Weasley Twins - A Fate You Can't Escape

Chapter 83 - The Woods

*Hazel has a triggered trauma response in this chapter*

I don't know where I am.

I am surrounded by naked trees and brown brush.  I could be anywhere.  But I still climb to my feet and stumble on.  What if he can trace where I apparated to?  What if he catches me?

I head towards the direction of the sunset, my pace slow, and painful.  I don't see any paths or signs of human activity.  But I still don't feel safe.  I need to hide.  I need to find a place to hide.

The sun fades over the horizon, and darkness makes it harder to walk without tripping.  I stumble a few times, branches cutting my face and arms, but I just push myself back up and keep going.  I don't know how long I've been wandering around, but I stumble upon a little hollow in the side of a hill.  I duck inside, curling up in the back of the dark little crevice.

I gently rock myself, trying to get my body to calm down.  I am alone.  I am safe.  No one could find me out here.  I repeat these things over and over to myself, rocking and whispering.  At some point, my eyes close, and the tears stop flowing.  Exhausted, I drift off to sleep.

***

The crunch of leaves wakes me up.  Immediately I am alert.  It could just be a squirrel.  But it could also be him.  He could have found me.  The shuffling continues, and I can tell it's something bigger than a squirrel.

"It's leading this way."  I hear a voice, but it's muffled, like they are looking the other way.  I press my spine against the stone behind me.

"How did she get all the way out here?"  Another voice asks, and I recognize it at Charlie Wealsey.  He has brought reinforcements.  I don't know how I can escape now.

"I don't know!"  The first voice replies, and I realize it's Fred.  No, no, no, no, no, no.

"Does she have her wand?"  Charlie asks, and I pat myself down, horror washing over me.  I don't have my wand.  I can't escape.

"No.  I have it."  Fred claims and I swallow hard.  "It says she's over here."

They approach and tears sting in my eyes.  My lower lips start trembling as I try to brace myself.

"Let me go."  Charlie says.

"She's my girlfriend!"  Fred protests.

"And she ran away from you."  Charlie reminds him.

"Fine."  Fred grumbles.  I ball up my fists, reading myself to fight.

"Hazel?"  A familiar head of long red hair pokes in, and I swing, punching him squarely in the jaw.  "Merlin!" 

The man stumbles back, holding his face.  I take the opportunity and take off running.  My ankle screams at me to stop, but I scramble on.  

"Stop!"  Fred shouts, taking off after me.  Adrenaline fills my veins, giving me a burst of speed.

"How is she so fast?  I thought you said she was hurt?"  Charlie calls out somewhere behind me.  

Fred doesn't reply. 

But he does appear directly in front of me.  I crash into him and he grabs me tightly.  I try to fight him, but my shoulder isn't working right, and my body is weak.  

"Stop fighting me!"  He yells, and I do.  I just go limp.  He nearly drops me.  "What is wrong with you?"

"Please."  I whimper, begging him.  "I'm sorry."

"Hazel, what are you talking about.  Why are you sorry?"  He sounds so frustrated.

"Fred, let her go."  Charlie says, holding his hands out in front of him.

"What?  I just caught her."

"Let her go."  Charlie repeats, slowly approaching.  I watch him with wide eyes.  I don't know what he's planning on doing.  Is he here to help Fred?  Is he here to help me?  I don't know.

"Hazel, it's me, Charlie.  I'm not going to hurt you."  Charlie slowly sits on the ground about ten feet away, folding his legs crisscross applesauce.  I nod, still panicking as Fred still has me restrained.  "Fred, I'm not going to ask you again.  Let her go."

I feel the arm around me release and I run away.  I run behind Charlie and crouch, pressing my face into his back.  The smell of dragon smoke and fire whiskey is surprisingly calming.  I take a few deep breaths, my heart rate slowly bit by bit.  I wrap my arms around his torso, clinging to him like a life preserver.

"Fred.  Please sit down."  Charlie says in a slow calm voice.  I can feel his words in his chest.

"Okay."  When Fred speaks, I tense for a moment.

"Hazel.  Fred isn't going to hurt you."  Charlie continues, but I shake my head.

"Of course I'm not!"  Fred shouts and my grip on Charlie tightens so hard he gasps.

"Fred.  Please use your calm voice."  Charlie says, voice strained from my squeezing.

"Okay?"

"Hazel.  You are safe.  I won't let Fred hurt you."  

I nod, rubbing my face against his back.

"Are you hurt?"  Charlie asks.  I hesitate for a moment before nodding again.  "Can I heal you?"

Another nod.

"Alright.  Can you come around front so I can see you?"

I consider it.

Charlie wouldn't be between Fred and I anymore.  But I also believed Charlie would protect me.  I slowly crawl over the leaves and curl up on his lap, burying my face into his chest.

"Where are you hurt?"  Charlie whispers in my ear.  I point to my shoulder and my ankle.  "Okay, I'm going to take out my wand, and I am going to cast a healing charm.  Okay?"

"Okay."  I whisper back.  Charlie starts mumbling spells, and a warmth covers my shoulder, and then my ankle.

"We can have mum look at them when we get home, but this should help."

"Okay."

"Fred, Hazel is having a trauma response."  Charlie says calmly and my hands clench the front of his shirt.  "I am going to take care of her.  When she is ready to see you, I will let you know.  Okay?"

"Alright, Charlie."  Fred sounds sad, but agrees.

"Hazel, is it okay for me to apparate us back to the Burrow?" 

"Yes." 

I close my eyes, and the sensation of apparation washes over me.  I open my eyes, and Charlie carries me back into the Burrow.  It's still dark outside and I have no idea how long we've been gone.

"Hazel!  We were so worried!"  Molly rushes over, relief on her face.  My breathing shudders and I grip onto Charlie again.

"Hazel, look at me."  Charlie's voice makes me turn my head.  "You're safe.  I am not going to set you down until you're okay."

"Okay."  I keep my eyes on his face, too scared to look away.  He carries us up to his old room and sets me on his bed.  He quietly removes both of our shoes before climbing in next to me, holding me to his chest.  I bury my face in his shirt and close my eyes.  His heart beat has an even, soothing rhythm.  I focus on that until I fall asleep.

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