Emerged In Darkness

Epilogue

The sunset was truly beautiful.

It was the first one Saran had seen in a while but she was sure that it would be burned into her mind forever.

She smiled and glanced behind her.

Ethan sat beside Mia, holding her hand and whispering to her quietly. A smile graced his face and he looked happy. Why wouldn't he? Mia was alive and they were out of that hellhole they'd all been in.

The smile left Saran's face and she turned away.

Even though she'd gotten out as Mason wanted, she still felt sad.

After everything, she was the one walking away and going home. And she would be doing it alone. Mason was dead and now she would have to figure out life without him. Nothing would ever be the same. Not after Mason and not after everything that she'd seen at the Baker's property. The horrors she had witnessed would never leave her and neither would Mason's death.

Saran bit her lip and shrugged off the blue button up she was wearing.

The fabric was covered in blood and dirt. Even some of the black mold was stained onto it. Pieces were torn out of it and it looked awful. But it was Mason's. And some of the blood on it was his.

Saran gave a tired sigh and looked over it.

She startled when she felt a hand touch her back. Ethan gave her a sheepish grin as he came into her view. He turned somber when he saw the look on her face.

"What's wrong?" He asked gently.

"I...I don't know what to do. I mean, I'm glad we're out of that horrible place but with everything that's happened... I just don't know if I can do it alone," She whispered, gripping the shirt in her hands tightly.

It was silent a moment before Ethan put his arm around her and hugged her close.

"You won't be alone."

Her eyes went wide and she turned to stare up at him but he said nothing else. Saran smiled softly and looked down.

Then, she remembered something she'd been wanting to ask.

She looked up at Ethan again, earning a questioning stare.

"What did you promise to Mason?"

Ethan looked away from her and towards the morning sky.

"I promised him that I would always look out for you and be there when you needed me."

Saran felt tears watering at her eyes and she looked toward the sunrise again.

"Thank you, Ethan. For everything."

She relinquished her grip on the shirt and watched it flutter from the helicopter and to the ground below. She reached a hand in her pocket and brought out the black cat statue, stroking the face gently.

A wide, bright smile graced her features and looked back at the early morning sky.

One door may have closed tonight, but she knew that another had opened.

Saran Delaney was no longer alone and she was no longer emerged in darkness.