Page 33

E pilogue

Naya

The battered bracelet I stole from the attic of the dollhouse sits in my hand, looking so out of place. I take a deep breath, my eyes drifting to the tranquil lake before me. I stroke the bracelet gently as I kneel in the dirt beside the water. It’s the one piece of my mother I’ve kept since finding it at the dollhouse.

With a final, resigned glance, I throw it into the water. It hits the surface with a squelch before slowly sinking.

There are no words to be said; this is my goodbye to the mother I once loved. Loving a parent is complex, because even when they fail you, there’s a part deep inside you that still loves them. I hate that I still do.

A lone tear trickles down my cheek that I let fall, watching as the bracelet vanishes beneath the lake’s surface. I wrap my arms around myself, shivering against the overwhelming emotions.

Grey wanted to be here with me, but I told him I had to do this alone. This is my farewell.

When the bracelet is out of view, a weight has been lifted from my chest. Mom’s buried underneath my heart now.

I think of my dad—who always provided for me and took care of me when mom wasn’t in her right headspace. He who only smiled at me—he is who I will remember, not his battered corpse.

I think of my grandparents, who took me in after I lost everything.

I also remember the lives lost at Grimhill Manor and the dollhouse—each deserving to rest in peace. Aubrey, Calvin, Jaqueline—who all lost their lives at the hands of Emilio Ricci.

And then, I think of Rebecca. My beautiful friend, who I barely had the chance to know, yet whose soul was as pure as a butterfly. I hope she’s now with her mother, finding happiness and peace in the afterlife.

More tears trickle down my cheeks. I don’t think the guilt of surviving when they did not will ever fade, but I must live for them.

I pull out a piece of paper from my pocket, smudged with ink from crying too much while writing it.

Dear Mom and Dad,

We survived, I think.

At least, I’m sure of it, if this isn’t some fucked up sort of other-world reality.

In any case, it’s been six months since we arrived at Everlee’s cottage, and it’s time to leave. We’re not safe staying, even as the news channels have stopped their frantic search for us. I can’t pull Draven and Everlee down into the chaos.

To say leaving is terrifying is an understatement—it claws at my skin, making me wish I could shed it all. Old memories want to resurface, but Camila has given me some great coping techniques.

Even when things were tough and spiraled, Grey never allowed me to give up. We’re on this road to recovery together. It’s hard, it’s brutal, torturous, it feels worse than what I suffered through at the dollhouse—confronting my emotions has never been my strong suit.

I’ve always believed hope was something dangerous; it leaves you crumbling apart, losing everything you thought you were. Hope can turn you to something else, only to leave you disappointed when it doesn’t work out the way you want it to. I was always afraid to hope and to love, knowing the vulnerabilities that came with it. But now, I hope, all because of Grey—it’s a wonderful feeling that eases my heart.

With Camila’s guidance, I’ve undergone something called Dialectical Behavior Therapy, which has helped me manage self-harm and destructive behaviors, along with other therapeutic methods that have significantly aided my coping. Admitting this feels embarrassing, because despite the benefits of therapy, it’s still something I struggle with and feel ashamed of. We’re working on that, too.

Grey is progressing too, perhaps even more so than I am. It’s been hard for the both of us, but he’s smiling more frequently. Seeing him at ease for the first time melts my heart. I didn’t think I could love him more, but I do. Oh, and did I mention that Draven taught him to drive?

Draven offered us both a chance to work at his company, which he co-owns with Asher, Aurora’s fiancé. We handle some of the smaller tasks, but it’s enough to help us save up and get a fresh start. We’ll work from a distance when we leave and continue our therapy sessions online, which doesn’t bother me. I’m genuinely happy.

This journey of recovery is actually healing us both. Can you imagine? I am healing. I am fucking better. It’s almost like I don’t believe it myself.

I wouldn’t have made it without Grey. He’s been my rock through everything, and I’ve been his. He pushes me to be better, to keep fighting, and in return, I do the same.

I once thought we were destined to be doomed, but you know what? Fuck destiny. I’m the architect of my own motherfucking life. And I choose Grey—today, tomorrow, and for all eternity.

We’ve survived so much. We will keep healing, and though it won’t be easy, for the first time since my father’s death, I have hope for the future.

It’s time to start living again.

“I made it, Rebecca,” I whisper, my voice cracking as I stare out at the lake. Letting the paper slip from my fingers into the water, I bury my words alongside the bracelet.

––––––––

WINTER IS GRADUALLY GIVING way to summer, as the monotonous whites and grays transform into that of vibrant colors. Flowers bloom, trees regain their leaves, and the landscape around the cottage comes alive. It’s even more beautiful now than it was in winter. The lake is no longer icy, its water now warm enough for a swim, despite its small chilliness.

“Got you,” a male voice suddenly whispers from behind, startling me as hands gently push my shoulders. My heart races as I sit, lost in the songs of the birds and the rustling leaves. I turn to find Grey standing over me, a playful glint in his eyes.

