Work Text:
Rainfall seems to affect everyone differently. Some people adore the rain, while others find it upsetting. Not many ever seem to cherish storms though. To some, it may bring a sense of fear or sadness. After all, they're known to cause mass floods and destruction around the world. The sound of thunder or the look of lighting may cause a loss of dignity in others. Regardless, the people that do love or like the arrival of storm’s, always appear to enjoy the tranquility or serenity the raindrops bring. Everyone may not be a fan of the water cycle, but if you want to survive, then you'd better learn to appreciate it.
Boom. Crackle. Pop. Those were the sound’s of distant thunder and lightning crashing down onto the surface of the earth. Drystan Heart was on the case to find out what happened the night the tragic death of his best friend —and former partner— Elijah Towers occured. His passing was always quite strange. It was ruled out to be a suicide, yet the evidence to prove it was shaky. When he was found lying unconscious on the ground by his wife, there was said to be a bullet lodged into his skull. The handgun that he apparently used to kill himself, had no identifiable finger prints. Not only that, when taken to a forensic pathologist, the evidence was more clearly a murder. The way the bullet sat in Elijah Towers head was positioned not in a way that seemed self inflicted, but in a way like someone shot at you. There was also no residue gun power within it. His wife reported his corpse from their bedroom. It took her about 15 seconds to compose herself and call the police. When they proceeded to question her, hoping to get some answers, she broke down so badly, she had to be admitted into a mental institution for 3 months. It was hard to believe that her beloved husband was gone. He had always been so happy throughout his life. He was quite optimistic and didn’t seem to have a bad bone within him. Everyone around him knew he was a positive soul, who always found the best within every situation. His departure from life was random, it was truly astonishing. His darling wife was devastated, the suicidal ideation's she suffered with before, only growing worse. There was nothing anything could do, depression takes different forms in everyone, maybe he had just not known how to reach out. Yet she blamed herself for not being able to save him. Her life was in shambles, and all anyone could do now was mourn the death of the once blonde haired, pretty boy.
“Darling, I’m out to give Mary this pie, Poor thing is going through such a hard time.” said Lillith, Drystan’s beloved wife. Mary Towers and she had been great friend’s along with Drystan and Elijah.
“Alright, I have work to do anyways, I’ll be home later around 9:00 pm dear.” Drystan spoke. He took a sip from his cup of coffee before getting up to fetch them both umbrellas. At the doorway Mary was gracefully putting on her coat. Drystan soon came back to put on his, and handed Lilith a red polka-dotted umbrella. Before they left, Lilith gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
“I’ll see you later sweetheart, try not to stress yourself too much, Love you ‘kay?” Lilith said gently.
Drystan smiled at her slightly. “I know dear. I love you too. Take care.” He responded, before they both headed off their separate ways.
Drystan soon arrived at his destination. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters, and entered the building with his hand in his pocket. He passed by a row of receptionist desks, until he reached one where a tall woman was seated behind it. She had longish light brown hair that fell to her shoulders, and her features were sharp and angular like an old photograph of a person from before the world’s population started going through rapid growth. Her eyes were narrowed, almost piercingly so. She looked up when she saw him approaching.
“May I help you, sir?”
Drystan nodded at her, politely and professionally, as he took out his badge and wallet.
“Special Agent D. Heart, FBI, ma’am,” he said as he handed her a badge and an ID card.
“I'm here to investigate the case on Elijah Towers. ”
The woman stared back at him for a moment, then nodded sharply.
“Come on through,” she said. She turned her attention back to her computer screen.
“Agent Heart is not assigned to any particular investigation, however.”
"I figured." Drystan said.
"I haven't seen anyone else willing to find out what really happened the night Elijah Towers was found dead in his bedroom. There are many missing pieces to the story and I plan on figuring them out." He explained, hoping to at least get to speak with the director. She nodded again.
"Follow me."
As they walked across the carpeted floor of the main bullpen, a few other agents greeted them, but only briefly. They all seemed very intent on their work. It was clear how important their cases were to them; they all had special jobs that they intended to do well.
They took an elevator upstairs, and walked until they reached an office. They both stopped outside a door marked 'Director's Darya'. She opened it and gestured for him to step inside. He did so, finding himself in a small circular room furnished sparsely and devoid of personal touches. All the furniture was covered with black sheets. In the center, in front of the desk sat a large mahogany coffin. A white sheet was pulled over Elijah’s head. Drystan felt his heart begin to pound heavily against his chest. He could smell blood, he just couldn’t tell if it was Elijah’s.
