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Harper Vance pulls himself ashore after a brutally long swim and a near death experience. The man claiming responsibility for the death of his parents was now resting at the bottom of the lake where he rightfully belonged. Waterlogged, exhausted and still bleeding from the struggle, the young man flops onto his back and stares into the fading night sky. Sunrise would be coming soon and surely grandpa and Elliot would be worried sick over his sudden disappearance. But these minor details didn't concern Harper. What plagues him is the fact that more cultists could still be alive and waiting for the perfect opportunity to exact their vengeance on any of his friends or family. Yet here he was, trying to leave Pine Springs and return to a normal life like nothing happened at all. But the hard truth began to set in: there is no going back. A new resolve energizes Harper's exhausted limbs and he quickly pulls himself shakily to his feet. After taking a moment to allow his head to stop spinning he begins to make for town.
Harper stops outside Danni's house and takes a quick look around to make sure none of her family is home. Once he's satisfied with his solitude, he stoops down and picks up a handful of small pebbles before taking position under his lover’s bedroom window. Taking great care not to hit the side of the house or throw too hard all together, he begins to lightly toss the projectiles at Danni's room. After a few minutes of persistent pebbles plinking harmlessly off the glass, the window slides open and Harper's lover pokes her head out.
Danni's hair is a disheveled mess that falls loosely around her groggy face. When she's finally able to focus, her expression turns to surprise.
“Harper?” Her voice comes out somewhere between a whisper and a shout. “Do you have any idea what time it is? And why do you look like shit?”
“It's a long story Danni and I'll tell you everything. Can I come in?” Harper finally begins to feel the burden of exhaustion weighing on him as he awaits Danni's response.
“Yeah, sure. Go around back and I'll meet you there in a second.” With those words, the young woman disappears back inside the window before slamming it closed.
Harper shuffles around the side of the house; his ruined shoes making disgusting squishing noises as he does. When he rounds the corner to the back of the house, Danni opens the back door and gets a good look at the shape he's in.
Her jaw drops at the sight of his bloody, soaking wet clothes and she quickly darts out of the house. “Jesus Harper what happened to you?”
“I'll tell you inside. Not out here where someone could hear us.” The exhausted young man leans into Danni, who wraps a steadying arm around his waist.
“Okay fair enough but you gotta lose the clothes, Vance. My parents will kill me if you get the carpet all soggy.” Danni wiggles her eyebrows, attempting to coax a smile out of her injured boyfriend.
“Fair enough.” Harper gives her a weak smile while steading himself against the back porch and nodding wearily.
With a little help from Danni and a few chuckles while trying to peel off the clothing sticking to his skin, Harper disrobes before the two of them head inside.
*****
A little while later, Harper is sitting on a chair in Danni's room, wearing nothing but boxers, as she uses a sewing needle and thread to close the cut on the back of his head.
“So just like that? You caved his face in with a fire extinguisher and it's all over?” Satisfied with her stitching, Danni uses her teeth to cut the thread before gently smoothing the hair around her handiwork.
Exhausted but feeling alot better overall, Harper laughs while pulling his girlfriend's hands over his shoulders; drawing her chin into the crook of his neck. “Hey, I'll have you know that it's not an easy task. You know, clawing your way out of a wooden box while the weight of a million gallons of water pushes down on you.”
Danni wraps her arms around Harper's bare torso while looking at his now bandaged hands. “I bet you made it look easy though. Hell, I would've paid good money to see the look on Dick's face as you crawled back into the boat and went all creature from the black lagoon on him. All joking aside I'm glad you're ok. I don't know what I would've done if…”
“That's the part that scares me the most Danni. You guys would've never known. He would have still been out there in the shadows, maybe even waiting to grab one of you guys next. There could more of them out who survived and here I am, about to run away.”
Acting instinctively, Danni squeezes Harper tight and kisses his cheek. “Don't do that to yourself Vance. You have a life to live and school-”
“No. I belong here now. There's no going back to a normal life after what we've seen and been through. Maybe I can figure out the schooling situation but I need to be here, for you guys. Grandpa and Elliot could've been in the house when Richard grabbed me. They could've been collateral damage.” Out of breath from overexertion, Harper slumps in the chair and leans back against Danni. He runs a loving hand through her thick, brunette hair as the two of them watch the sunrise through the bedroom window in silence.
Danni internally debates with herself on what to say next. Part of her wants to urge him to go home and handle his business. Though, she definitely wants him to stick around. Not because of the potential threat, she could more than handle herself, but because she is in love with the man wrapped tightly in her arms. Smiling to herself, Danni stands and pulls Harper to his feet. “So, what? Are you going to be our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man then? I bet that cute little ass of yours would look good in spandex.”
“Hey, don't tempt me. Especially with your new interest in sexy photography. I'll melt your face off with this body in a skin tight onesie.” Harper wiggles his eyebrows at his girlfriend and does his best to strike a sexy pose for her.
“Oooh, sounds like a date. What do you say, eight o'clock?” Danni reaches out and playfully attempts to pinch her boyfriend's arm as he swats her hand away.
“I think you've got yourself a deal. Now, we should probably wash my clothes and get them dry before someone comes home and finds you with a half naked man.” Harper starts for the door as Danni gives a causal shrug.
“I'm pretty sure they've caught me doing stranger things.” Harper's jaw drops as the messy haired brunette gently pushes him toward the door.
“I feel like there's a story behind that statement and I'm dying to hear it. We've got plenty of time to kill while we do my laundry.” Harper raises an inquisitive eyebrow at his girlfriend as she continues to urge him downstairs.
“If you're lucky I'll tell you. Now come on, Romeo, let's go wash your blouse.” The two of them laugh in tandem as they head for the laundry room. Neither one of them knows what the future has in store but the couple is certain that together, anything is possible.