Strings of Fate: The First Loop

CHAPTER 47

But deep down, I knew.

This wasn’t a nightmare. This was real. And every second that passed, the weight in my chest grew heavier.

"Hold on, Betty..." I muttered as we drove. "Please just hold on."

Midnight crept in, but none of us moved. None of us could. The living room was heavy with the kind of silence that pressed down on your ribs and made it hard to breathe. Inez sat cross-legged on the rug, staring blankly at her phone screen, dialing Betty’s number over and over like maybe the next ring would be different. Tim hovered behind her, rubbing slow circles on her back, his jaw locked tight.

Corey had dozed off on the couch, his head leaning into Drake’s lap. Drake looked like he hadn’t blinked in hours, his hand gently combing through Corey’s curls, his other hand clenched on his knee like if he let go, he’d unravel.

Me? I stood by the window. I hadn’t left that spot since the sun dipped below the skyline. I kept thinking I’d see headlights, hers. That the universe would decide it’d had enough of messing with her and send her home. But the street stayed dark. Empty.

From the kitchen, I could hear Mr. Mikhail’s voice... barely a whisper.

“I… I can’t lose her too, Claire…”

My stomach twisted. I turned away from the window, just in time to hear the knock.

Everyone froze. I got there first. I opened the door, and there he was.

James. He looked like hell. Eyes red, hair a mess, like he hadn’t slept since yesterday. Or eaten. Or even breathed properly. He looked like someone who’d lost everything.

“What are you doing here?” I snapped.

His eyes scanned past me like maybe, just maybe, she’d be behind me.

“Is… is she back?” he asked. His voice cracked on the last word.

Behind me, I heard Claire guide Mr. Mikhail toward the back door. They left without a word. I stepped forward, ready to tell him to get the hell off the porch, but Inez beat me to it.

“This is your fault,” she spat, standing. Her voice trembled, not with fear, but fury. “She begged you. Begged you to stay.”

James didn’t argue. He just crumpled. Right there on the porch. Fell to his knees like his legs gave out under the weight of everything he’d done.

“I’m sorry,” he said, barely a whisper. Then louder, shaking, choking, “I just want to see her safe. Please. I swear… once she’s back, I’ll leave. I’ll go. Just… let me know she’s okay.”

I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to hit him. God, I wanted to hit him. But looking at him now… he wasn’t the guy who slept with Olive. He wasn’t even the guy who betrayed Betty. He was just a kid who destroyed everything he loved and realized it too late. Then I heard Mr. Finn's voice, from the back of the room. He’d returned, standing by the hallway. His eyes locked on James.

“You know,” he said slowly, voice calm but tight, “her mom used to tell her to see the light in people.”

I turned toward him. The whole room stilled.

“Even when it’s hard,” he went on. “Especially when it’s hard.”

James looked up, eyes wide, barely breathing.

“So I won’t judge you. Not tonight. I’m angry. Furious. But I believe in redemption. I believe people can come back from the worst versions of themselves.” He paused. His voice cracked, not from weakness, but from all the love he’d been forced to carry. “I’m choosing to believe there’s still light in you. Even if I can’t see it right now.”