Chapter 24

As soon as Chris drops us off, Elijah stalks up to his bathroom to shower off the gore from this disaster of a night. I use the guest bathroom to clean myself up, stealing an over-sized sweatshirt and baggy sweats from Eli to change into—we swap clothes so often that I know he won’t mind. Once I’m finished making myself look less like Carrie in the prom scene, I trudge up to Elijah’s room and crawl straight into bed with him–holding him as he weeps silently, stroking his tousled brown hair to try and soothe him. He hasn’t said a word since we walked out of Ocean Street Music Hall. I’m honestly just thankful that he’s allowing me to be with him right now, to comfort him. He needs me more than ever, and truthfully, I need him too.

I know that Andrew wasn’t his boyfriend. Elijah is picky when it comes to dating, rightfully so, but he’s still someone that Elijah cared deeply about and dated for a few months. It’s the longest Elijah has been involved with someone romantically since we graduated, so Andrew meant a lot to him.

In my own way, I can relate. Oliver did die. Even though he still breathes air and walks this earth, the Oliver that I knew—that I loved—died that day two years ago. I lost him too. And, thanks to Elijah, I had two years to mourn him.

Now, Elijah is just as broken, just as lost, as I am, and I need to be strong for him just like he was for me. I’m going to take care of him, just like he did for me. But even being strong for Elijah can’t erase the fact that I’m haunted by the things I’ve seen tonight. Tonight will forever alter the way I think about the rest of my life–how fast life can pass you by and how quickly it can all be over. So many lives were lost tonight, innocent men and women who died at the hands of monsters.

On the way to Eli’s house, Chris told me that they called for “clean up,” a trusted service that is called to clean up the mess whenever Balor’s bloodline gets out of hand. Any other time, I would be pissed that this has happened often enough that they actually have a specific service to handle the mass casualties. However, I’m too heartbroken by the losses of this evening, and aware enough that the world can’t know what happened at the concert tonight or any other time Balor’s line commits mass homicide. Which, apparently, is often.

Tomorrow, it will be as if it never happened. The bodies will be moved and buried or burned, and the building will be cleaned from top to bottom. The other vampire sires, Aeliana and Zarek, work hard to ensure that humans remain unaware of vampire involvement in the world. It would cause mass hysteria. War. Complete destruction of the world as we know it, and, unfortunately, that’s exactly what Balor wants. He wants humans to fear vampires, to kneel before him and worship him as their one true God. It’s fucking sick, and hypothetically, it was already bad. But, after tonight, I’m viciously aware that this Balor guy is way worse than I ever imagined.

Chris also shared with me that the remaining survivors were compelled to forget the events of the night. They would all go home and remember nothing. None of the bloodshed, none of the terror. None of the trauma. All they’ll know is that they went to see Soulstorm Serenade and had a wonderful time, not knowing that their friends and loved ones died a brutal death. No matter how you look at it, it’s extremely fucked up, even though it’s necessary to ensure that peace and freedom remain in the world.

It’s for human safety, I think grimly before snorting in disbelief. Yeah, right. Humans will never be safe with vampires roaming free around the earth. We’re all just blood bags and fodder, just like Amanda told me. It’s never going to be safe for us.

On our way home, Chris asked me if I wanted him to compel Elijah, to make him forget what happened. Elijah’s face had been blank since we exited the venue, but at Chris’ question I saw panic cross Elijah’s face, and he started crying harder while shaking his head no. I don’t blame him, I wouldn’t want to forget either. I want to know what is out there. I want to be prepared. Next time, I’ll be fucking ready.

“Eli, honey. Talk to me,” I whisper. His head is resting on my shoulder, and I keep up the gentle combing of his hair with my fingers.

Eli swallows the sob about to break free, and says his first words since the concert. “I… I don’t even know what to say. I d-don’t even know what to think. About this. About any of it.” His voice trails off, and the sob he was suppressing breaks free.

