𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐊 | 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡

four

Sejanus accompanied Cordelia on her walk home, attempting to reassure her that everything would be alright. He even attempted to lighten the mood with a joke about Coriolanus singing at Arachne's funeral, which he thought would amuse Cordelia. However, her mind was elsewhere, haunted by the bodies.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay? I'm certain my parents wouldn't mind." Sejanus offered, his concern evident. He didn't want to leave Cordelia alone, not after what had happened. Besides, he didn't want to be alone either.

"I'm sure, but I appreciate it. My father should be home any minute now." Cordelia reassured him with a gentle smile. She always admired Sejanus's willingness to stay with her in times of need. He had done it multiple times, and his steadfast support never failed to comfort her.

"Okay." Sejanus said softly, "I'll see you tomorrow." He gently hugged Cordelia before turning to leave. Cordelia stood in her living room for a moment, watching the door close behind him. After a deep breath, she made her way to the bathroom, her mind still lingering on the evening's events.

Alone in her bathtub, Cordelia curled up, trying to wash away the guilt that gnawed at her. Though she wasn't as close to Arachne as she was to Coriolanus and Sejanus, they shared a history of growing up together. They attended every event side by side, whether it was school functions, parties, or casual hangouts. They shared each other's clothes without a second thought, often trading jackets or borrowing dresses for the weekend. Lunchtime was always spent together, their usual spot at the cafeteria filled with laughter and whispered conversations. They hung out nearly every day, lounging at one of their houses. Homework sessions were rare but not unheard of, often devolving into gossip marathons where they, along with a few of their other classmates, dissected the latest school drama every weekend.

Cordelia sometimes found Arachne annoying—her sharp comments and blunt honesty could come off as rude—but she was still her friend. Despite their differences, there was a bond between them that kept them close. Despite Arachne's flaws, Cordelia couldn't shake the weight of her friend's demise. Arachne's recklessness had led to her death, a fact that Cordelia couldn't ignore.

Yet, amidst her remorse for Arachne's death, Cordelia found herself haunted by another loss – Brandy's. The memory of Brandy, taunted by her own mentor until she broke, weighed heavily on Cordelia. She couldn't shake the feeling that she would have reacted the same way in Brandy's shoes.

Cordelia's thoughts wandered to Treech, their strained relationship weighing heavily on her mind. She genuinely wants to helphim, yet her efforts seemed futile if he remained closed off to her assistance. The desire to engage in the same game dance he was playing tugged at her, but the looming specter of the arena left no room for such frivolities. With his impending entry into the arena just two days away, time was a luxury they couldn't afford to squander.

After her bath, Cordelia laid in bed, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts that refused to let her drift into sleep. She tossed and turned, shifting her position on the mattress in a futile attempt to find comfort.

The soft creak of the bedroom door stirred Cordelia from her thoughts, Robert slipping into the room. She straightened up in bed, acknowledging his presence with a faint smile.

"You okay? I heard what happened." Robert inquired gently, taking a seat on the edge of her bed.

Cordelia offered a nonchalant shrug. "I will be." In the Sinclair household, grief was an unspoken visitor, lingering in the corners but never addressed directly.

Robert nodded understandingly, his expression reflecting a mix of concern and curiosity. "How'd it go with your tribute today? Did you talk to him?"

Cordelia let out a weary sigh, her gaze drifting to the window. "He doesn't want anything to do with me. He ate my lunch, but that's about it."