“I could have fallen in!” I squeal as I quickly stand up.

“Maybe that was the point.” He smirks smugly.

Before I can react, he scoops me in his arms and throws me into the lake, still clothed. The water swallows me whole in a heavy mass, soaking me from head to toe, my hair sticking to my wet skin. Under the water’s surface, Grey’s laughter from above is only a muffled sound, and I fight my way to navigate up to the surface for breath. Despite the shock, a surge of joy I’m not used to fills me. I like it.

I swipe my hands over my face, clearing the water dripping down my face and blurring my vision as the droplets cling to my eyelashes. When I finally look up, Grey’s toned chest rumbles from the laughter he still can’t keep contained.

“You’ll pay for that,” I grumble, scooping up water and splashing at him. The spray hits him, drenching his clothes.

His smirk falters for a moment as his brain processes my retaliation, but it quickly turns into one full of mischief. As he chuckles darkly, my spine tingles and my core to tightens with unknown desire.

Without warning, he takes a gamble and dashes toward the dock’s edge, diving into the water with enough force to splash water everywhere. I shake off the droplets and scan the surface, searching for him. It takes seconds without being able to see him, but then suddenly, I feel a tickle at my feet.

I squeal as Grey resurfaces, his fingers slowly dragging from my feet up to my knee, and on to my thighs.

“You’re tickling me,” I exclaim while trying to stifle a giggle.

“I know, little doll,” he whispers in my ear, his wet black-red hair brushing against my forehead.

A tree stands by the lake, casting shadows over its peaceful surface, while the distant chirping of birds can be heard in the distance. He wades through the shallow water, guiding me toward the shadow, hiding us from the sight of the cottage.

“When we leave today, I will spend the rest of my life worshiping the floor you walk on.”

Before I can reply, he rips off my soaked shorts and panties, throwing them on the grass patch beside the tree.

“You’re my life, the oxygen I breathe. My fucking anchor.” He makes sure I hear every word before his lips claim mine in a fervent, heated kiss.

His fingers continue to graze my skin as our lips stay locked. Slowly, they slip beneath my soaked white T-shirt, revealing everything underneath, including the lack of a bra. With a teasing glide, they skid over my sensitive nipple, pinching just hard enough to make me gasp.

“You are absolutely devastating,” he growls.

His fingers search their way down to my clit that’s now begging for release.

“Grey,” I whimper.

“What do you want, my doll? Use your words.”

Embarrassment flush over me at the same time as his fingers finally reach the area where I want them the most. But he doesn’t go any further than that, bringing me to the edge of fucking madness. His fingers move around my thighs, teasing my folds but never once touching me where I’m desperately needing him. My hips buck against his hand, but he refuses to touch me there.

“Good girls use their words,” he says as his fingers continue their torture.

“Please, Grey.”

“Please?” he drawls, chuckling as he guides me closer to where the land meets the water’s edge. The lake is shallow enough for us to stand, the water skimming just below my breasts and settling above his waist.

“Please touch me.”

I hear the approving hum in his throat; he wants me to keep begging, but luckily for me, he settles for that feeble attempt. His finger finally brushes against my clit, and a desperate moan slips from my lips as I instinctively buck my hips closer.

The water cascades over our bodies in a rhythmic symphony as he plays me like an instrument, one he’s the master of. He’s the master of my existence, touching me like I’m his goddess—the sole reason for his existence, too. My eyes roll back as two of his fingers slip between my folds, drawing another moan from me as they thrust inside me.

“Is this what you wanted?”

I nod fervently, whimpering as he slips out his fingers, plunging them inside me again. It isn’t long before I feel the head of his cock pressing at my entrance, his boxers now discarded by my clothes on the grass.

“I want you to scream my name until I’m the only thing penetrating your mind, stealing your breath away,” he says, right before I wrap my legs around his waist and he enters me.

My arms wrap around his neck as I rest my head on them, one of his arms supporting my weight in the lake’s water, while his other hand continues to play with my clit until I can’t take it anymore.

He thrusts inside me, a deep groan escaping with each movement. The sound reverberates in my mind, heightening the pleasure only he can evoke, as every groan sends waves of pleasure through me.

“The demons in my head have silenced since I met you, but this? This is bringing me to the brink of insanity. You better pick up the pieces, my love, because every piece now belongs to you,” I say through a breath.

He kisses my lips with an intensity that makes my knees buckle despite holding on to his waist. The sound of waves crashing against us, coupled with his slow and hard thrusts, heightens the sensation. It’s enough to have an orgasm rolling through me, making me meet each thrust of his hips, if only to get his cock deeper inside me.

My body trembles as I pant out, coming down from my first orgasm before I ease myself off him.

“Sit down on the edge, with your back resting against the grass slope,” I instruct, and the shock on his face adds to the excitement.

