↳ 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹: 𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀

𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙪 - 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥

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[ any reader ]

"Ethan!" You holler for the dozenth time, hearing your voice crack a little from shouting so much. "Ethan!"

Nothing.

Sighing in defeat, your shoulders slump when you drop your hands. Ripples spread through the murky water and you peer down at your reflection, struggling to look beneath the gloomy surface.

"Alright," you teeter on the edge of the platform, "I can do this. Just a small drop and a jump and I'm there."

Pausing to take a deep breath, you brace yourself and jump down, not expecting to land on a wooden crate. Feeling it sway in the uneven water, your arms flail as your feet slip off the soaked planks.

Bumping your head on the way down, you completely miss the metal pole sticking out and smack the water, disappearing beneath the surface.

-

When you finally reawaken, a figure is seen pacing back and forth nearby, incoherently mumbling away to themselves as if your presence has thrown a spanner into the works for them.

Managing to lift yourself up off the ground, a low groan tumbles from you as you clutch the side of your head, adjusting to the dim setting you now find yourself in. Only a few candles and lanterns to illuminate your new surroundings.

"You're awake." The hunched figure halts. "Meaning you're not dead. Wonderful! Or is it." You squint to get a closer look, moving your head back when they step further into the shadows. "Why are you here?" They snap.

"I'm looking for someone. Who-who are you? Did you pull me from the water?"

"Perhaps. I may have had something to do with that. You should be more careful, especially around this place."

"I try to be. I shouldn't even be here, I was foolish to follow a man who clearly is in over his head." You stare at the shadows. "You don't have to hide you know?"

"You don't want to look at me."

"What makes you think that?"

"I'm a monster."

"I doubt that. I can't prove you wrong unless you come a little closer."

With hesitation, he steps into the light and your eyes sweep over his timid self. His gaze drops since he finds it easier to look at the floor than your face.

"I've seen monsters. You're not one of them." His mouth hangs open. "What's your name?"
He freezes for a moment, taken back that you seem genuinely interested in finding more out about him.

"Moreau. Salvatore Moreau."

You lightly smile. "I'm [Y/n] Winters."

"Winters?"

"Yes. I lost my brother a little while ago. Ethan Winters. Do you know him?" He growls at the mention of the name and you frown. "Has he been by here?"

"Not yet. But he will be making a stop here soon, I imagine. I have one of the flasks he so desperately seeks." His face drops when he realises he told you a secret. "Don't think about stealing it either."

"I wasn't going to. I'm not a thief."

"You're not like your brother."

"Is that a good thing?"

"Very. You don't belong here. In a place like this. You're too fragile. A good soul like yours will be ruined down here. You seem so... kindhearted."

"I try to be kind. What's the use in being anything else but nice to others?"

"I've never been treated fairly. Not that I deserve it, look at me."

"Don't say that. Everyone should be judged based on who they are, not what they look like. You saved me from drowning, I already like you." You chuckle.

"You're the only person who likes me then. Everyone hates me, even my brother and sisters. They call me names. Freak. Moronic freak," he sighs and sits on a crate near to you.

"Well they don't seem like very nice people."

"Suppose it's not too bad now that your brother is running around killing them off one by one. I'm not sure how he's doing it all on his own, but he is."

"Crap-I'm sorry I-"

"Don't apologise. They knew what they were getting themselves into. I'm next. He'll be here soon for me."

"I can stop him. He'll listen to me."

"Why are you being so kind to me?"

"You deserve it. You're not a bad person, Moreau. I know there's more to you, I know there's more to your story, I'd like to hear it if you'll let me. As for Ethan, I won't let him harm you."

"I can fend for myself."

"I don't doubt it. But what's wrong with a little helping hand?"

"Would you...never mind it's stupid."

"No, go on." You shuffle closer, bending your legs to make yourself comfortable.

"Would you like to be my friend?"

You break into a smile. "I think I'd like that."

His eyes light up like lanterns floating through the night sky, and he happily begins to blabber about himself while you listen intently, nodding along.

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