Baldwin's Mansion
A week had passed since the devastating revelation that shattered Savannah's world. The grand Baldwin mansion, once alive with warmth and laughter, had been drowned in an eerie silence ever since. The atmosphere felt thick, the shadows seemed to deepen, as if the very structure was grieving alongside its residents.
Elijah stepped into the mansion's yard after finishing his shift at the warehouse.
His tired eyes wandered to the patio, the place where Savannah would often sit in the mornings, soaking up the sun's warm rays. It had been deserted for days. His eyes moved upward to the closed balcony door of Savannah's room, the same door that had remained shut since the tragedy unfolded. Each day, he found himself stealing glances at it, yearning for a sign of life, but there was nothing. She hadn't emerged. Not even once.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open. The silence inside was almost suffocating. As he made his way through the halls, he noticed a couple of staff members carrying a tray of food. His brow furrowed as he halted them.
"What's all this?" he asked, eyeing the untouched meal.
The male staff hesitated before responding, "This was for Mrs. Baldwin. She still won't open the door or eat. We left the food outside her door for an hour, but she hasn't touched it, so we were bringing it back."
Elijah stiffened "She hasn't eaten? Not even once?" His voice was heavy with disbelief.
The staff member looked down, confirming his worst fears. Elijah's fists clenched, frustration bubbling up inside him. "Does the boss know about this?" He was, of course, talking about Blaze Baldwin.
The staff member shook his head. "No, we haven't told him."
Elijah's jaw clenched. Of course, Blaze had no clue. Or maybe he just didn't care. That thought alone sent a surge of anger through him. He took a sharp breath, trying to keep his cool.
"Bring a fresh tray of food. Now."
The staff nodded quickly and rushed off to the kitchen. Meanwhile, Elijah remained still in place, his mind racing. Had Blaze really given up on her? Did he not notice how she was fading away behind that locked door?
Fifteen minutes later, the staff returned, handing Elijah the fresh tray of food. Without another word, he took it and began ascending the stairs. The staff watched him disappear down the corridor, then returned to their duties.
Reaching Savannah's door, Elijah knocked. He waited. Silence. He knocked again, this time with more force. Still nothing. He exhaled, feeling his patience wear thin.
"Savannah?" His voice softened, but the silence lingered.
He let out a dry chuckle before speaking again. "See? I'm calling you by your name. The way you like it. And if I remember correctly, you once told me that as long as I called you by your name, you'd answer me. This isn't fair, you know?"
Still, there was no answer. The weight of her silence felt heavy on his chest.
He sighed, resting his forehead against the door. "Ah, you really are a liar, aren't you? I shouldn't have trusted your words—"
A soft creak interrupted him.
Elijah's eyes widened slightly as he pulled back. The door had unlocked. For the first time in a week.
He hesitated for a moment before stepping inside, quietly closing the door behind him. But as his gaze fell on Savannah, what he saw shook him to his core.
Unlike what he had expected, she didn't appear disheveled or unkempt. Her hair was neatly brushed, her body freshly cleaned, as if she had just taken a shower. But her face-her face was exactly what he feared. Broken. Empty. The hollowness in her eyes was haunting.
He placed the tray down on a nearby table before lowering himself to her level. He didn't dare touch her. "You need to eat," he urged softly.
She didn't respond.
With a quiet sigh, Elijah moved to the window, grabbing the curtains and yanking them open. Sunlight poured into the dimly lit room, chasing away the suffocating darkness.
"Don't," she murmured weakly.
He chose to ignore her.
The whole room felt different now, alive under the warm rays. He turned back to her. "Come on, eat now." he said, his voice steady as he stood before her.
She remained on the bed, unmoving and silent.
Elijah crouched down, his eyes meeting her. "Don't you want to avenge your son?" he asked, his tone unwavering.
Savannah's gaze slowly rose, finally meeting his.
"You and your son both deserve justice. And for that, you need strength," he continued. "Or…" He trailed off, studying her closely.
She stared at him, her breath shallow. "Or what?" she asked, her voice fragile.
Elijah's expression darkened. "Or are you just going to let him off the hook?"
Her eyes sparked with the first hint of life he had seen in days. "No," she whispered, her hands clenching. "I won't let him off!"
A soft smile flickered across Elijah's lips. "Exactly. So eat up. You'll need all your energy for this." He reached for the tray, lifting it in his hands and extending it toward her. "I'll help you," he added, his voice firm yet gentle.
She paused, her gaze flicking between the food and him. "Why?" she asked, her tired eyes reflecting doubt and sorrow.
Elijah didn't miss a beat. "Because you need me," he replied, offering her a spoonful of food.
And this time, she accepted it.
A heavy silence hung in the air before she finally broke it, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why are you here?"
His heart ached at the emptiness in her words. "Because someone has to be."
Author's Note :
Thankyou for reading<3
Hope you've a good day/night <3<3