I kiss the top of his head, the smell of his expensive shampoo invading my nostrils. He always smells so good. Even a bloody massacre couldn’t wash away the scent of that expensive fragrance. “I was so scared to tell you the truth. That…” I bite my lip, knowing that I’m going to just tell him everything. At this point, I have to tell him everything. “That vampires are real. That’s what you saw, Eli. Oliver and the rest of Soulstorm. Chris and his band. They’re all vampires. And there is so much more to it than that.”

Eli stills under my touch, but he stays silent, his body tense as he listens to me.

“I found out that night at the afterparty when Oliver showed up. You remember how I just vanished? Yeah, well, he kidnapped me and took me on a road trip. Everything else that I told you about that night is true. I just left out the part where he tried to kill me after Chris showed up to rescue me, and I saw him for what he really is. He told me I killed him that day. When I pushed him. Oliver—the Oliver that we knew—is gone. The people they were, our friends? Nothing of who they once were remains,” I draw in a shaky breath. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. You would have been in danger if you knew, and, let’s be honest, you would have had me committed in an institution.”

Elijah sighs loudly as he sits up and looks at me, his face swollen and red. His cheeks are still soaked with his tears. “I still want to have you committed,” he says, so quietly that I’m not sure at this exact minute whether he’s being serious or not. I can’t tell until he lets out a soft chuckle and glances down at his hands.

I return his sentiment with a smile. At least he can still find something funny after tonight.

“So… vampires, huh?”

I nod, wincing a bit at the absurdity of this conversation.

Elijah tilts his head thoughtfully. “I understand why you didn’t tell me, because I definitely would have thought you had finally lost it. But after everything I saw tonight, I… it’s all true,” he whispers.

It’s not quite a question, but it sounds enough like one that I feel like I have to give him an answer. “Yes. There are apparently vampire Gods and sire lines and creepy powers and shit too. They’re super strong and fast as hell. I still have a hard time with it sometimes, and I’ve known for, like, a week now.”

Elijah has a puzzled look on his face, which is a relief after his blank stare for the last few hours. “Creepy Gods sired what?” He bursts into an incredulous giggle, the sound pouring out of him uncontrollably.

My face cracks into a smile as I laugh with him. “I know. It’s a lot to process. I don’t even fully understand it all yet. Chris has been trying to fill me in on his world, but I pretty much felt the exact same way you do right now when he first told me.”

“And Chris? He’s one of them too? Why wasn’t he, y’know,” his face goes pale and his giggles trail off as everything comes back to him. “Why wasn’t he with Oliver at the concert? I figure they would be buddies.”

I snort, remembering Chris’ many threats against Oliver. “Yeah, Chris is one of them, but he’s… he’s different. He isn’t like Oliver at all. He’s saved me more times than I can count now, and I’ve only ever seen him feed once, and that was on a chipmunk in my backyard. At least that was the only time I saw him feed until I let him feed on me…” I stop suddenly as I realize what I just admitted out loud. With a nervous smile, I give Elijah a wide-eyed stare as he gapes at me.

“Wait. I’m sorry. WHAT? He fed on you?” Elijah shouts.

“Yeah.” I cringe away from the alarmed stare Elijah’s giving me. “He was injured. And he said he was weakened because he hadn’t fed in a while. So I offered him my blood. It’s no big deal. Really. I’m fine. See?” I gesture at my body. “I’m perfectly fine. And very human. No changes in my strength, I don’t have any superpowers, and no sudden cravings for blood. Scout’s honor.” I raise my hand in the international two-finger symbol for “scout’s honor.”

“First of all, you weren’t in the scouts,” Elijah responds bluntly before studying me thoroughly. “But he is changing you. That’s for sure.”

At that, I finally sit up and swivel so I’m sitting criss-cross in front of him. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Are you blind, Dani?” His words drip in disbelief and sarcasm, more than I thought he could summon after tonight. “He is so into you, and you are definitely into him too. Are you two, like, a thing?” He mirrors how I’m sitting and stares at me. “And I just want to let you know this, I will be one very pissed off best friend if you finally moved on to someone else and didn’t even tell me.”

