Echoes of the Heart - 6. Chapter 6: More revelations from the past

As Carter stood at the edge of the hill, his breath caught in his throat. The city lights below stretched out like a sea of shimmering stars, casting a soft, golden glow over the earth. They looked like countless candles, delicately placed together on the ground, flickering gently in the distance. The sight was breathtaking, otherworldly even, and it made him feel as though he had stepped into a dream. The cool air brushed against his face, tousling his hair as he gripped the wooden railing that bordered the cliff, the wind carrying with it a sense of peace that seemed to calm everything inside him.

“This place…” Carter whispered, his voice barely audible over the gentle breeze. He turned to look at Jeremy, his eyes wide with awe. “It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like this.” He smiled, tilting his head slightly. “How did you find a place like this?”

Jeremy stepped closer, his shoulder brushing against Carter’s as he too took in the view. He let out a deep breath, his eyes soft with memory.

“I used to come here with Ethan,” he said quietly, his gaze sweeping over the city lights. "It was our secret spot, somewhere we could escape when life got a little too much."

Carter smiled at the mention of Ethan, a warm feeling blooming in his chest.

"I can see why you guys came here. It feels like the world just stops up here." He chuckled, his eyes dancing with curiosity. “How’d you two even find this place?”

Jeremy’s smile grew wider as he chuckled, shaking his head slightly as if recalling a distant memory.

“The first time we came up here, we almost got lost. Took a wrong turn on one of the back roads and ended up on the outskirts of the city. Ethan was freaking out, thought we’d have to sleep in the car that night.”

Carter laughed, imagining the scene as Jeremy painted it for him. “Did you make it out okay?”

“Barely,” Jeremy grinned, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “We ended up finding this hill after hours of wandering around. It wasn’t planned, but once we got here and saw the view, Ethan fell in love with it. After that, it became our go-to spot. Anytime we needed to clear our heads, we’d come here.”

Carter’s smile softened as he took a deep breath, feeling the cool breeze on his face once more.

“I get it,” he said, his voice tender. “I’ve never seen the city look so beautiful before, and the air up here… it’s different. It feels good.”

Jeremy watched as Carter’s hair was blown back by the wind, revealing his face in all its beauty. His skin seemed to glow in the soft light, and there was something so serene, so effortless about the way Carter stood there, taking it all in. For a moment, Jeremy couldn’t look away. His heart swelled with something deep, something that felt like more than just friendship.

“I’m glad you like it,” Jeremy said, his voice quiet, filled with emotion. “I’ve never brought anyone else here… besides Ethan. But I knew you were the perfect person to bring.”

Carter looked at Jeremy, touched by the words. He reached up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind his ear, his smile soft and grateful.

“Thank you,” he murmured, his gaze lingering on Jeremy. “It means a lot.”

They stood in silence for a moment, the bond between them feeling stronger than ever. The night seemed to wrap around them like a protective blanket, sheltering them from the rest of the world.

Carter broke the silence with a laugh.

“You know, I can't imagine you getting lost like that. I thought you were always the responsible, mature one.”

Jeremy chuckled, shaking his head. “Oh, far from it. I was a nightmare growing up.”

“Really?” Carter raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Do tell.”

“Well,” Jeremy began, leaning against the railing, his eyes filled with a mischievous glint. “I was the kind of kid who was always getting into trouble. My parents would chase me around the house every other day because I’d either broken something or was hiding from chores. I was pretty good at escaping though.”

Carter laughed, picturing a younger Jeremy causing havoc in his home.

“You? I can’t believe that! You seem so... put together now.”

“Appearances can be deceiving,” Jeremy grinned. “But yeah, I gave my parents hell when I was little. They always said I had too much energy. But then… everything changed when Ethan moved in next door. I was ten, and I still remember the day his family arrived. I looked out the window and saw him there, this shy kid standing in the driveway, looking so lost. Something about him drew me in right away.”

Carter listened intently, seeing the fondness in Jeremy's eyes as he spoke of his childhood.

