Chapter 36

I was lounging on Cora’s plush sofa, my arm draped around her shoulders, the flickering light from the TV casting an eerie glow across the room. We were immersed in a marathon of cheesy horror flicks, our laughter echoing through the apartment whenever the characters made a predictably poor decision. A bowl of popcorn rested on my lap, and Cora’s hand would occasionally sneak into it, searching for the perfect kernel. It was a weekday afternoon, and the world outside seemed to fade away as we indulged in our shared love for the macabre.

My phone, tucked away in my pocket, buzzed insistently. I hesitated, the thought of disrupting this peaceful moment with reality’s intrusion made me grimace. But the compulsion to check won out. I fished the device from my pocket, the screen illuminating with a new email notification. The subject line read: “Urgent: Abbie Hargrove.”

My heart sank. The world tilted on its axis, and the cheerful atmosphere evaporated like mist. I tapped the notification, my eyes scanning the email from the school. Abbie was in the hospital. A concussion, they said. My grip tightened around the phone, the cheap plastic case groaning under the pressure.

I saw red. The fury that surged within me was a living thing, a beast clawing its way up my throat. I knew who was responsible. Her father, a man as vile and destructive as my own had been. The rage was a bitter taste in my mouth, the popcorn now a pile of ashen dust between us.

Cora’s voice pierced through the fog of rage. “Haides, what’s wrong? You’re practically shaking.”

I couldn’t speak. The words were trapped, lodged in the knot of anger that constricted my chest. Cora reached out, her fingers brushing against my clenched hand. She gently pried the phone from my grasp, her eyes soft with concern.

She read the email, her brow furrowing as she processed the information. “Who’s Abbie?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I turned to face her, the turmoil within me reflected in her wide, brown eyes. “Abbie is… she’s a kid I mentor at work. She’s been through hell, and it seems like it’s not done with her yet.”

Cora’s hand found mine, her touch a lifeline in the storm of my emotions. “We need to do something. Can we visit her? Is there anything we can do to help?”

Her words were a balm, the fire within me dimming slightly. Cora’s innate goodness, her unwavering desire to help, was exactly what my broken soul needed. At that moment, I realized how deeply I had come to depend on her presence in my life. She was my light in the perpetual night that was my existence.

“I don’t know,” I admitted, the anger giving way to a hollow sense of helplessness. “But I have to try. I can’t let that monster hurt her again.”

Cora nodded, her resolve strengthening mine. “Then let’s go. We’ll figure this out together.”

I nodded, a surge of gratitude washing over me as Cora’s words sank in. She was in this with me, all the way. Her determination was a force to be reckoned with, and I found myself momentarily distracted by the fierceness in her eyes.

“I’m staying over at your apartment for the weekend,” Cora declared, her tone leaving no room for argument.

I blinked, the thought of Cora in my space, making it her own, was both thrilling and terrifying. “You sure about that? My place isn’t exactly the Ritz.”

She rolled her eyes, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. “I think I can handle a little dust and clutter. Besides, it’s closer to the hospital, and after everything with Abbie, I want to be there for you.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her confidence. “Alright, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. I can’t even remember the last time I cleaned the place.”

Cora was already moving, gathering clothes and essentials into a weekend bag. I watched her, a strange sense of contentment settling over me. It was quickly replaced by a mild panic as I tried to recall the state of my living room. Had I left a pile of dishes in the sink? Were there any… questionable items lying around?

We set off toward the hospital, the drive stretching out before us. I filled the silence with details about Abbie’s case, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me.

“Abbie’s father… he’s a piece of work. The kind of man who makes you question the goodness in people,” I said, my grip tightening on the steering wheel.

Cora listened intently, her hand resting on my thigh in silent support. “You’re doing everything you can for her, Haides. That’s what matters.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “I’m not sure that’s enough. I’ve been where Abbie is, and it’s a dark place to be. I just… I can’t stand the thought of her being alone in this.”

“She’s not alone,” Cora assured me, her tone firm. “She has you. And now, she has me too.”

I glanced over at her, the weight on my chest feeling a little lighter. “You know, for someone who writes about fucked up serial killers, you sure bring a lot of light into the world.”

She shrugged, a soft blush creeping up her cheeks. “What can I say? Even the darkest stories need a glimmer of hope.”

We continued on, the conversation flowing naturally between us. I found myself opening up to her about my work, the ethical boundaries I was crossing by sharing Abbie’s story. But Cora wasn’t just anyone. She was the woman who had somehow managed to breach the walls I’d built around my heart.

“If I’m going to… handle Abbie’s father, you should know what you’re getting into,” I admitted, the words tasting like ash in my mouth.

Cora’s hand squeezed my thigh gently. “Haides, I’ve seen the ruthlessness in you. I’ve written about it, for god’s sake. But I’ve also seen the man who can’t stand by and watch a child suffer. I’m here, no matter what that entails.”

Her understanding, her acceptance, it was almost too much to bear. I reached over and took her hand in mine, holding onto it like a lifeline.