Valerie's POV

I pried my heavy eyelids open, the loud ringing in my ears drowning out all other senses. Blurriness welcomed my vision, and I closed my eyes again, fighting against the disorienting haze. I blinked, trying to focus but the light surrounding me started to shift and fade away, slipping right in between my fingers.

The familiar walls of my room crumbled down, dissolving into a chaotic scene of broken metal, flaming fire, and the heavy stench of fuel and despair.

It was as if I was waking up in the aftermath of the car wreckage—the same one that had shattered my life not so long ago.

I was pinned beneath the twisted metal, my body trapped and aching. The breath I tried to suck into my lungs got stripped away from me, my lungs twisting in pain so unbearable, agonizing. I felt like I could die, disappear into nothingness. The world around me was a blur of shattered glass and blood.

I looked to my left and my eyes fell on—my dad. He was slumped over, blood seeping from a gash on his forehead, a piece of jagged metal piercing through his stomach. The shock left me along my last breath, parting my lips in silent shock. My eyes widened and I screamed, but my voice wouldn't come out, trapped, and strangled by the horror.

Hot, fiery tears streamed down my face, mixing with the blood seeping from my own head.

Dad blinked his eyes open, his weak gaze locking onto mine amidst the wreckage. His face twisted in agony as he tried to move but failed. I wanted to scream, to reach out for him, to touch him and pull him out, but I couldn't...paralyzed by the momentum of this moment. I could do nothing but watch, helpless.

He tried to speak, his lips struggling to form words...my name.

Dad. My lips mouthed the word, so silent but within me, it was so loud, it shattered my ears, rattled my heart, and almost crushed down my ribcage. Tears blurred my vision further. I was drowning in a sea of despair. I couldn't see, couldn't breathe, couldn't feel anything but the suffocating weight of my impending loss.

I watched in horror as his eyes rolled back, his head falling forward limply. At that moment, I knew. I just knew. I knew that he was...gone.

Gone, forever.

Taken away from me, from us, in the cruelest way possible.

I could taste it, feel the death reaper's cold presence so close, snatching him away from me. Amidst the flames, I felt a chilling emptiness. It was as if I was outside my body, witnessing the scene unfold before my eyes, but frozen, my hands tied, my mouth taped, my heart about to burst as I watched it all happen.

The coldness enveloped me, numbing my senses. I was a silent witness to my own nightmare, my soul splintering with every second that passed. The agony of loss twisted in my chest, sharper than any possible physical pain and I prayed...prayed so much, begged whatever force out there to take me too.

I wanted to go too. I begged, the words bitter on my lips, I begged anyone, anything. I begged my heart to stop, my brain to pause, my lungs to cease their relentless work. I wanted to follow him into the darkness, to cease to exist too.

Minutes ticked by like hours, and I remained frozen, unable to move, unable to die, unable to do anything. I tried to turn, desperate to reach for Reneé in the back seat. I called her name over and over until my voice was nothing but a rasping whisper.

But my body wouldn't respond.

Every attempt to move sent waves of searing pain through me. I cried out, my voice a raw, tortured sound.

The agony—both physical and emotional—was overwhelming. It felt as if my heart was being torn apart, piece by piece. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think. I was drowning...drowning, falling deep down into a deep sea of despair and helplessness.

I wanted to die as well —to go away with him.

I pressed my eyes shut, trying to blind myself to this horrifying reality. I squeezed them shut so hard it hurt. I felt the scene shift once more. The hot flames disappeared from around me, the wreckage was gone, and light seeped through the darkness. The walls of my room rebuilt themselves as I painfully regained full consciousness.

I blinked again, my head resting on the floor of my room. A sharp pain pulsed through my head, like a heartbeat, relentless and pounding. I felt warmth over my face, something trickling down my temple, my cheeks, and pooling on the floor beneath me. I couldn't do anything but stare at the ceiling, unwilling to move, unable to recover, as every painful truth crashed over me.

Silent tears continued to stream down my bruised face. The rawness of my throat, the ache in my limbs, the unbearable weight of loss—all of it coalesced into a singular, unending torment.

A sob broke free from my lips, the weight of my memories and my current reality crushing me. I tried to push myself up, my limbs trembling with the effort. Each movement sent jolts of pain through my body, but I couldn't stay down. I had to get up.