“You will have ten minutes to go through all information relating to Elijah Towers’ death, you will have a transcript of all interviews conducted between him and his coworkers during the past year, as well as all information regarding his last days and any findings that you make, and you will be expected to return to the scene of the crime within three hours after your interview has concluded with the Director. If you fail to complete these tasks, you will face disciplinary action. Am I clear?”
The female secretary asked Drystan. As she spoke, Drystan stood motionless with wide eyes, staring ahead at nothing. After a minute or two, he blinked and regained composure.
“Yes ma’am. Thank you very much.” Drystan replied as he quickly stepped outside.
Drystan waited an hour in the small canteen the tall building provided before finally being called back up by the same secretary from earlier. Once again he followed her to the directors office. This time the others he passed seemed all the more gloomy and tired, rather than focused and persistent. He didn't think too much of it though, they all worked very hard and it was starting to get late. He hoped his wife was already safe at home, Elijah's death had greatly impacted his way of thinking and he didn’t want to risk losing the love of his life like he lost his best friend. When he walked through the door of the director’s office, a young woman with dark skin and short black hair stood there waiting for him. She smiled kindly when she saw him and gestured towards the chairs around the table in front of her desk.
“Come on over, Let’s talk shall we?.” Drystan hesitated slightly before walking over and sitting down in one of the chairs, but did not say anything. The woman waited patiently until he was seated before she spoke.
“So, let me start with some questions you can answer if you don’t mind. My name is Darya. I’m here representing the board, and you are one of our employees.” She paused for just a moment while he tried to keep his expression neutral and polite as he nodded.
“Great, then we should be able to start with easy stuff. Is it true that you’ve been working long hours these past few days?” He nodded again.
“Did anyone try to harass you during your shifts?” Another nod.
“And how often has this happened recently? Did anyone else call you a troublemaker? Did someone ever threaten you?”
Drystan considered this question carefully, trying to recall anything out of place.
“No..Not other than occasional meaningless threats from things like road rage or.. Excuse me but what does this have to do with the murder of Elijah Towers?” He questioned.
“Well Mr. Heart we can't be sure that it is a murder. All the evidence points to a suicide.” Darya stated.
“However, you failed to find fingerprints on the gun, or any residue of gunpowder.” Drystan responded.
“I suppose you’re correct. But then who would you suggest “killed'' him? She questioned.
“His wife and coworkers, they never reported anyone ever seeming to have a problem with Mr. Towers. Do you know anyone that might have had a problem with him Mr. Heart?”
Drystan thought about it for a moment, before finally responding.
“No ma’am.”
“Have you ever considered that maybe, despite Elijah’s cheery and bright personality, he was really just masking to hide his depression and anxiety.” She stated as she folded her hands. Her voice was quite cold, unsympathetic even. She looked at him waiting for an answer. Yet, Drystan didn’t respond, he just stared at the ground below him, quietly trying not to tear up. Darya stood up, and walked over to a filing cabinet. She pulled out some files and sat down once again. She flipped to a page, one with Elijah’s picture in it. She unclipped it and handed it to him. “Here. Take it. What I think is happening is you’re in denial. You have to face it Drystan. He committed suicide. That’s it. There’s nothing else we can do.” She uttered.
Drystan didn’t want to believe it. Yet, he didn't want to argue. He looked at the picture he was handed. A picture of Elijah Towers laughing and giggling at a party. He seemed so joyful. So why, why would he do it? Drystan didn’t have an answer. So instead, he stood from the chair and walked towards the door.
“Goodbye Darya.” He said coldly, before leaving the Director’s office, towards the elevator, and out the building.
He couldn't understand how he was feeling anymore; all he knew was that he felt utterly empty and hollow inside. He wanted to stop everything and break down. Yet, he wouldn't let anyone see him cry, or feel sorry for him. He could handle his own feelings now. He could survive them alone. They hurt, yes but he would get through it and move on. He would make sure no one found out that he was feeling this way. He could hold it together. Just like Elijah. And so he walked. He didn't know where he was going, but he knew he had to calm down somehow. Unconsciously though, he walked home. It was his safe place, the only place he felt real comfort. He took out his keys and spotted a rose bush. Before he entered his house, he picked a few, making a small bouquet for his lover. When he entered the home, he heard laughter and giggling coming from the living room. He walked there, spotting his wife talking to her dear friend Mary.
