𝑊𝐴𝑁𝑇 𝑇𝐻𝐼𝑆 (locke and key gabe)

23 rewritten

Now that the colours were dull once more, the idea that they could ever be something again seemed nothing but preposterous.

And yet the only idea Avery could focus on was having that key half-turned. Suddenly it was as though simply existing was painful, and though her leg was completely healed, the absence of the keys' influence brought with it new afflictions.

"Gabe," She murmured, her voice hoarse and scratchy, she felt as though she was drowning once more, her head held underwater by some godly hands. He was still asleep beside her. The devil incarnate, a beautiful boy who appeared more angel than demon.

After spending three hours and money they didn't have at Phill's, they'd passed out on the couch covered in the contents of the kitchen cupboards. Avery grimaced at the open tub of ice cream dripping down the front of her dark dress, and only as she moved to discard of it did she realise how close her body was to Gabe's. They had fallen asleep a tangle of intertwined limbs, and even in his sleep he held her like a lifeline. She shook him off, appalled at herself for ever lying with him like that in the first place. And yet the second she was free of his touch, she longed for it once more. Avery prayed that her Uncle had made the Key to reverse the effects of Gabe's Demon Key by now. She felt like an addict. Like she was desperate for another hit of the Keys magic. But she knew that one more half turn would lead to one a day and when that didn't satisfy her enough she would beg Gabe to turn her for good.

Was that all it took to break her? A half turned key and too much of Phill's chowder? 

She sat up slowly, her pounding head falling into her hands. She would not let him use the key on her again, Avery promised herself. 

She entered the kitchen with the melted tub of ice cream, Avery was far too lost in her own thoughts to take in her surroundings. So naturally, she assumed that the sounds of scuffling feet and the occasional bang was simply down to Gabe's minions feeling especially bawdy. Just like she didn't notice the figure creeping downstairs until it was much too late. In fact by the time Avery had noticed that anything was amiss at all, she was backed against the kitchen island with a key pressed against her chest. 

"Kinsey?"

Her sister seemed to relax upon seeing the look in her eyes, "He hasn't turned you?" She asked. She looked different. Stronger, as though the last few days had scarred her and shaped her into someone much braver, much more terrifying.

Avery's eyes were on the key she held. Duncan's Key. She shook her head. "I swear, Kins."

Kinsey's eyes trailed to her leg. A break like that should've taken months to heal, and yet there she was, stood on it like it had never broken to begin with. "If he hasn't turned you, how's your leg okay?" Her tone oozed distrust, as did her aggressive demeanour. Avery pretended she didn't feel a little insulted by it.

And yet, she didn't know why she felt the need to lie, but Avery knew deep down that there was no way that she could possibly tell her sister about what she had let Gabe do.

"I'm- I don't know. Gabe did something to it, I have no clue how but it's fixed," She knew that her lie wasn't exactly believable, and if by some miracle she didn't realise that already then it was obvious from the suspicion in Kinsey's eyes. 

"You've got to believe me," Avery pleaded with her, "It's still me."

It wasn't exactly a lie. She didn't quite feel herself anymore. Something in her had shifted, and she knew that the only thing that could make her feel whole again was that key. Her head and heart were at war, and she knew that if she let herself get closer to Gabe her family would be on the losing side.