AS GOOD AS DEAD → ANTHONY LOCKWOOD

XXVII

Not the eternal, part one

When Greer saved Lockwood, Celia, and Donald took her into their home but their happy life was soon followed by a tragedy because, under a bridge, they were claimed by fire. Then years later, Elsie and Lincoln took Greer from Lockwood, claiming their daughter but Greer doesn't know them and she doesn't see them as her family because her family was the family she found.

They locked her away in her room because she tried to run away and Greer tried so hard to escape by banging her hands on the door, looking for any object that would help her find her freedom. She feared being trapped because she had a trauma. Because some of the homeless kids and teenagers would constantly bully her for being small and because she couldn't fight, they would put her in a small hard box and put her there for several hours without any food other than water.

She always cried looking for Lockwood as she banged on the door, hoping that he would drag her out of the manor like the way she dragged him up to the bridge. In those moments, Greer felt like she was drowning and Lockwood didn't save her.

"Greer, I don't understand—" Lockwood said, slamming the door shut as the cab drove off and he followed after Greer "For heaven's sake, Lockwood!" Greer shouted, not bearing to hold the anger inside her any longer, "Of all people, you're the one who is supposed to understand why I am mad." Lockwood stared at her, taken back from her sudden tone at him.

Usually, Greer would yell at him but she was not mad at him. Especially, never this mad.

"You could have gotten yourself killed, you could have gotten me killed." Greer reminded and she doesn't know how many times she needs to remind him of that, "Jumping more than seven feet is fucking unhinged." She spat.

"Think for one second!" Greer exclaimed, "We had almost been killed." Her eyes welled up and her lips trembled as she gazed at him "I told you to go with Lucy, aren't I?" Lockwood asked, eyes confused and nose scrunched "And if I did? You would have been butchered."  Greer said matter-of-factly. She actually can't believe he thinks that she will leave him, that she can if he tells her to go with Lucy. He said it himself, they're a team and they stick together no matter what.

Greer took a deep breath, closing her eyes shut before speaking again "You said to me that you don't want to lose me because you can't bear it if you do." She grumbled and she hated the way he wouldn't look at her
"But, Did you think that I can bear it if I lose you?" Greer whimpered.

"I don't wanna lose, too, Lockwood but this— this is more than enough." She proclaimed.

"Your bullshit game and your ego, I had fucking enough of it because I don't want to lose you." Greer clenched her fist through gritted teeth. Lockwood's head was down as she spoke her words "I rather lose the fucking bet than lose you." She told him.

"Cause I'll lose my sanity if I do and I like to keep my sanity safe," Greer confessed and she spoke her truth. She can't lose him the way he can't lose her, she can't bear it the way he can't. "Did you ever think about me standing beside your casket, mourning you?" Greer's voice breaks, just the thought of it makes her wanna sob "Did you ever think about me losing you, do you think I can handle it?" Tears slowly came out of Greer's eye as she spoke, unable to hold it back anymore.

"I know I told you not to hold back but not this way, not the way you could get yourself killed." Greer bawled, covering her mouth with both of her hands. Lockwood finally looks at her, unable to listen to her cries that were caused by him as he tries to approach her but she holds her hands in front of her, stopping him.

"I'm tired, Lockwood." Greer whispered, not wanting something more than anything but to sleep "It's been a tiring night." Greer looks at him one more time before turning her back on him and starts walking away towards their home, arms still tightly wrapped around herself.