“Hahaha, yes and then he fell over because he slipped on a puddle of water, Hahaha!” Mary laughed as she held her stomach. It seemed like they had been laughing for hours, Tears of joy starting to prick down their faces.
“Oh Drystan darling! Welcome home!” Lilith said as she finally spotted her beloved husband. She got up and kissed him before seeing the small bouquet of flowers.
“Oh! Did you pick these for me? Awh, they're absolutely gorgeous! Thank you dear.” She said joyously as she kissed him sweetly. He smiled warmly, trying not to seem upset over anything. His face still showed the pain and sadness, though. Lilith noticed this and gave him a worried look. “What's wrong my love? Everything alright?” She asked tenderly, caressing his face softly as she did.
“Just…Everything..” He murmured as he leaned into the warmth of her touch.
“I better go. It’s getting late anyways.” Mary said as she stood up from the couch, where her and Lilith sat.
“Thank you for everything Lilith. Have a good night.” . “Goodnight Mary.” Lilith replied.
After saying goodbye to both of them, they watched their friend leave the house. When they closed the door behind them, Lilith turned towards her husband, who was looking at them with sad eyes.
“Let's talk about what's wrong baby. Why are you so upset?" She said looking at him sadly. Drystan sighed deeply before shaking his head and turning away from her and going to his bedroom. Lilith followed after him quickly as he went into his room without a word.
“Drystan, come on. Talk to me please.” She pleaded. Drystan sighed yet again and turned around to face her. His face was red from crying as he looked at her.
“Lilith I can’t….” He stuttered.
“It’ll just hurt more if we keep holding it all in, won’t it darling? Let me be there for you. I want us to be strong.” She continued pleading, taking his hand as he shook it in reply. She started rubbing circles gently in his palm.
“You know, you never give yourself enough credit for being strong. We both were through a lot these past few weeks right? We have been through some terrible things together. And we will always get through it together no matter what happens okay?” Her words calmed him down a little.
“Okay…” He whispered weakly. She gave him a small smile in response and wrapped her arms tightly around him. He returned her embrace as they slowly started swaying side to side. They stayed that way until they felt comfortable letting go of one another. Lilith wiped away dry tears from Drystan’s face before pulling away slightly. She reached forward and stroked his cheek with her thumb.
“Now tell me what's bothering you dear.” Lilith insisted. Drystan looked down avoiding her gaze, before sighing heavily.
“Elijah’s death. Everyone keeps saying that he really did just kill himself. It doesn't seem right. He wouldn't do anything like that…Right?” Drystan mumbled.
“I get it. You really cared for him, after all you’ve been best friends since childhood. It’s not your fault, I know it hurts. You deserve to take a break darling, This is all quite much.” Lilith explained softly. Drystan nodded in response. Then, he turned around and headed back to his room, closing the door behind him. Lilith stared at it for a moment, a frown upon her lips.
The next day, Drystan woke up early for a change. After washing his face he grabbed his phone from the drawer where it lay beside him and checked the time. The time read 9:15am. Perfect time for coffee, he decided and headed towards the kitchen. Once he made his drink, he started preparing the food that was in the fridge. By the time he finished cooking breakfast, it was 10:30 am. It was almost lunch time by then. He took the plates into the dining room, setting each plate on its respective place at the table. Once he got all the food done he headed back upstairs and went to the bathroom. He needed to freshen up a bit first before having breakfast. After a quick shower he changed his clothes and made his way downstairs, eating his breakfast quickly and finishing his cup of coffee before heading into the living room to watch TV.
Around 1 pm, Lilith arrived home, bringing several grocery bags with her.
“Hey dear. How do you feel? Are you okay?” She asked, taking her shoes off and placing them neatly beside the shoe rack. Drystan simply shrugged, still watching the TV silently. She walked over to the sofa to sit by him. After a while, she began to run her fingers through his hair. Drystan glanced over at her and sighed softly. She was trying so hard to cheer him up. She wasn't giving up. Yet, he still didn't feel like opening up about his emotions. He tried to focus on his television, however, his thoughts kept drifting to other places. Places where Elijah wasn't here anymore. Where Elijah wasn't smiling. Where Elijah was gone. Where he left all his belongings. Where Elijah's coffin was still waiting for him to open. And where Elijah was buried.
Lilith had stopped running her fingers through his hair. When Lilith looked at him, noticing that he had fallen asleep. He didn't mean to fall asleep so suddenly, but he was so tired. Lilith smiled lovingly at him and hugged him closer, nuzzled his cheek lightly.
