"Take her away from me and see if the world survives what comes after"
• • • • •
Power breeds monsters. And Ivan Arcane has become one.
Eighteen years old amateur spy Winter Seven should have run when she had the chance. But the deeper she straye...
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W I N T E R
I don't get far. I couldn't.
My legs are sore, my muscles burned. My breaths are shallow, only muted pants that scrapes through my throat.
The back road is empty, bathed in warm yellow light. There's a barrier of stone boulders stretching as far as my eyes can see. Waves from the ink-blue sea crash against the cool surface, and my pathetic limp of a walk eventually comes to a stop.
I can't move any further.
The salty sea spray glitters faintly on my face. The wind is cool as it weaves through my hair. And for the first time in my life, I wish I had someone, someone with unconditional adoration for me to run their fingers through my hair.
No. Not like a lover's.
But a mother's.
Or maybe just someone I could complain to about everyone and everything without having to carry the guilt of burdening them with my misfortunes. Someone bound to me by fate, someone I could be selfish with, just once. Just something I had my right over and would have no due to pay. No favours to return. I just want to pour all my pain into their lap and fall asleep.
I don't know what I'm asking for. It could be angels, a ghost, or a miracle. But I know I can't keep relying on Yuki and Fleur the way I do. I'm ruining their lives. Their opportunities. Their peace.
I don't listen, and I go down. And when I do, I take my friends down with me.
.
.
.
.
There's no network here.
I look down at my watch, and an error signal blinks red, fading in and out. It's just a deserted strip of private lane with the sea on one side and woods on the other.
I remember being in there, in thewoods. I turn my back to it and bask in the sea breeze. I rest the side of my head against the lamp post.
