See No Evil (Anthony Lockwood)

Chapter 23

Violet and Lucy were completely silent as they walked ahead of Lockwood after getting out of the cab. Lucy was still holding onto Violet tightly as her body was still trembling and dripping wet.

Violet felt completely drained in every way. Physically, mentally, emotionally. Just drained. She was aching everywhere and the cut on her waist stung badly. She just wanted to go home and sleep. And tomorrow she would figure out what she was going to do next. Because she had no idea if she could stay here anymore.

"I can't stand it anymore. Say something. Anything. Please," Lockwood pleaded for the two girls to break their silence, "We won. We beat Winkman. We got the mirror. It's safe with Barnes. George will be back any moment. You guys can relax. It's over."

Lucy stopped in her tracks and let go of Violet, taking a threatening step towards Lockwood, "No, it's not. We nearly died tonight, all because of your bloody bet, and now every relic hunter in London is out to kill us. They could be watching us right now. Or waiting for us inside the house. What are we doing this for? What does any of it mean if we end up stabbed or dead at the bottom of the Thames with nobody left to care? This doesn't feel like winning. Come on, Vi."

Violet absently let Lucy push her towards the house. Lockwood wished and hoped and prayed that Violet would just look at him. For just a moment. Even just a glance. But she never looked back. She just let Lucy take her inside.

Violet was slow as she walked up the stairs, feeling like her legs would give out at any moment. Lucy was patient as she helped her. She couldn't find it in herself to lay any of her anger on her friend. Not right now. Violet was vulnerable enough as it is without someone scolding her and yelling at her.

Violet collapsed onto her bed when she got to her room, her movements sluggish as she took her shoes off with shaky hands. She thought she could handle this. She really did. But she just couldn't do it anymore. Not after tonight. She couldn't go through that again. Chills were still going up her spine as water droplets rolled down her skin from her wet hair. She didn't even think she could manage a shower right now.

"Vi..." Lucy called out to her hesitantly as she came back in new clothes.

"I can't do this, Lucy. I just...I can't be strong anymore," Violet's voice cracked.

Lucy pulled Violet into a tight hug as she began to cry, "It's ok, Vi. It's ok."

Violet Summers was a girl who had stayed strong for too long. Never allowing herself to crack or crumble. Not until now. Here with them. In the place she was supposed to feel safe and loved and cared for. With her family. And they kept failing her.

Violet took a few deep breaths before moving away from Lucy and wiping her eyes, "I'm fine. I'll be fine."

Lucy gave her a sympathetic look, "Vi, you're not fine. You know that's ok, right?"

Violet stood up and began to grab some regular clothes to change into, "I'm fine. I'm fine."

Lucy didn't know if Violet was trying to convince her or herself at that point.

Violet just wanted it all to go away. The feelings, the memories, the trauma. Everything. This was her job. She chose to do this and to be here. She had to handle it even if she didn't want to. Her feelings didn't matter. But even though she told herself that, she still felt that pit deep in her stomach that just continued to get heavier and heavier by the day.

Violet locked herself in the bathroom and undressed, patching up her wounds before dressing again. She leaned forward to look at her bruising face in the mirror and cringed. She couldn't hide this one.

Her fingers slid down to the necklace around her neck and she traced the small pendant absentmindedly. No matter how she was feeling at the moment, she couldn't bring herself to take it off. She couldn't bring herself to reject the love Lockwood had given her.