“Sweet dreams love, I'll be right here with you when you wake up.” She whispered gently as she placed a kiss to the top of his head, and snuggled deeper into his neck.
After a long while, Drystan began to stir awake slowly. Soon, he opened his eyes and looked around. He didn't recognize where he was. But then his brain caught up with his surroundings. Slowly he remembered everything that happened yesterday and he sighed. He looked over at his wife who had also woken up. He saw her smiling at him.
“Hey darling”. She greeted, leaning over the bed and kissing his forehead. He smiled at her warmly, resting a gentle arm around her waist before sitting up.
“Hey...did you sleep well?” He asked, looking into her beautiful brown eyes.
“Mhm”. She responded, hugging him close. “How about you?” She added, caressing the back of his head.
“It was okay.” he answered shortly. Lilith kissed his temple and rested her chin onto his shoulder. She smiled softly. He looked so peaceful. So perfect. As he always does when sleeping. She knew what she needed to do.
“Would you like to join me for brunch darling? I know you haven't eaten anything yet.” Lilith offered. She loved feeding Drystan even though it didn't always end well because she always forgot to buy something nutritious beforehand.
“Yeah..sure why not?” Drystan replied as he wrapped his arms around her. She smiled before kissing him lovingly.
“Come on, let's eat something.” She said before picking up her purse and walking out of the house with him.
They walked through the street, passing the shops and restaurants as they went down to the cafe near their flat. As they arrived there, they ordered, grabbed some food and drinks and soon found themselves a seat in front of the window overlooking the city view outside. They ate and drank in peace for a while, enjoying each-others company and being able to just be together.
Eventually, Lilith felt Drystan lean onto her and begin to softly snore. She chuckled quietly before putting her coffee cup down on the table and laying his head upon her chest. Her hands rubbed comforting circles on his back as he slept peacefully in her loving arms. She smiled contently as she waited for him to wake up. He gained consciousness a little while later, finding Lillith reading a book by his side.
“Awh, Morning sleepyhead. You must have been so tired, You’ve slept so much!” She said giggling.
“Morning, sorry. I kinda fell asleep on you, heh.” He apologized while rubbing the side of his head sheepishly. Lilith laughed lightly as she ran her fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp ever so gently.
“Don’t apologize dear, I was happy that you slept so peacefully." She said smiling.
"You looked so cute.” She cooed. Drystan blushed bright crimson before looking down shyly. A small smile crept up on Lilith’s lips.
“Oh, I remember when we used to have that talk, and when I would make my confession in this exact same place…you called me sweetheart.”
Drystan looked at Lilith in adoration. She was truly the woman of his dreams. "We used to study here together. I would always get top marks thanks to you." She said, smiling warmly. Drystan smiled brightly at her as he recalled those times. "You were so sweet and thoughtful, I can only hope to live up to that image and be just as kind." She said happily.
"Of course you are, Lilith, there isn't another human on this planet who deserves to live up to your high praise." Drystan said, smiling widely. He leaned forward and tenderly pressed his forehead against hers. "Thank you, Lilith…for everything…." He whispered, gazing deep into her warm brown eyes. "You're a great person….and you don't need anyone else to validate your worth…"
Lilith smiled fondly at his words. Drystan had sat up when he had gotten a call coming from Darya. He considered declining it, but after some thinking he realized it could have been important, and so he answered it.
“Drystan..There’s been new evidence found. Seem’s you were right. Elijah Towers didn’t commit suicide.” Darya stated over the phone in an earnest tone. Drystan looked at his wife appled, making her worry.
“Uh huh..Yeah..Alright, I’ll be there. Bye.” Drystan said as Darya hung up the phone.
“Darling? What’s wrong?” Lilith asked.
"It's Elijah..It turns out he didn't really kill himself." He stated.
The news made Lilith gasp, This was truly astonishing.
"I need to go. Will you be okay without me?" Drystan said as he held Liliths hand.
"Yes I'll be fine dear! Go, Go figure out what really happened! I'll be over at Mary's if you need anything." She expressed. Drystan took hold on Liliths face and kissed her sweetly.
“I love you so much.”
I love you too, dearest.”
As they said their goodbyes Lilith called a taxi to take her over to Mary’s home while Drystan practically ran to Darya’s location.