My brows furrow in confusion. Is he crazy? I’ve done nothing to make him think that I’m into Chris. And that’s because I’m definitely not. I’m so not into Chris. At all. I sigh internally. Even the protests in my head sound fake. “I’m not into Chris. We’re not a thing. And I have no idea what he actually feels for me. He’s still a vampire, and vampires can’t be trusted. You saw what happened tonight.”

“Yeah, I did.” Elijah’s voice breaks, but he keeps going. “I saw Chris just save our lives from your psychotic vampire ex-boyfriend, and protect a bunch of innocent people. You just said so yourself, this isn’t the first time he’s saved you. Honestly, I think if I was gonna trust anyone right now, it would be him. Not to mention, I also saw the way you were clinging to him for protection. And the way he was holding you and shielding you.”

I know Chris is outside in the driveway right now, and I would bet money that he is hearing all of this and chuckling to himself. Bastard.

“I saw the way he looks at you, and the way you look at him when you think he’s not paying attention to you. Vampire or not, there’s something there, Dani. Stop being a drama queen.” Elijah’s eyes are sad, but he looks energized for the first time all night, a small smile breaking the despair on his face. He’s found something to focus on that’s not Andrew’s death and the massacre, but why did it have to be me and Chris?

“There’s nothing there, Elijah. I swear. He’s just overprotective, and I was scared, that’s all.” I need to change the subject, but Chris, Oliver, and the dead bodies across the venue floor are all I can think about.

“Mhm. Sure thing, sweet cheeks. I’ll remember that at your wedding.”

My mouth drops open on a gasp. “Shut up!” I push his shoulder playfully, and we both let out real, genuine laughs. “You’re being awfully nonchalant about vampires being real, by the way.” Our laughter fades quickly as we hold each other’s gaze. “Eli, I’m so sorry about Andrew,” I say softly.

Elijah looks away, and I know he’s going to cry again. “Me too. You would have really liked him. He was sweet.” A tear rolls down his face. “And Adrian… I thought he was our friend.”

I grab his hand and hold it firm. “Whoever that was, that was not Adrian. I mean, it was, but the Adrian we knew—our friend—was not that monster. I fucking hate him for what he did to you—to Andrew—but I’ll mourn the loss of the person that he was.”

“Me too,” Elijah admits shakily.

I hold his hand for the next hour as we sit in bed, Elijah and I just talking about everything. He tells me more about Andrew, while I comfort him. I share the truth about what’s happened since the bus crash. About Chris being my stalker. About Amanda. The vampire Gods. All of it. I want him to know the truth about it all. He deserves to know after what we survived tonight, to help him make sense of it all, to give him some small twisted peace of mind.

Once he’s finally stopped crying and orders me out so he can sleep, I give him a hug, holding him tightly before heading out to Chris so he can take me home. I wanted to stay with Elijah, but he said he’d rather be alone tonight. I get it. More than anyone, I truly fucking understand needing space to just think and get your head on straight. So I give him the space he needs. I tell him to call me tomorrow or sooner if he needs me, which gives me a small pang at the memory of him giving me the exact same order before our whole world changed. Elijah agrees and shoos me out the door. After I leave, I just stand there and stare at his shut door. Was it this hard for Elijah to leave me in depression and silence for the last two years?

I sigh and turn away from his closed front door, walking into Elijah’s driveway where Chris leans against the car, arms crossed over his chest and an arrogant smile plastered on his face. Even after everything, I can’t help but stare at him.

His eyes are warm in the porch lights, and the dim yellow lights reveal small peaks of that damn dimple in the shadows. “Do you really look at me differently when I look away, little kitten?” he asks with a chuckle, one of his canines digging into his lower lip gently.

