Page 88 of Shadows Within

“Dammit Callum, I need more. I need—”don’t cry for him,“I need to know it wasn’t a mistake.”

“It wasn’t a mistake. You didn’t do anything, Scarlett. It was my decision, I did this. But if you need to hear that Elliot was a selfish bastard who raped many and likely killed two or more women, then yes… he deserved it.”

The tears that fall don’t represent my weakness, they represent my strength.

I don’t say anything. I keep driving home as we sit together in a comforting silence.

I pull into the driveway and put the car in park.

“Thank you.” I say softly.

“I’ll be by later,” is all he says before he hangs up.

I step out of the car and walk up to the front door. I stop before I open it to collect myself. I don’t want Dad to see me, not like this.

It’s still early in the evening. When I enter, I hear himworking in the shop. It’s the only time in my life I’ve been thankful for him working late. I throw my keys on the table and go upstairs.

The shower always takes a minute to warm up, so I turn it on before I get undressed. I peel off my jacket, smeared with his blood. I look in the mirror at the person I’ve become, knowing now that my life will never be the same.

I step into the hot water and close my eyes as it splashes against me. Visions from earlier flash in my head. If Callum didn’t come, Elliot would’ve succeeded this time. That thought feels like a knife in my chest, causing pain I won’t let consume me. Everything I’ve been working so hard for and everything I’ve fought for, it all feels wasted. My light feels dim.

I walk across the hall to my bedroom. I send Dad a text saying that I’m not feeling well and will be in bed. Sadness starts to settle in as I crawl into bed in my fresh pajamas.The pajamas that I washed, because my mom isn’t around, and she hasn’t been for so long.

There are certain times where a girl just wants her mom. Tonight, I long for her—just like I did four years ago. The sting of her absence sinks in.

I pull the covers over me and cling to the duvet, wishing I could get lost in it. The sun sets behind my partially open curtains. Warmth peeks in. At the end of the bed, I hear my phone vibrate in my bag on the floor. I don’t want to get up to see who it is. I roll over and fully submerge myself in the blankets. I close my eyes and try to see anything other than what happened today.

I wake up an hour or so later to a warm body by my side.Callum.Instantly, I feel safe. He slowly opens his sleepy eyes as I rest my head on the pillow toward him.

“I needed to be near you.” His deep voice sounds so peaceful. I move my body closer to his. He releases a small chuckle of serenity.

“I’m sorry,” I say.

“I never want you to be sorry, not for this.” He’s quick to respond but his voice remains calm.

“I just, I’m not tiny, I practice all the time, almost every day. I fight men bigger than Elliot. I don’t just fight them, I win, Callum. But today, I wanted… I tried to-”

He grabs my face. “Don’t, Scarlett.” Tears fill his eyes. “You shouldn’t have to train to fight off a man who wants to rape you.” Hearing him say those words breaks down the wall I’ve been trying so hard to hide behind.

I quietly sob and he brings me closer. My salty tears land on his bare chest.

Sex is the last thing on my mind, but my body craves the connection with him.

“Callum—” I touch his torso.

His lips meet mine before I can finish, like a dance we’ve done a hundred times. Our bodies know their way to each other.

My hand moves down his to the top of his boxers. I can’t stop myself.

“I need to feel you.”

His hands trace my back, under my shirt. The hands that have killed for me run tenderly along my skin.

His hand lightly grips the base of my neck. He pulls back, and our lips part only for a moment.

“I’ve waited forever for you, Angel.”

How can someone exposed to so much hate, love so delicately?