“What happened next?”

Jeremy smiled softly, as if the memory was unfolding right in front of him.

“We became friends almost instantly. We spent every day together, riding our bikes, exploring the woods, doing all the things kids do. He made everything better, you know? I wasn’t alone anymore.”

Carter’s eyes softened as he nodded. “It sounds like you had an amazing friendship and then relationship.”

Jeremy glanced at him, his expression warm.

“We did. Ethan… was everything to me.”

Carter smiled, understanding the depth of what Jeremy was saying.

“I get that. I had a good childhood too, especially with my dad. He wasn’t around all the time, but when he was, it felt like nothing else mattered. We’d go fishing, spend hours talking about everything and nothing. He was my hero.”

Jeremy’s face softened as he listened. “It sounds like you had a strong bond.”

Carter nodded, a wistful smile playing on his lips. “Yeah, we did. I miss those days sometimes. Life felt simpler back then.”

Jeremy sighed, a similar feeling washing over him.

“Yeah… simpler times. It’s funny how life changes so quickly. One moment, you’re a kid, carefree and full of dreams, and the next, everything’s more complicated.”

Carter chuckled lightly, nodding in agreement.

“Tell me about it.”

They both stood there, letting the weight of their conversation sink in, the night air wrapping around them as they shared these pieces of themselves. It felt good, being there together, sharing memories and laughter, letting go of the world for a little while.

Jeremy glanced behind them and spotted the hammock, still hanging between two tall trees, its surface sprinkled with a few delicate flowers that had fallen from the branches above. He laughed softly, memories of lazy afternoons spent there flooding his mind. Without a second thought, he took Carter’s hand, gently tugging him in the direction of the hammock.

“This thing,” Jeremy said, eyes bright with excitement, “this hammock is one of the best things about this place.”

Before Carter could even respond, Jeremy darted ahead, reaching the hammock and throwing himself onto it with the ease of someone who had done it a thousand times before. He let out a playful sigh as he stretched out, grinning up at Carter.

“Well?” Jeremy raised an eyebrow, motioning for him to join. “What are you waiting for?”

Carter chuckled, shaking his head at Jeremy’s sudden enthusiasm. He stepped forward and carefully settled himself beside Jeremy on the hammock. As soon as he lay back, the night sky unfolded above them, the stars twinkling like diamonds scattered across velvet. It was peaceful, and Carter couldn't help but smile as he relaxed into the gentle sway of the hammock.

“You remember the first time we talked about the stars?” Jeremy asked, his voice low, almost as if he didn’t want to disturb the quiet of the night.

Carter chuckled, turning his head slightly toward Jeremy.

“How could I forget? I was being pursued in the jungle with no hope of ever getting out, and you came to my rescue.”

Jeremy nodded, his eyes gleaming with shared memory.

“Yeah, not exactly the ideal situation,” he said, laughing softly. “But… it made us understand things about ourselves, didn’t it?”

Carter nodded.

“It did. I never thought I’d find myself talking about constellations in the middle of all that chaos.”

Jeremy smiled, a fondness in his gaze as he stared up at the sky.

“I wasn’t exactly an expert on stars that night either,” he admitted, shifting slightly on the hammock. “But I had some fun with it. Like that one—” he pointed to a cluster of stars to their left, “that’s ‘The Cheeseburger.’”

Carter laughed, following Jeremy’s finger with his eyes.

“The Cheeseburger?”

Jeremy nodded solemnly.

“Yep. Perfectly round with a little bit of glow from the city lights, like cheese melting off the edges.”

Carter laughed harder, the sound filling the space between them, making Jeremy’s heart swell with happiness. He pointed to another set of stars.

“And that one, that’s ‘The Clumsy Octopus.’”

Carter’s eyebrows shot up, still chuckling.

“The Clumsy Octopus?”

Jeremy grinned, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

“Yeah, look at it! Its legs are all over the place. No coordination at all.”

