reynahendrix

[reynahendrix]

Rebecca Ferguson as Mae in Reminiscence (2021) dir. Lisa Joy

[reynahendrix]

"best to erase impossibility from your mind." — anything here was a possibility. sane minds leaked outward while insanity transformed them into a suffocating gas. toxicating, and in a lot of cases — deadly. reyna had witnessed the strongest release their grip and fall to what called out to them. this town tormented. wrecked complete havoc. "the unwanted have been let in before." a trick of the mind. it was easy for them to coerce. her own sanity had been in some other control — white knuckled until very little made sense.

reyna, standing still, let her eyes follow in the space around them. untouched by anything threatening. there was a concern for latest events. safety felt unstable with some sort of unknown creature able to walk during the day threatening any moment of safety-base for the town.

dandy. — straying from truth. reyna tilted her head knowing they were all trying to survive, and make it by each minute that slipped. try to cope. sometimes sarcasm helped. she knew by her own mental comments, though her tongue had hardly ever shared. reyna hadn't been very verbally social. "suppose many people have," yes. she had. many times. tried to find some amusement in piles of junk. tried to be innovative with what was left behind. tried to imagine what lives came before, and what they did with the objects. what emotion they evoked. "different eyes see different things." tessa could knock herself out for hours if it kept her mind focused. reyna knew the cinema couldn't withstand any mind of fragility. she often wondered if whatever dark entity possessed her own mind had lurked in these walls. maybe it wasnt her, maybe it was the cinema. trying to make sense of anything felt like an infinite route to wander upon.

"How would something unwanted have even gotten in?" The inquiry is made in a bit of an abrasive manner, as if the locks on the doors downstairs were obviously more than enough to keep the monsters out. But truthfully, Tessa didn't know shit about what was out there and what they could do. Just the simple facts that were share any the tiny bits she had gleaned from seeing them through the windows or lurking at the corners of her vision. Monstrous smiles with honey dipped words on their tongues to try and lore you closer so they could do...well, who knew what. Tessa certainly had no desire to know based on how people squirmed at even the suggestion of them.

It seemed like they lurked at the windows, never coming any closer. But could they? Climb stairs, break windows, open up a whole different hell? Or was it the light that kept them out just as much as it lured them near?

She studies Reyna a moment longer before her attention turns back to the stuff she'd been rifling through. It seemed of less interest, now - her thumb flicking over the folded edge of a tattered poster to straighten it briefly before it curled back into it's now far more familiar crease.

The darkness had been oppressive, but the lights and electronics coming to life with an unnatural surge that refused then to be extinguished wasn't all that reassuring, either. Tessa had given up on trying to make sense of this newfound 'home' of hers, since it didn't seem she'd be leaving it any time soon. "Yeah, sure, I'm dandy," she mumbled in snide response to Reyna's question. Were any of them alright? Seemed like a word that shouldn't exist in this hell town. "Just trying to...I dunno. Do something, I guess." Something other than live in the boredom, anxiety, and ever present fear. "I assume someone has gone through all this stuff before but...I dunno, maybe there's something that was missed that could prove useful?" Somehow? Probably not, but she couldn't just sit around doing nothing.

[reynahendrix]

there was safety here with samara. the admittance of needing company was difficult to digest when reyna thought she was better off alone. kept away from the possibility of harming others. — truth was, isolation had grown lonely with the fear that crawled inside of the woman. fighting became tiresome. her body craved nothing more than an abundance of sleep. rest to heal. whatever dark entity that had lurked inside her living vessel had been draining to the woman physically, and mentally. if reyna had the nerve, her body would have wrapped arms around samara for a needed hug. warm herself in comfort. yet, she lay still on the couch waiting for the pills to ease.

it was the continuous care from the other that made reyna realize how incredibly fragile she was. if samara continued to spread empathy over the woman's skin, reyna feared she could collapse. fold in then flake away to nothing but a brittle mess. words often failed — like any other time, reyna stayed silent. her fingers worked up the courage to turn her palm over and give samara's hand a squeeze. "w-when i get better." because she would. reyna didn't accept her fate to the fallen — not yet. her stubborn drive wouldn't allow it. "i'll return the favor somehow." chin tipped to her chest while she nodded. a gesture of a future promise for the other. "you're a good person." laced in sincerity.

