The Last Hope

21 - Tough

SONG FOR THIS CHAPTER - Walk through the fire, Zayde Wolf & Ruelle. Linked above! If you enjoy the chapter please vote, it means a lot. Also, I actively encourage commenting and am trying my best to reply to any as quickly as I can. Want a chat? Don't be shy!

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"Get up."
Mercy didn't lift her head from the pillow. Didn't even bother to crack open an eye at the harsh tone, the lilting accent that remained stronger than the others. Even after years on Earth.

Ariah kicked the bed hard enough that the wood groaned, springs in the mattress squealing as it bounced. "Up. Now."

It had been three days since she'd let Mona irreparably damage her parents' memories. Since she'd said goodbye to them for good. Three days of lying in this bed, staring at the wall. Or the ceiling. Or out of the window, watching the drizzle slide down frosted glass.

Three days of endless rain. Of Felix offering her bits of gossip, of jokes he'd thought of. Three days of Keenan's smile, lined with worry and torment. Three days of Lincoln's hovering, his pacing outside the room, which she heard now even as she slept. Maybe he was always there.

But none of them had made her waffles with the good golden syrup. None of them had scrolled through the news on their phones and read her the uplifting stories. No one would do that for her ever again. Mercy pulled the sheet over her head, not dredging up enough effort to tell Ariah to leave. Hoping she'd get the message anyway.

Ariah kicked the bed again, and this time the wood groaned loud enough it might've snapped. Moments later, the warm comforter was ripped away, abandoned on the floor. Amber eyes glared.

"The boys all want to coddle the damsel in distress. Mona wanted to give you time to grieve - what good has it done you? Get your ass up now - we're going out."

Mercy didn't reply but did open her eyes to give Ariah what she hoped was a withering stare. Ariah smiled menacingly. Then grabbed Mercy roughly by the arms and dragged her into a sitting position. She leaned close as she whispered, "I swear to the Almighty, if you don't get up right now, I will leave you here to rot. This is the last time I will ever offer you my help."

Mercy just stared at her beautiful, stern face with cold, disinterested eyes.

"For fucks sake they were just a couple of humans - get over it." Ariah grumbled letting go of Mercy's shoulders.

Mercy grabbed Ariah's wrists hard enough to hurt, "don't you fucking dare." She hissed through clenched teeth.

Ariah snarled, "they weren't even your real parents - you are pathetic!" Mercy didn't even think, she just struck. Ariah's head snapped to the side as the sound of the slap reverberated around the room. Mercy's chest was heaving... how dare she? How dare she?

But when Ariah's amber eyes fixed on Mercy's face again, she was smirking. "Cling to that anger, Mer. It's better than feeling sorry for yourself." Ariah stood from the bed, appearing to check the wooden frame. It did indeed have a split through one of the legs.

"Get up, get dressed. We're going out." That was the last thing she said before she sauntered out of the room, the door clicking softly shut behind her.

Mercy blinked. The anger writhed with her pulse, shadowy and dark, but Mercy took a deep breath. Ariah was right, it was better than feeling hollow. Her stomach churned as she dressed in work out leggings - hers from home, she ignored the tightening in her chest - and a large hoodie. She didn't look in the mirror before she left, but if she had, she'd have seen that her dark hair was a tangled mess, and deep purple smudges stained the skin under her eyes.