Page 19 of When Death Whispers

“You okay?” I finally ask, folding my arms tightly and leaning against the wall. Keeping distance feels safer—for him, more than me. Something shifted between us last night, and I’m still figuring out how I feel about that. Escaping death together has a way of messing with the boundaries you set. Not to mention the last time I saw him he was running away as fast as he possibly could.

Hudson lets out a bitter laugh, devoid of his usual easy-going charm. “Not really. Pretty sure I almost died last night. Twice. Three times? Thanks for asking.”

I bite my lip as the guilt hits me like a punch to the stomach. He’s only in this mess because of me, after all. He’d still be his flirty, carefree self if I hadn’t asked him for a stupid ride home or let him get close. I shove those feelings down.

“You shouldn’t have come back,” I whisper, unable to meet his eyes. “He wouldn’t have gone after you if?—”

“If what? If you hadn’t asked for a ride?” Hudson snaps, jaw tightening, frustration burning in his blue eyes. “That thing—whatever the fuck it is—wanted me gone because I was near you. It’s clearly not planning to stop, and will follow me anywhere I go. I have no fucking idea what I’m doing. But you do. You’ve clearly been outrunning that thing for a while.”

He waits, expectantly, like I have all the answers to solve his problems.

Fuck, my worst fear has been realized, again. I’ve dragged another unsuspecting innocent life into my messed up relationship with death, and my monster won’t let go.

I stare at him, heart pounding. “Hudson, you don’t understand. Hewillkill you. You saw it yourself.” My voice trembles, desperation bleeding through my carefully constructed wall of indifference. “This isn’t a game. This is my life. My nightmare. Don’t you think that if I could defeat the shadow fucker I would? I don’t have any answers for you. And you don’t deserve to be dragged into it. You should leave while you can.”

Hudson’s eyes narrow, the vibrant blue darkening like a storm gathering strength. “I tried that last night, remember? It didn’t matter. He just waited for me to be alone in the dark to corner me. It almost worked too. So yeah, after seeing firsthand what you’ve been facing all alone for years…” He leans forward, determined, elbows resting on his knees. “You’re not scaring me off, Parker. Not before I get answers. Not before I know how I can help. And definitely not before I figure out how to fight that thing off like you do. You don’t get to push me away. Not after all this. Try again.”

I clench my fists at my sides, anger and fear mixing into a dizzying cocktail. Why is he so stubborn? Why isn’t he running in the opposite direction like he did last night? Every other sane person would. The guy is yet again failing at reading the room, using his larger than life presence to bulldoze his way into a situation. But newsflash, golden boy, that won’t work to keep my monster away.

“You don’t get it,” I say quietly, trying to keep my voice steady. “He won’t stop. He’ll hurt anyone who gets close to me. You don’t even know me. This isn’t worth your life.”

He huffs, shaking his head slowly. “You don’t know a thing about what I know, Parker.” His expression softens slightly, his blue eyes piercing straight through me. “You’re stronger than you realize. I’ve seen it. I now understand why. You’ve faced this alone, day after day. I don’t know how to do the things you do, how to anticipate what that creature will do…” he trails off, running a hand through the white strands now adorning his hair, a stark reminder that he now has a huge target on his back.

“The way I see it, I’m safer with you than without. I couldn’t even lastonenight. One. If the power hadn’t come back on when it did—” He stops abruptly, his voice breaking with emotion, and visibly swallows. Hudson looks defeated.

A lump forms in my throat, emotions swirling chaotically in my chest. I want to shove him out the door. I also want him to stay, desperately. It’s been too long since anyone has bothered to look deeper, to fight with me,forme. He’s the last person I’d have expected to make that stand, but he’s here—stubborn, vulnerable, annoyingly determined. And I don’t actually hate it. Especially because it’s him. And especially not after last night.

“I’ll ruin your life,” I whisper softly, brokenly.

He holds my gaze, steady and unafraid. “I’ll take my chances.”

My head drops back against the wall, and I close my eyes, breathing out slowly. He’s still here, defiant and unmovable, and I don’t know how to handle that. Normally I just walk away from him at the bakery, keeping a distance and making myself prickly and unapproachable despite being drawn to his flirting and charm. But that has now all changed.

Hudson—the one person I never expected or even wanted tangled up in my mess—is suddenly very much involved. The new white streaks in his hair scream how dangerous this is, how easily I could lose him to my monster’s wrath. I don’t know if I’ll be able to protect him—not from my monster. Not even from myself.

But for now, grudgingly, I let him stay.

Hudson lets out a weary sigh. Neither of us speaks for a long moment, the soft murmur of the TV the only sound in the quiet room. Dark smudges beneath his eyes betray exhaustion, though I doubt I look any better.

“You should get some rest,” I say gently, finally breaking the silence. “My bedroom’s just down the hall...”

He shakes his head slightly, a stubborn set to his jaw. “I’m good here. Couch is fine.”

I shrug, too tired to argue, but I grab a spare blanket and pillow from the hall closet anyway, tossing them gently at him. Hudson catches them easily, flashing me a small, grateful smile that makes my chest flutter—a reaction I quickly push away.

I start toward the hallway but pause, my hand resting on the doorframe. “Hudson?”

“Hmm?”

“Thanks. For staying.” My voice is barely a whisper, and I don’t dare meet his eyes. I'm too afraid of what I might find there, afraid it might break open something inside me that I'm not ready to face.

He hesitates a moment before answering, his voice gentle and warm. “You’re welcome, Parker.”

Parker, not the awful Snow Pea nickname. Maybe he’s finally figured out why I hate it so much.

My pulse quickens slightly at the sincerity in his tone, but I just nod, slipping quietly back toward the couch. I sink onto the cushions, curling up on the opposite end from Hudson, determined to keep some distance despite the strange comfort his presence provides. Having someone to hang out with after all the fear and confusing events of last night is kind of… nice.

“I thought you were going to bed?” he asks softly, watching me settle down.

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