“Yeah, right,” I scoff. “You fucking wish.” In reality though, watching him bite his lip and look at me like I’m his whole world, but he wants to ravage me right here on this driveway, makes my heart flutter in my chest. But I’ll never tell him that, even when I know that he can hear and feel my heart beat faster.

“I really do,” he responds sincerely. “I wish for many things when it comes to you.” He pushes himself away from the car and walks around to open the passenger door for me. “Let’s get you home, kitten.”

I duck my head, trying to hide the growing smile that threatens to betray my feelings. I climb into the passenger seat, and Chris closes the door for me. My breath hitches as I watch him circle the car to the driver’s side door. He’s so fucking handsome. So sweet. So thoughtful, it hurts my heart. It’s so unbelievably hard for me to take my eyes off of his profile as he slides into the car.

He kept his promise. He kept me and Elijah safe and saved everyone he could. I blink, chewing on my lip. Maybe I’ve been too harsh with him. Maybe I can be a little nicer to him? It doesn’t have to mean anything for me to just be nice to him. Maybe we could be friends. He can’t have my heart. I just can’t can’t give him that part of me. Friends, though? I can do that. Just friends. I ignore the little part of me that knows, deep down, that we both might want me to give him my heart.

* * *

I’m staring blankly at my distorted reflection in the fogged-up bathroom mirror after my shower. On a deep inhale, I reach out to wipe away the condensation and take a hard look at myself for the first time in ages. So much has happened since that night of the Bloodstained Symphony concert. I went from being depressed and numb every single day, to wanting to get up and get ready. I want to feel beautiful again. I want to be happy, feel alive, and feel whole again. My broken heart isn’t fully repaired, but the pieces have started to find their way back home into the beating muscle inside my chest. I’m starting to feel… like, my heart has kick-started again—resuscitated—each beat pumping blood to revitalize me anew.

I don’t know exactly what changed. It’s not like my life has been easy since I met Chris and found out what happened to Oliver. I’m being hunted by not one, but two vampires and a vampire God, apparently all while being stalked by one aggravatingly handsome vampire. In the mirror, my reflection blinks in surprise as I realize that, if I’m being honest with myself, I don’t know exactly what changed things, but I know that some part of it is because of Chris. The vampire who won’t stop stalking me, even though I think I’m starting to welcome my stalker’s presence. Crave it even. I can’t offer him more than friendship, though. I refuse.

I wrap my towel around my body and reach towards the bathroom counter for my hairbrush, but my hand closes on empty space. When I look down, it’s not there. I frown, realizing I must have left it out on the vanity in my bedroom. I open my bedroom door, only to see my stalker perched on my bed facing the bathroom door. With a gleam in his eye and a smirk on his face, he looks my full body up and down.

“What are you doing in here!” I yelp. “I’m practically naked. Damn it, Chris!” I huff angrily as I walk to my vanity and sit down, brushing my wet hair forcefully. I’m not sure whether I’m angry that he’s in here or relieved.

“I couldn’t sleep,” Chris offers.

“So your solution was to come into my room uninvited?” I turn in my chair, raising my brows skeptically. “You told me you don’t even sleep. So why are you really in here? Hoping to catch me in my birthday suit?” Even though I’m joking, my heart still gives a little flutter in my chest at the thought of him seeing me naked. No, Dani. Stop it.

“You caught me, kitten.” Chris clucks his tongue as he stands up. “Actually, I just wanted to see how you were holding up. Although, I really wouldn’t mind seeing that towel come off, too.”

“You’re a pig,” I quip without any real anger, turning back to the vanity mirror and continue combing through the tangles in my hair. “But I think I’ll be okay.”

In a blink, Chris is behind me, only inches away. I jump at the suddenness of his movement. The hairs on the back of my neck rise, as that electric tingle I feel every time he’s near flows through me at his closeness. My breath stops, my hand stilling mid-brush. He’s so fucking close. My eyes are locked on his in the mirror, when I realize something. “Wait. You have a reflection. Interesting.” I tear my gaze away from him. I can’t focus on him too much. My body’s already filling with need, and he’s not even touching me.

