said. "I'm right here. And if there's any chance I can bring your sister home...I'm taking it."

I nodded slowly, blinking away the tears, exhaling just a little.

His words didn't erase the fear, but they made it bearable. He made it bearable.

Evan looked back at everyone.

"Sorry for the pause, guys," he said.

"Evan, it's all good," Jake said. "Don't sweat it."

Mason cleared his throat and clicked the next session note on the screen.

"This is the therapy session where Tybalt mentions Keisha," he began.