Star Darlings; The Soldier

Piper Needs to be a Therapist

Dream rushed towards the scream, hoping no one was hurt. When he arrived, he found Colin and the girl who always followed him around-- Diana, if he remembered correctly. Diana was trembling, scared while Colin inspected something.

"Dream," Colin said. "We found something-- or someone. Diana almost stepped on the body."

Dream peered around him, and his heart turned to stone.

A woman laid in front of him, her eyes closed and face rather... Angelic.

Angel. Dream thought. She's still here... where I left her.

He unconsciously stepped forward, kneeling at her side.

"Dream?" Colin asked. "Hello?" but he didn't hear him. All he can see is the one he'd once perhaps loved... and killed with his own hands. He reached and touched her face, a tear falling down his eyes. A tear no one can see.

"You know her don't you?" Colin asked softly. "She's the one Fortitude told me about-- Angel, right?"

Dream absentmindedly nodded.

"Who killed her?" Diana asked. "And why behind enemy lines?"

"I did." Dream whispered. "I killed her."

Colin glanced at him. "You killed her? Why?"

"Reasons I hated." Dream said. "She ran away; Apollon forced me to."

Colin sighed. They shouldn't just leave her here. "Come on Dream; we'll give her a better burial than lying her on the ground."

Dream nodded. "Ok."

Colin levitated the body and was about to start heading back when Dream stopped him.

"I'll take it from here." Dream said. "You go back. It's the least I can do for her."

Colin sighed. "Alright."

He flicked Diana on the shoulder and gestured to follow him.

Dream looked at Angel's sleeping face, gently cupping her chin in his hands tenderly.

Angel used to love the forests and wilderness... It's the least I can do.

He picked her up gently, bridal style. He walked away from the base, another tear forming in his eyes.

After Colin came back with an extremely shaken Diana, Piper finally knew why the topic of Angel is taboo in the Myrmidon. She was Dream's... girlfriend? From what Colin said, they didn't seem official. Besides... it was also taboo for Myrmidons to fall in love... which sounds really dumb to Piper.

Maybe that's why Angel was killed... she loved Dream; not that she remembered who she was... though it's hard to say. Piper thought. It's also not my business so... yeah.

Colin sat down beside her, glancing at Piper. His usual blank expression was evident on his face. It hurt to see one of her friends looking so... broken.

Broken was how most people would describe Colin at first glance; his blank, dead expression, the scars that covered his facial features, and the listless way he moves. He looked like he'd been through everything... which he kind of had. Ok, not kind of. He has been through everything. At a young age too; Nicholas once said he was sent on his first mission at age 10.

Piper suddenly had the urge to put her arms around his shoulder in a comforting way, like a sister calming down her little brother.

Because of their relationship with Nicholas, they got along really well; Colin at times said he considered Piper his sister-in-law, which is both funny and embarrassing in front of others, though it's understandable why. He and Nicholas were literally family separated only by blood.

Colin's hand went to his stomach, and his face scrunched up in pain. Piper had tried to ask him about it, but he ignored it. Now, she has to know what's up.

"Colin?" Piper asked. "Is there something wrong? You don't seem so good."

"I'm fine," Colin said. "It's fine."

"I can see it's not," Piper said. "I've noticed you always put your hand on your midsection like that; is there something going on?"

Colin didn't answer, instead of lifting a bit of his shirt to reveal the scar he'd hid for so long. Piper gasped at the massive dent in the young Starling's abdomen; it looked like something had stabbed through...

Because... it was. That was why Colin looked so scared when facing those monsters; they were the ones that did this. Piper thought, putting two and two together. Does it still hurt to this day? How serious was it...

Colin covered the scar again. "That's what's happening; it just hurts."

"Are you alright?" Piper asked. "Is there anything I can do?"

"No; it's old anyway. I guess it's sticking with me for the rest of my life," he said dejectedly.

Piper lost her voice. Colin had to deal with that for 5 years? She would've gone insane if each day... Piper tried not to think of the pain Colin goes through each day, but a scar that big...

Colin sighed. "I don't even think it's a scar; it's more of a wound now," he said, his eyes closing. "I've already accepted this as my fate; nothing I do will change it now."

"But we can help!" Piper said. "You don't have to accept the life fate gave you; break free from your destiny! Make a new life for yourself instead of accepting defeat. Is this the Colin I know? No! The Colin I know will fight for all he's got; not accept defeat!"

"But for once, I think it's not my choice to pick my path now," Colin said. "You're saying to fight fate itself. Do you know how impossible it is? I've tried; I've tried opening up to others, I've tried to befriend others, but in the end, nothing good comes out of my labours." he looked to the sky. "No good memories I can remember."

"You don't remember what people do to you, Colin," Piper said before he can walk away. "You remember what they make you feel. Remember that."

Colin didn't answer, instead of walking back to his room.