“Yes, vampires have reflections. You watch too many movies.”

“Well, what did you expect I did when I was rotting away in my bedroom for two years?” I ask.

Chris’ lips purse, the corners of his mouth tilting down as his brow creases almost like he’s in pain at my remark. “I’m sorry you had to go through that, kitten.”

“Don’t pity me. Just… don’t fucking do that,” I snap.

“I’m not. I’m trying to tell you that you’re fucking amazing. You’re beautiful inside and out. You’re brave. You’re feisty, like a little kitten. You had that fire in you all along, Dani.” He scowls at me when I try to interrupt. “No, you are fucking incredible, no matter what you do. But if you wanted to rot for two years, I don’t judge you for that either. I’m sure you looked sexy as hell doing that, too.” He puts a thumb under my chin, tilting my face up so I can watch him in the mirror. “But don’t think for one second that I pity you. I admire you. I admire how strong you are. Your resilience and your ability to just keep fighting, as annoying as it may be sometimes.”

I roll my eyes at him, but I’m melting under his words a little bit.

His thumb strokes lightly across my chin while his warm brown eyes pierce my soul through our reflections. “But you don’t give up on those that you love. You’re loyal, and that is an admirable trait to have. You’re brutally honest in the best way possible. You’re selfless as fuck. I mean, you were about to let Oliver take you tonight to save lives. I would have never let that happen, and I’m still pretty pissed that you offered, but you were gonna try. You stared death in the face and made it your bitch.” Chris bends slightly so he’s talking into my ear now, still holding my gaze in the mirror. “I admire you. I want you. Everything about you is fucking incredible, little kitten. I’ll never underestimate you by giving you pity, I’ll be the one to lift you up and show you just how goddamn magnificent you are.” His final words are a whisper into my ear, sending uncontrollable shivers through me.

My body is on fire, dripping with raw lust and overcome by some emotion that I don’t want to name. My heart pumps roughly in my chest. Does that mean his is too? He says that we’re synced, whatever that means.

With one tattooed hand, Chris pushes my hair off my shoulder behind my neck, his finger trailing along the delicate skin underneath my ear. My body trembles at the movement, and I draw in a sharp breath. Feeling his touch when I’m this aroused is doing things to my body and brain that I can’t understand or control. “Chris, back up. Just a little. Please,” I murmur.

He does but only an inch. Just far enough away for me to turn in my seat so I can face him. I’m breathing too quickly, my eyes too wide, as I stare up at him. “Kneel for me, Chris.”

His eyes are hooded, glazed over with desire. Without a word, he drops to his knees in between my legs, holding my stare the whole way.

Adrenaline and desire pour through me as I reach my hand out, placing it on his chest, right over his heart. Under my palm, his heart is beating exceptionally fast, at the exact pace of my own. “Put your hand on my heart,” I command. His eyes are still locked on mine as he does.

Our breathing matches. Our hearts beat to identical rhythms. “It’s the same.” My lips part as I lean towards him. “What does it mean? Really?” My voice is quiet.

“You know. You’ve always known, little kitten.”

I shake my head slowly at him, chewing on my lip even as we keep our hands centered over each other’s hearts. This feeling is too intense. Overwhelming. Terrifying. I don’t know what this is, and none of it makes sense to me, but I can’t bring myself to draw away.

Chris grips my chin in his other hand, leaning his face in towards mine. I exhale an unsteady breath. “You know, Dani. You know exactly what it means.”

I shake my head at him again.

His thumb grazes over my bottom lip, and, with a small pull, he draws my face towards his. And I let him. I don’t want to stop him, and I definitely don’t want him to stop. I feel his breath against my own. Oh, god. This is so much more than being just friends.

