Three Weeks Later
Three long, restless weeks had passed since the day Bella had opened her front door to a stranger-a woman Savannah had asked her to protect. Since then, Bella's quiet little world had turned into something secretive, almost surreal. She had questions. So many questions. But Savannah had been a fortress-silent, strong, impossible to penetrate.
And today, Bella had finally hit her breaking point.
It was late afternoon at the hospital. Savannah had just wrapped up checking on one of her post-op patients, her clipboard held tightly against her chest as she stepped out of the room, the soft click of the door echoing behind her. The halls hummed with the familiar sounds of nurses bustling about, beeping monitors, and distant footsteps. But Bella's voice sliced through the noise like a taut string about to snap.
"Come on, Savannah," she said, catching up to her, her brow knitted with concern. "You need to tell me what's going on."
Savannah shot her a quick glance but kept moving.
"I mean it," Bella pressed, her tone sharp yet not angry—just filled with genuine worry. "You've been dodging this for weeks. You keep brushing me off like I won't notice—but I do notice."
Savannah halted.
So did Bella.
Savannah turned to face her, her expression unreadable, her eyes heavy with the weight of long-held secrets. "Bella," she said, her voice low, almost a whisper. "The less you know, the better it'll be for you."
Bella blinked, bewildered. "What? Savannah, that doesn't even make sense."
"It does," Savannah replied quickly, as if trying to shut down the conversation before it could really begin. She attempted to sidestep Bella, but Bella stepped right in front of her again, blocking her way.
"No, it doesn't," Bella shot back, her hands slightly raised, her voice trembling just enough to reveal that she was barely holding it together. "You asked me to let a complete stranger live in my house. And I did. I didn't ask for anything in return. I trusted you. But now... I'm scared. I'm scared because none of this makes sense, and it feels like you're trying to protect me by keeping me in the dark, and that's even more terrifying than the truth."
Savannah opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.
Bella's eyes were shimmering now. "Look—I don't know who this woman is. I don't know what you both are running from. But every time I bring messages from her, every time I drop things off at her door, it feels like I'm part of something massive. And dangerous."
She took a moment to collect herself.
"I'm not angry with you," Bella continued. "But if I don't know what I'm protecting her from... what I'm protecting you from—I could make a mistake. What if I slip up? What if I say something to the wrong person at the wrong time?"
Savannah's breath hitched.
"What if I run into that person?" Bella whispered. "What if they finds out about her... because of me?"
And there it was—the moment Savannah had been dreading.
She turned her head slowly, locking eyes with Bella now. No more guarded expressions. No more avoidance.
Just raw, bone-deep exhaustion mixed with something else—fear. Guilt. And love. Love for the friend standing before her, asking for the truth not for herself, but to keep everyone safe.
Savannah exhaled shakily.
"You're right," she finally said, and Bella felt a small chill at the way her voice cracked just a bit.
"You deserve to know," Savannah added. "Everything."
Bella's brows furrowed. "Wait—you really mean it?"
"I do," Savannah said, her expression turning solemn, firm. "But what I'm about to tell you... it's not easy. And once you know... there's no undoing it. No going back to the life you had before."
Bella didn't flinch. She didn't back down. She simply nodded.
"I'm already involved, Savannah," she said quietly. "And I'm not going anywhere."
A small, bittersweet smile played at the corners of Savannah's lips as she turned her gaze away, blinking back the emotions threatening to spill over.
"After our shift," Savannah said, her voice steady yet heavy with unspoken thoughts, "Meet me in the old on-call room.
West wing. It's quieter there. No one really goes there anymore."
Bella nodded, a sense of determination settling in. "I'll be there."
As Savannah walked down the hall, Bella stood frozen, her heart racing. She had no idea what she was stepping into, but one thing was clear:
Whatever burden Savannah had been carrying all this time...
She wouldn't have to bear it alone anymore.
Later that Day
The old on-call room in the west wing was dimly lit, barely touched by the golden hue of the setting sun filtering through the frosted glass. It smelled faintly of antiseptic and old memories-forgotten cups of coffee, hushed late-night calls, and silent breakdowns behind closed doors. A worn-out couch rested near the wall, next to a small table with an old lamp still flickering gently. Savannah stood by the window when Bella entered, her arms crossed tightly across her chest, as if she were holding herself together.
Bella had entered quietly earlier into the room, shutting the door behind her, and the room fell into a heavy silence after Savannah shared what had been happening with her.
Bella's eyes widened, but she remained silent.
Savannah took a deep breath, leaning against the edge of the table, gripping it so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Bella's heart skipped a beat.
"Is he gone?" she whispered.
Savannah nodded slowly. "That's what I was told."
Bella couldn't help but picture the Blaze she saw every night waiting for Savannah-tall, composed, seemingly gentle. It didn't add up. But the darkness in Savannah's eyes didn't lie.
Bella's breath caught in her throat.
A tear slipped down Bella's cheek before she even realized it.
"I can't do anything now. Not yet," Savannah whispered, finally allowing herself to sink onto the couch beside Bella. "But I know. And now, I'll find him. My son. However time it takes."
Bella could hardly breathe. The weight of what she was hearing felt unbearable—too cruel to be true. Yet, she could see the pain behind Savannah's calm exterior, the truth in the tears she was holding back.
"And Anastasia?" Bella asked softly.
"She knows what he is," Savannah replied. "She's here... to help me escape what she couldn't."
For a moment, silence enveloped them like a heavy blanket.
Then Bella, her own heart breaking, reached out without hesitation and wrapped her arms around Savannah.
Savannah hesitated at first—then, like a dam finally giving way, she leaned in and allowed herself to be held. No sobs, no cries—just the heavy burden of years collapsing into a warm embrace. A single tear escaped her eye, trailing down her cheek, a stark contrast to the cold shell she had built around herself for far too long.
"I'm so sorry," Bella murmured into her shoulder, her own tears quietly soaking into Savannah's coat. "You didn't deserve any of this."
Savannah remained silent, her throat tight and her heart heavy with pain.
"I promise," Bella said fiercely, "I'll help you. Whatever it takes. I'll protect her. And I'll protect you."
Finally, Savannah nodded, her hand resting softly against Bella's back.
For the first time in what felt like ages... she didn't feel alone.
And maybe, just maybe, that was the first real step toward reclaiming her life.
Author's Note :
Thankyou for reading<3
Have a good day/night<3<3