I managed to sit up, whimpering lowly as I felt myself splintering. I moved my body around till my back slumped to the wall, balancing myself.

I looked around the room, it spun around me uncontrollably. My gaze fell on my phone and purse on the floor, those that had dropped from me as David forcefully pushed me down. I pulled my knees up, hugging them so close to my chest as the sobs wracked my body, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

I was trapped in this moment, caught between the past and present, my mind fracturing under the weight of it all.

The pain was a living thing, wrapping itself around me, squeezing tighter with every heartbeat. It was too much, too consuming, and I felt myself teetering on the edge of madness.

I don't deserve this.

I really don't.

I had to find the strength to keep going, to fight back, to gather myself and get up, but I just couldn't. Right now, I wanted to just fade away.

I felt a new scar carve on my already broken soul. Deep and agonizing. Heartwrenching and mind-numbing.

I buried my face into my knees and I cried, cried for my dad, who was gone because of me. Cried for Reneé, who was stripped of her normal life. I cried for myself, the one that got abused and assaulted back then, and another time again today. I cried for my innocence. I cried for...because—because of the boy I trusted.

I trusted him even when I vowed never to trust a man again.

I cared for him, in ways I wasn't supposed to.

I allowed him into my life, into my house, into my room. I allowed him to touch me in places no one ever did before—even my heart.

I cried, because—I didn't deserve any of this.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Max's POV

I paused by the counter, my gaze flickering around, in search of something gingery, beautiful, and mean—also known as my girlfriend.

I couldn't spot her anywhere, and my confusion deepened. I waited for Aubrey to finish the customer's order before she came to my side, a smile curving on her lips. "Hey, Max," she said sweetly.

"Hey, Aubs," I said, smiling back as I leaned across the counter, "Where's my hot-headed girl?"

My nickname made her chuckle softly, and she waved me off as if I were being silly. "She was supposed to come here two hours ago to help out," Lines furrowed between her brows as she explained further, "But when she didn't show up, I figured she got caught up with her other job."

My eyebrows pulled together, and I glanced at my watch. It was six o'clock. We were supposed to meet here so I could pick her up for our date. She would've texted or called if there was a change in her plans.

I pulled out my phone, refreshing my notifications, checking if she called and I missed it. But there was nothing.

I looked back at Aubrey, "Did you call or talk to her?" I asked, feeling my heart pick up speed.

She shook her head, a crease forming on her forehead, "I got so caught up with the customers, I didn't," she mumbled, her gaze flickering around, "Maybe she texted me or something and I haven't seen it, lemme check," She reached for her phone, pulling it out of the charger and checking it.

Lines tightened at her forehead, "There's nothing," she murmured, meeting my eyes again. "Usually, Valerie texts me if something comes up."

I don't know why my first immediate instinct was to panic.

A sudden heat crept over my chest, tightening my stomach, and moved up my throat, burning it, painting it red on the outside as the worst-case scenarios played over in my head.

"Let me call her," I mumbled, dialing her number with urgency. The phone pressed into my ear, and I internally prayed to hear her voice and ease my panic.

The seconds stretched painfully as the ringing echoed in my ear. My mind raced with images, each more terrifying than the last. The thought of something befalling her clawed at my sanity.

My breath quickened, and a cold sweat broke out on my forehead, "Come on, Gingy, pick up," I mumbled under my breath and the wires went loose when she didn't pick up. I didn't wait and dialed her again.

Aubrey watched me with a worried expression, my own panic triggering hers. A new customer approached the counter, but she asked them to wait, her attention fully on me as we both anxiously waited for Valerie to pick up. Two hours had passed since she was supposed to come here. She hadn't informed Aubrey that she'd be late, hadn't said a thing to me. Something wasn't adding up.

Considering what Nikolas and I had done the day before, my mind raced to the worst possibilities.

I tried to steady myself, but the fear was overwhelming, suffocating. The world around me blurred, Aubrey's concerned face a distant backdrop to my mounting dread. I felt as though I was teetering on the edge of an abyss, each ring of the phone a step closer to falling into the void.

