Butterflies

Chapter 26

"you found her?" Violet was turned in her seat and was leaning on the arm rest between them, like a child being told bad news.

"Yes. That's where I'm heading next," Butcher answered, dropping his gaze from her.

"Oh..." She trailed off, "you're telling me outside the clinic?"

It was hardly a clinic, more a laundry mat disguised as a secret medical operation. At the very least it was the address Grace gave him. When they first arrived he assumed it had to have been a trick, that either Grace gave the wrong place, or it was long since replaced by the power house that is laundry mats. But when he stared closer at the name of the building, more particularly the slogan "Making you stronger than your dirt" across it's muted blue sign, Butcher knew it was the place.

"Wow Billy, after all my storytelling on the way here, you drop me of to go find her. What is that meant to mean?"

It was meant to mean he was only doing so knowing he was going to tell Becca about her. No more secrets like that. If he wanted to be better at communication, it would start where he was sat in a parking bay, staring into the dark eyes of the woman next to him. A sign of better times, a light next to him that he felt could guide him. He just needed to get the bulb fixed.

"No it's all right," Violet laughed when she knew he wouldn't say anything, "it's your weird way of telling people things."

"And I'm going to tell her about you."

"You are?"

"It's been 9 years V. There's too many fucking burdens," Butcher sighed, letting his head lax onto the headrest, "can't count on how she'll react. But I got to get her out either way."

She placed her hand in his and gave him an understanding look. It was almost baffling, seeing him so open. She wondered if that was what he was like before everything happened, that he wasn't hardened with burdens that cut so deep. Violet felt her heart pull, a side so giddy she was so lucky to see him that way, as only a few had. A star you could only see if you squint your eyes and stare into the unknown, there are no directions to find it, or constellations that could help you. You just have to be lucky enough to uncover it.

"Go save her, I want to meet her you know," Violet smiled, "I'll do these fucking tests or whatever this is, and I'll see you in a few days."

"M.M. will be able to breathe a sigh of relief," Butcher smirked, "see ya in few days love."

How interesting it can be to familiar yourself with the trail of dust a car left behind. Or how every second it grew further away, Violet resisted the urge to chase after it. The press of black that faded away with each heartbeat, making her more and more aware of her impeding visit. It will help her. She will keep convincing herself it will. As she turned to take in the empty building, the faint smell of weed that drifted the rundown street, she took a shaky exhale. Her brain was filled with everything she would have to explain, from her childhood to the other week. It would be opening wounds already bleeding, already making her feel faint from the downpour of red. But it would help her. It will help her.

So she found herself pushing open the door, it being stiff and rusting to the touch, and stepping inside. There was not a person in sight, and the actual laundry machines did not look like they had been used in years. Silently walking through, she spied the area, expecting someone to jump out at any moment. Yet nothing happened. Perhaps it was an ambush, that Grace set up to capture her. Though that would absurd.

"Um... Hello?" She called out, "I don't know the um, secret code or anything so I'll make up my own," nothing, "okay well my code is... FUCK BALLS-"

Just as the words were protruded from her lips, a tall woman shot her head through the door in the back of the room and raised her eyes at her. They were dark as black sand, and glared at her outburst as if she was a homeless person searching for drugs.