Samara let out a thankful sigh when Reyna agreed to take the pills, even if reluctantly. Because they would still help the woman regardless, and she honestly needed that right now. "Thank you." She murmured when the other woman took the glass, downing the tablets, before laying back down. Sami took the empty glass, placing it on the coffee table, reaching up to brush a dirty lock of hair from the other woman's face. Hopefully when Reyna woke up, she'd been feeling a little better and Sami could help her get cleaned up, at least somewhat.

"Yeah, yeah I can get you more water." She nodded, reaching for the glass she's just put down, intent on refilling it, however, she paused when Reyna started to speak again, slowly. Brows furrowed, though she nodded. "Okay, okay. I won't tell anyone." Though she didn't understand why people couldn't know. There were people who cared about Reyna, who would be worried about where she was. Still, Sami agreed, figuring they could revisit that later. "Here, let me get you the water." The gentlest of brushes over the back of Reyna's hand, a reassuring gesture that hopefully didn't hurt the other. @reynahendrix

[reynahendrix]

cocooned. awaiting a moment to resurface into the light, and spread wings to a fresh awakening. reyna felt the space of this town enclose itself around her. teethered to a darkness she thought left her — or had it been silent ? a vibrating fear whispered to her that she'd never be fully certain. forever on her knees to the control of this town's roots. if it was a means to survive, she fell. almost convinced to what some praised — the tree. this town, it took, but it also gave rebirth. life. the evil nature that grew in sticky crimson, the daywalker, seemed it wasn't an intruder — as much as they were to the town.

thoughts slowed as emmeline continued to speak. reyna's mouth wasn't jumping to intrude the monologue. she allowed the other woman to spew manically. it was like watching a puzzle trying make sense of itself with pieces missing. "would turning into them be terrible ?" quietly spoken. the guard wasn't setting her feet in the direction to find out. "would it be easier than this ?" the fight of life. hiding at night. abiding to silence, and darkness. they didn't seem to carry struggle. not like reyna had, not like the others.

open after the sun has risen (any location, open ended)

"so there is a woman?" emmeline hadn't seen anything named daywalker and her imagination was of no help trying to fill in the blanks. she'd been over it many times since learning about the presence but was no closer to understanding what had actually gone on or why she had been made. the constant darkness had been very tough for her and the relief she felt just to feel the warmth of the rays glaring through the glass of the church was like a hug from the universe that she'd been craving for days. however, nothing was ever as it seemed; she should have known better. "so, if i look at her, i won't even realise that i'm..." dead. if she were being entirely honest, it felt like that way already. she had been a liability before the lights went out but now, she was confused, afraid and couldn't put on a front to hide it. "what if i'm her? what if she's all of us before we turn into them?" the lack of sleep was something to exacerbate her symptoms but emmeline was far from being able to stop herself.

[reynahendrix]

Rebecca Ferguson

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, November 2024

[reynahendrix]

the weight of time caused reyna to exhale a breath. slowly with little hope intertwined. "i think over four years." for such a tragedy — her words were spoken calm. there had been proof of the passing days etched in her bedroom. dug deep in the wall like a taunting mark of knowing she was still...here. who was to say if time even operated the same in this place. there wasn't much logistically that made sense already.

a sheepish grin curled at reyna's lips before she shook her head, "no." though spoken simply — absolutely not. celebration was never done in such great heights. "partaking to this extent feels a little...." uncomfortable. "ridiculous considering what's out there." had she caved into the settlement ? her mind tucked those memories beneath grey folds. silent to her tongue. "it's a nice break though, don't you think? for a moment people are allowed to just ..." fold into some unworried normalcy.. ? she wanted to say, but truth was reyna didn't know the comfort of a dramatic party. the woman's body had been stiff — ready to go back into her own space. "almost feels like were teetering on the edge of something going wrong." drinking. drugs. so many people under an influence that could lead to an open door — an open window. "are you enjoying yourself ?"