Carter laughed, shaking his head at the ridiculousness.

“You have an interesting way of naming constellations, Jeremy.”

“Hey, they’re scientifically accurate, I swear,” Jeremy joked, making Carter laugh again.

As Jeremy continued pointing out “constellations” with names like “The Sleeping Dog” and “The Fallen Ice Cream Cone,” Carter’s laughter began to soften. The stars above seemed to twinkle brighter, the air cool and refreshing. At some point, Jeremy felt a soft weight press against his shoulder. He glanced down to see Carter’s head gently resting there, his eyes closed, his breathing deep and even. Carter had fallen asleep.

Jeremy smiled, his heart swelling with a mixture of affection and tenderness. He carefully adjusted his position, making sure Carter’s head was comfortably nestled against him. Gently, he wrapped an arm around him, drawing the boy closer to his side without waking him.

For a moment, Jeremy simply stared down at Carter, his features soft and peaceful in sleep. There was something so vulnerable, so beautiful about the way he looked in that moment. Unable to help himself, Jeremy leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Carter’s forehead, the touch lingering for just a second.

With Carter nestled against him and the stars still twinkling above, Jeremy let out a contented sigh. The night seemed to stretch on forever, and as the hammock swayed gently in the cool breeze, Jeremy continued to watch the stars, feeling an overwhelming sense of peace.

***

Jeremy stepped into his mansion, a jacket casually draped over his shoulders, a smile playing on his lips as the memories of the night with Carter replayed in his mind. He thought about how Carter had fallen asleep in his car on the way back to his apartment, his face so peaceful, and how Jeremy had glanced at him every now and then, smiling at the sight. The night had been perfect—carefree, lighthearted, and for the first time in a long while, Jeremy felt genuinely happy. But as soon as he raised his head, his smile vanished.

Laura stood right in front of him, arms crossed, her face twisted in a stern, furious glare. Her eyes bore into him with a sharp intensity, and for a moment, Jeremy froze. His mother’s anger radiated off her like a storm ready to unleash.

“What are you smiling about?” Laura snapped, her voice like ice. “Is it because you’ve humiliated me in front of everyone? Or are you pleased that you just disappeared with some nonentity who doesn’t deserve your attention?”

Jeremy blinked, the warmth of his smile completely wiped from his face.

“What... what are you talking about, Mom?”

Laura let out a bitter, mocking chuckle.

“Don’t play dumb, Jeremy. I know you were with that good-for-nothing boy.” She spat the words with venom. “Carter.”

Jeremy’s jaw tightened.

“Carter’s not ‘good for nothing,’ and yes, I was with him, but—”

Before he could finish, Laura interrupted, her voice sharp. “You went with him? After disappearing from the party I organized for you? You knew how important it was, and you just—left! For him?”

“I didn’t want to be there, Mom. You know I don’t like parties,” Jeremy said, trying to explain, his voice calm but tense.

“Oh, I know you don’t like parties,” Laura snapped. “And you don’t like people much either, especially strangers. So, what’s the excuse for hanging out with Carter? What is it about that boy that makes you lose your mind? You abandoned the one thing I arranged for you!”

Jeremy let out a deep sigh.

“I’m sorry, but—”

“Sorry?!” Laura’s voice rose, her eyes flashing with anger. “Sorry doesn’t cut it. Carter has managed, once again, to ruin our family moment. He humiliated me, made me spend the entire evening explaining and lying to people about where you were.”

“I didn’t mean to ruin anything,” Jeremy muttered. “And it wasn’t Carter’s fault. He was about to leave. I followed him, and we went somewhere quiet. It wasn’t a big deal.”

Laura’s eyes widened, her face turning red with fury.

“Not a big deal?!” she repeated, her voice trembling with frustration. “Maybe it’s not a big deal to you, but to me, it’s everything! You’ve changed, Jeremy. I can’t believe you’ve changed so much.”

