𝐄𝐱𝐢𝐥𝐞 || 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐱 𝐎𝐂

XVI. Hundred outcomes

A/N- How are you all recovering after the last chapter? I'm sorry I broke many of you, I didn't realize Arthur was loved so much by all of you lol. 

Also! I saw my first edit someone made from this book and oh my God you guys are amazing! I was so shocked when I saw it I seriously started crying lol. If you end up making any posts about this book, please use the #MattHollyxExile so I can find it :)

This chapter may do you in for another few tears, but I know you will enjoy what happens. This will be all in the span of one day, kinda focusing on Holly and how she's recovering after everything that had happened (and don't worry, we will see Matt in this chapter too)

I don't want to spoil anything, so without further ado, please enjoy chapter 16 of 'Exile'

Chapter 16

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"You decide what card we play because I am done being the dealer in this relationship, Matt. I need to know that what we have is a two-way street and that you are willing to trust me even when it's hardest for you to trust anyone."

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Holly remembered her first funeral. She was five years old, and her goldfish Barry had passed away after winning him at Coney island only two months before. Her parents just wanted to flush it down the toilet, but Holly insisted Barry have some sort of remembrance through the family. She remembered how Foggy decorated the entire store as if it was an Irish funeral. Colored squares of light that where colored in with yellow and green crayons. 

Something about Arthur's funeral reminded her of Barry's funeral. The same yellow and green squares lined the floor, only this time they where made with real wool, not just two crayons from a Crayola 12 pack. If she was five, she would have wanted to hopscotch down the isle because of how the patterns resembled the same ones on the playground at her school.

Holly sat down at the front with Dorthey who's face was buried deep inside of a tissue. She had never been this close to the front of a church before. It made her nervous. As if every motion she made she was being watched extra closely. Jesus loomed above Holly, the blood dripping from his wounds as his glossy eyes stare into nothing. She quickly looked away, focusing on the picture of Dorthey and Arthur the day they got married. He was right. He did at least have 12 more strands of golden hair.

More people came as the funeral was about to begin, sandwiching themselves between those in the isle. She felt bad for Dorthey. Over twenty people had approached her in the past five minutes giving their condolences. How many condolences could she take before she broke?

Before Holly could even turn to Dorthey to speak, a woman started singing as everyone in the church moved to their feet. A priest started walking to the front of the alter, holding a large brown book in his hand as he started to drone. As Holly turned to face Dorthey, her words died on her lips as she saw her face buried even deeper in the tissue, letting out a terrible sob that was loud enough to shake the entire church.

Holly had heard that sob before. It was the same one she had let out the night Matt left her apartment. She hadn't slept, namely because she couldn't due to how nervous she was Fisk would find her and kill her in her sleep. But also, because she carried the burden of guilt on her shoulders.