As Lillith arrived at Mary's home, she couldn't help but feel something was wrong. She knocked on the door only to find that it was already open. This was definitely unusual, after all Mary was the type of woman to always make sure her safety was ensured. An unlocked door could have meant many things but what scared Lilith the most was the fact that almost every light - except for the one in the living room - was turned off. It was common knowledge that Mary had a fear of the dark, after her beloved husband's death, and so she would always keep every light in her house on, regardless of whether she was planning on being home or not. This all made Lilith terrified, she was scared of what she would encounter if she dared to step inside. She wasn't dumb though, so before anything she called for help. When the police arrived, they all entered the home, calling out for Mary in case she was indeed there.
"Quite the place Elijah used to live in." One officer said complementing the interior of the house.
"Yes, it is quite nice, isn't it?" Another one said. They searched the kitchen and downstairs basement, before hearing an ear piercing screech coming from the living room. It was from Lilith who upon entering the space, encountered Mary's dead body, laying down on the couch, with a bottle of wine and medications by her side. This absolutely broke Lilith, and she immediately broke down, trying to shake Mary's body awake, all to no avail. She screamed and pleaded, all for Mary to stay silent.
"Dear God, Mary Please No!" She yelled, She didn't want to lose her beloved friend, after all their years together, they had practically become sister's. A cop pulled Lilith away from Mary's body, as she sobbed traumatized from the experience. She simply could not believe it, both Mary and Elijah Towers, dead. What would her husband think? How would she live life without her beloved sibling? It was all too much to handle at the moment, too many memories of her and Mary's past raced through her mind, making her faint. She regained consciousness for a minute, to see that she was out of the home and Mary's body was getting wheeled away in an ambulance. She reached out for it before passing out once again.
Drystan had been with Darya and other members of his team, inspecting the new evidence they were provided with. Traces of poison had been found when dealing with Elijah's corpse. A note had also been tucked neatly into the clothes he was wearing. It read:
"dearest frIends. I sincerely apologize for not being able to Withstand all the pAin'S in my liFe. i truly cherish yOu all deeply. it bRings me great sadness to have to leave you all so soon. take CarE of eachother, i love you all inDividually and i hope you can forgive me for what i have done."
To Drystan though, The letter seemed strange. Every single letter was lowercase except for certain ones in certain words. He pulled out a notebook and set the letter in front of him. He started writing out every uppercase letter hoping it would spell out a message. His teammates watched as he tried to decipher what the paper truly meant.
"I WAS FORCED"
That's what it said. Elijah was forced to do something but they needed more information as to what.
"He was possibly forced to drink or eat something that contained the poison?" Someone suggested.
"Yes, or maybe he was forced to write that note!" said another.
Whatever it was Elijah was involuntarily made to do something he quite evidently did not want to. They discussed possible suspects before Drystan got a call from Lenmark hospital.
"Hello? Am I speaking to Drystan Heart?" Someone from the other line asked.
"Yes, this is him. Is something wrong?"
"It's.. Your wife."
Those words made Drystan's heart drop. He could feel himself get anxious as his stomach twisted and turned.
"My wife?! What happened to my wife?!" He questioned.
They talked on the phone for what felt like hours, even though it had barely been 5 minutes.
They talked on the phone for what felt like hours, even though it had barely been 5 minutes. After the call, Drystan told everyone he was leaving.
"Where are you going? Are you alright?!" One of his teammates asked him worriedly. He nodded and explained briefly. They wished him well before he left, and rushed out of the building.
Drystan had never run so fast in his entire life.
He didn't care about his own health. All he cared about was knowing what happened to Lilith and whether she was alright or not.
Drystan quickly approached the emergency entrance to see two nurses talking quietly. One of them saw him first.
"Hello You must be Drystan?" Asked the nurse.
"I am. Where is my wife?! What happened to her?!" He responded impatiently. The nurse shook his head sympathetically as he pointed towards the second room on the left. He walked inside to find Lilith lying unconscious inside. She appeared peaceful and asleep, but when she opened her eyes she immediately gasped at seeing Drystan.
"Drystan!" She exclaimed softly. He kneeled next to her bed and embraced her lovingly into his arms. As he held her, She started sobbing into his arms.
"Oh Drystan! Mary's gone, she's dead, she's dead!" She yelled in agony.
Drystan just held her tightly. After a moment she calmed down and looked up at him with red tear stained cheeks. She wiped her eyes and looked up at her husband.
Drystan bit the inside of his cheek worried. He looked back down at her, concerned for her well being. "What..What do you mean Mary's gone? What happened when you went over there?" He asked softly.
Lilith began crying again as she replied, "Killed herself. The police came over and I found her dead in the living room." Her expression was filled with guilt and sorrow. Drystan hugged her closely again and gently rubbed her back. He knew how hard this whole process must have been for her, especially after he went through the same thing with Elijah.