Jeremy stepped closer, trying to reach out to his mother, but she pushed him away, her expression hard and cold. That’s when Dexter, who had been standing quietly to the side, finally moved. He approached Laura, wrapping his arms around her protectively, glaring at Jeremy.

“You’ve hurt her,” Dexter said quietly, but there was an edge to his voice. “And for what? For someone you barely know? We organized all of this for you, to make you feel love and appreciated for coming back home to us, and you just disappeared with him. It’s unfair. It’s insensitive.”

Jeremy sighed again, his frustration bubbling up.

“I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”

“But you did,” Dexter said, his voice hard. “You hurt her, and you ruined something special. And for what?”

Laura shook her head, stepping back from Jeremy, her eyes still full of disappointment.

“It’s useless talking to him, Dexter. He’s being manipulated by that boy, just like Ethan manipulated him.”

“Carter’s not manipulating me,” Jeremy said, his voice steady but pained. “We’re friends. For the first time since Ethan, I’m happy being friends with someone else. I spend all the time with you since I came back, I just wanted to do something else with my friend.”

Laura’s expression softened, but only slightly.

“All I wanted was to spend time with my son,” she said, her voice breaking. “But just like before, you’re choosing someone else over me.”

Jeremy hit his head with his hand in frustration, his temper flaring.

“This isn’t about choosing sides! I’m twenty-eight, Mom. I can’t spend my entire life in your nest.”

The room fell silent. Laura stared at him, her heartbreak written all over her face. Her lips trembled as she spoke again, her voice heavy with sadness.

“You chose someone over me once before, and it left you broken, depressed. And now you’re doing it again.”

Jeremy’s voice cracked as he shot back.

“Ethan was the love of my life! How can you say that to me?” His eyes were filled with hurt, his emotions raw. “And Carter… Carter’s a good friend. He’s helped me see that my pain was destroying me, and for that, I owe him. You can shout at me all you want, but this isn’t his fault. And for once… I’m happy.”

Jeremy gave a long, deep sigh, his shoulders sagging.

“I’m sorry, okay? But Carter isn’t the problem.”

He brushed past his mother, leaving her standing in the entryway, trembling with anger.

As Jeremy walked away, Laura turned to Dexter, her voice shaking.

“Carter is ruining everything… just like Ethan did. He’s getting too close, and I don’t like it. I can’t lose Jeremy again, Dexter. I can’t…”

Laura’s hands gripped Dexter’s arms tightly, her desperation evident. “Please, don’t let him take my son away from me again.”

Dexter wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace.

“Don’t worry, Mom,” he whispered, a dark glint flashing in his eyes. “I won’t let it happen. Jeremy isn’t going anywhere. I promise.”

Laura smiled weakly, relieved, and hugged him tighter. Meanwhile, Dexter’s face twisted into a malicious grin, a sinister plan forming in his mind. He wasn’t going to allow anyone, especially Carter, to ruin what he had with his family. He would do whatever it took to keep Jeremy close—even if it meant getting rid of Carter once and for all.

***

Carter was busy sorting files on his desk, his phone beside him, when suddenly a pair of strong hands covered his eyes from behind. He froze, a smile slowly spreading across his face as he reached up to touch the hands—smooth, firm, and familiar. There was only one person whose hands felt like that.

Chuckling softly, Carter called out, “Jeremy?”

He carefully removed the hands and turned around, expecting to see the familiar face of Jeremy. Instead, he found himself looking into the striking grey eyes of someone else. A handsome face with sharp features, well-defined cheekbones, and a well-groomed beard met his gaze. His haircut was fresh, styled perfectly, and he wore a sleek black button-up shirt that clung to his muscular frame.

Carter gasped, a surprised smile lighting up his face.

“Eric?”

Eric smiled back, a captivating smile that seemed to warm the room as he stepped forward and pulled Carter into a tight embrace.

His deep, manly voice rumbled, “I’m a little hurt you mistook me for someone else after all these years, Carter.”

Carter laughed, hugging him back.

“Well, you disappeared on me for so long, so it’s only fair I forgot how your hands felt.”

