But he didn't answer her and she was already asleep.

It was late. The night was quiet and peaceful. She fell asleep in his arms and he didn't move. He didn't want to move, lest he wake her. He watched her. Although the room was in complete darkness, he could see her clearly. He had watched her secretly too many times to know every part of her body. Those fiery purple eyes were closed. He hoped he was in a better dimension now. Her lips were relaxed and beautiful in a different way now. He had always fantasized about them. The silence that enveloped him, began to bring out the desire for her, her lips and her body. It started to burn. His heart was pounding. He was lying in bed with her for the first time. Just lying there. He began to imagine over and over again what they would do, if he was not sleeping and the circumstances were normal. He was crazy. She was driving him crazy. Especially now, when he could feel every part of her body. He pressed kisses gently and imperceptibly into her hair and watched her sleep all night.

The time to wake up was slowly approaching. Orion did not close his eyes at any moment of the night. As he watched her, she suddenly began to stir on the bed. She was waking up. When she opened her eyes, she saw his figure in the dim light and flinched slightly. She began to look at him carefully. Sensing that she was watching him, he suddenly turned to the position where he was lying on his back. Fierce heat, it flowed into his cheeks. It was burning, and she spoke quietly: – I think it's time to get ready.

They were silent.

– I can go alone... you should keep sleeping – she broke the silence.
– You're not going anywhere alone or without me, remember that... You know, if you think by acting like this you can push me away, you're very wrong. It hasn't worked all this time, and it won't work now either.

As soon as he said that, he could feel a faint smile appearing on her face. Soon, she left the bed, and he already felt how much he missed her presence.

When they entered the police station, they found three officers sorting through some papers. They were too busy to even notice anyone entering.

– Good morning, I'm here to check the results of yesterday's investigation – Arabella said.
– Good morning, you've arrived.

One officer lifted his head from his work, while the other two kept working without paying attention to Orion and Arabella.

– Follow me to the office this way... The officer handling your case is waiting for you there – he directed them.
– Can I come with you? – Orion asked.
– Of course, this case is partly connected to you anyway.

They took a few steps and found themselves in a medium-sized office with a desk and neatly arranged shelves. The officer who had spoken to Arabella yesterday was sitting behind the desk.

– Arabella, kid, you're here.

He smiled at them.

– Sit down, come on, I didn't expect you this early.

Orion and Arabella approached the desk and sat down.

– I wanted to learn the results as soon as possible, I hope I'm not too early or disturbing you – she said.
– Not at all, it's fine. The results are ready... But I'm afraid I don't have very good news, especially for Orion.

– For me? – Orion asked, straightening up in his chair.
– Yes, for you, Orion – the officer hesitated.

– The investigation results show that your father killed Arabella's parents.

They both looked at him with wide eyes. This was a shock for both, especially Orion, although he already knew his father was a dangerous killer. He couldn't believe something like this had happened. Because of his sick, crazy father, her parents were killed. Because of him, she now mourns. He couldn't imagine what she must be thinking of him now.

– He shot them with a gun and then stabbed them with a knife. We managed to find him and put him in prison. If you want, Orion, you can talk to him.

– I don't think there's any need for that. I've had nothing to do with that man for a long time. He's a killer. He killed other people, too, but covered it up skillfully.

Anger was building inside him. But at the same time, he was glad that now he would pay for all his crimes.

– Orion, your father is waiting, talk to him – the officer tried to convince him.
– No, he's just a terrible killer. He was never a father to me. I don't want to talk to him.

Arabella stayed silent. Even though his father was a killer, she never imagined he would kill her parents. She wanted to know where it all started. She wanted to know if her parents had any connection to his father and if they knew each other. Finding the killer was supposed to clear the whole mystery. But that was just the beginning and an introduction to a new one.

– Arabella, do you have any more questions? – the officer turned his attention to her while she sank deep into her thoughts watching them.
– No, I don't. Thank you for the results.
– The trial will be in a few days.
– There's no need for that – she said calmly, pausing.
– My parents are gone, so there's no point in holding those proceedings. Skip that part.

– Alright, as you say – the officer said surprised.
– If that's the case, you may leave now.

They left the office.

– And you, Orion, I recommend you talk to your father – the officer said as they were leaving.
– I agree, go talk to him and you'll never see him again – Arabella said.
– Fine.

After she said that, he was ready for anything.

– Come on... slowly, try to relax, you can do it, I believe in you. Hang in there a little longer. Soon all this will be over forever. I'll wait for you outside.

Now he felt even stronger.

When she left the police station and disappeared behind the automatic doors, Orion followed the officer to the room where he would meet his father. That path was heavy. After escaping his father's guardianship and after so much time, he would see him again.

– We're here. Your father is waiting for you here. The room is covered with cameras, so nothing can happen to you, don't worry – the officer finally spoke.
– Go in.

He opened the huge metal doors, and Orion could already see the table—and his father sitting behind it. He took a step forward, thereby entering the room. The step felt heavier than lead. Each following step grew heavier and heavier. After he entered, the doors closed behind him, and now they seemed to be locked forever with a key that no longer existed. The feeling of imprisonment with no way back gripped him tightly. He struggled to breathe, as he was suddenly constricted by the very thing he had been desperately running from. In his ears, he could hear his heart pounding fiercely. He was suffocating in emotions and old darkness. Yet, despite all that, he bravely walked toward him, skillfully hiding all his inner battles.

