World Of Fur: Not my world

Our Burdens

To @Neo-JustAFurry

"That's fucked up." Adam says, looking away from Cora's laptop.

"That's why I decided not to show the others." Cora explains while closing the laptop.

She had shown Adam the video that was on the USB drive she'd found in Rebecca's pocket. The video was of Lilith torturing Rebecca.

"Then why did you show me?" Adam asks, feeling disgusted by what he'd just seen.

"Because you're the man of the house now. We females don't like keeping secrets from out mates. At least, that's what I want to say. The truth is I just didn't want to carry this burden alone. I needed to show someone, anyone." Cora replies, avoiding Adam's gaze.

"Then I'm happy you showed me. Because I'll help you to carry any burden, no matter how heavy it is." He says as he pulls Cora into a hug.

"Thank you." She whispers.

"What are we going to do now? The kids aren't safe anymore and I'm pretty sure Jacob's their next target." Adam asks once Cora has calmed down a bit.

"I'll first need to contact Henry and the others. I'm thinking that it might be smart to disappear for a while." She replies.

"Damnit. This place was supposed to be a new beginning for all of us. But I guess the devil never sleeps." Adam sighs, falling back into his chair.

"I'm pretty sure she hates us just as much as we hate her." Cora comments.

"Guys, she's awake." Charlie says from behind the closed office door.

"Let's go see how she's doing. I won't be surprised if this broke her." Cora says before leaving her office. Adam follows after a moment's hesitation.

Sure enough, Rebecca is sitting upright in her bed. But to Adam she looks as if she's still not conscious. Her breathing is shallow and her eyes are staring blankly at the wall.

"Mom?" Adam asks stepping closer to her. As he does this he sees Cora usher everyone out of the room, even Mira and Seth. Thus he's the only one in the room with Rebecca.

"My baby." Rebecca whispers, a single tear falling from her eye.

Adam feels his a part of him break when he hears this. He remembers her screaming this sentence throughout the entire video. Even after Lilith had already killed the child.

In complete silence Adam sits next to her until it eventually gets dark. Only then does he leave the room.

"Is she ok?" The girls ask. He realises that they've been waiting in the hallway the entire time.

"No. She's basically comatose." Adam replies, shaking his head.

"I can't imagine what she must've been through." Yang comments, clenching her fists.

Adam feels a pang of guilt at not telling them about the video. But he reminds himself that no one else should ever see the video. It would have driven him insane had he not already been driven insane by that night years ago.

Most times he's completely sane. But, under the right circumstances he would become a monster, almost as brutal as a lion devouring it's own.

"You should all get some sleep." Adam tells the girls before walking past them.

Suddenly he's pulled backwards, into Irina's arms.

"Don't try to bare this burden alone. We won't allow either you or Cora to do that. So please, let's go to bed together." She says, embracing him.

Without saying anything, Adam allows himself to be dragged to the room. Without even changing their clothes they go to sleep, each holding the others tight.

The next morning Adam wakes up alone, slightly refreshed, although he would rather continue sleeping.

As he gets out of bed he hears a ruckus from downstairs.

"What's all the noise about?" He asks, descending the stairs.

"Crap." He says when he spots Seth and Stella.

"Who do you think you are?" Seth asks approaching him.

"You call and tell us not to come home and then I find out Mom is here! And now I'm told that she's 'not well'! How dare you!" Seth spits just as he slaps Adam across the face with the back of his hand.

"I apologize. I didn't want you to see her in her condition. She's in room five. Please don't lose sight of the real her when you see her." Adam whispers, walking past Seth.

"You may want to call your father. Make sure he's still alive." Adam says, turning towards Stella.

"They won't kill him. They're too cruel for that." She replies, her voice sad.

In the kitchen Adam sees that Jessie's on the phone. It sounds like she's arguing with someone.

"Look, I don't care about the farm. Yer comin here! It's for yer own safety. Don't get yerself killed just because of your pride. No, Jacob! Shite!" Jessie says, throwing the phone against the wall.

"I take it he hung up on you?" Adam asks.

"Aye." Jessie replies, with a tired sigh.

"If you want I can ask Cora to have her guards bring him." Adam offers her.

"I'd appreciate that, thanks." She responds.

"It'll be fine." Adam says, putting his arms around Jessie.

"A little early to be horny don'tcha think?" She replies with a giggle.

"I just want to hold someone." He responds, chuckling.

"Me too." She comments, turning around in his arms and putting her own arms around him.

Together they stand there, taking in one another's warmth, trying desperately to lighten the burdens on their hearts.