Eli fell again back into that whispering dark.
The air around him trembled as a voice brushed against his ear, soft and sorrowful.
"You've suffered enough… let us take care of the rest."
He tried to fight it. His body twitched weakly as he knelt on the cold floorboards, struggling to lift his head. The world tilted, blurred by the red haze still bleeding from the walls. His breath hitched, shallow and shaking.
He wanted to speak to ask who was there but his tongue felt heavy, his throat dry. The warmth of unseen hands cupped his face.
"Wh–who…" he managed to whisper.
The answer didn't come from a shadow this time.
It came from light.
A shape formed before him a young man, tall and strong, dressed in the simple clothes of a village farmer. His face was calm, his eyes kind but filled with something ancient, something knowing. His hands large, steady held Eli's head gently, as if cradling a broken thing.
"You've done enough," the man said quietly. "Rest now."
Eli blinked through his tears. "Casey… the child…"
The stranger smiled faintly, his expression both sorrowful and sure. "Babies're safe. You must sleep now, Eli."
The words came like a melody soft, rhythmic, and terribly familiar.
Eli's chest tightened. He wanted to resist, to demand answers, but the warmth spreading through him was too heavy, too comforting.
The stranger's voice lowered, deep and steady.
"Sleep, Eli. Sleep."
Again and again, the words echoed in his ears, overlapping, spiraling, until the sound no longer came from outside but from within.
The floor beneath him faded.
His heartbeat slowed.
The mist seeped through the cracks of the house, wrapping around his body like a shroud.
"Sleep, Eli… sleep…"
His brow furrowed one last time uncertainty, confusion, and fear flickering in his half-closed eyes.
Then his body went still.
The warmth of the man's hands faded into cold air.
Eli's head lowered onto the wooden floor as his vision dimmed to black, and the last thing he felt was the faint brush of a whisper across his cheek.
"We'll take care of the rest."
The candle went out.
Warm sunlight spilled across silk sheets.
Eli blinked awake to the faint hum of morning birds and the distant chime of a clock tower. His head throbbed faintly, but the scent of coffee and roses filled the room so familiar, so safe, that for a moment, the ache in his chest faded.
He turned.
Beside him, a woman slept peacefully her hair spilling over the pillow like dark silk, her breath steady, her presence grounding.
Vola Knocker.
His wife.
At least… that's what his mind told him.
A soft smile crossed his lips. He leaned over, brushed a kiss to her forehead, and pulled the blanket gently over her shoulder. The gesture was instinctive protective, loving. It felt real.
"Sleep, Vola," he murmured. "You've earned it."
He rose, the marble floor cool beneath his bare feet. The mansion stretched endlessly beyond the glass doors white pillars, trimmed gardens, the faint glimmer of the lake beyond the courtyard. He moved through it like he'd lived there forever.
In the mirror, his reflection was polished, calm, content.
A successful man. A businessman. A husband.
No ghosts. No blood. No Spiral.
Just love, work, coffee, and love again.
He showered, dressed in a black suit that clung perfectly to his frame, fixed his tie, then turned to the other side of the room where his wife's clothes were scattered carelessly on the chair.
He sighed softly. "Vola… lazy again."
He picked out her beige coat, matched it with a cream dress, and placed them neatly by the bedside. Then, with that same fondness, he crouched beside her, kissed her lips once, then again until she stirred with a groggy smile.
"Mmm… Eli…" she murmured.
He smiled, eyes soft. "Good morning, sleepyhead."
Her voice was teasing. "Already dressed? You're too efficient."
"Someone has to make sure you eat before your meetings, Madam President," he replied, straightening her coat. "Otherwise the world will starve with you."
She laughed quietly, stretching, her hand reaching for his tie. "Stay a little longer."
"I can't," he said, though his tone was playful. "You'll make me late again."
He turned to leave but before he reached the door, she darted out of bed and ran toward him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
He stumbled slightly, laughing, then lifted her effortlessly into his arms. "Vola really?"
"Really," she whispered, pressing her forehead to his.
Outside the door, a few workers passing by chuckled and turned away discreetly, muttering among themselves. "Our bosses again," one said under his breath. "They're like a drama show every morning."
"Love goals," another joked.
Eli raised one hand behind Vola's back a quick motion telling the workers to give them privacy. They bowed lightly and disappeared down the corridor.
He lowered his gaze to his wife's mischievous smile and sighed. "You're impossible, Mrs. Knocker."
"And you love me for it," she whispered back.
He kissed her neck gently. "So, tell me, my challenging love of a wife do I get to leave now, or do I obey your royal commands?"
She giggled, swatting at him. "Go before I change my mind."
He grinned, setting her down. "Then I'll see you tonight. Don't forget lunch."
Vola's eyes softened. "Come home safe, Eli."
"I always do."
He turned toward the door again, but as he reached for the handle, something in the mirror caught his eye a flicker, faint and red, like a spiral twisting behind his reflection.
He blinked.
It was gone.
Later that morning, the mansion glowed with movement and laughter. The smell of roasted beans and butter drifted through the hallways. Eli adjusted his cufflinks, smiling faintly. Yet beneath that polished calm, something inside him pulsed a whisper, faint but clear.
"Don't worry, Eli…"
"You shouldn't think of unimportant things."
"You have everything now."
His heart skipped. He turned sharply. The corridor was empty.
Only the ticking of the golden clock filled the silence.
He pressed his fingers to his temple, steadying his breath. The voice was calm, almost loving but beneath it lingered a chill, a quiet command that crawled beneath his skin.
"Your life is worth staying in," it whispered again closer this time, warm against his ear.
Eli blinked rapidly, his reflection flickering in a nearby mirror. For a split second, it smiled before he did.
"I'm fine," he said aloud, forcing a grin. "Just… fine."
He straightened his tie, stepped into the hallway light, and walked on his footsteps echoing through marble that gleamed too perfectly to be real.
And behind him, in every reflection he passed, the other Eli smiled wider.
"You're home now, Eli," the whisper cooed.
"Forget the noise beyond the glass."
"There's nothing else worth remembering."
End of Chapter
The light may feel safe, but sometimes it's only darkness wearing a prettier face.