This moment must be happening in slow motion because the world has stopped spinning normally. All of my attention is dead focused on where our lips are almost touching. This close to him, I can admit that, at the very least, my body needs him. My blood is hot in my veins, desire drenching my core.

A loud banging sounds at the front door, breaking us out of the trance of the last few minutes. Our heads snap towards my bedroom door, Chris’ hands falling away from me as he stands. I squash a whimper of sadness at the loss of his touch. “Get dressed. I sense a dark energy outside. It could be Amanda again.”

Chris stalks out of the room, and I quickly throw on a pair of shorts and a plain black tee. I steal a quick glance at myself in the mirror and fix my hair. It’s a vain little thing, but that’s fine. If I’m gonna die, I may as well look pretty.

Chris waits for me outside of the bedroom when I open the door. Standing at the top of the stairs, the banging is louder, more insistent. I can feel my body tensing with each pound against the door.

“Are you ready?” Chris asks, expression serious. I nod, and he takes my hand, guiding me down the stairs to the front door. With my heart pounding in my ears, I peer out of the window to see if I can make out who’s at the door.

In the dim light given off by my porch lights, I can see a woman’s silhouette, but I can’t tell who she is. She doesn’t resemble Amanda from what I can tell. I cautiously open the front door, Chris taking a protective stance behind me. My jaw clenches when I see who’s standing on my porch. “What the fuck are you doing here?” I snap at Hannah, the bitch of our high school. The whore determined to fuck every woman’s man—the girl I caught Oliver cheating on me with two years ago. I’m furious, but, through my rage, I can tell that she looks disheveled.

Her hair is a ratty mess, tangled and dirty with blood dried in it. I look more closely and frown in confusion. Her neck is bleeding from two small puncture wounds, blood drips down her pale skin and onto her shirt. Her clothes are ripped like she has been in a struggle recently. Hannah has the same dead look in her eyes that the Ocean Street security guards had.

I snap my fingers in her face, but she just stares blankly at me. She hasn’t said a word since I opened the door. “Hello? Hannah, what are you doing at my house? Do you need help?”

“Do you know her?” Chris asks, his expression transforming in a second when I try to step out to help her. “Dani, what the fuck?” he snaps, tugging me back. “She’s been compelled, and a vampire clearly just made a snack out of her. Don’t you dare cross that threshold. No matter what,” Chris growls at me.

“I’ll explain later. But I know this girl from high school.”

Chris opens his mouth to respond when Hannah speaks, her voice an eerie monotone. “He said I’m your gift. That I was a bad girl, and I need to be punished for what I did to you.” Her lips lift in a soft smile that raises the hair on my arms.

Chris grabs my arm and pushes me behind him, teeth bared at Hannah.

“She’s a human!” I cried. “What are you doing? She needs help.” Lowering my voice, I mutter, “Although, she doesn’t deserve it.”

“Something is off. Stay behind me,” Chris grunts roughly. I scoff at him and try to peer around his tall body, earning an eye roll for my attempt. “Please, kitten.”

Out of the darkness behind Hannah, a man starts laughing, the sound familiar. I push my way past Chris, still staying well away from the threshold, to get a better look, but all I can see is Hannah standing there, surrounded by shadows and staring at nothing.

A blur surges through the shadow, and Oliver is suddenly behind Hannah, the movement so fast it barely registers for me. With a grin at me, he grabs Hannah by her hair and rips his arm back. An awful tear rings out, and then her head is just gone, so quick that her body is still motionless in front of me.

I shriek, covering my mouth against the sudden surge of nausea. Tears burn my eyes as I watch her headless body finally slide down onto the porch at my feet, blood spurts from her mutilated neck and pools rapidly around where her head would have been.

Oliver’s standing before us, Hannah’s severed head hanging by its hair from the hand outstretched before him. Her face still has that blank look on it, even in death.

“What the fuck did you just do!” I scream at Oliver.