He was in an orange uniform, which looked like a garbage bag on him. He's gone down a lot since the last time he saw him. His head was shaved and full of veins, caused by aggression. His eyes were empty and lifeless. Beneath them stretched the darkest dark circles. His lips were pursed in anger.

– Hello, father, I'm very glad to find you here - Orion responded calmly to the welcome, despite the fear that filled his creature.

– You little one!

He pounded his fist on the table, then got up from his seat, groped and sat down again and started threatening.

– Watch your words, because I will kill you with my own hands.

– Do you really think I'm afraid of you now?

– Shut up, you useless bastard. It will be yours when I strangle you.

– Justice will come to you and come to terms with it.

– My hand will reach you too, you drooling one.

– Do you really think that you are achieving something with this? You are already in prison and there is no help for you.

– It's your fault that I'm in prison. You put your own father in prison because of a primitive and easy witch.

– She is not a primitive and easy witch. She is the only creature that means anything to me in this universe and the only one I love, after my mother. She is my lifeline, because of which I decided to continue living. She is my Moon, a bright spot in my dark night. It represents the most perfect unfinished art that will ever exist. I could write a billion books about her. If you try to harm her in any way, I'm ready to kill you, because you were never a father to me. You are a simple bastard, a monster who kills innocent creatures for no reason and who killed my beloved's parents.

– Like I don't care. You're just a simple mistake anyway, made along with that bitch.

– You have no right to call my mom that – he said loudly and stood up from where he was sitting.

– If she was your mother, she wouldn't have left you.

Orion's father rose from his seat.

– If you had been a good creature, maybe you would have been a father to me, but you are a garbage creature, full of malice and mischief.

Orion's father had had enough of it all, so he swung his hand at his nose. The blow was strong enough to knock him back to where he was sitting. Black liquid began to flow from Orion's nose. He raised his head and looked at him again. Now he was picking at his crooked and yellowed teeth from the blow he had given him.

– I didn't expect anything else from you. I hope this is the last time I see you.

Saying that, he calmly got up and headed for the door.

His father said nothing more. He stood there still, and continued to chuckle, which broke the silence in the room.

Orion slammed the door on her and closed the chapter with his father forever. Now they will finally erase him from everything. He had to go to the bathroom. He didn't want Arabella to suspect or notice anything. He should have stayed strong. Arriving in the toilet, he stood in front of the mirror and looked at his reflection. His face was slightly disfigured. He washed himself, hoping that the blow would be less noticeable.

He stepped out of the police station and found Arabella waiting for him outside. He didn't know what to think. How would she act towards him now? What would she think? As he approached, she turned around and saw him.

– Are you done? How did it go? – she asked curiously and kindly.

– Great... Now I'm finally done with him.

– I'm glad you achieved what you wanted. How are you?

– I'm good, and now everything feels easier.

There was a silence. He felt bad because of his father's crime, which he couldn't fix.

– What's that on your nose? Let me see!

She moved closer and looked at the wound there. He was silent and didn't want to tell her anything.

– Did he do this to you?

– Yes.

– We'll have to take care of this when we get home.

– No, it's not necessary.

His thoughts raced again. He felt guilt and fear of losing her. Even though they were "enemies," having had many fights, he thought this was much worse. Finally, he gathered the strength to break the silence and say what was troubling him:

– Listen, Arabella...

For the first time, he said her name, and for the first time, Arabella became aware of her name. When he said it, it became special.

– I... I'm sorry for what my father did, – he continued.

– I really am sorry and feel guilty about it. I don't want this to ruin our relationship... even though it's already broken by itself, but...

– You're not the one who should feel that way. It's not your fault. Don't worry... I know your story... It's okay.

Hearing her, a weight lifted off his heart. He felt a great relief. All the darkness that surrounded him left at that moment.

– Are you sure?

– I'm sure, stop worrying.

– Good, I hope so. Now, it's time to go to the farewell ceremony.

– There's still time.

– No, there isn't. It's time. You're strong, Arabella, I believe in you.

– Thank you...

And so, now they stood side by side, on the top floor of the hospital. They were just waiting for the farewell ceremony to begin.

Restlessness returned to her being. She was aware that she would now truly have to bury that chapter with her parents deep in her memories. Even though his father had killed her parents, his presence made everything easier. He was not like his father. He was the most wonderful being. He gave the impression of a cold creature, but to her, he was the warmest being. She could compare him to all the wonderful things in this universe.

As she secretly watched him, she noticed the hospital roof slowly opening. Robot-machines appeared with containers holding the stardust of her parents, as well as many other beings. They looked like other machines, except they had many arms resembling octopus tentacles. The automatic arms began to rise toward the already opened hospital roof and opened the lids of the containers. She could recognize her parents' container by the initials SJ. Her father's name was Steven, and her mother's was Julie.

She pressed herself against Orion's body. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. The stardust slowly poured out from all the containers and mixed with the infinite cosmos. This lasted for several more minutes, and then the hospital roof closed. Now it was all over. They were completely merged with the cosmos, and she was entering a new chapter of her life.