Chapter 113 What could be the end

Chapter 113 What could be the end
\[Author's pov\]

Charlotte woke up first.

She stayed still for a moment, letting her mind float in that lovely hazy zone between sleeping and waking where everything seemed lighter and easier. She tried to move and then she felt it, a heavy, possessive arm flung across her waist.

It was Levi.

She held her breath, her eyes drawn down to where his fingers were curled tightly against her, refusing to let her go even in his sleep. When she tried to shift, his grip around her waist tightened instantly, pulling her close until her back was pressed against his chest.

'Trying to run?'Levi's voice was raspy with sleep, deep and playful.

Charlotte rolled her eyes, even though he wouldn't be able to see. 'You're suffocating me.'

‘You’re alive though.’' he murmured, pressing his face briefly into her hair.

'Just about.'

'Good then,' he declared, as if that settled all debate.

Charlotte turned just enough to see him. His hair was a mess, his eyes half-closed, but there was something so soft in them this morning, something she never saw. Something that made her smile. Levi looked genuinely happy.

'Morning,' she said.

He stared at her like he needed to make sure she hadn't vanished overnight.

'Yeah,' he finally replied. 'It is.'

For a moment, they just remained still. Then, reality came flooding back.

Charlotte sat up, stretching briefly, and then her eyes drifted down to herself and she froze. She was wearing his shirt. Well, his shirt. It hung off her loosely, the sleeves too long, the hem brushing her thighs at a point that left no doubt she wasn't wearing anything underneath.

He followed her gaze, a slow smirk spreading across his face. 'You're keeping it.'

Charlotte scoffed and stood up. 'I'm borrowing it.'

'Same thing.'

'Definitely not the same thing.'

She didn't take it off, though.

By the time they ambled down the stairs, breakfast was in full swing.

Voices collided with each other, laughter echoed off the walls, and the smell of food filled the air in a way that felt comforting. Charlotte hovered at the entrance for half a second. Then Levi's hand brushed against her waist, guiding her in, and suddenly, she was part of it.

'Finally!' Michael called. 'We thought you two had been murdered.'

'Or worse,' added Jacob, 'gone somewhere private and forgotten about us.'

Charlotte choked on absolutely nothing. Levi didn't bat an eyelid.

'Jealousy doesn't suit you.'

‘It suits me fine if it means not having to witness... Whatever this is,' Jacob responded, gesturing vaguely at them.

Charlotte opened her mouth to defend herself, but Levi's mother spoke first.

'Oh, leave them alone,' she said, placing a plate on the table with a warm smile. 'Charlotte, sit. You look quite comfortable.' Charlotte blinked.

Comfortable. Right. Here she was, in Levi's kitchen wearing his shirt wiith his hand resting casually at her back. And suddenly... 'Oh,' somebody said slowly. 'Oh,' echoed somebody else. The realisation spread around the table like a wildfire. Charlotte could feel it.

She lowered her voice and spoke to Levi. 'They're staring.'

'They've been staring,' he replied calmly, reaching for a plate.

‘You just didn't notice.' 'Why are they staring like that?' He shrugged.

'Because you're wearing my clothes and came down here with me.'

Charlotte paused. '...And?' He looked at her like the answer was obvious.

'And you're sitting next to me.' She stared at him. Then at the table. Then back at him.

'You're not going to correct them?' she asked.

Levi leaned back in his chair, utterly unconcerned. 'Correct what?' Charlotte narrowed her eyes.

Across the table, Levi's sister grinned. 'So... Is this official, or-?' 'It's official,' Cecily jumped in immediately.

'Obviously.'

'Look at them.'

Charlotte opened her mouth-and closed it again because Levi had just casually stolen a piece of toast from her plate, because his knee was pressed against hers under the table, and because not one person looked surprised; they just accepted it like it made sense. Like they made sense together.

Charlotte exhaled slowly, reaching for her fork.

'Eat,' he muttered.

'I am eating.'

'You were thinking.'

'I'm allowed to do that.'

'Not here,' he said. 'You'll spoil the mood.'

She glared at him-but there was a tiny smile playing on her lips as she took a bite.The rest of the day went by like a dream. Charlotte didn't even realise when she stopped feeling like an outsider. At some point, she found herself relaxing on the couch, listening to an argument about the merits of various old films, while Levi sat beside her, his arm casually draped over her shoulders. At some point, she leaned into him. At some point, it all just felt… normal.

'You're smiling again,' Levi murmured.

'I'm not.'

‘You are,' he insisted. 'It's starting to be a problem.'

Charlotte rolled her eyes but didn't pull away. Across the room, Levi's mother was watching them with a soft, knowing smile on her face. No questions, no prompts, just... Quiet approval. And somehow, it made it worse or better, Charlotte wasn't sure. Reality settled in again that evening.

'I should go,' Charlotte said, standing near the door. Levi didn't like that. It was in the way he leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on her as if he was already calculating the best ways to keep her there. 'Or,' he said slowly, 'you can stay.'

She picked up her jacket. 'I have a life.'

'Highly questionable.'

A tiny smirk touched her lips. 'I'll come back.'

He held her gaze for a fraction longer than was strictly necessary before nodding. 'You'd better.'

She turned to leave, but before she reached the door, his hand closed around her wrist. Charlotte turned. Levi didn't hesitate; he pulled her in and kissed her. It was firm, sure, like something he didn't have to think about anymore. Charlotte paused for a second, then kissed him back. When they pulled apart, his expression remained unchanged. 'Text me.''Bossy.' 'Do it anyway.' She rolled her eyes, but there was no heat in the gesture, and as she walked out into the evening air, her phone was already in her hand. - The house was too quiet. Charlotte stepped inside slowly, her senses immediately on high alert.

'Hello?' she called out. Nothing. No one answered. No movement. A frown creased her brow. Something was wrong. She took another tentative step and heard a noise. It was faint, but undeniable.

She drew or a gun from her bag and held it out.

"Who's there?" she asked. There was no reply but the sound came again. This time it was nearer.

Charlotte walked in the direction of the sound, stealthy, each step a measured beat into the dark house. It closed around her, suffocating, making every shadow into something to be feared. Her fingers tightened at her gripper finger hovered at the trigger.

‘Come out,’ she said, firmly.

A beat of silenced then movement. Charlotte spun, the gun going up. T
he report of the gun cracked through the silence, a huge, echoing sound that seemed to take over the world, the end of everything.