159: Relief

Holding Emily in his arms, Eric began to recount how things had been for him.

"I remember the bullets hitting me," Eric said, his voice steady but filled with the weight of the memory. "Everything went dark. I was sure that was the end. Then, the next thing I knew, I woke up in the morgue. It was nighttime, and I was alone. It felt like a miracle... because I was dead. Completely gone."

Dolores gasped softly, her hand gripping Smith's arm. Smith's usual stern demeanor was replaced by a look of incredulous wonder. Mr. Walter's eyes were wide, trying to process the impossibility of what he was hearing.

Eric continued, carefully omitting the secret of the mysterious ring. "There was no missing corpse. I left the mortuary after... jerking back to life. I stayed hidden, knowing that if Jacob McCall found out I was still alive, he would come after me again."

The realization dawned on everyone. Emily's tear-filled eyes widened in understanding. Calvin's expression shifted from shock to admi