Empathy ⌯ Stiles Stilinski

[25] the full moon

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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄
the full moon

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( lunatic; pt.iv )

THE crackling of the firewood fills the silent room as Maddie sits on the sofa, eyes glued to the ground as her fingers pick at her nails. Mark stands in front of her, covering her sightline of the blazing fire. He has yet to say anything.

He didn't even say anything when she and Harry got home. It was a simple gesture towards the couch. Whilst she had slowly approached the couch, sending a worried glance towards her cousin, Harry stayed by the door, keeping an eye on what was about to go down. Maddie never got in trouble; she was the girl who would purposefully avoid trouble.

Harry was worried, and rightfully so. She would always go to him when she was worried. It almost became more common that she would vent to him that to her therapist when she had therapy. Now, she doesn't speak to him at all. A part of him was happy, maybe it meant she didn't need him because she was getting better. Or maybe she was getting worse and that didn't comfort him in the slightest.

"Can we please get to the part where you ground me?" Maddie's voice breaks through the silence, shattering it. Her eyes are still locked on the floor, refusing to meet her uncle's. Maybe it would make it easier, she always finds it easier to speak her mind when she doesn't have to watch people react to what she says. "It's setting off my anxiety."

"Oh, this is setting off your anxiety, Madelyn?" Mark questions harshly, Maddie cringing at the use of her full name as she closes her eyes. "You don't think that finding out that you snuck out of the house after I specifically requested you don't leave because of a mass murderer running about the town didn't set off mine? A mass murderer that may I remind you tried to kill you and your friends, injuring my son, your cousin."

Mark takes a breath, realising his anger is getting the better of him. Crescents mark Maddie's skin as her nails dig on the surface, her teeth biting her tongue. Harry watches the interaction with a small frown, his eyes blank. Maybe if he hadn't got hurt, this would be less of an issue.

"Where did you even go?" Mark asks, his voice softer as he looks down at his niece, the girl refusing to meet his eyes.

Maddie considers lying. She knows if she tells him she was at the preserve then he would freak out even more. But maybe the truth would be a better option, she's so sick of lying all the time now. She can feel the strain, even if they can't. Lying to her family, the people she trusted more than herself, lying to Harry, the person who would stick by her even if she killed someone in cold blood. Her family has always been there for her——she doesn't know what she did to deserve it, to have people who love her unconditionally, because she doesn't deserve it.

But she can't tell them the truth. They wouldn't understand, they'd think she was crazy. And she could get them hurt. Just like she's done with Harry.

Maddie turns her head to look behind her, seeing her cousin stood at the back of the room. His eyes were on her the moment he saw her head moving. He offers a smile——after everything she's done, he still offers a smile. She looks back, meeting Mark's eyes. People avoid eye contact when they're lying. "We were at Stiles'. I know I should've told you—"