She didn't pick up yet again. Aubrey ran a hand through her hair, her voice trembling slightly, "Uh, maybe...maybe she is still at, uh...maybe she is still babysitting," she said, trying to stay positive. "Hold on, I have the mother's phone number, the one she babysits for." She pressed buttons on her phone before dialing, "I was the one who helped her get this job," she explained when she saw my confused expression.

I nodded and waited, my heart pounding in my chest. The woman answered after a few rings, and I watched Aubrey's face for any clues as she spoke, "Hey, Tracy," she said, her voice strained, "Sorry to bother you, uh, but is Valerie still at your house?"

Aubrey's throat bobbed as she listened to the woman on the other end, her eyes flickering up to meet mine. I gave her a questioning look, and she shook her head, answering me. My panic intensified, and Aubrey quickly ended the call before explaining, "She left around three hours ago. She said she was going home to change before coming here."

And that was it for me.

My heart sank, a cold dread spreading through my veins like ice. The air felt thick, and suffocating, as if the walls were closing in around me. I could hear my pulse pounding in my ears, each beat echoing my fear. Something had happened; I was sure of it now.

"I'll go to her house," I said, urgency lacing every word. Aubrey's eyes dimmed with her own worry and fear, but she nodded quickly, "Okay, tell me if...just call me when you find her, okay?"

I nodded, unable to form more words, my mind already racing ahead. I turned on my heel and rushed out of the shop, my movements frantic. The world outside felt disjointed, people moving around me like ghosts as I fought to maintain focus. I could feel my hands shaking as I fumbled with my keys, finally managing to unlock my car.

I slid into the driver's seat, the engine roaring to life beneath me. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white. The tires screeched as I pulled out of the parking lot, my foot pressing the accelerator to the floor. The campus faded in the rearview mirror as I raced down the street, my only thought was to reach her place as fast as possible.

The streets seemed to stretch endlessly, each mile feeling like an eternity. I could feel my pulse in my throat, my entire body tense with worry. The silence in the car was deafening, broken only by the rapid beating of my heart and the sound of the engine as I pushed it to its limits.

I turned onto her street, my eyes scanning every house, every shadow, desperately searching for any sign of her. The car barely came to a stop before I was out, running towards her door. My breath came in ragged bursts, my heart pounding in my chest as I reached her front steps.

I paused, frozen slightly when I found her front door left ajar. It felt as if a bucket of ice-cold water had been poured over me, the chill seeping into my bones.

Without thinking, I pushed the door open and walked inside, "Valerie!" I called, my voice bellowed into the four walls, echoing back with fear and desperation. My eyes flickered around the dimly lit hallway, searching for any sign of her. The silence was deafening, each second stretching into an eternity as I quickly moved further into the house.

I climbed the stairs two at a time, my legs trying to catch up with my racing brain. Reaching the landing, my panicked steps came to a halt, stopping by her room's door, frozen, my breath catching in my throat.

My eyes fell on her, and the sight alone shattered me. Scarred me so deeply.

She was sitting on the ground, her back against the wall, looking so small and fragile. Her face was...there was...she was bruised, a cut on her lip, blood seeping from her temple. Her eyes were tortured, filled with a pain so deep it tore at my soul, and tears streamed down her cheeks, silent and agonized, carrying in their molecules a weight that could shatter me wholly.

I remember what I felt when the knife tore into my skin, not once, not twice, multiple times. I remember thinking this was the most extreme level of pain I could go through, but now, this...this was more painful than anything. More extreme, a level nothing else would ever top.

A surge of emotions crashed over me—rage, sorrow, helplessness. I felt my heart break into a thousand pieces, each shard digging into my chest, making it hard to breathe. The room spun around me, my vision blurring with reality as I realized what had happened.

"Valerie," I whispered, my voice cracking, breaking down as I fell apart at the seams. I rushed to her side, my movements frantic and desperate. I dropped to my knees beside her, the weight of what had happened, of her pain, of him being near her, hurting her... it crashed over me in a dizzying wave. My hands hovered over her, afraid to touch her, afraid to cause her more pain.

But I needed to hold her, I needed to feel her, to...to—

She blinked, her eyes flickering from the ground and meeting mine. A silent tear slipped down her cheek, her gaze vacant, detached. She looked at me with numbness that tore at my insides and ripped me apart.