“Shh, pet, I’m not here to fight.” Still holding Hannah’s head, Oliver lowers his arm to his side, blood dripping on the porch around his feet. He has a shit-eating grin plastered across his face, orange eyes, and teeth on full display. “Consider this a peace offering.”

I’m absolutely horrified. I hated Hannah, and had definitely thought about her death before, but I didn’t actually want her to die. “You’re a fucking monster!” I shout.

“You don’t like my present?” Oliver hums softly. “I thought you’d want this gift from me.” With a flick of his hand, he throws Hannah’s head inside my house. It makes a horrific sound as it collides with my wall, sending blood spraying across mine and Chris’ backs. “It’s my way of repaying you for what I did to you, pet. To show you how much I love you.” His sinful smile doesn’t move, but his eyes tell a different story, darkening as he gazes at me.

I know that look from our time together; it’s his possessiveness, his obsession with me, on display. Seeing that expression any other time would destroy me, but now, I’m distracted, frozen in utter disbelief that Hannah’s fucking severed head rests behind me against the wall. “This isn’t fucking love, you goddamned psychopath! You don’t even know what that word means. Not anymore. Maybe not ever. Stop fucking murdering people for me!” I scream.

“More’s the pity.” Oliver beams like I haven’t just rejected both his ‘present’ and him. His eyes flick over Chris, who still tries to shield me with his body. “Do you know the secrets he’s hiding from you yet? The lies he’s telling you to gain your trust?” Oliver rubs his hands across his lips, his tongue slipping out to lick at Hannah’s blood staining his fingers.

Chris’ chest rumbles with his snarl at Oliver. He’s not backing down. “I don’t hide anything from her. You’re the lying piece of shit.” Chris takes a step forward, just inches away from crossing the threshold. Fuck, he’s gonna fight him. “Cool new power, by the way. Balor declare a new chosen then?” Chris taunts.

“Wouldn’t you like to know, you little cunt,” Oliver spits out before turning his gaze back to me. “I’m not here to fight, though, like I said. I’m just showing my girl here some affection. It’s nice to see you again, baby. Until we meet again.” With one last look at me, Oliver vanishes in a black, misty shadow.

Chris shuts the door, gathering me in his arms so my face is pressed against his chest. “Don’t look behind you. Just look at me, Dani.”

“Chris, what are we going to do? This is so fucked up.” My voice cracks. “Hannah was the girl I caught him cheating on me with. I fucking hated her, but I never, I never wanted him to… k-kill her. Especially not like that.” I’m sobbing into his shirt, mouth clenched as I try to choke back a scream.

Chris wraps his arms around me, his hand cupping the back of my head. His voice is soft as he says, “We need to leave, Dani. It’s not safe here. Let me keep you safe. Please.”

“Okay,” I whisper. Oh, god. I’m really going to leave the safety of my home once and for all. But it’s necessary because this can’t keep happening. Oliver just made it way too personal by showing his face at my doorstep. Somehow, despite everything, despite the massacre and the stalking and the kidnapping, Oliver appearing at my house is what made it real. I need to leave. Chris is right. It’s not safe here anymore.

Chris pulls back, hands still pressed to my back. “Go upstairs and pack your things. We’re leaving tonight. Make sure you don’t look at the wall when you turn, just look straight up the stairs, okay? I’ll clean this up.”

I nod my head and walk towards the stairs. Numbly, I stop, one foot raised to go up the first step. But I can’t bring myself to go up the stairs quite yet. Turning, I march back to Chris. Placing my hands on his chest, I shift my weight into him and go to my toes, bringing my lips to his cheek in a tender kiss before pulling away. “That’s for keeping your promise tonight and protecting Elijah. But, that’s all I can offer you. Nothing else.”

Chris raises his hand to his cheek, pressing his fingers against the spot where my lips met his skin. He’s wide eyed, and I’m not even sure he heard what I said.

I turn and, without looking back, I walk up the stairs. I’m going to pack for the start of my new life with Chris. My stalker. My friend. My little puppy.