And Damien smiled.
Then stepped back into the dark.
Gone.
But not gone.
Elliot's hands curled into fists in his lap.
His breath came shallow.
His pulse hammered not with fear.
With dread.
This wasn't over.
It had never ended.
It had only paused.
Aiden noticed. "Cass- Elliot?" His voice softened. "You okay?"
Elliot forced a smile. "Yeah. Just… tired."
But inside, the truth screamed:
He's here.
He's watching.
And he's letting me be happy… so he can take it all away.
Leonel followed his gaze toward the empty window.
He didn't see Damien.
But he saw Elliot.
The tension in his jaw.
The tremor in his fingers.
The way his eyes stayed locked on that spot like it held a ghost.
Leonel didn't ask.
He just shifted closer.
Placed his hand over Elliot's clenched fist.
Warm. Solid.
Aiden did the s sliding his arm around Elliot's other hand, pulling him gently into his side.
They didn't speak.
They didn't say "It's okay."
They didn't say "He's gone."
