Chapter 238

The scene felt surreal, bathed in the stark glow of the streetlights as the authorities swarmed in with purposeful strides. My heart pounded in my chest as Timothy and I stood amidst the swirling chaos, watching in silence as they converged upon Bruce's lifeless body.

"It’s okay. Help is here," Timothy's voice was a mere whisper in my ear.

I nodded, my gaze fixed on the ambulance pulling up. Despite knowing the inevitable outcome, a pang of apprehension gripped me as the paramedics carefully examined Bruce's motionless form.

"He's already gone," I murmured to Timothy, my voice tinged with a melancholic certainty.

Timothy placed an arm around me and pulled me back toward him. "You don’t have to look."

“I have to,” I said urgently. “I need to know if he’s actually gone.”

Yet, the authorities continued their efforts, their solemn faces flashing red and blue beside the police car lights. They treated Bruce's body with a solemn reverence, carefully placing him onto a stretcher, a futile attempt to save a life already lost.

As the authorities bustled around, a fleeting thought pierced through my mind—Timothy's injury, the blood that had stained his shoulder.

"You have to show them your arm! Your hurt." I said, my eyes fixated on the spot where blood had marked his shirt.

He glanced down, following my gaze, and shook his head reassuringly. "It's nothing, Evie. I'll be fine."

But I couldn't shake off the unease that gripped me. Ignoring his protests, I gently reached for his arm, the fabric of his shirt sticky with dried blood. My heart clenched with guilt at the sight.

"Let me see, Timothy," I insisted, my voice tinged with urgency.

Reluctantly, he pulled away the fabric to reveal the graze on his shoulder. It seemed minor, but the sight of the wound sent a pang of guilt coursing through me. I clenched my fists, fighting back tears, berating myself for not tending to his injury sooner.

"I'm sorry, I should've..." I began, my voice choked with emotion.

Timothy silenced me with a gentle touch, his eyes softening with understanding. "Evie, it's okay. I'm just glad you're alright."

His words pierced through the guilt that consumed me, a soothing balm to my frayed nerves.

Timothy pulled me into a warm embrace, his arms enveloping me until my body was almost melding with his. I leaned into him and melted into his warmth.

"We'll get through this," Timothy murmured against my hair. “I promise.”

The sound of approaching footsteps interrupted our momentary respite. I looked up to see an officer approaching, his expression grave as he addressed us.

"Excuse me, can we ask you a few questions?" one of the officers addressed Timothy and me, their authoritative tone cutting through the lingering tension.

Timothy nodded, a gesture of compliance. "Of course, Officer."

We recounted the night's events in detail, and he asked various questions along the way. We were both weary by the time the interrogation concluded, a sense of weariness settled over us. The officers conferred briefly amongst themselves before announcing their decision to possibly close the case.

"Thank you for your cooperation. We just might be able to conclude this investigation and get you all home," the lead officer stated with some finality.

Timothy and I exchanged a wordless glance before they urged us to follow them. As we were escorted to the waiting police car, a surge of apprehension gripped me once more. The night's events had left a permanent mark, and the last thing I wanted to do was relive them.

I found myself instinctively clinging to Timothy as we settled into the backseat of the police car, seeking solace in his reassuring presence. His arm wrapped around me, and he smoothed my hair down, whispering assurances in my ear.

The ride was filled with an uneasy silence, the dim glow of the cityscape passing by in a blur. As we arrived at the police station, a sense of surreal familiarity washed over me. The stark walls, the echoing corridors—they felt like a haunting echo of a reality I yearned to escape from.

Yet, amidst the disquiet, two familiar figures emerged from the double doors, pulling me back to the present.

"Aria!" I exclaimed, relief flooding through me as I spotted her and Lucas waiting anxiously by the station entrance.

Without hesitation, I rushed towards her, enveloping her in a tight embrace.

"Evie, I was so worried," Aria's voice wavered, a tremor betraying her attempt at composure.

"I'm okay, Aria. We're okay," I reassured her, my voice tinged with an attempt at comfort despite the residual fear that lingered within me.

Lucas joined the embrace, almost inaudible as he cried into my shouler. The weight of the night's events seemed to dissolve momentarily, replaced by the comforting embrace of my friends.

Timothy stood by, offering a reassuring smile to Aria and Lucas.

"We're here for you, Evie," Aria spoke softly.

I nodded, pulling away to wipe her tear-streaked face. "Thank you, guys. I don't know what I'd do without you."

The officers led us inside, guiding us through the sterile halls of the station. Despite the closure of the case, a sense of disquiet lingered within me.

Inside, the atmosphere was fraught with tension. They had us waiting outside the interrogation room as we each gave our statements to the leading officers. I downed an entire cup of coffee in the meantime.

Aria and Lucas sat beside me, both offering me words of encouragement. As comforting as their presence was, it was hard to remain focus on everything going on around me. Just the image of Bruce’s lifeless eyes made me shutter.

Eventually, Timothy came out of the room, his face pale. When he saw me sitting there, his strained expression quickly softened.

One of the officers stepped out after him and gestured to me. “We’re ready for you, Ms. Stevens.”

As I stood up, Timothy took my hand and gave it a squeeze. "You've got this," he whispered.

I nodded, attempting to steel myself for what lay ahead. The thought of being enclosed in a room, forced to recount a horrific day, sent a shiver down my spine. Yet, amidst my hesitation, a strange sense of relief tugged at the edges of my consciousness—an opportunity to unburden the weight of the secrets I had carried for far too long.

As I entered the room, the investigators greeted me with a professional yet empathetic demeanor. Their presence exuded an air of understanding, a willingness to listen to all I had to say.

"Ms. Evie, thank you for coming in. We'd like to hear your account of what transpired last night," one of the investigators said, his voice measured yet compassionate.

I took a deep breath, attempting to steady my nerves, and began to recount the nightmare that had unfolded. I described how Bruce had quickly morphed into a monster—a predator who tormented me as I was growing up, later becoming my captor.

As the story unfolded, a strange sense of liberation washed over me—a cathartic release of the secrets I had kept hidden for so long. The investigators listened attentively, their expressions a mix of empathy and solemnity.

"You've been incredibly brave, Ms. Evie," one of the investigators remarked, their voice filled with genuine admiration. "Your courage in sharing your story is commendable."

Fresh tears escaped my eyes and one officer offered me a box of tissues. As I wiped my face, I took a deep breath. The air in the room felt lighter.

As the interview concluded, it seemed to finalize the reality of it all.

Bruce was dead.

I stepped out of the room, my friends still waiting patiently by the door..

"You okay?" Lucas asked as they approached me.

I nodded, a faint smile playing on my lips, but I quickly noticed that only Aria and Lucas were present.

“W-Where’s Timothy?”