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"I'm sorry," Josephine whispers to Nyla.
As soon as they apparated back to her house, she takes Nyla to her own home. Despite Josie's protests that she is fine, Regulus comes along, staying a few feet behind her.
Nyla glares at her. "This is not your fault, Josephine."
"It is," Josie sniffs slightly. "I did this. I'm..."
"You're too young to have gone through this much," Nyla whispers. "I don't care what reasons you have for the things you do because you are my family and I love you. No matter what you do or will do, I love you."
Josephine blinks, feeling her heart crack at those words.
Their plan fell apart since their other friends had been captured, and they hadn't realized just how furious Tom would be. She counted on his anger, but the reality was overwhelming.
And there is a slight possibility that she has come up with a plan.
"You do not have to explain," Nyla whispers, shaking her head. "Go home and rest. I'll come by tomorrow to help with the wound." Nyla's eyes go to Josie's blood-stained sleeve.
It feels like she could cry and never stop crying. Her throat is tight.
"Goodnight, Nyla," Josephine whispers.
Nyla smiles, despite her own pain and dirty clothes. "Goodnight, Josephine."
Nyla walks into her house and gently shuts the door behind her.
Josephine's hands are shaking, her whole body hurts, and her mind is barely holding itself together.
Slowly, she turns to Regulus. "Let's go," she says.
Regulus nods, his cold hand grasping hers. Seconds later, they are back in their room. It feels like they haven't been there in ages.
All she has to do is hold herself together. That's all.
Merlin, her entire body hurts. It aches with each movement. The curtains in their room are halfway closed, letting slips of moonlight into the room.
She wants to shower, to sleep for many hours.
"Come here," Regulus whispers.
She turns toward him with raised brows, and he simply tugs on her hand toward the bathroom.
Regulus helps her shower quickly. Both of them are too tired to do anything other than wash their bodies.
Sadly, she has to spend more time on her hair, undoing the tangles.
Soon, they are done.
They change into more comfortable clothes before collapsing into their bed.
