Page 80 of No Mercy

I nod, moving with her to step outside of the car. She looks up at me and smiles, a little bit of hope on her face from me walking by myself.

My legs feel heavy as I walk towards the front door. The first bit of movement I’ve had in weeks unless I needed the toilet but even then, Mandy has been by my side.

We follow Flynn through the front door to see Gunnar, Carter and Ant waiting at the bottom of the stairs, all their faces full of concern as they watch us intensely. Like they’re waiting to run and catch me if I fall. I can’t help but look at the floor, noticing the smashed vase has vanished, only to be replaced by a beautiful bunch of white roses, resting on the table.

Mandy’s hand slips into mine, her gentle tug breaking my focus on the roses. “Come on,” she murmurs softly. “Let’s go sit down.”

Following her lead, we make our way to the living room, it hasn’t changed a single bit since we were last here, the only difference being that it’s tidier now.

Mandy keeps her hand on mine, guiding me towards the sofa. The cushions feel soft as I sink into them and I pull my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them instantly.

Mandy stands there, watching me for a second before heading towards the kitchen, her footsteps fading behind her. Faint voices from the kitchen float into the living room, but I can’t make out the words. No doubt they’ve brought a Doctor here to sedate me and place me into a mental ward but in all honesty, if this was happening to Mandy, I would do it too.

I can’t help but think about the flowers sitting on the table in the hallway and wondering who would have placed them there.

Silence wraps around me like a heavy blanket, pressing against my chest. I trace patterns into the arm of the sofa to distract my mind from wandering.

Grief is a funny thing, everyone reacts differently. Some people push on through life, wishing the grief away. Others, like me, shut down completely no matter how hard they try.

When Axel was in the hospital, I prayed every day that he would be okay. I used to believe in hope. But all that was ripped away from me the day I saw the look on Flynn’s face.

I shut my eyes, trying to block out the world, trying to push away the constant loop of “What ifs” that run my thoughts. But even in the quiet, I can hear his voice, clear as day. “You’re stronger than this, Eva.”

I don’t stop the tears that fall, letting them run down my face and onto my clothes, it’s the only thing that feels real when I see the mark they leave.

The scrape of a chair in the kitchen catches my attention as Mandy’s footsteps grow louder. I glance up as she rounds the corner to crouch in front of me.

“Eva, there’s som-” She stops herself, like she’s choosing how to approach the subject, “There’s someone here to see you.”

I lift my head, ready for the Doctor to round the corner, but the voice that follows, was the last one I ever expected to hear.

“Hello, Buttercup”

The words hit me like a lightning bolt, freezing me to my spot on the sofa. I whip my head around to look behind me and there he is, standing just inches away.

Axel.

He’s alive.

My eyes widen, searching him for any indications that this is fake, that is some cruel trick my mind is playing with me. Hestands there, wrapped in bandages, a fresh scar slicing his cheek as bruises scatter across his bare skin, but it’s him. It’s really fucking him.

“You’re… you’re alive,” I whisper, my voice cracking as the tears fall harder.

He takes a step towards me, his movements slow like he’s afraid I’ll run. “You really thought I would leave you buttercup? I’ll search heaven and hell to have you by my side.”

THE END… OR IS IT?