Though his curiosity had reached new heights, Joel allowed her easy words to sway his focus away. He nodded at her words and smiled, “  That’s true. Although, I don’t believe I’ve asked, just how long is that? If you can remember, that is. I feel like I’ve been here a whole year and it’s barely been a month or two.  ” This town had that ability to completely fuck with his brain. Make him feel things and experience their surroundings in ways that he would have never done back at home. For more than obvious reasons. It was as inescapable as the thoughts that polluted his brain. The fears and yearnings that would never see the light beyond the beautiful mess his hands created. “  If that. I’ve absolutely lost track. Do you celebrate like... well like this?  ”

Settling into some form of a normal routine, along with having Dayn near, was the only thing that made this place okay. That made it consumable for his distilled mind. The horrors would always be there, but as long as he had Dayn and a plan everything would be alright. Or so he told himself. The things out in the dark… Well, that wasn’t something he could control so it was easier to focus on what he could. 

[reynahendrix]

"you're rattling around—" noise. a reason that sent most running behind their doors. noise is what brought reyna closer. drew her in to reveal the cause of it all. the last four and a half years had been built upon protection to keep the town safe...safe...it had dwindled time and time again. safety had been out of her control — but still, she didn't cower.

"needed to make sure it wasn't anything unwanted." her position stilled. though... if any creature had made it's way in — what could reyna possibly do ? her mind often lead her to walk on a thin line. confusing duty, and giving up. though, her mind had been quiet, reyna hadn't been sure how much fight she had deep in her marrow anymore. nights felt longer. people slipped away as quickly as they appeared.

— there had also been expectancy that something terrible was going to happen. as it always did in the end. — the evil that shadowed this town was unforgiving. she failed to give what it asked. surely there was to be consequences. "are you alright ?" with the lights back on, reyna had ripped an old television out of a room. it's constant static felt like fizzing whispers. it's electronic box now in a shambled mess outside. she'd gone to clean it when hearing tessa's rattling.

Closed for @reynahendrix | Tessa & Reyna @ the Cinema

Up until now, Tessa hadn't done a ton of exploring of the cinema she called 'home'. She wasn't really sure when it had become that, to be honest - home. Was it that? Maybe it depended on one's definition. It was where she returned day after day to lay her head to rest on a makeshift bed. It was where she kept her things, few as they were in number (and even less actually useful things here, all electronics seemingly long dead at this point, probably never to be revived). But if she were being truly honest, nothing in this town was home for her. No where felt safe or comfortable, even with the dozen padlocks latching the doors.

She had been wandering aimlessly through the building, scavenging behind the concession stand like there might be some scraps left behind, wandering the aisles and rows of seats. There was something to be said about ducking behind 'employee only' doors, like she was doing something wrong, seeing another side of a place where she didn't truly belong.

Aimlessly she was flipping through things piled up in one of the old storage rooms - movie reels, posters, faded advertisements of times long past. She had gotten so wrapped up in it that when Reyna first approached, she hadn't even noticed. Not until something was bumped and clattered to the floor, startling her.

"Shit - knock much?" she scowled, looking up at the other. As if she had some sort of ownership over the room or something.

[reynahendrix]

"—alright." small, but accepting. reyna couldn't put up any fight against it. bones ached far too harshly than they should while her muscles throbbed in a raging war to heal. she would, in time. the tablets were placed between reyna's mouth — cooling water washed them down. a blessing to hear dry throat. the future held a favor for sami. reyna would find some way to make it up to the other woman. find some other way to soothe the woman's pain. it wasn't voiced, but reyna had been grateful. stubborness in isolation wasn't cutting it in these times. survival was winding tight.

"no, this has all been enough." a pause. one for reyna's lungs to catch more breath when her sore ribs only allowed such small amount. "thank you. really." the couch felt much more suitable than the hard floor. brutal to her wounded body. "water might be nice." she agreed, slightly nodding. "can you just not mention to others that i'm here ? that you haven't seen me if asked ?" reyna was cautious. known what a consequence could be if known about her harming other townspeople. she just needed time.

Samara knew what she was giving up in offering Reyna the tablets. Very few people knew she actually had them, lest word get out and someone come after them. But when Reyna's voice caught, unable to get through the sentence, it only solidified Sami's conviction about having her take them. "You need them more than me right now." She murmured, pushing her hand closer, nodding. Would she regret this decision later? Perhaps, but she knew the supply was limited anyways, and one less dose probably wouldn't make much difference in the grand scheme of things.

So the glass of water was offered again. "You need some proper rest. These will help." Sami didn't know what the other woman had been through, but it was clearly horrific, and she would heal even more slowly if she couldn't even rest properly.

