As the echoes of her promise to Liam lingered, Lisa found herself staring into the dark, her mind a storm of conflicting emotions. She had never felt so fiercely protective of anyone before, yet every instinct told her this was a path riddled with dangers she couldn't even imagine. Still, the look in his eyes—the vulnerability he tried so hard to hide—kept pulling her in.
In the early morning light, she sat beside Liam, watching as he drifted in and out of a restless sleep. He was lying on her old couch, looking somehow even paler than usual. The events of the night had drained them both, but Liam looked like he'd been dragged back from something darker, something that had left shadows in his eyes.
"I could stop this now," Lisa thought, her heart twisting. "I could walk away and leave him to whatever fate the universe has decided."
Yet the thought of abandoning him was unbearable. The Liam she'd come to know was more than just a mystery or a puzzle to solve; he was someone who, despite everything, made her feel alive, like she had a purpose. But if she kept going, if she dug deeper into his past, there was no telling what forces she'd be dealing with—or what she'd risk bringing upon them both.
When Liam's eyes fluttered open, they were unfocused, still lost in some distant place. His gaze sharpened when he saw her, and he offered a faint smile. "Couldn't sleep?"
Lisa shook her head, a tight smile forming on her lips. "Nope. My head's a mess."
"Because of me?" he asked, his tone tinged with guilt.
She wanted to lie, but there was no point. "Yes. Because of you, and… and this whole mess we're in. I want to help you, Liam, but…" She trailed off, the weight of her own thoughts bearing down on her.
"But you're scared," he finished for her, his voice a soft murmur. "I get it, Lisa. I… I'm scared too."
The vulnerability in his voice tugged at her heart, but her fear wasn't so easily soothed. She looked down, twisting her fingers nervously. "Liam, this thing—whatever it is that's keeping you here—it's not just about bringing you back to life, is it? There's something… bigger. And I'm terrified of what that means."
He was silent for a long moment, his gaze distant. "I don't know what it means either, but if I have any hope of finding out, I need to remember. Whatever that figure is, he holds answers. I have to face him."
Lisa's fear flared, but so did her determination. "Then we'll find a way. I don't care how many cryptic threats he throws at us, or how impossible it seems. I'm not giving up on you."
A flicker of relief crossed Liam's face, and his shoulders relaxed. "Thank you, Lisa. I don't know how I got so lucky to have you on my side."
She managed a weak laugh, her heart racing. "Luck, or just my tendency to ignore all common sense."
For a moment, the tension lifted, and Lisa could almost forget the darkness hanging over them. But reality was never far, and the questions tugging at her wouldn't leave her alone.
"Liam," she began hesitantly, "do you think… maybe… whatever happened to you is somehow connected to us meeting? Maybe I was supposed to find you?"
Liam looked at her, an unreadable expression in his eyes. "You mean, like fate?"
She shrugged, feeling a little foolish, but the thought persisted. "Yeah. I know it sounds… silly. But sometimes I wonder if I was meant to bring you back for a reason. Maybe there's something only you can do."
A shadow crossed his face, and he looked away. "If there is, I just hope it's worth all of this."
Lisa reached out, placing her hand on his. "Whatever it is, you won't be alone. We'll face it together."
The touch lingered, sending a warmth through her, a flicker of something that felt too dangerous to name. She pulled her hand back, feeling a surge of confusion. Protecting Liam, helping him recover his memories—those were things she knew how to do. But dealing with the feelings stirring inside her was something else entirely.
To break the silence, she cleared her throat and forced a small laugh. "Besides, how often does a girl get the chance to play detective with a… technically undead guy?"
Liam chuckled, the tension easing from his face. "And here I thought I was just another one of your science projects."
She smirked, nudging him playfully. "If you want to be. Though, I'll admit, you're way more complicated than my old anatomy diagrams."
Liam grinned, his gaze softening. For a moment, it felt like they were just two normal people caught in a bizarrely twisted romance. But the glimmer of normalcy faded as reality came rushing back.
"So, where do we start?" Liam asked, his tone serious once more.
Lisa took a deep breath, her resolve hardening. "We start by tracking down everything that might jog your memory. We need to retrace your steps, find any clues from your past that might help us piece things together."
A flicker of hesitation crossed Liam's face. "What if it's dangerous? What if it draws… him back?"
Lisa met his gaze, her eyes fierce. "Then let him come. We'll be ready this time."
Liam stared at her, a strange mix of admiration and fear in his eyes. He leaned closer, his voice a low whisper. "You're incredible, you know that?"
Her cheeks warmed, and she forced a laugh to break the tension. "Yeah, well, don't get too attached. I might just bring you back to life only to haunt you forever."
Liam laughed, a genuine sound that seemed to dispel some of the darkness between them. But as they locked eyes, Lisa felt her heart skip a beat, the realization hitting her like a lightning bolt.
She was falling for him. Against all odds, despite everything telling her not to, she was falling in love with a boy who didn't belong in this world.
The thought terrified her, but as she looked at him, she knew she couldn't turn back. The danger, the unknown—none of it mattered if it meant she could protect him, keep him here with her. For the first time, she was certain of one thing: she would do whatever it took to keep Liam safe.
Taking a deep breath, she forced a confident smile. "Then let's get to work. We've got a lot of ground to cover, and I'm not about to let some creepy shadow figure ruin our plans."
Liam's smile returned, his expression brightening with hope. "Then lead the way, Detective Lisa. I'm all yours."
A thrill ran through her at his words, but she kept her composure, masking the storm of emotions inside. Together, they stepped into the morning light, ready to face whatever shadows lay ahead...