Without objecting, he does as I tell him to, inching closer to the edge of the lake. His veiny hands reach for my naked waist as I wade through the water to get to him, and he grips my ass firmly when I position myself on his lap, straddling him. The tip of his cock enters me, giving me the power to tease him. His hands squeeze my ass cheeks.

“You’re killing me,” he groans.

I only smirk, sinking into him before he knows it. The new angle makes me cry out, pleasure and pain mixing together.

“Fuck me just like that. You like this, don’t you? You like taking control when your head is spiraling out of control. You’re fucking terrified of the future; I see it in your eyes.”

I cry out as I lift myself before slamming back down on him, hitting his waist as his cock hits that perfect spot inside me. I ride him with fervor, his hands guiding and supporting my every movement.

“But you also need me to take control over you. I know you do, my little doll. You crave the monster within me because you don’t want to fight your demons alone.”

He grips my hand, twisting them so they’re behind my back while giving me a mischievous smirk. It’s harder to keep my balance when I can’t hold on to his shoulders. I have to focus the weight on my thighs so I can hold on to him.

“What if it never goes away? The constant fear, the demons that still fester inside me?” My voice is laced with uncertainty, even as I continue to slam down on him, our moans mingling with each thrust.

“Then I’ll be here every step of the way, fighting your fucking demons for you, if that’s what it takes. It’s you and I against the world, and not even our minds will take that from us.”

His lips find mine as he releases my hands, allowing me to grasp his wet hair. Our moans build to a crescendo of ecstasy.

“I love you,” I stutter, emotions clogging my voice at how lucky I am to have him in my life.

“Fuck, I love you too. You’re the poison I’d choose over again if only to be with you. You’re my fucking madness, driving me insane, yet I crave it all the same.”

His palm presses against my throat, slowly restricting my breath. It makes my clit tingle all over again as I ride him while he seizes control over my breath. His wet lips devours me with a greediness that consumes us both, pushing me closer to another climax.

Eventually, he takes back control, flipping me onto my back on the sandy shore. He slams inside of me with feral, lethal thrusts as his muscles tighten, his cock jerking inside me. He fucks me with a kind of raw masculinity, possessing me, and it’s in this moment I finally let go. All the worries of the future leave my body as if thrown out of a window; all doubts wash away like the water enveloping us in its embrace. I know, with him, I’ll fucking make it, and I won’t let my insecurities ruin our future.

“It’s funny, isn’t it? We’re fucking in the lake, and the first time I made you come was by one.”

The memory of that time washes over me—the corpse we saw—but I push those thoughts aside, empowered to take control of my life and decide what should and shouldn’t affect me—all because of the therapy sessions with Camila.

“Yeah,” I beam at him.

He pushes deep inside me one last time before his release, his moans echoing through the trees as water splashes beside us. As he strokes my hair, his forehead clashes with mine, locking eyes with me and pouring out all of his feelings without a word.

I see it in his eyes, too. He is as terrified as I am, though much better at concealing it. But I also see how much he trusts this— us. And if he believes in our future, then so will I.

––––––––

“DO YOU HAVE EVERYTHING you need?” Everlee asks when we stand outside their cottage.

I nod, stealing one last glance at the forest surrounding us, drinking in the sight of the cottage that’s been my refuge these past months. I will miss this house that gave me a place I could finally belong to, but it’s time to go on new adventures.

Draven and Everlee help load the Jeep we bought from him at a lower price, since he’s planning to buy a new one anyway.

“Okay, good.”

The breeze washes over us as we stand among the trees, the birds singing high above, and the sweet scent of the lake filling the air.

“It’s all done,” Draven says as he closes the tailgate and tosses the key over to Grey, who catches them effortlessly.

“Thanks, man.”

They share a brotherly hug, clapping each other’s backs before Draven waves at me and heads back into the cottage. Grey slips into the driver’s seat, leaving Everlee and me alone for a few final moments. Her gaze is tear-eyed and her lips form a bright smile.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” she says as she embraces me, her sweet perfume enveloping my senses.

I feel the sting of unshed tears forming in my eyes as I hug her back. “I’ll miss you too.”

“Call me when you can, yeah?”

“Absolutely.” I break the hug, smiling through the tears now sliding down my cheeks. “Thank you for everything. I really mean it.”

“You’d have done the same. After all, that’s what friends are for. Safe travels.”

I have to take a deep breath so as not to start sobbing from emotions threatening to wash over me. With a heavy heart, I head to the car, opening the door, and settling into the passenger seat. Grey’s eyes meet mine as he observes me.

We’ll still have to be careful while driving to not draw any attention to us, but as soon as we pass the country border over to France, we’ll be free, ready to live the rest of our lives.

Grey grabs my hand, squeezing it in his before starting the car. The cottage disappears out of view, and only the forest envelops us as we drive forward. A sense of relief and happiness blankets me as I look over at Grey, his sapphire eyes casting glances between me and the road.

“What now?” I ask him, a smile forming on my lips as it does him.

“Now it’s time to see the world, little doll.”