"Is there anything else I can get you? I can help you get cleaned up later...a shower or a bath..." After the painkillers kicked in and she'd had some sleep, of course. @reynahendrix

[reynahendrix]

the metal enclosed around her wrist caused a distraction. the way it felt uncomfortable enough to remind her of the pain she'd caused. though, reyna was grateful for one thing — that whatever crawled in the deepest parts of her hadn't been feeding off someone like emmett. even if it wanted his life, reyna knew she hated the thought of it swallowing him whole. she was certain the voice would eat someone like emmett alive. chew him up, and spit him out. his softness was admirable, but softness in arcadia got you killed. "have you been to the clinic?" for the wound. reyna had assumed, but she was unaware of what happened after she fled to another dark route that night. there had been distruction to the town. her lips wouldn't ask how long he'd been in the cinema for. alone. bleeding out. she couldn't bother the air with anything but subtly. anything deeper rattled her emotions. it baffled the woman how emmett could speak such a thing. as if she couldn't feel safe in the space they provided together. "i handle my own." reyna's way of reassurance skirted the reality of her own horror. "the settlement has been generous." even if its not what she knew she had been deserving of. punishment of such doings could be harsh. reyna punished herself, but it still didn't feel like enough. her mind, her hand....they couldn't be so separate. emmett's forgiveness felt abrasive to her chest. an impacting warmth of discomfort that could drop her to the floor... if she'd been standing. reyna sat still. the smell of stew wafted. "i don't know." wasn't her straying from the topic. reyna found it all difficult to encapsulate. "it's something... dark. unforgiving." fingers twiddled. she knew saying such heinous things about it probably brought the voice an eery delight. "something evil, emmett. — does that make you afraid ?"

[reynahendrix]

rebecca ferguson + toothpick gayppreciation

[reynahendrix]

reyna's eyes were fixated on the duty removed from emery's head to rest upon the blanket. a curtain closed that allowed a deeper layer of the other woman to be exposed. even if reyna didn't quite know how to vocally articulate the emotions — she liked providing the safe space for emery to ease herself. somewhere along the curve of the hat, reyna was pulled away from her dipped mind. emery pulled her so far to the presence that reyna's chin turned. there was a need for her eyes to take in the sight of the other woman's face. to see if there was some underlying reason for the shift of conversation. the worry. the concern.

it was fair to speak upon. there hadn't been a high number of people who aged out in this place. numbers didn't dwindle on population because of natural causes. most deaths were by the curse of the town. them. the whispers in the trees. reyna knew this. four years had been a good amount of survival age, but there had been plenty who slipped soon after. "i'd tell you." eyes steadied themselves even at the notice of emery's gaze slipping to her hand. the thickened pink knuckles were telling when her mouth wasn't.

reyna wasn't certain how much those three words held true. she trusted herself enough to know that if there had been anyone she trusted her life with in this town — it'd always been the woman seated beside her. her tongue thirsted for a drink, but she sat still for a moment longer. "—and you'd take care of the situation if it needed to be done. right ?" the situation, her. she meant. if her mind slipped to insanity. if hurt was caused. reyna hoped there wouldn't be an abundance of grace because of the unspoken tenderness they shared. if that's what emery meant by being there for her, that's all reyna could hope for. to continue to keep everyone safe. even if she was the toxin.

Knowing Reyna the way she did, the small squeeze Reyna gave her meant a lot to the sergeant. It grounded her, as short their physical touch had been, as short Reyna's hand had been around her arm. Clearing her throat, she paused longer in her tracks than Reyna did and watched her crouch down to take her spot on the blanket she'd prepared. Are you sure? - had wanted to leave her lips, but she waited. The fragility of the other's voice hung in the air and Emery didn't want to take advantage of that. Reyna was truly... something else. Layered by strength that others didn't contain, Emery admired that - even if it meant losing her from the house that granted safety in numbers.

When her stay was confirmed and she lost the brunette's gaze to the water in front of them, Emery took her hat off and laid it next to her - surrendering herself to the need of a break. Taking in the sight in front of them for a hot minute. Feeling the autumn breeze kindly play with the softer strands of her hair. A few birds let their presence known in a tree not too far from them.

Stretching her limbs, she got into a more relaxed position - letting her guard down was something she still struggled with, even in her body language. It had become her second nature, to be ready to act the second shit hit the fan.

