Run Away ✧ Sebastian Sallow

chapter eleven

Flowers and You by Touché Amoré

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Trigger Warning: This chapter includes sensitive conduct - please see the comment for a full description of conduct. 

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"When was the last time that you've been here?"

"A couple of months ago," Anne sighed, "There aren't a lot of reasons to come and visit Feldcroft anymore. It's not like there is anyone worth visiting now."

There was a sinking feeling going through Antheia's chest the moment the small group arrived in the hamlet. It had been years since her last visit, but the way everything still looked the same felt haunting, like stepping back in time. 

"Are you sure it's a good idea to come here?" Antheia whispered to Desmond as they walked down the dirt path behind the rest of the group. 

He shrugged, "It's helpful to see everything for myself rather than figure it all out later if someone brought it back to Hogwarts."

None of this sat right under her skin. By the time they had reached the front door, the sound of Anne slipping the key into the lock made her jump.

"The house won't bite," Garreth Weasley teased from over her shoulder.

"I know that! Thank you!" Antheia groaned.

"Well, you look like you are about to barf."

"I'm not going to barf."

"Are you sure? Because you look worse than a seasick sailor."

"Why are you even here?"

"Garreth, leave her alone," Anne snapped as the door opened, "And Antheia, please play nice. Ominis was too busy to come today and I didn't want to be here alone either."

The taunting grin that Garreth gave her as they passed through the door made her a little more at ease. Instead of being focused on the familiar old home, she was too busy thinking about Garreth's mocking comments. What was a seasick sailor supposed to look like? Do sailors even get seasick? By the time the four had stepped inside, she felt a little more comfortable.

Antheia didn't ever intend on joining them to go find Sebastian's notes. It seemed like a simple enough task without her. The only person who needed to be there was Anne since it was her home, then Desmond insisted on going himself to see everything he'd be working with. What kind of benefit did she bring to the table? Moral support? That seemed better suited for the red-headed company.

When Anne grabbed her hand and asked her to join them on the trip to Feldcroft then she knew she couldn't say no. Any reasons as to why she needed her there was still lost on her. But if it was important for Anne then that's all that mattered.

"This is everything that had been in the Undercroft and his dorm. Ominis had brought everything back here years ago. I didn't have the heart to touch anything so it's mostly untouched," Anne explained as she pulled out a box from under the only bed in the room. "There might be more out in the shed, but honestly I haven't been in there since he left."

Desmond looked surprised as he began organizing the loose documents, "The shed? Who kept their research outside?"

"It's complicated," Anne danced around. It was rare to see the girl not be so forthcoming about a topic. Weeks ago she had flat out declared her twin was dead without any doubt. It was the first time Antheia had ever seen her friend look embarrassed about a topic.