When they pulled away from the hug, Eric still held Carter’s hands, gently rubbing his thumb over them as he stared into his eyes.

“You just get more beautiful every time I see you. Now, I think I’m head over heels for you.”

Carter smiled, shaking his head at the familiar teasing. Eric had always been charming, with that playful edge.

“You’re still as crazy as ever,” Carter replied. “And you vanished for weeks again. I thought you were gone for good. How am I supposed to keep up with you?”

Eric winked, still holding his hands.

“I had things to take care of, you know. Some boy gave me an impossible task.”

Carter laughed, feeling the warmth of their old friendship returning.

“You haven’t changed at all. Still joking around.”

He reached for some papers on the desk, but Eric took his hands again, stopping him.

“I’m serious,” Eric said, his tone shifting slightly. “Remember that time I told you I’d propose to you once I completed my task? Well, I’m here to remind you.” He paused, his eyes locked on Carter’s. “Are you ready to be my boyfriend? Actually, forget that—I’m upping my proposal. I’m not just asking you to be my boyfriend anymore. I want you to be my fiancé. Let’s get married. Soon.”

Carter burst into laughter, gently hitting Eric on the shoulder.

“Stop joking around! You’re always so ridiculous.”

Eric winked again, undeterred.

“I’m not joking, Carter. I’m serious.”

Carter shook his head, still smiling. “I’ve got a lot of work to do, Eric. We can talk later.”

But Eric wasn’t ready to let him go. He grabbed Carter’s hand again, this time more firmly but still sweetly.

“What I want to show you is more important than your work.”

Carter raised an eyebrow, curious but slightly exasperated.

“What is it?”

“Just come with me,” Eric said, grinning as he tugged Carter along.

With a sigh, Carter followed, the warmth of Eric’s hand in his own making him smile. As they moved toward the lobby, unaware of what was happening around them, Jeremy appeared from the other side. He had a smile on his face, memories of the previous night with Carter still fresh in his mind. But that smile disappeared the moment he saw Carter walking hand-in-hand with another man. Jeremy stopped dead in his tracks, his heart sinking as he watched them, the intimacy between them unmistakable.

Meanwhile, Carter, oblivious to Jeremy’s presence, followed Eric into the lobby, still smiling. They stopped, and Eric stood there with a mischievous grin. Carter raised an eyebrow at him, confused.

“What are we doing here?”

Eric gestured with his head toward the side of the room. Carter turned his head, and as his eyes fell on the woman sitting on the couch, his entire world seemed to come to a halt.

His smile faded. His body stiffened. His hands trembled as tears welled up in his eyes. He gasped, his voice barely audible as he spoke her name.

“Aunt?”

There she was, looking just as he remembered her—his aunt, whom he hadn’t seen in what felt like a lifetime. All the emotions he had held back, all the memories, came rushing back in a flood. He stood there, frozen in disbelief, his heart aching as the tears finally spilled over.

***

The room was dark, heavy with an eerie stillness that pressed against the air like a suffocating blanket. A single dim light flickered in the far corner, casting long, distorted shadows across the cold, concrete floor. In the center of the room sat Elena, her body slumped in a wooden chair, her wrists bound tightly to its arms with thick ropes. She groaned softly as her eyelids fluttered, slowly peeling open to meet the harsh light. Her muscles ached from the strain of being tied down for what felt like an eternity, and her heart began to pound as the fog of unconsciousness cleared.

In front of her stood a dark figure, cloaked in shadow, the light behind him obscuring his face. All she could see were the dark clothes he wore, blending him into the surrounding gloom. The figure shifted, his movements slow, deliberate. Elena’s breath caught in her throat, her pulse quickening as her eyes strained to make out any details.

“D-Dexter?” her voice trembled as the figure stepped forward, revealing a cold, stern face—Dexter’s face.

He let out a soft, mocking chirp as he approached, a twisted smile curling on his lips.