''How are you faring?'' It was an unfair question - a loaded one that she knew no one could answer with the usually expected answer. There was only one that came to mind that Emery knew would happily stay in this place - because her mother had been lost to this place and she'd been spared by Them. A reason she couldn't fathom, she didn't know different from Them being cruel, from hunting down those who couldn't defend themselves.

Emery didn't expect an answer, instead she moved on to perhaps a simpler question. ''Reyna - you'd tell me if you were losing your mind, wouldn't you?'' Tearing her gaze away from the pond, there was a look of worry on her face when her eyes met the side of Reyna's face before she glanced over to the bottle in her hand. The tenderness of her fingers around the bourbon, the way those hands had gone through a lot. ''If you see any shit that's ...'' not real, she wanted to say, knowing very well what a trick of the mind this town could be, ''...unlikely to be real and screws you mentally, you know I'm here - right?''

[reynahendrix]

the shock hadn't gone unnoticed. everything arcadia held within itself was hard for the mind to wrap sense around. everything was knocked from normalcy. at first — there was no tell. truth could be tucked in her mouth. kept warm without needing to spew it out in the open. reyna was easy towards his gaze. how calm could he see her when she could be so utterly violent. the most disastrous storms were as just.

flashes of the substance pushed into her mouth, drugs that healed her wounds and scrambled her mind, the lustful violence with these grounds leader. a truth unspoken. kept quiet so the innocence could be free with joel. days felt better that way — having someone not see you in the shadows. "i've been here longer than you have, you know." a small curl of lips. "— being a guard, it's important to be aware." was what she gave him. wondered about joel's reaction — if he knew her own ties. they hadn't been tightly wrapped as others. reyna hadn't converted out of her own morality. not quite, but she had felt roots sprouting.

He’d be lying if he pretended her words didn’t surprise him. Joel’s head shot towards Reyna, questioning more than judging, how she knew - if she perhaps had participated in these things. Her knowledge couldn’t have been mere whispers of rumors like his were, she sounded much more sure than even those who told him did. “  Oh?  ” he asked, hoping his voice sounded less awestruck than his thoughts were. In the little time they’ve come to know one another, he never questioned her history. Not how she got stuck there, or how things were in the beginning. His chatter always remained focused on seeing her smile and making her laugh. On making the sliver of time they spent in each other’s presence somehow joyous in the midst of the chaos. Adding a touch of childish humor to her breakfast or dinner. Things of that nature. Bringing his cup to his lips he asked, “  How do you sound so sure?  ”

[reynahendrix]

the burden of damage caused had worn a heavier weight than anything her body had gone through. bruises, scrapes; all would heal. her tiredness would eventually fade to something slightly more restful... — it had been traumatic what happened to charlie, to emmett. a force that diminished all that they'd bonded warmly over. only thankfulness had come to the fact that no one had lost their life. samara's voice was truthfully spoken. the sound of reassurance almost punctured reyna into something more tearful. the emotions kept her silent. only exchanging a small nod, a light twitch to her bottom lip before the other woman disappeared into the other room.

two tiny pills. on the outside world they came in abundance. here....like gold. reyna stiffened only her eyes moving to trace the shape of them in the palm of samara's hand. "—are you..." a breath. one that caused her ribs to wince in pain. "alright ?" reyna couldn't possibly strip someone away from something again. not if samara needed them knowing whatever amount would come to an end.

Samara didn't rush the process of making it down the stairs, letting it take as long as it needed, not commenting on how worn down the other woman seemed. "Of course." She murmured when Reyna breathed out the thanks, not making a deal of it.

Nodding at the request for water, Samara stopped in her track when the next question came, brow furrowing. "No." She answered quickly, shaking her head. "I know you're not a monster lurking upstairs." Knowing it was Reyna was very much a relief. "Let me get you some water." But as she stepped away, Samara knew that Reyna needed something more...

Ducking into her bedroom, she hesitated over the pouch that held her medications. Her lifeline to sanity. A lifeline she knew was limited, no more prescriptions, no pharmacy to visit for refills... Eyes pressed closed, Sami taking a deep breath, before she shook two pills into her palm. Reyna needed them.