"Valerie," I called her name again, hoping the sound of it would ground me to reality because I felt myself slipping away too. I reached forward, my hands cupping her face so gently, so carefully, my gaze frantically moving all over her face, trying to take in her bruises, trying to make sense, to understand.

The feel of her bruised skin under my fingers broke me further, the reality of her suffering crashing down on me like a tidal wave. Her blood coated my fingers, wrapping over my skin, warm and red. Red, I only saw red after.

The pain in my chest morphed into something darker, something more violent. Anger. Fury. Hot white rage. The thought of...that fucker doing this to her, causing her this pain, made my blood boil. My jaw clenched, my chest raged, and I felt a surge of hatred so intense it scared me.

But then, as quickly as the rage came, it was replaced by something even worse.

Valerie's broken gaze, it damaged me. Something was radiating off them that I couldn't shake off easily. The fact that she knows, that he was here, came near her only because of me and what I did. It became clearer and clearer. She knows.

She pulled away from my touch, her movements hesitant, urging me to back off. I saw the fear in her eyes, the hesitation, and it hit me like a punch to the gut.

"Val—"

"Please, leave," She whispered, her voice so low and strained.

I shook my head, my eyes focusing on her bleeding cut, "Let me take you to the hospital first, please," I said, a desperate plea in my voice.

She shook her head and when my hands tried to reach for her again, she brought her hands up, curling them over mine and urging them away. Numbness faded away and in their place, a cloud of emotions took over her eyes, blame, betrayal, disbelief...and I couldn't hate myself more.

"He did this?" I whispered, just needing her to say it, so I wouldn't be blamed for what I'll do next.

The corner of her lips lifted up, in a mocking disbelief gesture, "Who else," She whispered.

I shook my head, "Valerie, I am so sorry," I murmured, ready to explain it all to her but she shook her head, dismissing me, and behind the pain, the anger surged through, ready to take over her gaze and I wanted her to be angry at me, to shout and scream, to punch and hit me...

"Do you know just how stupid I feel right now?"

"Valerie, no, I...I just—" How was I going to explain this?

"I trusted you," She mumbled, the tears gathering in her eyes again.

"I never meant to hurt you, in any way, Valerie, please, I'll explain it all, I'll tell you everything but now, let me just take you to the hospital, I am begging you."

She rested her palm over the wall behind her and pulled herself up, trying to balance herself into two feet. I immediately got up, ready to catch her if she'd fall, "Max, I want you to leave. Just—leave," She said, her tone hardening.

I shook my head, refusing and her eyes fired up, the muscles of her jaw tightening as she stared at me, her eyes searching mine for the full truth. She used the wall to support herself and I wanted nothing more than to scope her in my arms and take her the hell away from here but I held myself back.

"You had no right to interfere," She whispered.

Anger pushed harder and harder, ready to become the most prominent feeling, "I didn't want him to hurt you again, Valerie," I justified my actions, although the sight across from me was proving me entirely wrong. I fucked up.

"You had no right to interfere," She grated out again, "He warned me, he did, that if I dared to do anything, he'd come at me and the people I care about," She said, "And I listened to him, I kept my distance and I tried to move on, so why...why would you ruin it all, why?" The words scratched at her throat, filling her eyes with more tears.

"He didn't leave you alone, Valerie," I grated out, my voice raising at my inner rage, "All those fucking texts, warning and threatening you," I shot out, "He wasn't going to leave you alone and I didn't want you to live your life like this, in fear and worry, hiding away from him, you can't let him fucking win," I said, my frustrated voice pushing against the walls.

"He should be punished for what he did, in the cruelest most ruthless way," My gaze flickered all over her face, taking notice of every bruise and my heart broke more, to the point it'll never be full again, "He isn't supposed to continue living his life like nothing ever happened, he can't, I won't let it!"

Her eyes fired up at my insistence, "You will not do anything anymore," She shook her head, "You will stay away from him and from me," She warned me and I shook my head, my refusal triggering her anger, "Max, this is not your fight!"

"The hell it is!" I shot out, edging closer to her when I felt her flail like she could collapse any moment now, "Valerie, you can shout and scream and hit me all you want later, but for now, let me take you to the hospital," My jaw tightened, "You could have a concussion."

