Purée

Memories

### Chapter: Echoes and Regrets

**Flashback**

"Darlin'?" Jason's voice was soft and reassuring as he called out to me. I turned around, my heart lightened by his presence. I smiled warmly and embraced him, pressing my lips to his in a tender kiss.

"You ready?" he asked, pulling back slightly to look into my eyes.

I nodded, my smile widening. "Yes, I'm ready."

"Let me get my purse," I said, planting another kiss on his cheek before heading to retrieve it. When I walked back into the room, my smile faltered.

"Joshua, let go of him!" I demanded, my voice trembling. My brother had a knife pressed against Jason's throat, his face a mask of grim determination.

"Why should I? Letting my baby sister out? I'd be a terrible brother if I did that," Joshua sneered, pressing the knife closer. Jason's eyes were wide with fear.

"Venessa," Jason's voice was strained and scared.

"You're hurting him! Quit it! I'll do whatever you want, just let him go!" I pleaded, stepping forward.

Joshua shifted the knife toward me, his expression darkening. "You're making me the bad guy! Don't turn this around on me."

"Okay, I'm sorry. What do you want me to do?" I asked, my voice breaking.

"Break up with Jason or I'll kill him," Joshua's words were cold and final. My eyes flickered with horror.

"N-no, I can't do that." Tears streamed down my face as I covered my mouth.

"BREAK UP WITH HIM OR I'LL KILL HIM RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!" Joshua shouted, his voice echoing with malice.

"I-I can't," I sobbed, looking at Jason who gave me a weak, sorrowful smile.

"I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry. I love you," I cried out, my voice barely a whisper.

"It's okay," Jason's voice was faint, his strength waning.

I shook my head in denial as Joshua's blade found its mark. A scream tore from my throat as I watched Jason's lifeless form fall. I rushed to him, clutching his body. "Baby, please, no, no, no. Jason, open your eyes. JASON!" My cries were desperate as I shook him, my tears falling onto his still face.

**Present Tense**

The ceiling above me was a stark white, its emptiness reflecting the void in my heart. I lay there, staring blankly, when a voice broke through the fog of my thoughts.

"Venessa," Regulus's voice startled me. I sat up quickly, wiping away the remnants of my tears.

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice raw.

"I didn't know. You didn't tell me, and you had every right not to. You didn't deserve what happened," Regulus said softly, his eyes filled with regret.

"It's already happened. Unless you have a time machine that can undo it, there's nothing you can do," I said, my voice heavy with despair as I waved a hand dismissively.

"I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't use it as an excuse, but I didn't know. I'm sorry," Regulus said, his apology genuine but insufficient.

"Well, now you know," I said, holding out my arms. He embraced me, and I clung to him for solace.

"Am I too forgiven?" Joshua's voice interrupted, filled with hesitation.

"Are you? You never apologized. Have you even visited Jason's grave, the one I dug?" I asked, my voice quivering with anger.

"I didn't ask you to dig his body up, but I'm glad you did," Joshua said, his tone lacking remorse.

### Chapter: Fractures

"Because you would have shoved him somewhere... in a ditch? At the bottom of the sea? Probably wouldn't have even hidden him," I spat, my mind racing with dark thoughts and old wounds. My anger surged, driven by years of pain and betrayal. "But you didn't, because I got a hold of him first. Did you two even...?"

"Are you even sorry?" I demanded, my voice trembling as tears began to fall. I took deliberate, heavy steps toward Joshua, who retreated until his back hit the wall.

"You are the reason why my life is so fucked up," I said, each word dripping with venom. "You ruined it so be fucking grateful you still get to live every goddamn day!" I pointed accusingly, my finger shaking with fury.

"I didn't drive you into insanity for some hopeless lover," Joshua shot back, his tone defensive.

Before he could say another word, I lunged at him, my hands reaching for his throat in a desperate bid for vengeance. But Mattheo intervened, pulling me back and guiding me toward Regulus.

"YOU FUCKING DICKHEAD, YOU BETTER BE RUNNING!" I screamed, my voice hoarse as I coughed in frustration. Mattheo forced me against the wall, his grip firm but protective.

"Calm the fuck down!" Mattheo ordered, his voice stern but laced with concern.

"Why? Because you know, once you let go, I'll be gone. Related or not, the Snape family doesn't protect each other like the Riddles do. We're the complete opposite!" I shouted, my voice echoing with pain and resentment.

"Quit that!" Mattheo said, his face contorted with frustration. "Broken... little... sad," he said, his voice softening but still stern as he tried to calm me.

He covered my mouth, his touch firm but desperate. "I said... quit that. Don't make me say it a third time," he threatened, his eyes locked onto mine.

"Nothing..." I choked out, struggling against his hold.

"MATTHEO!" Tom shouted from the doorway, his voice filled with alarm.

Mattheo's grip tightened, his eyes burning with intensity. "Begging for seconds?" he said through clenched teeth. He stared into my eyes, his anger and concern mingling. "You want me to kill you?" he asked, his voice breaking with desperation as he pulled away.

The shock in Mattheo's voice made me pause. "The actual fuck, Venessa!" he shouted, running a hand through his hair as he turned away from me, his frustration palpable.

"I know you're thinking it... but I will escape," I managed to cough out, my voice barely a whisper.

"No, you won't. You're going to rot in prison until you die, killing people and living a life of torment," he explained, his voice steady but filled with cold certainty.

I looked up at him, my eyes filled with defiance. "You think I wanted to do all that shit?" I retorted, turning my back on him. I rolled my eyes, unable to mask my bitterness. "Well, I didn't."

Without waiting for a response, I walked out the room