"I'm so sorry, Darling."
He didn't say anything anymore. He just held her, as she cried the rest of the afternoon. He didn't want Lilith to cry like this, not ever again, because he would never want her to cry like this again. She eventually stopped crying as she slowly fell asleep into his embrace. Drystan stayed by Lilith's side for the rest of the day, holding her, comforting her, keeping her sane. Seeing how Lilith had been sleeping, a cop that accompanied her to Mary's home spoke to Drystan.
"Hey man, I'm sorry for your loss." He said
"I'll be okay. It's my wife that I'm worried about." He responded.
"Yes...Here I think you should have this." The cop said as he handed Drystan an envelope.
"What is it..?" Drystan questioned.
"Mary.. She left this behind. I assume Lilith passed out before she had the chance to see it." He said quietly. Drystan looked down at the envelope and then up at the cop before finally tearing it open. When he took the contents from inside, he recognized it as a handwritten suicide note. In the note, written in beautiful cursive, was the last word written by Mary.
"To Lilith, I'm sorry."
Drystan was about to read the note, but decided against it, as it was for Lilith and he wanted her to read it before anything.
Later that day, Lilith was discharged from the hospital and they returned home. Drystan made her tea, before giving her the letter to read.
"Here.. It's for you I believe." He sheepishly sad as handed her the envelope.
"Oh.. would you want to read it with me? I'm afraid that if I read it alone, I might burst into tears before I get to finish it.." She said in a sorrowful tone.
"It'll be okay dear, I'm here." Drystan responded, rubbing her back soothingly. He was very worried as to what the note could possibly contain. The only thing he could hope for however, was for it not to be some sort of message that made Lilith feel guilty about anything.
Lilith carefully opened up the letter and read it, which took longer than necessary for him to comprehend. She was quiet most of the time she was reading. Finally, when she finished it, she handed it back to her husband. The note had revealed lots of things, Including how and why Mary had poisoned Elijah. They sat together quietly, with dried up tear stains on their faces. She placed her arm around him as he held her tightly, both wanting to make sure that the other was still well and tranquil. They sat there for hours until they finally slept themselves off. It was not long before they fell asleep on eachothers shoulders, both having lost one of the people they loved most in their lives. They had lost two people that had meant everything to them, in less than 4 weeks. And they were now left to deal with the fact that those they had considered family most importantly, were gone forever.
The days went by slowly, without anything really interesting happening in the meantime. People still came looking for a clue as to what exactly had happened to Mary and Elijah, Why Mary decided to kill Elijah, Who else was involved, and Why she decided to end it all for herself. For now though all they could do was mourn, since Mary was revealed to have killed Elijah the case was soon closed. The couple both felt intense guilt and pressure, but they had each other, and that's what was most important for now.
The following few weeks passed slowly and uneventfully. Everyday the news was updated and new articles came out, describing the events of that night, and the investigation as they were led to an answer. Drystan and Lilith spent most of their days working diligently. They worked long, late nights. Some nights Drystan slept in a chair while Lilith slept on the couch. It was very difficult for her, having to deal with this type of work and stress. Most days she ended up feeling drained and weak. Many nights, she had trouble falling asleep for fear she would dream of what had happened that night. Drystan understood that no matter what happened, she was trying to cope with this situation. It made him incredibly grateful that she had put aside all of her feelings and worries for him and focused on taking care of them both. He couldn't imagine having anyone take care of him like she had, without question or hesitation. The love Drystan had for Lilith was everlasting, he couldn’t imagine being with anyone else.
There was someone who was meant to be by his side, someone that he knew wouldn't leave him; the person he had waited so long for. It was almost as if the universe had brought them together. He knew this because he felt as if he was in heaven. After two months of grieving, the two of them managed to get their emotions under control. Their relationship had improved tremendously over the past two months, much to the joy of Drystan and Lilith. Though their lives weren't going as smooth sailing as before, they still managed to be quite happy. Drystan had recently started going back to work, so he wasn't completely alone. There was also a small amount of time every month where they'd go see Mary and Elijah's grave together. Sometimes the place was empty or full of flowers, other times there was an arrangement on their graves. But whenever they visited, their relationship grew stronger. Sometimes, nightmares kept Lilith up, but knowing that Drystan was by her side always made her feel a little better.
"Darling, I'm off to work!" Drystan called from downstairs.