Passing the kitchen to grab the glass of water, she crouched beside the sofa, offering both to the other woman. "Here, take these. Pain meds. They'll help." She tried not to think of the very limited supply. @reynahendrix

[reynahendrix]

the clamouring sound hitched reyna's breath. her back to the cool wall kept her calm — relieved to hear emery's reaction, " a-are you alright ?" the care had always been there. where reyna couldn't explain, her emotions drove for her in a tender tone. like many, reyna had been taken care of — protected by the common house leader. without emery, reyna would have lost her sanity years ago. walked her feet into the night and allowed those tormenting creatures to shread her apart like dinner meat. "...yeah, im here still." the settlment had a way of opening it's mouth, and reyna would invite herself in to be swallowed in its warm, sharp embrace. the settlement wasn't still. reyna could still hear commontion on the other side. frantic, confusion, someone still smacking some drums. it was hard to tell if there was any safety within the madness that already laid before them. "— stella ? .." the static fizzled while reyna searched faces she'd collected sight of. holding the button down to radio back, "i...i don't know em. i think i saw her sitting on a couch." lost in the commotion of darkness, reyna had excused herself quickly. disturbed by the stillness inside of herself. always expecting the worst to come now ever since she didn't do as the voice said.. to sacrifice. was this a signal ? that it was going to take tonight ?

emery's mind was free of reyna's true horrors. the other was concerned for her family... to have family.. her tongue slid across her bottom lip in the darkness. "i'm sure she'd alright." a promise reyna knew she couldn't keep. emery didn't deserve a bullshit filled response. "i-...i could go out and look for her." looking for stella would be doing good. following her duty of keeping others safe. to fall back in line of her pattern before routine slipped into darkness. reyna so desperately wanted to erase the harm she'd caused. even if people were unaware. reyna's mind may have been quiet from the voice, but it was not silenced to the terror of her actions caused by its control.

''Ow, fuck!'' Her lower leg had collided with the corner of what felt like a coffee table when she tried to feel for a place to sit. A whimper left her lips in pain, mentally cursing this fucking town for toying with them. The power outage was another form of mockery, she was sure. There was no way the settlement had caused the power outage across the entirety of town. Her fingers felt the comfort of a sofa after what felt like an eternity that she sat her ass down on. Gulping, she reached down to feel warmth trickling down her leg. It didn't feel like a wound, rather a cut, if only she could fucking see.

Putting aside the pain she was in, she needed to focus on the world outside. Remain alert for Their mockery, for tapping on the windows, for anything that told her they couldn't get in. The silence was much more eerie. She was still unsure if she was safe or not, so she had to keep quiet. Did she hear that right? Her thoughts were racing, wondering why, wondering about others she had lost to the darkness when they ran out. Her thumb found the button again. ''You're at the settlement still?'' Even though the sound coming from the walkie was nearly deafening to her ears, words laced with emotion were hard to make out. ''Have you...have you seen Stella?'' She could only hope she was safe... wherever she was. ''We got separated...I don't know where she is. I think I'm in one of the town houses,'' but sure she was not.

Pressing the walkie against her forehead in frustration, she needed to think. Think of a strategy, think of what to do. Run back to the settlement with the high chances of running back into danger? She didn't know if the main hall got overrun by Them, or what the settlement people themselves had planned. She was in the dark about it all - literally. ''I understand, Rey...'' there was a pause, in her mind, in her breathing, in her actions as she stared into nothingness, ''...things have happened in this town....things are still happening...fuck, I get it, Rey.''

[reynahendrix]

SILO Rebecca Ferguson as Juliette Nichols

[reynahendrix]

the metal enclosed around her wrist caused a distraction. the way it felt uncomfortable enough to remind her of the pain she'd caused. though, reyna was grateful for one thing — that whatever crawled in the deepest parts of her hadn't been feeding off someone like emmett. even if it wanted his life, reyna knew she hated the thought of it swallowing him whole. she was certain the voice would eat someone like emmett alive. chew him up, and spit him out. his softness was admirable, but softness in arcadia got you killed. "have you been to the clinic?" for the wound. reyna had assumed, but she was unaware of what happened after she fled to another dark route that night. there had been distruction to the town. her lips wouldn't ask how long he'd been in the cinema for. alone. bleeding out. she couldn't bother the air with anything but subtly. anything deeper rattled her emotions. it baffled the woman how emmett could speak such a thing. as if she couldn't feel safe in the space they provided together. "i handle my own." reyna's way of reassurance skirted the reality of her own horror. "the settlement has been generous." even if its not what she knew she had been deserving of. punishment of such doings could be harsh. reyna punished herself, but it still didn't feel like enough. her mind, her hand....they couldn't be so separate. emmett's forgiveness felt abrasive to her chest. an impacting warmth of discomfort that could drop her to the floor... if she'd been standing. reyna sat still. the smell of stew wafted. "i don't know." wasn't her straying from the topic. reyna found it all difficult to encapsulate. "it's something... dark. unforgiving." fingers twiddled. she knew saying such heinous things about it probably brought the voice an eery delight. "something evil, emmett. — does that make you afraid ?"

