“Beyer. My name is Elian Beyer.”
Things with Elian had always been easy. Too simple. Like slipping into the water in the quarry and drowning there.
“I brought you something,” I said, holding out the guitar case. Elian barely spared it a glance.
“Don’t you want it anymore?” he asked dully.
No.
I didn’t want it anymore.
I left it against the wall. My hand lingered for one last time on the rough case that housed the instrument I had never even played.
And there it would stay.
Until long after I was gone.
I joined Elian on the couch and nestled into him and let myself relax. Just for a minute. Only a minute.
I could hear the beat in my ears. Constant. Just like Elian.
He wasn’t going anywhere.
He never would.
He would never make it back to Diamond Creek. He would stay.
Here.
“I love you, Layna.” Elian kissed the top of my head and held me close. It. Believing him. Knowing he felt it with everything he was.
He smelled like cigarette smoke and autumn. Crisp air and dying leaves.
“I love you, Elian,” I murmured, giving into the need to say the words. Because right now, it was important for him to hear.
It was important for me to say.
Just this once.
I did love him. Who he was. What he meant. His purpose, his reason in all of this.
Elian’s thumb brushed the side of my jaw, his eyes shone brightly with secrets revealed.
“We’re here. You and me. Forever,” he breathed, leaning down, his lips soft, so soft, on mine.
He tasted like he smelled.
Like an ending.
Mine.
His.
This.
I fit myself into the curve of his arm, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear as I lay against his chest.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Now. Now. Now.
I closed my eyes, my throat feeling suddenly and uncomfortably tight.
“Be with me, Layna. Stay with me here, in our house at the cursed quarry. Let’s vanquish the ghosts and build a life. Together. I don’t want to be anywhere or do anything unless it’s with you.”
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Now. Now. Now.
His eyes, for just a brief second, danced as they used to. His words were so firm. This was the Elian that had been missing for weeks.
I hated him for this glimpse of the man that he used to be. The mask he had worn. For awhile. In his lies that drew me in.
I hated him!
Then the anger faded, and I was left with a contentment that only he could give me.
Only he could give me.
“You’re my purpose, Elian,” I whispered, knowing he’d never understand. He didn’t need to.
I saw the blood.
And the pretty, pretty green eyes.
I heard the screams.
My head was full of them.
And they’d never be quiet.
I had accepted that a long time ago.
Remembering had set me free. It was the last, missing piece.
Connected.
“And you’re mine, Layna. You were made for me,” Elian said with complete and total sincerity.
I believed him. Because I knew in his heart it was true. His faithful, loving heart.
“Maybe we could leave. We could go anywhere. Start over. A new life. Away from the past and everything we’ve learned.” He was desperate.
As though he knew.
It was too late.
“It’s time to start a new life,” I agreed, handing him some of my truth.
Elian’s arms tightened around me, his heart drowning out the screams in my head.
He took my words as agreement.
In my touch he found his future.
He never saw what lay just beyond the guise.
He never would.
Until it was too late.
“Then let’s go. Let’s pack our bags. Tonight. Let’s ride off into the sunset. Let’s leave all of this behind us. And one day we can come back. When we’re ready. To where it all began.” His hand waved out in front of him.
Where it all began.
Not here. Not in this reprieve from the darkness.
This wasn’t where it began. These were the final words in this chapter.