She backed away from me, building distance, "No, no, you will stay away, you have to," She said, refusing to acknowledge any of my words, "He said this was payback for what you did to him," her words pierced into my chest, a very sharp knife and I felt this urge, foreign and new, it clawed over my chest, pressed over my nerves, an urged so heavy, so dark, an urge to break, to annihilate, to ruin, I felt like I might explode if I didn't let it out.

"He said it was only the beginning," She whispered, her eyes clouded with fear, so much fear, and if only she'd let me, I would take it all away, I would do it right this time, shield her away as I rip him to fucking pieces, "He could come after Reneé, after mom, even after...you—"

"Let him, I'd really love for him to come after me," I grated out. If he was a man, he would've, instead he chose to go after the helpless girl, and corner her in her own house. The fucker—

Valerie's eyes widened in bewilderment at my insistence, and her jaw ticked, "Leave," She grated out, "Now, leave," She pointed at the door, "Get out of my house!"

"Valerie—"

She propelled herself forward, her hands landing on my arms and chest as she tried to push me away, "Just go, why won't you just leave me alone!" Her chest heaved and she pushed me further away, tears still streaming down her bruised face, "Leave," She grated out again, panting as she pushed me to the doorway, "You knew everything and you lied, you lied to my face, you made me feel bad for ever doubting you all while you were lying," She sniffled, her gaze so broken I allowed her to push me around as she pleased.

She paused, her breath hitching as she struggled to catch it, her tear-filled eyes meeting mine with a raw, broken intensity. Her hand clutched tightly at my shirt, her lower lip quivering, sending jolts of pain straight to my bones. "Leave," she whispered, her voice barely audible, drained of all energy.

I gazed at her, taking in her bruises, tracing them with my eyes, feeling the world spin around me. My throat tightened, a heavy rock lodging itself in my airways. She shook her head slowly, her expression one of utter defeat. "I don't deserve this," she whispered, her voice breaking as if surrendering to a cruel fate that had shattered her life.

I shook my head and felt a searing hotness in my eyes as I fought to stop my emotions from spilling out. Carefully and gently, I brought my hands up, cupping her face, cradling it between my palms, hoping to erase every ounce of pain she felt, "No baby, you don't," I whispered, "You don't deserve any of this," I added, edging closer and I dropped my forehead to hers, allowing myself to mourn along with her.

Her eyelids pressed shut, tears slipping through. "So please let me fix this," I pleaded desperately. "Just let me, Valerie, and I will fix it all. I will take care of everything. I won't let anyone hurt you ever again—myself included."

Fuck it, I was ready to drop on my knees and beg her, to give me a chance, just one chance to fix this...

She opened her eyes slowly and shook her head, her hands coming up to mine, gently pulling them away from her face. "You said you wouldn't do anything to make me uncomfortable, and now your presence is," she said, her words struck me where I was most vulnerable. "So, please, leave and never come back again."

She pulled away, creating a distance I instinctively wanted to close, but her resolve held me back. I was frozen, unable to move, unable to stay or leave. I was at a loss, not knowing what to do.

The anguish in her eyes, her insistence on pushing me away, made me take a step back. A tremor ran through my jaw, almost making it quiver with a mix of anger, pain, and helplessness. Her gaze pleaded with me to go, to leave her alone, and I knew I had to honor her wish.

With one last, agonizing look, I turned and walked away, each step feeling like a piece of my heart was being torn out. As I left, the weight of her pain and my own pressed down on me, leaving me so fucking lost.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Valerie's POV

There were so many feelings roiling inside me at that moment. So many. There were those I understood and those that I didn't. There were those that pressed so hard against my chest, those that wrapped around my lungs, squeezing the oxygen out of me, and those that clouded my head, pushing to the forefront memories I didn't want to recall...those were the hardest.

I kept trying to balance myself, to blink the haziness and dizziness away but failed. I could no longer control my tears, nor my bodily functions. I couldn't calm my erratic heart, nor steady my breaths. They came in rapid, shallow bursts, each one a struggle against the invisible vice tightening around me.

Everything raced chaotically within me, pressing harder and harder, and I needed...I needed air...needed to breathe...needed something but I wasn't sure what...

My hands trembled, my fingers tingling as if they were detached from my body. My thoughts scattered like leaves in a storm, and I couldn't catch hold of a single one.

