Happy Together

As the World Falls Down

A cold shiver ran down Victoria’s spine, but she kept her expression neutral. “What do you mean?”

Alistair hesitated, guilt flashing across his face. “When I was fifteen, I got into a fight with a classmate. He was bullying me, calling me names. I don’t remember much—just him shoving me, and then... then it was over. Lucius had taken over. The kid ended up in the hospital with a broken arm and three cracked ribs.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I didn’t even know I was capable of that kind of violence.”

Victoria’s stomach churned, but she didn’t pull away. “What did your parents do?”

“They shipped me off to a military boarding school,” Alistair said. “They thought discipline would ‘straighten me out.’ But it only made Lucius stronger. He thrived in that environment—he liked the structure, the control. And every time someone crossed me, Lucius was there, ready to step in.”

Alistair closed his eyes, his hands trembling. “It got worse as I got older. Lucius started doing things... things I can’t undo. He’s hurt people, Victoria. And the worst part is, sometimes I don’t even know what he’s done until it’s too late.”

Victoria’s breath hitched. “Like... in Germany?” she asked cautiously, her mind flashing to what Lucius had shouted earlier.

Alistair nodded, his face pale. “It was after I graduated, I was living in Berlin. There was a woman—a police officer. She started asking questions about me, about some incidents that had happened. She was close to figuring it out, close to exposing Lucius. And he... he killed her.”

Victoria inhaled sharply, her heart pounding. “You’re saying... you killed her?”

Alistair looked at her, tears streaming down his face. “I didn’t,” he said desperately. “But Lucius did. And I didn’t stop him. I couldn’t.” His voice broke, and he buried his face in his hands. “I don’t even know if I could’ve stopped him if I tried.”

The car fell silent, the weight of his confession settling between them. Victoria struggled to process everything she had just heard. Her instinct was to run—to get as far away from him as possible. But at the same time, she saw the broken man in front of her, trembling and pleading, and she couldn’t bring herself to abandon him.

“What are you doing to stop him now?” she asked after a long pause.

Alistair looked at her, his expression hollow. “I try to stay in control, to keep him suppressed. But... it’s not always enough.”

“Then we need to find someone who can help you,” Victoria said firmly. “A therapist, a specialist—someone who knows how to deal with this.”

Alistair shook his head. “You don’t understand. If I tell anyone... if they find out what Lucius’s done, I’ll spend the rest of my life in prison.”

“And if you don’t?” Victoria countered, her voice rising. “You think you can keep living like this, just hoping Lucius doesn’t take over and hurt someone else? That’s not a life, Alistair. That’s... that’s survival.”

Alistair stared at her, his eyes filled with fear and desperation. “I don’t want to lose you,” he whispered.

Victoria softened her own emotions, a tangle of fear, sadness, and reluctant hope. “You won’t lose me,” she said. “But I need to know you’re serious about fixing this. I need to know you’re willing to fight for control.”

Alistair nodded slowly, his gaze steadying. “I’ll do whatever it takes,” he said. “I don’t want to lose myself to him.”

“Then we’ll figure this out,” Victoria said, determination flickering in her eyes. “Together.”

The words were a small comfort, but they felt like the first light breaking through the storm. For the first time in years, Alistair felt the faintest glimmer of hope. But deep inside, Lucius lurked, silent and waiting.

The drive resumed, but the atmosphere in the car remained charged. Victoria sat with her arms crossed, her mind spinning as she replayed everything Alistair had told her. Lucius. The police officer. The violence. The idea of staying felt irrational, stupid even, yet there was a part of her—a part she didn’t fully understand—that couldn’t walk away from him. Not yet.

Alistair, on the other hand, gripped the wheel tightly, his jaw clenched. Lucius was quiet now, and that silence unnerved him more than the taunting. Lucius had retreated, waiting, scheming. Alistair didn’t trust it. He never trusted Lucius’s silence.

When they reached Victoria’s apartment, she didn’t immediately move to get out of the car. Instead, she turned to him, her expression a mixture of compassion and determination.

“Come inside,” she said.

Alistair blinked, startled. “What?”

“You shouldn’t be alone tonight,” Victoria said firmly. “Not after everything that’s happened. And I’m not ready to just... leave you like this.”

He hesitated, fear flickering in his eyes. “Victoria, I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Lucius—”

“Lucius hasn’t taken over yet,” she interrupted. “And you said you want to fight this, right? You need to start trusting someone. Let it be me.”

Alistair’s throat tightened as he looked at her, searching her face for any sign of hesitation or fear. He found none. With a shaky nod, he turned off the car, and they made their way inside.

Victoria’s apartment was cozy, a space filled with soft lighting, earthy colors, Deathhead moths adorned the walls amongst pictures of her family. Books were scattered across the coffee table, and Christmas lights twinkled along the edges of the window. The scent of cinnamon and vanilla hung in the air, remnants of a candle she’d burned earlier.

“Sit,” Victoria said, pointing to the couch as she shrugged off her jacket.

Alistair hesitated, standing awkwardly in the entryway like he didn’t belong there. Finally, he relented and sank onto the couch, his shoulders slumped.

Victoria moved to the kitchen, filling a kettle with water. “I’m making tea,” she called over her shoulder. “And you’re going to tell me more about Lucius.”

Alistair stiffened. “Victoria, I—”

“No excuses,” she interrupted, turning to face him. “If I’m going to stay, if I’m going to help you, I need to know what we’re dealing with. You’ve kept this bottled up for too long, and look where that’s gotten you.”

He sighed, running a hand down his face. “I don’t even know where to start.”

“Start with Germany,” Victoria said as she set the kettle on the stove. “You said Lucius killed someone there. Tell me about that.”

Alistair leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands clasped tightly together. “It was... a few years ago,” he began. “I’d just moved to Berlin. I was trying to start fresh, but things weren’t going well. I was struggling to keep Lucius suppressed, and I guess he saw an opportunity.”

“An opportunity for what?” Victoria asked, her voice steady.

Alistair’s jaw clenched. “For control,” he said bitterly. “There was this woman—Officer Koch. She started asking questions about me, digging into my past. She must’ve noticed the inconsistencies, the gaps. Lucius saw her as a threat. One night, he...”

He trailed off, his hands trembling. Victoria moved closer, sitting on the edge of the armchair across from him.

“It’s okay,” she said softly. “Take your time.”

Alistair nodded, swallowing hard. “One night, I blacked out,” he continued. “When I came to, I was covered in blood. Her blood. Lucius had stabbed her—killed her. And he... he didn’t even feel remorse. He was proud of it.”

Victoria’s stomach churned, but she forced herself to stay calm. “What did you do?”

“I ran,” Alistair admitted, his voice heavy with shame. “I left everything behind—my job, my apartment. I moved here to the island, hoping to leave it all behind. But Lucius... he came with me.”

The kettle whistled, breaking the tense silence. Victoria stood and poured the tea, her mind racing. She returned with two mugs, setting one in front of Alistair before sitting back down.