"Alright Honey, Have a good day! Love you lots!" Lilith responded from upstairs.
“Love you too!” He shouted back before leaving the house.
Once he was out of the door he pulled his jacket tightly over himself as a slight breeze blew past him.
As he continued walking along the street he realized the weather was beginning to grow more gloomy by the minute. He suddenly thought back to when Mary died and how he felt during the funeral service. His emotions were very complex, although he hadn’t known her that long, she was like another sister to Lilith and it hurt seeing her get upset over her. He tried not to think about the event too much, he just focused on getting to work. As he entered the building and walked down the hall, all he could think about was Lilith's well being. He hoped she was alright. She mustn’t be taking any of this too badly, he thought to himself. He pushed those thoughts away though as he approached the front desk.
“How can I help you, Sir?” Said a young woman.
“I have a couple of files on the Dalten case, I'm here to turn them in.” He replied.
“Certainly sir!” She replied excitedly “May I ask your name?”
“Drystan Heart.”
“Well Mr. Drystan, we have a few more files on record for you. Would you like those now?” She asked.
"I suppose so." He said, as he sighed.
"Okay, come this way please." She said as she led him to the elevator and pressed the button to go up to the top floor. When the doors opened, she gestured toward the desks, and he went and grabbed the files he needed.
"Thank you Miss” He said before he turned around and headed back to the elevator. Once he reached the first floor, he stepped outside the elevator, and headed into the break room area. Sitting down in a large booth, he pulled out the files and began flipping through them, not really paying attention to what he was doing. When he did look up, he noticed someone sitting across from him. At first he didn't recognize him. However, he saw the familiar green eyes staring him down, and once he got closer, he became familiar with the figure seated before him.
"Hello, Drystan."
Drystan sat appalled. He couldn't believe his eyes. For a moment at least, It was like he was actively seeing the ghost of Elijah. He looked down and rubbed his face to see if it was all just a hallucination. For a second, he disappeared. Though as Drystan sighed, He appeared yet again, this time closer to Drystan. He stood in front of him, as Drystan watched in somewhat terror.
"Elijah? Is that...You?"
He nodded slowly, a smile forming on his lips. He was wearing a white suit that seemed to glow even more due to the light, but his hair was still blonde and his features looked as if he never aged.
"But you're supposed to be dead Elijah!" Drystan whispered.
"No shit Sherlock." He said with a chuckle.
It relieved Drystan a little, to see that Elijah still had the same sense of humor despite his death.
"Why are you here?.." He asked.
Elijah suddenly became cold. His face and to some degree he looked angry.
“Don’t trust her.”
“What?..”
“Don’t Trust Her.” Elijah said, raising his voice.
“Don’t trust who Elijah, Who am I not allowed to trust?!”
Before Elijah could say anything more he disappeared. He was gone, as quickly as he had appeared. Drystan stood up, agitated and paranoid. He needed answers. He needed to know what Elijah was trying to tell him. Walking back to the elevators he hit the up button several times. He desperately wanted to call for Lilith but figured it would do him no good. If he told her, she would probably want to investigate it herself and that would only lead her into danger. So instead he waited, hoping that no one disturbed him until further notice. He quickly exited the lift as he saw the doors slide open. Upon entering the hallway he took a deep breath and stopped walking.
Darya walked towards Drystan in confusion, "Where have you been, I've been calling for you y’know!"
Drystan didn't bother responding to Darya. Instead he just left, walking away solemnly, leaving Darya in awe. As soon as he got home, he spotted his beloved wife. Before she could say anything he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly against him, and buried his face in her neck. Her face softened as she felt Drystan start sobbing quietly and she gently ran her hand through his short, dark brown curls.
They stayed like that for a little while before Drystan calmed down enough to talk properly. Lilith listened intently to what Drystan told her, as he spoke softly and tenderly. She listened in complete silence.
"I’m sorry, I just.. I just had a rough time today." said Drystan.
“No, you don’t have to apologize, you didn’t do anything wrong. Tell me dearest, What’s been bothering you? Of course, If you don’t want to talk about it now that’s okay too.” She said gently, holding his hand.
“Today.. I think.. I think I saw Elijah.”
Lilith was too stunned to speak. After a while though she spoke once more.
"Drystan.. I've been seeing Mary recently. I'm sorry, I should have told you sooner." She said, lowering her head sadly.
"What..?" Drystan said in surprise.
"What did she say?!"