I heard the main door of the house open, maybe my mom, maybe Reneé, I wasn't sure as I stumbled out of my room, in desperate need of someone, anyone to pull me out of this.

My vision tunneled, black spots dancing at the edges, ready to overcome me. My throat felt like it was closing up, each gasp for air more desperate than the last. My hands clenched and unclenched, seeking something, anything to hold onto.

I heard footsteps as the newcomer got up the stairs, and I think I saw the blurry image of my mother, "Mom," I managed to whisper, my body felt like it could falter, the space around me shrinking as if the very air was being sucked out.

Panic surged through me, a wild, uncontrollable force that threatened to drown me.

I saw Mom's eyes widen, as they took into my face, as she made sense of my current panicked state, "Valerie," She said, her voice coming out so low, like it was emerging from beneath the depths of the ocean.

Her handbag fell to the ground in shock and she came forward, rushing to my side. I felt her arms coming around me, trying to hold me before I crashed but I did, I crashed against her chest, my hands trying to grasp at her and the force of everything happening pulled us both to the ground. I felt her hands frantically move over my face, pushing my hair away, checking my bruises, worry wide in her eyes as they flickered all over me, "Hey, Valerie, hey, look at me," She urged, her voice trembling.

"I can't...breathe," I managed to say and she held my face in her hands, "Hey, hey, it's okay, you are just panicking, Val, look at me, I am right here, just look at me," She urged again, trying to focus my eyesight but I was so close to slipping down that abyss. I felt her hand wrap over mine, her fingers tight, "Hey, do you feel my hand," She asked and I nodded my head.

She nodded her head, "Okay, good, good, just wrap your fingers around mine, come on," She urged, trying to bind me to the moment, prohibiting me from fading away. I tried to focus on the feeling of her hand over mine, on my quivering fingers as I wrapped them around hers.

The more I focused, the easiest it became to suck oxygen back into my lungs. My chest heaved, trying to adjust, tears fell down and trickled down my face and I felt my mom's hand caress my hair and my face, her touch, the one I hadn't felt in years, felt so soothing, so comforting and more tears fell through, blurring my vision completely.

She pulled me closer to her and the side of my head fell into her chest, her soft perfume fluttered around my senses, reminding me of the mother I knew and loved so much, the mother who loved me with her whole heart. The distraught lost woman I got to know after Dad's death was not her. This is her.

Her fingers soothingly moved through my hair, her arm tight around my body, "What happened?" She asked, whispering lowly.

I tilted my head up, so I could see her, and my lower lip quivered, "David," I mumbled, the mention of his name enough to push the panic and fear back to her eyes, "He came here," I added.

Her throat bobbed heavily, her eyes flickering all over my face, moving to the big cut over my temple, the one where blood seeped through and I think I saw tears glisten in her eyes, "Let me take you to the hospital for now," She whispered, "And we'll take care of the rest later."

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

After the ER doctor examined my bruises and symptoms, the nurse carefully bandaged the cut on my head. The doctor explained that I was likely suffering from a concussion, outlining the dos and don'ts for the next few days. His voice seemed to drift away, a distant murmur against the fog of my thoughts, I kept feeling so detached but I forced myself to focus, pushing through the haze.

When he finished, my mom followed him out to discuss further details. I sank into the pillow, my gaze fixed on the sterile, white ceiling above. My tears had finally dried, leaving me in a strange state of numbness. There was no pain, no anger, no self-pity—just an emptiness that felt oddly comforting.

"Valerie!" Reneé's panicked voice shattered the stillness. I turned my head sharply to see her rushing towards me, her crutch striking the floor with each urgent step. She let it go, the metal clinked against the floor as she threw her arms around me, her tears soaking into my shoulder.

"Oh my god, Valerie, what happened? Are you okay?" she cried, her voice trembling with fear and concern.

"I'm okay, I'm okay," I murmured, my voice soft and soothing as I held her tightly. "I'm fine, don't worry about me."

She pulled back, her eyes red and puffy from crying, "How can I not?" she whispered, her voice breaking. She gently touched the bandaged wound on my head, her fingers light and trembling. "Please, Valerie, I can't...can't lose you too," Her lower lip trembling, more tears furiously left her eyes and she shook her head, "I only have you left, please, I won't without you," she said, her voice so raw and broken that if I had any tears left, I would have wept with her.

