Those In The Forest

Part 81: Ivy

"Please," Rose pleaded through the bond. It would seem dumb to admit I wasn't almost on the verge of begging with her.

          Reagan took this first step. She came downstairs and didn't run away when she heard us coming. Progress was being made, and I just hoped she didn't feel like we were pressuring her.

          I listened intensely, trying to find a blip in her rhythmic heartbeat. I wanted her to want this—we all did. If she turned us away, I have no idea what I would do.

          Reagan gulped. "Come in."

           She said it so quietly none of us were even sure she actually said it.

          We all snapped our attention towards each other, wide-eyed. Roe gripped the doorknob, unsure if she actually heard Reagan correctly.

          Our hearts were beating just as fast, if not faster, than Reagans.

          Rose turned her attention back to the doorknob. Self control. We had to go about this smart. We couldn't spook her.

          Slowly, so fucking slowly, Rose turned the knob and opened the door. None of us walked inside. We just let the door open.

          Immediately, our eyes locked on Reagan, who was standing at the entrance to the kitchen. Her perfect bright blue eyes sparkled when she saw us. Like actually fucking sparleled. A tiny smile spread across her lips.

          She wore one of Hazel's long-sleeved shirts, which she never wears, and Iris's old sweats. She was covering her body. Shielding it from us, I assume. From the slight smell of blood, she must still have bruises. She's hiding them from us.

          I felt sick to my stomach at the thought of all the wounds she had, both physically and mentally.

          I couldn't help but frown when I realized that sparkle in her eyes were actually... tears. I had to suppress a very deep and guttural growl. She was hurting, and we were the cause of some of that hurt.

          Bryce watched the entire thing in silence, and I was very grateful for that. Something told me she had much to say about this anyway.

          Carefully and slowly, we walked inside, and she took a hesitant step back. We immediately stopped.

          No, no, no, no, no!

          I was almost on the verge of tears myself. She was... scared. Of us? I could smell it, feel it, fuck, I could practically taste her fear from here.

          "What- what do you want us to do?" Iris asked, not taking her eyes off Reagan.

          Despite her fear, Reagan still smiled at us. Teary-eyed and all.

          Reagan opened her mouth but immediately closed it.

          That was when Bryce spoke up. "Reagan... they can still be trusted," she said softly.

          Still be trusted? Was Reagan actually afraid of us?

            We watched as Reagan bit her bottom lip and looked down at the ground, not at us anymore, which hurt even more.

          "I-I called for you all," she said in a slight growl. It sounded so amazing coming from her as if she had been able to do it all her life.

          Her statement brought me back to the present, though. There was no time to fawn over her new self, especially since the way she got to her new self caused this doubt with us.