Epilogue
Epilogue
Raine
W ith the dirty inheritance from my piece of shit father, Cole and I set up a shelter for the battered women from the basement of the Double Edged bar. It’s a sanctuary built on the rubble of his misdeeds, cloaked in shadows, but brimming with hope. Every woman that finds refuge in our haven bears the marks of trauma—some physical, most emotional. Watching them heal became my obsession, a purpose to latch onto when memories of my sister claws at my mind.
The bar's cool surface held secrets, hidden scars etched in the wood, just like the ones carried by the women we shelter. It could have broken me—his legacy—but instead, it brought me closer to Cole.
“Are you ready to go home, Firefly?” Cole’s question pulls me out of my thoughts.
“Yes, just let me get something.” He nods, dropping his hands as I make my way to my father's study upstairs. With each step, I feel the echoes of my past, the air thickening with resentment. In my heart, I know I have to confront it all.
Inside the dim room, dust particles dance in the slivers of dying light while memories cling to the walls. I stumbled upon a box hidden beneath the desk days earlier, and the desire for closure drives me to retrieve it. My fingers tremble as I open it, revealing Skye’s jewelry—a memory that gleams brightly among the darkness. My mother used to wear that necklace, the diamond sparkling inside the infinity knot, signifying hope and everlasting love.
Sadness washes over me, but the determination to not let more people be victims outweighs everything else. This necklace isn’t just a token; it’s a promise I made to myself: I will prevent my father’s cruelty from shadowing another life.
When I return to the bar, Cole is leaning against the bar countertop, watching me with those deep-set eyes that understand the unspeakable parts of me.
“What’s that?” He motions toward the box in my hands, his expression a mix of curiosity and caution.
“A reminder of who I’m fighting for,” I reply, the weight of my words settling in the space between us.
“A beautiful reminder.” He steps closer, his presence grounding me against the turmoil that swirled within. He kisses my forehead, then leads me out of the condemned bar, never to return.
As his fingers intertwine with mine, I feel strength coursing through me. Together, we are not just battling our pasts; we are crafting a new future—one where every woman will be heard, weaponized against the silence of their tormentors.
And as I lift Skye’s necklace to the light, I know—my father’s legacy is finally crumbling beneath the weight of the love and compassion we pour into each day. The shelter will become a sanctuary, and I will reclaim my voice with the fervor of a thousand storms.
Together, we will shatter the silence.
For every time I've been silenced, my fury will echo louder. I won't just reclaim my voice; I'll shatter the silence that dared to suppress it.
If you enjoyed this dark and rage filled story, click here to read Deadly Desires, a dark and twisted Snow White retelling.