Carlos sat back in the plush, worn armchair in Edith’s cozy living room, the fireplace crackling softly in the background. It had been nearly a week since he’d arrived at Edith’s doorstep, injured and desperate for refuge. Since then, the days had been quiet but comforting. Edith, with her nurturing demeanor and the warmth she offered, had created a safe space for him to heal, both physically and emotionally. Her cat, Molly, often curled up on the couch, her soft purring filling the room like a calming lullaby.Now, Carlos found himself engrossed in conversation with Edith, her lively voice drawing him in as she recounted stories from her past. The air between them was light, comfortable, as if they’d known each other for years rather than days. They’d both been through so much, and this quiet moment of sharing felt like a rare reprieve.“I was a dentist,” Edith said, her voice tinged with nostalgia as she looked down at her hands, her fingers tracing the edge of her teacup. “Well, re

Carlos crouched beside Molly, his hand gently stroking the cat’s soft fur as the weight of the moment pressed against his chest. The cat whimpered slightly, sensing the tension, and he let out a soft grunt, as though the simple act of bidding farewell to the cat tore at his insides. Molly’s eyes reflected the warmth and the connection they’d shared in such a brief time, but Carlos knew he had no choice but to leave.“Take care of her, Edith,” he said, his voice thick with sincerity. He rose slowly, turning toward the door. “And thank you. For everything.”Edith watched him, her arms crossed but her gaze soft. “I didn’t do it for you,” she replied flatly, but the underlying kindness in her voice betrayed her. She had risked more than she would ever admit, and Carlos understood that even though she claimed no attachment, there was a bond between them now. She had saved his life, and even though she acted like it didn’t matter, it clearly did. With one final nod, Carlos pushed open the d

Carlos stared out the window, his thoughts still swirling from the conversation they’d just had. The tension between him and Olivia was thick, the weight of everything that had been left unsaid hanging in the air like a heavy cloud. Outside, the abandoned parking lot stretched out in all directions, desolate and empty, a reflection of the emptiness that seemed to have settled between them. He shifted in his seat, glancing over at Olivia, who had her hands still gripping the steering wheel, her knuckles white. She hadn’t spoken since pulling over, and the silence between them was becoming unbearable.Finally, Carlos broke the silence.“This where we’re staying tonight?” he asked, his voice cutting through the stillness like a sharp knife. His eyes scanned the lot outside again, taking in the overgrown grass, the cracked pavement, the distant silhouette of a rundown building. It looked like a place where no one had set foot in years.Olivia didn’t respond immediately. She exhaled slowl

“Abby, huh?” Olivia’s voice sliced through the heavy silence of the car, startling Carlos slightly. Her eyes were still fixed on the road ahead, but there was a sharp edge to her tone, a curiosity that Carlos hadn’t expected. The quiet hum of the car’s engine and the dark expanse of highway that stretched before them suddenly felt more oppressive.Carlos shifted in his seat, his eyes narrowing. He hadn’t sensed this kind of curiosity Olivia before. Why now? His fingers drummed lightly against the armrest, his mind racing. “What about her?” Carlos asked cautiously, his voice low and guarded.Olivia glanced at him, her expression unreadable. “Tell me about her,” she said softly, turning her attention back to the road. “I want to know what she was like.”Carlos frowned, suspicion flashing in his eyes. “Why do you want to know about Abby?” His voice had a hint of challenge in it, as if daring her to push this conversation further. “Why are you asking about my dead fiancée?”There was a m

Olivia stood in the doorway of Carlos's guestroom, her hand lingering on the doorknob. The early morning light had not yet broken through the windows, and the room was dimly lit by the pale moonlight filtering through the blinds. She took a deep breath, steeling herself before stepping inside.Quietly, she padded across the floor and sat gently on the edge of the bed. Carlos lay there, his breathing slow and steady, his chest rising and falling rhythmically as he slept. His face, usually marked by tension and stress, looked peaceful for once, his features soft in the stillness of sleep. His thick black hair was tousled, resting across his forehead in a way that made him look almost boyish. Olivia couldn’t help but marvel at the sight of him.How did they end up here? She thought as her gaze softened. The long journey they had made, the obstacles they had faced, and the lives they had both lost to the common enemy they shared— Edgar and the woman he worked for. Fate, it seemed, had twi