I cupped her face in my hands and forced a comforting smile, even though my heart felt like it was breaking. "You won't lose me. You'll have me always, I promise," I whispered, my fingers gently wiping away the tears that continued to fall. I pulled her back into my embrace, and she collapsed into the bed next to me, clutching me with urgency as if I could disappear at any moment.

I tightened my arms around her, I kissed her head multiple times, mumbling soothingly into her hair, trying to offer any assurance I was capable of. My eyes flickered to Aubrey, who had edged closer to us. It was then that I realized they must have come together. I couldn't linger on the thought of whether Mom had called them or if someone else had—it didn't matter now.

Aubrey's eyes, filled with questions and so much worry, gazed at me for what felt like an eternity. I shook my head, refusing to let those thoughts take root again. Not about David, nor about Max. I wanted to escape from it all, I just wanted to be so far away, from everyone and everything.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Max's POV

I paced around nervously, my feet shifting left and right, unable to find stillness. My gaze flickered between the throng of people and the imposing hospital building, each second stretching into eternity as I waited and waited...

Finally, after what felt like a century, I spotted Aubrey emerging from the hospital. Her eyes found mine, and she walked towards me, meeting me halfway as I rushed forward, "Is she okay?" I blurted out, my voice tinged with desperation.

A low sigh escaped her lips. "Kind of," she replied, her tone weighed down by the gravity of the situation. "The doctor said she has a concussion and needs to rest." Her words wrapped around my heart, squeezing it so tightly that I could barely breathe.

The fact that I couldn't go inside and wrap her in my arms, that she wouldn't even let me attempt to alleviate her pain, filled me with self-loathing for everything that had transpired because of me. I felt like an anchor, useless and heavy, unable to lift her from the depths of her suffering. Instead, I had unwittingly pushed her closer to the clutches of her damned monster.

Aubrey anxiously ran her hand through her dark black hair, her fingers intertwining with the few purple strands that stood out starkly against her complexion. Her eyes darted around, seeking solace in the chaos, before finally locking onto mine. "I'm still not sure how it happened or what exactly you did, Max, but seeing her like this...it broke my heart to pieces. We need to do something," she murmured, her voice tinged with helplessness.

When I had called her, informing her about Valerie's state, she had been the one to utter his name instantly, connecting the dots in a heartbeat. Her immediate reaction revealed to me that Valerie had confided in her, out of everyone, that she shared with her the secret she desperately wanted to seal away from me.

My jaw tightened, "I will take care of it," Much more carefully this time, "But... she doesn't want me near her. So, can you... can you keep me updated? Anything happens, no matter how small, just promise me you'll let me know."

Aubrey's eyes scrutinized my face, searching for sincerity in my plea. After a moment's hesitation, she nodded, placing her trust in me, "Okay."

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

After learning they were taking Valerie back home and she didn't need to stay overnight, I finally managed to leave the hospital with a singular destination in mind. The cold night air whipped through my hair as I steered the car one-handed, my thoughts consumed by replaying every detail, endlessly searching for what I could have done differently, but always arriving at the same futile conclusion.

Arriving at the bunker, I parked the car and went down. Memorizing the entry code, I punched it in and the heavy metal doors slid open, granting me passage. My footsteps echoed down the dimly lit corridor, catching the attention of Jeremy, the only one left in here at this hour. He emerged from a nearby room, a mix of surprise and curiosity etched across his features as he took notice of my presence.

He seemed like he was gathering his stuff, ready to leave and call it a night.

"Max," He said as he fixed his glasses, and his lips lifted into a welcoming smile, but I could see the confused questioning look in his eyes, "Uh, hey," He added, his hand wrapping over his laptop bag's strap, fixing it over his shoulder.

"Hey," I replied, my voice weighed down by the events of the day. My gaze wandered aimlessly before settling on him. "Is he here?" I asked, cutting straight to the point.

Jeremy shook his head, "Uh, no," He mumbled before he pulled his phone out, "Lemme call him," He said, dialing him before he pressed the phone to his ear, his eyes focused on me, almost as if he could sense the storm raging with me.

"Boss, hey," Jeremy began, his tone serious. "Can you come to the bunker?" He paused, listening intently before continuing in a lowered voice, as if to shield his words away from me, "Well, it's kind of urgent," He mumbled, "Uh, Max is here."