“Why do you like causing so much trouble for me, Elena?” he asked in a voice that dripped with cruel amusement. “Don’t you like seeing me happy?”

Elena groaned weakly, her body too exhausted to fight.

“Please... Dexter..." she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. “Let me go. You’ve kept me here for months… don’t you feel any pity for me? I promise I’ll go so far away, I won’t cause any trouble for you anymore.”

Dexter tilted his head, a sickly sweet expression of mock concern spreading across his features as he leaned in closer to her.

“Pity for you?” he cooed, his voice laced with venom. “What about me, Elena? Don’t you care about me? All I ever wanted was to be happy, but the second you get out of here, you’re going to cause trouble. You always do. You’ll destroy my life, just like you did all those years ago.”

His voice grew colder, harsher, as the bitterness rose in his throat.

“When you brought that stupid son of yours into our lives...” he snapped, his eyes darkening with rage.

Tears welled up in Elena’s eyes and began to stream down her cheeks. Her lip trembled as she tried to speak.

“I... I’ve already lost Ethan. I have nothing left because of…”

“Shh...” Dexter silenced her abruptly, pressing a finger to her lips before reaching behind her head.

He grabbed the gag that had been hanging loosely around her neck and tied it tightly across her mouth, muffling any further protest.

Elena groaned through the fabric, her voice muffled and strained as her tears flowed more freely now. She could do nothing but watch as Dexter circled her like a predator, his eyes scanning her every movement.

Dexter stopped suddenly, his fists clenching as he looked up toward the ceiling.

“Last night, Elena,” he began, his voice low and tense, “I finally wanted to do it. I was ready to confess my feelings to Jeremy. In front of everyone. It was supposed to be perfect. I was supposed to be perfect.”

He groaned in frustration and kicked a stack of boxes that had been piled up in the corner, the sound echoing through the room.

Elena flinched at the loud crash, her groan of fear swallowed by the gag.

“But he ruined it,” Dexter growled, his voice rising in fury. “Carter. That boy ruined everything. He’s another thorn, just like Ethan was. And I won’t let that happen again. I won’t let him destroy what I’ve been trying to build for years.”

He stopped for a moment, his voice dropping back into a sickly sweet tone as he turned to face her again.

“Maybe I’ll bring Carter here,” he mused, an eerie smile creeping across his face. “If you’re lucky, you two can keep each other company.”

Elena’s eyes widened in terror as she shook her head violently, pleading through her tears, the gag cutting into her screams. She shook her head, desperate to stop him, but her words were lost.

Dexter’s laughter filled the room as he grabbed a comb from a nearby table, walking back toward her. He began to gently comb her messy hair, his touch almost tender as if he were performing an act of care rather than cruelty.

“I don’t like seeing you in this state, Elena. But you’ve left me no choice,” he said softly. “I’m only trying to protect myself. If you hadn’t gone prying into my business... if you hadn’t found out the truth, we could’ve lived together peacefully. But now you’ve taken everything from me. My parents... gone. Because of you.”

From the corner of her eye, Elena could see his expression shift—his gaze was cold, but there was something frighteningly soft about the way he stared at her, as if he truly believed what he was saying. Her heart pounded in her chest, fear twisting her insides as she caught the glint of madness in his eyes.

“Do you understand why I did it, Elena?” Dexter asked, his voice dropping to a whisper. “It’s love. It’s always been about love.” He leaned down, placing a soft kiss on her forehead, his lips lingering for a second too long. “And I’m still here... trying to love you despite all this.”

Tears continued to roll down Elena’s cheeks as she screamed in her mind, begging for help, begging for someone to stop him. As Dexter resumed combing her hair, she could only think of one person—Carter.

‘Please, God...’ she thought desperately. ‘Protect Carter. Don’t let Dexter find out the truth... at any cost, please... don’t let him harm my son. I can’t lose another...’

But the fear in her heart grew, knowing that Dexter’s obsession had only just begun, and she was trapped, powerless to stop him.

To be continued…