I stood in the hospital hallway, leaning against the cold wall, my mind racing with thoughts of everything that had happened. Ethan was missing, Emma was falling apart, and Rachel… well, she was trying her best to hold everyone together. But I couldn’t let them keep getting pulled deeper into this mess. This was too dangerous, too twisted. I had to end it myself.
The idea had been spinning in my mind for hours now, and the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. They didn’t need to be involved. I could take this on alone. It was my responsibility anyway, and it was time I faced it.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed myself away from the wall and headed down the hall to Emma’s room. I needed to see her, one last time before I set out on this path. When I opened the door, the sight of her broke my heart all over again. Emma was lying in her hospital bed, her face pale and eyes red from hours of crying. She looked so fragile, so lost. It hurt to see her like this, but I couldn’t let her or Rachel get hurt because of me.
Rachel was by her side, holding her hand and whispering softly. She looked up when I entered, her face lighting up with relief. But as I came closer, her expression shifted, as if she could sense something in me.
“Harrison,” she whispered, her eyes searching mine. “What’s going on?”
I took a deep breath, looking between the two of them. “I’ve made a decision,” I said quietly. “I’m going to deal with this alone. I can’t let either of you be put in harm’s way. This whole thing has gone on long enough, and it’s time someone put an end to it.”
Rachel’s eyes widened, and she shook her head. “What are you talking about? You can’t go out there on your own! This isn’t something you can handle alone.”
“I can,” I insisted, my voice firm. “And I will. Rachel, you need to stay here with Emma. She needs you right now. She’s barely hanging on. If you come with me and something happens to you, she won’t make it. Ethan won’t have his mother, and Emma… she won’t have her best friend.”
Rachel opened her mouth to argue, but I raised a hand, stopping her. “Please, Rachel. Let me do this. I need to protect you both. I can’t stand the thought of either of you getting hurt.”
Emma stirred on the bed, her eyes fluttering open. She looked at us, her gaze dazed and unfocused. “Harrison? Rachel?” Her voice was weak, barely more than a whisper.
Rachel turned her attention back to Emma, smoothing her hair gently. “We’re here, Emma. Don’t worry. We’re here.”
I watched the two of them, my heart heavy. This was why I had to do this alone. I had to protect them, even if it meant putting myself in harm’s way. I leaned down, touching Emma’s hand gently. “Emma, I have to go take care of something, okay? I promise I’ll be back soon.”
She blinked up at me, her eyes filled with confusion. “Where… where are you going?”
“Just somewhere I need to go,” I said softly. “I’ll be fine. You just focus on getting better.”
Emma’s hand tightened around mine, her grip surprisingly strong. “Don’t go, Harrison. Don’t leave me… please.”
My chest tightened, but I forced myself to smile, even though it felt like my heart was breaking. “I’ll be back, Emma. I promise. I’m just… I’m just going to make sure everything’s safe. For you. For Ethan.”
She let out a small, broken sob, her hand falling away from mine as she drifted back into a restless sleep. I stepped back, feeling a mix of anger and determination building inside me. This had to end. For her. For all of us.
I turned to Rachel, who was watching me with a look of desperation. “You can’t do this alone, Harrison,” she whispered. “You don’t have to.”
“Yes, I do,” I replied, my tone gentle but firm. “Please, Rachel. Stay here with her. Take care of her. Keep her safe. I don’t want you to get hurt, too.”
Rachel looked like she wanted to argue, but after a moment, she nodded, her shoulders slumping. “Alright,” she said softly. “But promise me you’ll come back. Promise me you won’t do anything reckless.”
I managed a small smile. “I’ll do my best. Just… just trust me, okay?”
She nodded, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “Be careful, Harrison.”
I nodded and turned away, forcing myself to walk out of the room. As I stepped into the hallway, I felt a wave of determination wash over me. I was doing this for them. To keep them safe, to protect them from the danger that had torn our lives apart. I didn’t know what I was walking into, but it didn’t matter. Whatever it took, I was ready.
As I made my way out of the hospital, the cool night air hit my face, refreshing and grounding. I took a deep breath, letting it fill my lungs as I gathered my resolve. I wasn’t going to let them down. I was going to end this once and for all.
The journey was a blur as I drove through the night, my thoughts racing as I tried to plan my next move. I knew where I needed to go. Blackwood. The name alone sent a chill down my spine, but I didn’t care. This was where everything had started, and it was where it was going to end. I wasn’t sure what I would find there, but I knew that it was the only way to get answers. To find Ethan. To stop this madness.
The road stretched out before me, winding and dark, but I didn’t hesitate. The farther I drove, the more determined I became. My fear melted away, replaced by a cold, fierce resolve. I wasn’t going to let anyone stand in my way. Not now. Not when so much was at stake.
Finally, as dawn began to break on the horizon, I saw the familiar outline of Blackwood in the distance. The building loomed over me, dark and foreboding, but I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me. This was it. The moment I had been waiting for.
I parked the car and got out, standing in front of the building as I took in the sight. It was just as intimidating as I remembered, a place filled with shadows and secrets. But I wasn’t afraid. Not anymore. I was ready to face whatever lay inside.
As I approached the entrance, I could feel the weight of everything that had led me here. The fear, the pain, the anger it all came rushing back, but I pushed it aside. This wasn’t the time for hesitation. I had a job to do.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door and stepped inside. The air was thick and musty, filled with the smell of old wood and dust. The halls were dark, the only light coming from the dim glow of the emergency lights lining the walls. It was quiet, too quiet, and every step I took echoed through the empty corridors.
I moved through the building slowly, my senses on high alert. I didn’t know what I was looking for, but I knew that somewhere in here lay the answers I needed. The truth about what had happened to Ethan. The reason for all this suffering.
As I made my way deeper into the building, a chill ran down my spine. The silence was eerie, almost oppressive, but I forced myself to keep going. This was the only way. I had come too far to turn back now.
I stopped in front of a door at the end of the hallway, my hand hovering over the handle. I didn’t know what was behind it, but I could feel a strange sense of foreboding, a sense that this was the heart of Blackwood. The place where all the secrets lay hidden.
With a steadying breath, I turned the handle and pushed the door open. The room beyond was dark, filled with shadows, but I could make out faint shapes in the gloom. As my eyes adjusted, I saw the outlines of files, papers, scattered across the room like they had been abandoned in a hurry.
I stepped inside, my heart pounding as I began to search through the mess. There had to be something here, some clue that would lead me to Ethan. I wasn’t going to leave until I found it.
And as I searched, a single thought filled my mind, driving me forward with a fierce determination.
I’m going to bring him back. No matter what it takes.