𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀, luke castellan

ᴛʜɪʀᴛʏ-ꜰɪᴠᴇ

Hermes's Gambit.

🌎

    IT WAS EARLY DECEMBER WHEN SOMETHING FINALLY HAPPENED.

    By then, Rory had settled into the rhythm of her new life with a resignation that bordered on apathy. She never left the house, choosing instead to immerse herself in the safety and comfort of its familiar walls. It had become a cocoon that shielded her from the outside world—a world that felt increasingly alien and disconnected from her reality. She filled her days with small, mundane tasks, helping Anya with household chores as much as she could. It was a way to pass the time, to keep her hands busy and her mind occupied, to stave off the creeping thoughts that threatened to consume her.

    When she had nothing left to do, Rory found herself irresistibly drawn to the sunlight, like a parched flower seeking sustenance. She would sit by the large bay window in the living room, her face upturned to the golden rays, feeling the warmth seep into her bones like liquid sunshine. The sensation was soothing, a gentle balm that eased the tension knotted in her muscles. The light seemed to envelop her in a comforting embrace, its gentle heat chasing away the chill that had settled deep within her. She would close her eyes and bask in the glow, letting it wash over her like a warm tide.

    Yet, despite the rejuvenating effects of the sunlight, Rory couldn't shake the unsettling sensation that it passed through her as though she were made of gossamer, as though she weren't even there, nothing more than a fleeting specter. It was as if she were a very part of the sunlight, nothing more.

    In the quiet moments, when James and Chloe were engrossed in their own pursuits—James absorbed in a drawing, Chloe engrossed in a book—Rory would steal glances at them, a wistful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. They were sweet children, full of boundless energy and innocence, their laughter ringing through the house like the tinkling of bells. They were a bright spot in her otherwise gray world. Yet, sometimes, when Rory was particularly tired, she'd look at Chloe and almost see a flash of red hair and blue eyes. She'd blink quickly until her half-sister looked like herself again, the resemblance fading like a mirage. But the memory had been triggered, and inevitably, her thoughts would drift to Maddie. She found herself missing the younger girl's spitfire.

    In rare moments of laughter, when she allowed herself to be drawn into James and Chloe's games or stories, it was Valentine's face that danced before her mind's eye. It had always been so easy to laugh with Val.

    And whenever she was alone, sitting peacefully by the window, looking out at the world beyond, she could almost feel Camille's presence beside her, calm and reassuring.

    But these were mere phantoms, shadows of a life she could never reclaim. They were figments of her imagination, conjured up by a heart aching with loneliness and regret.

    For Rory knew that she had made her choice. She had betrayed them. She had walked away from the people who had become her second family, the place that had become her home. There was no going back to those days now, no undoing the choices she had made. The path she had taken was a one-way street, leading her further and further away from the life she had known and the people she had loved. Rory felt an overwhelming sadness at that fact, a deep, aching sorrow that settled in her chest like a stone.

    She had had no choice, she reminded herself. This was the only way to make a difference. The circumstances had been beyond her control, the pressures and expectations placed upon her too great to bear. She had done what she had thought was right, what she had believed was necessary. But in quiet moments, when the weight of her decisions felt too heavy to carry, she couldn't help but wonder if things could have been different. What if she had stayed? What if she had found another way, a path that didn't lead to betrayal and isolation? Maybe, in another universe, she wouldn't have been burdened with such a heavy responsibility. Maybe, in another universe, it wouldn't have been up to her to save them. Maybe, in another universe, she wouldn't have cared what the gods thought. She could have been just another camper, another face in the crowd, free to enjoy the simple pleasures of life without the weight of destiny pressing down on her shoulders.