Nikolas's response remained unheard to me, but Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment. "Okay, see you," he concluded, pocketing his phone and turning back to me with a reassuring smile. "He'll be here in about half an hour," he informed me, visibly changing his plans to leave as he rested his laptop bag over the nearest chair.

"Want something to drink?" Jeremy offered, rubbing the back of his neck anxiously. "Coffee?" he suggested, then added with a hint of humor, "Or something stronger maybe?"

I managed a small smile and declined, "No, thanks. I'll just wait for him in his office."

Jeremy nodded in understanding. "Yeah, sure," he replied softly as I turned away, striding down the corridor and closing the door behind me.

I couldn't bring myself to sit down; anxiety prodded at my nerves, making it impossible to stay still. Restlessly, I paced the room, my mind racing with thoughts I struggled to corral.

I glanced around, trying to busy my head with anything else, I took in the details of the space that felt both familiar and foreign. One of the walls was lined with bookshelves, filled to the brim with volumes that had weathered time. I edged closer, going for a stack of aged books, their worn spines hinting at countless stories contained within.

I reached out, fingers brushing against the cracked leather of one tome, ready to open and read through it but my mind refused to focus. My eyes refused to comprehend letters and words. I shook the blurriness away and returned it to its place, the weight of my own thoughts heavier than the book itself.

I walked around and moved behind his desk, my eyes fell on its content and I couldn't help but reach forward for one of the framed pictures, gazing down at a younger Nathan, and a newborn Maria, cradled between his arms. Feeling the lump in my throat grow and expand, I set the picture back down reverently, then turned to another frame beside it. In this one, Nikolas's wife, much younger than I had ever seen her, held a fluffy cat in a tight embrace.

My mind raced, and I felt myself get sucked down into everything about him, about his life, that seemed so different than mine.

Fatigue weighed heavily on me, and I circled around his desk, dropping into the chair. I pressed my elbows to my knees, cradling my head in my hands. Behind my closed lids, images of Valerie's battered state, her bruised face, and the betrayal in her eyes stripped away my better senses.

Footsteps echoed closer and my head shot up, my gaze falling on him as he paused by the entrance. His eyes, wary and confused, they flickered all over me, as if checking for something, already sensing the impending news.

Lines etched between his eyebrows and he walked closer, stopping only when he was standing across from me, his eyes flickered all over my face, reading into every little detail, "What happened?" He asked, and even though he tried to conceal it, the worry climbed to the surface of his words.

My throat burned and I shook my head, the helplessness took over and I don't know why but his sudden presence pulled that weakness and pushed it to the forefront, it tightened my chest and I lowly mumbled, "He hurt her," I finally felt the hot and liquidy tears as they took residence in my eyes before one slipped down my cheek, "He hurt her...because of what we did, because of me."

Another tear fell down, the truth ripping me apart, "She is hurt because of me," My face twisted into guilt and pain, a pain so raw it felt like it could wreck me. I never wanted to hurt her, never. I shook my head, "I fucked up and I don't know what to do now."

Nikolas's face twisted into something unfamiliar, the frown between his brows deepened and he took another step forward, hesitant as he whispered, "Max—"

I pressed my eyes shut, hoping to stop my tears or the pain from tumbling forward and before I could suck into my next breath, I felt him edging closer, his arm going around my shoulders and my head fell forward into his chest, "Hey, hey—" He whispered, a bit breathless and his hand cradled the back of my head.

"It's all my fault," I mumbled weakly.

"No, no, it's not," Nikolas said, "It's not, it's mine, I...I underestimated him, I acted on impulse and anger yesterday," He said, his fingers all bunched up in the back of my hair. I had no clue why I was letting myself be this close to him, but the pain surging through me messed up my head, with my logic and I just wanted a release to this urge that I didn't understand.

"I will fix this, Max, I promise," He said, his voice raw and tight, and I could feel his heart sprint off before he pulled back, his hands going to my face, urging me to look at him, "Do you trust me?"

I felt myself nodding my head before I could dwell on it. The muscles of his jaw worked, his eyes fixated on mine, "I'll fix this, you and me, we'll make it alright again, I promise."

And for some fucked up reason, I believed him.