"She told me not to trust in someone. I just can't figure out who. Surely she wouldn't mean you my dear, You're too sweet for that." Lilith said as she reached out her hand to hold his face. Drystan stared at her for a little bit, his mouth hanging slightly open. After a few seconds however he let out a sigh and leaned forward, kissing her cheek. He rested his forehead against hers.
"It's okay. We'll find out together. I'll always be right by your side."
3 months had passed and everything was going great, for now at least. Lilith had found a new passion in writing, and Drystan had recently been promoted. It was adorable coming home to see your wife covered in sweets, flour and icing as she put the finishing touches on a cake. They were happy and always felt safe around each other. Though, the memories of them talking to their lost friends still haunted them.
It was a quiet day, Drystan was away at work and Lilith decided to try and make some cookies for when he arrived home. Before she could start though, someone had knocked on the door. She opened it with caution. It was unusual to have guests so early in the morning."Um..Can I help you?" She questioned as she opened the door.
"Hello Lilith." Said Darya with a slight smile.
"Oh Darya! What a pleasant surprise! Come on in!" She said as she invited Darya inside.
“Is Drystan here?” She asked politely.
“Not at the moment, I assumed he would be at the office?” Lilith said.
“Ah yes. I suppose I did see him there. I forgot.” Darya said with a smile.
Once she closed the door she smiled at Darya warmly and then headed back to the kitchen, leaving Darya alone. She was unsure of why Darya had visited, especially since they weren’t close friends. Darya was one of the people who had helped Drystan, though, so she didn't think of her as a bad person. Lilith continued to work on making the cookie dough, still pondering what Darya could possibly want. She worked for about 10 minutes more, Checking the temperature in the oven, Making sure the dough had just enough chocolate chips, anything that would guarantee perfection. When she was done in the kitchen she went to the living room where she found Darya sitting gracefully on the couch. She jumped a little, Almost forgetting that she had invited her inside.
"So, What can I do for you?" She asked as she sat down across from Darya.
"Well, I have something to ask you." She said as she crossed her legs.
"What is it?" Lilith asked curiously.
"What would you like your last words to be?" She said as she cocked a gun, and pointed it at Liliths head. The last thing she saw was Darya's sinister smile, making sure she wouldn't survive.
Drystan had been filling out paperwork, signing files and looking through case pictures when he was suddenly interrupted by one of his coworkers.
“Oh! Drystan, I didn’t expect to see you here.” They said in a surprised tone.
“Why wouldn’t I be? I have cases to solve after all.” Drystan responded.
“I know, It’s just that Darya said you wouldn’t be here for a while. Something about you going on vacation with your wife?” They mentioned.
“Anyways I’m on my lunch break. I’ll catch you later!” They uttered before heading to the cafeteria their work building provided.
Drystan was confused. Why would Darya claim that both him and Lilith had gone on vacation, knowing they were both very much present? And then he realized. The person Elijah and Mary warned them not to trust. It was her. It was Darya.
And so Drystan ran. He ran out of the building so fast it was as if he had never been there in the first place. He had to save her. He had to save the only thing he had left.
Soon enough, Drystan made it home, banging on the door and shouting Lilith’s name.
“Lilith! God Damn It Lilith, Open This Damn Door!” He yelled in fear of what might have already occurred to his darling wife. He grew impatient and kicked down the door.
He ran inside, straight to the living room where he found Lilith’s dead, bled out, body.
He broke down immediately at the sight, Holding her close only making him bloody. He screamed in agony of what had happened and before anything else could happen, Darya appeared behind him and shot him in the head.
“You always found a way to out do me, Drystan heart. You were like a crow, Your loved ones were your murder. But you failed to realize that I am a raven. I’m stronger, I’m smarter, I'm just better. A murder might beat a raven, but an Unkindness will always prevail.” was the last thing Drystan was able to hear before finally passing away, next to his beloved wife.
Darya had believed she had finally won, but in a change of events, she was shot down by 5 policemen. The neighbors had heard the commotion and called them over. Medics tried their best to save the couple to no avail. Their lives were lost forever, but never forgotten.
Despite his death, Drystan woke up. This time though something was different. Nothing hurt anymore and he felt somewhat tranquil. It was then when he realized he could see them. His friends, His wife. His loved ones. He could see them all. He ran and he could actually feel them. He could talk to them and laugh and feel safe. For once in his life, he was free. Wherever he was, It had started raining. Not heavy and hard like a thunderstorm instead it was soft and light. Rain can ruin the flight paths of any bird. But you don’t need to fly when you have all you need right in front of you.