She laughed quietly, sipping her coffee.
“I had a session this morning,” he said after a pause. “Psych says it’s all still there. Memory’s not sharp, but it’s intact. Even the parts they tried to erase.”
She froze, fingers tightening just slightly around the flash drive. “You remember?”
He nodded. “Enough. And what didn’t stick? That’s thanks to you.”
She didn’t speak. Her throat was already closing. “I thought I lost you,” she said finally.
“You did,” he said gently. “Almost. But you didn’t let go.”
Silence settled again, easy this time. Comfortable.
He nodded toward the flash drive. “Still haven’t turned that in?”
She looked down at it and shrugged. “They’ve got everything they need. This one’s just… mine.”
“Closure?”
“Maybe.” She looked toward the Institute’s windows. Survivors moved through the hall—quiet, slow, steady. Mara had smiled for real two days ago and said a full sentence yesterday. Sybil Vance was now on staff—researching meds, working shifts at the hospital too. She didn’t talk about redemption, but Charlotte could see her trying to earn it anyway.
And Elias... Elias was here. He climbed from the shadows. Still brilliant and too quiet sometimes. But Charlotte kept her promise. He wasn’t in prison. He was learning. Living. Helping build the Blackwell systems with the same hands that once tore things down.
She checked on him. Often. But not too often.
“I had a good therapy session too,” she said, eyes still on the building.
Alex glanced sideways.
“I’m still working on my boundaries,” she added. “With Elias. With myself. I want my life back. With you.”
He didn’t say anything, just reached for her hand and laced his fingers with hers. His palm was warm.
“I was buried,” she whispered. “And I didn’t even realize it.”
“You’re not anymore.” He smiled.
She sighed, leaning into his shoulder. “You pulled me out.”
“No,” he said. “You climbed.” He pressed his lips to the top of her head.
She gave a soft laugh. “Maybe both.”
He turned his hand, pressed his palm to hers. “We’re not done,” he said. “There’s still more out there.”
“I know.”
“But this war—our war—it didn’t start with firepower. It started with silence.”
Charlotte looked down at the flash drive one more time, then closed her fist around it.
“And it ends with voices.”
He nodded. And for the first time in a long time, the quiet between them felt like peace.
Blackwell Institute – Later That Day
From the window of the library, Alex watched her.
