A Silent Victim || ONC 2022

Chapter Sixteen

(Carter's pov)

Two Months Later

Fuck, this is bad. How the fuck did they find us? I barged into Phoenix's room to see her feeding Lilac.

"We have to go, now!" I said.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"They're here."

Her eyes widened as she stood from her rocking chair as we quickly left the room. We've had a plan for just this moment for a few months now. If someone was to show up looking for her or the baby, we would leave through the panic room that connected to an underground tunnel. If we followed the tunnel, it would lead to a car that was set up and ready for us if we needed to leave in a hurry.

I had just stepped inside the panic room when the door to the cabin was kicked in.

"Phoenix, are you here?" A male voice yelled out.

"Come on," Carter whispered.

Phoenix looked down at Lilac as the sound of their footsteps grew closer to where we were at.

"Take care of her, and make sure she knows how much I love her," she signed as she quickly closed the door to the panic room. I could hear the door lock, followed by a loud popping noise.

No, please God no, Phoenix what are you thinking, I thought as I looked down at Lilac's sleeping form. You have no idea just how loved you are, I thought as I could hear voices through the door. I listened closely, barely being able to hear Sam's voice.

Shit, what is that psychopath doing here? When I saw them, I thought they were Elliott's men, but not Sam. I reluctantly moved away from the door, walking over to where the hatch was at.

I moved what was hiding the door out of the way, entering the code into the keypad, unlocking the door. I had just opened the door when I heard what sounded like a gunshot, followed by a loud thud.

Phoenix?

I quickly climbed down the ladder. When I reached the bottom, I hit the button, causing the door to close and lock. I followed the tunnel until I found the door leading to where the getaway vehicle was being stored at.

I unlocked the door, shutting it behind me before locking it again. I walked over to the car, unlocking the car as I opened the backseat door, gently putting Lilac in her car seat. Once she was secured in her car seat, I shut the door, being careful as not to wake her. I opened the driver's door, getting in before shutting and locking the door.

I put the keys in the ignition, starting the car as I pulled up the footage to the security cameras I had set up. I checked all the cameras to see the escape route was clear. I pushed a button on the key remote, opening the door as I drove outside. Once I was fully out, I shut the door to the hideout as I drove away.

I got to the end of the gravel road as I pulled out onto the highway. I had to get Lilac as far away from here as possible. I couldn't let Sam get his hands on her and turn her into a monster as well. I promised Phoenix that I would take care of her if anything happened, and I intended to keep that promise.

Ten Years Later

A lot has happened in these past ten years. After escaping the hideout, I went back to the cabin a month later, when I was sure that they had left. I had tried to prepare myself for what I might find when I walk back in there, but nothing could've prepared me for what I found.

When I walked in, I was immediately hit by the stench of death. The once beautiful house was now an empty shell of its former self. I checked all the rooms of the house. Well, all but one. I hesitantly walked over to the door of the room, the last room that I saw her for the last time in.

Reaching out a shaky hand, I grabbed hold of the door knob, turning it as I slowly opened the door. When I walked in, there was dried blood everywhere. I remember looking down to see Phoenix's lifeless decaying body laying on the floor with a bullet hole him her head.

I let out a shaky breath as I walked out of the house, walking over to my truck, as I grabbed the gas cans from the bed of the truck. I walked back into the house, pouring gasoline on everything. When I walked back into the room where Phoenix was at, I remember standing there apologizing to her for not saving her, for not taking care of her like I had promised.

I told her that I had kept my promise and that I was taking care of Lilac like I said I would. I poured the rest of the gasoline, throwing down the gas can as I walked back to the front door. I grabbed the matches from my pocket, lighting one of them before throwing it down. I walked out of the house as the flames spread throughout the house.

I sat in my truck all night, watching the house burn down, hoping it would free Phoenix from this world, from everything. After that night, I tracked down Sam and his little goons and I committed my murder. I wasn't an angel, hell I was far from it.

I've spent my life helping to take care of people I shouldn't have. I helped Shaun and Elliott transport their drugs for years or help dispose of bodies for them. Helped them when they had a medical emergency, but I've never killed anyone, not until I came into contact with Sam.

I don't think I've ever blacked out from anger before, but when I came to, I was standing over Sam's lifeless body, both of us covered in blood.

"Hey Carter, where did you put her backpack?" Shaun asked as he walked into the living room.

"It's hanging on the hook of her closet," I said.

Four months after I killed Sam, I got a call from a number I didn't recognize. When I answered and heard Shaun's voice, let me tell you, I was surprised.

One of Sam's men was actually an undercover cop that Shaun had been helping and somehow managed to revive Shaun. Shaun had to go through intensive physical therapy. The drug had affected his muscles, causing him to lose the ability to walk for a while.

The only thing I knew to compare it to is when someone has a stroke. After Shaun had managed to gain some of his motor skills back, he got a hold of me. We eventually met up, and I told him about Phoenix. He acted like it didn't bother him, but I know it did and it still does, just like how it still affects me.

Shaun moved in with me and Lilac after he got better. We both started a new life with new identities. We both got jobs, we both are taking care of Lilac.

It was hard at first, because when she got older and in school she started to ask questions like why she didn't have a mom like the other kids. We had to sit her down once she was old enough to comprehend things well and told her that her mother died protecting her.

Which it wasn't a lie. Phoenix died protecting her, but Shaun and I both agreed that we would never tell her the whole truth. We didn't want her growing up with that kind of information. We wanted her to grow up with a normal upbringing unlike the two of us.

"Uncle Carter, I can't find my shoe's," Lilac yelled out from her room.

I groaned out in annoyance as I got up from the couch and made my way to her room. I opened the door to see Shaun standing beside her as they looked under her bed for her shoes.

"I'm getting sick and tired of this same issue every morning when you're getting ready for school," I said as I walked further into her room.

I walked over to her toy chest, opening it as I pulled her shoes out. For some reason, she always puts her shoes in here.

"Here, now put them on because we only have." I looked down at my watch, checking to see how much time we had left before we had to drop her off at school.

"Twenty minutes left. Now hurry up," I yelled out as I walked out of her room.

"Sorry," Shaun yelled out after me.

"Mhm," I mumbled under my breath.

If you would've told me ten years ago that I'd have a kid and a roommate, that I'm pretty sure everyone at Lilac's school thought we were a couple, then I would call you a damn liar. Here I am, though, finally able to enjoy life.

I remember the day I finally got Phoenix to tell me why she named her Lilac, and I gotta say I completely agree with her.

Lilac is definitely like a breath of fresh air.