The truth will set you free. Emmett heard that phrase dozens of times in his life, a repeat offender in the sermons the priests in his town’s church often used. Not until Arcadia did he really appreciate it, either. Truth was vital here, with what They were outside, to be honest with the people that you were with and having no choice but to trust them with your safety, with your life. Emmett and Reyna had lived together in quiet harmony for the last few months, and the truth was that he would have gone absolutely insane if he had no company. It made things a little bit lighter, even if they were both reserved in their own special way. It made their moments together meaningful.

So sharing the building with no one but the cat and the ghosts that surely haunted the halls of it nightly was a tough switch to get used to. If Nika hadn’t stopped by and informed him where Reyna had been spending so much time, Emmett was likely to assume the worst, after so long. Since that day, he’d been trying to piece together memories as best as possible, trying to play it back in his head. Anything before or after the stabbing was hard. He remembered being on the roof and he remembered the pain that radiated through his body at the fall. He didn’t remember getting dragged through the snow, or anything in between. The image of the knife plunging into his chest, no matter how hard he tried, repeated itself a minimum of five times at least every time he thought about that day, the most shocking and traumatic thing Emmett had probably ever encountered in his sheltered life. That’s all he kept going back to. 

There were no memories about what Reyna was up to, just the dark shadow that had loomed over her face. The whispers under her breath, to herself, maybe - because they most certainly weren’t for Emmett. He’d been so scared that she’d actually kill him. Tears came easily that night, something that was typically treated as a purge didn’t do anything but raise his anxiety when dawn broke. “I understand, if you don’t feel safe here,” he said, his voice quiet. He understood, and he didn’t like it, but now that he knew she was alright enough… the thought did make him feel safer. He didn’t want to think like that, but he couldn’t help it. 

“I forgive you,” he mumbled, not looking at her when he said it. Emmett knew it was the right thing to do, but he wasn’t totally convinced he believed the words out of his mouth. “But what was it?” he asked, looking up finally. “What did you see?” And will I see it next?

[reynahendrix]

reyna despised the way her fingers needed to wrap around the railing and grip it with whatever might was left in her worn body. how dependent she had become... needy for help. how helpless she was becoming. reyna's lungs wanted to inhale deeply, but her bruised ribs protested causing her to lean into samara more. "thanks." there was meaning in the blunt word. the guard couldn't process how much she had felt grateful for the hospitality, and care given. everything was too heavy right now. all she wanted to do was lay still. quiet her mind, and the battle that busied inside of her. "d-do you have a glass of water ?" the woman winced as she moved to the couch. laying on her side felt best. "are you still..." a small pause, "afraid?" of me ?

Samara was thankful when Reyna actually took her hand, a connection between them that would make it easier for Sami to coax the other out of the corner she'd shrunk herself into. She didn't tug or pull at the other, just returned the squeeze when it was offered, letting the woman take her time at unravelling herself. "Take your time." Sami had nowhere to be, no pressing appointments. Sure, most days she would make her way to the clinic, keeping busy better than stewing away in solitude, but it wasn't a job that would fire if she were late or skipped a day.

When Reyna found her feet, Sami carefully slipped under the woman's arm, giving her some extra support as they slowly made their way to the door and the eventual stairs. What Sami wouldn't do for a working elevator right now. Though luckily it was only one flight, taken one step at a time, Samara making sure that Reyna used the rail as much as she needed.

Making it to her door, which Samara had left cracked in case a hasty retreat had been required, she nudged it open, guiding Reyna to the couch. "Here. Sit or lay down. Whatever feels better." @reynahendrix