The Fallen(Nalu)

19- The Path Of A Coward

"Lucy!"

I walk through the big doors of the guild, surprised faces forming in the people around the room.

"Hey, everyone."

All the faces dawn smiles as I walk a few steps into the doors, people standing up from their seats to come greet me.

"It's been so long, Lucy. It's so good to see you."

I smile cheerfully as everyone around the room circles around me.

"It's so good to see you all as well."

"How could you leave us behind, Lucy?"

An unidentifiable voice calls out from somewhere in the crowd.

My smile falls.

"Yeah, Lucy. I thought we were your family. How could you abandon us?"

The crowd steps forward towards me. I step back, my hands raising in front of me.

"I'm sorry everyone...I had to. I couldn't stay."

The smiles all fade away and what's left is scornfully twisted down frowns that spit their words at me.

"We're supposed to be a family, Lucy. We were all in pain but you were the only one who left."

My hands start trembling in front of me as I back away slowly.

"Please...I'm sorry. It was too much. I couldn't take it, I had to go."

"How could you let yourself forget, Lucy?"

My eyes widen in horror as a voice sounds from behind me.

No...

The voices of everyone else fades away and my surroundings empty to nothing.

"How could you run away from this, Lucy?"

I don't want to see.

I don't want to know.

"There is no coming back for you, Lucy. You're a coward!"

"NO!"

I bolt upright in horror, tearing myself out of the dream and back into reality as I do so.

"No no nonono..."

I cradle my head in my hands, not yet aware of my surroundings. The nightmare still encompasses my mind.

"Lucy?"

The voice doesn't register in my head. I continue repeating myself, tears swelling from my eyes.

"Lucy, what's wrong?!"

Two hands grab hold of both of my shoulders, forcing my head out of my hands and my gaze towards him.

Tears blur my vision so that I can't see his face in front of me.

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..."

I carry on like a broken record and Natsu tenses slightly.

"I had to leave...it was tearing me apart. I had to leave..."

His body relaxes and he slowly circles his arms around my back. My head falls softly into his chest.

"I wasn't trying to leave everyone behind..."

"It's okay, Lucy..."

His voice softly calls out.

"It's okay, Lucy. Nobody blames you for anything."

My sobs slowly start to quiet into soft hiccups.

"It's alright."

His hand moves to cradle the back of my head, his chin resting on top of my hair.

"No one is upset with you for leaving. You will always be welcomed home with open arms no matter what, Lucy. Don't forget that."

His voice comes out in a whisper and my eyelids slowly flutter close, my consciousness fading back into darkness to the soothing comforts of Natsu.