𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀, luke castellan

ᴛʜɪʀᴛʏ-ꜱɪx

Leaving Home.

🌎

    THE FOLLOWING MORNING DAWNED WITH A SENSE OF SOMBER DETERMINATION AS RORY METICULOUSLY PACKED HER BAG. Her movements were deliberate, each item placed with care, yet beneath the surface lay an underlying sadness that weighed heavily on her heart.

    In her room, James sat cross-legged on the worn carpet, his usually animated face now marked by a solemn expression. His eyes, wide and uncharacteristically serious, tracked Rory’s every movement. Chloe perched on the edge of the bed, her own lively demeanor subdued. She clutched a stuffed animal to her chest, her fingers gripping it tightly as if it could somehow delay Rory’s departure. They watched Rory with a mixture of apprehension and reluctance, silently acknowledging the impending separation that loomed over them like a dark cloud.

    Rory’s possessions were few, a reminder of the transient life she had been leading for the past 2 years or so. She carefully folded a set of clothes and placed them into her bag, the fabric soft and familiar against her fingertips. Alongside them, she packed a small collection of essentials: a first aid kit, a map, a compass, and a few personal other useful objects. Her movements were practiced, the foresight of someone accustomed to life on the move evident in her choices. Each item was carefully considered, each space within the bag efficiently utilized.

    Despite their attempts to conceal it, the children's reluctance to see Rory leave was unmistakable. Their usual chatter was replaced by a somber silence as they observed her preparations. Their eyes tracked every movement she made as if trying to memorize her presence in their lives. To them, Rory embodied the epitome of coolness—an older sibling figure they had always yearned for. Her effortless charisma and the air of mystery that surrounded her only added to her allure, making her seem almost otherworldly.

    What truly set her apart in their eyes were her powers—the extraordinary abilities that elevated her from mere mortal to something divine. In their young minds, Rory was not just their sister; she was a hero. They had watched her wield powers they could only dream of, heard of her extraordinary adventures. Rory had become their idol, a symbol of everything they aspired to be.

    But Rory was far from being a hero.

    Yet perhaps the line between hero and villain was more blurred than she thought.

    "Do you have to go?" James whined, his voice quivering with a mixture of disappointment and desperation, while Chloe's eyes brimmed with unshed tears, silently pleading for Rory to reconsider.

    Rory paused in her packing, her gaze softening as she looked at the two children before her, their vulnerability tugging at her heartstrings. "I'm sorry, guys," she said gently, her voice tinged with regret. "I have to go... People need me..."

    The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of farewell. James and Chloe exchanged glances, their expressions a mosaic of longing and resignation, as they grappled with the reality of Rory's imminent departure.

    "But can't you stay, just for a little while longer?" James implored, his voice wavering with a sense of urgency. "We'll miss you..."

    Chloe nodded fervently, her lower lip trembling as she struggled to contain her emotions. "Please, Rory," she whispered, her voice barely above a whimper. "We don't want you to go..."

    Rory's heart ached at the sight of their distress. Yet, even as she longed to grant their wishes, duty beckoned her forth—a silent reminder of the responsibilities that lay beyond the confines of their Anya's house.

    "I wish I could, kiddos," she murmured, her voice heavy with sorrow. "But there are things I have to do... Someone who's waiting for me..."

    James's eyebrows shot up at her words, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes as he seized upon the opportunity to inject a touch of levity into the somber atmosphere. "Ooh, your boyfriend?" he teased, a playful smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

    Rory couldn't help but roll her eyes at his jest, a fond smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Maybe," she replied with a hint of amusement, her tone lightening momentarily in the face of James's teasing. Yet, beneath the playful banter, a pang of nostalgia stirred within her—a reminder of the friends she had left behind, their faces flickering like distant memories in the recesses of her mind.

    Chloe, however, reacted quite differently to James's jest, her features contorting into a mask of exaggerated disgust at the thought of romance. Rory couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction, a sense of warmth flooding her heart at the sight of Chloe's unfiltered honesty.

    The weight of her impending departure bore down upon her with renewed intensity, the ache of separation clawing at her heart as she struggled to contain the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She knew she had to leave quickly, before the memories became too much to bear. Before the bonds of friendship tethered her to this place, trapping her in a web of longing and regret from which there could be no escape.

    Rory's hand brushed against her chest, feeling the cool metal of the gold necklace Valentine had given her on their last day together. She had worn it ever since, a link to the past she cherished but knew she had to let go of. With a resolute sigh, she unclasped the necklace and held it in her palm, the pendant gleaming softly in the morning light. She took a moment to gaze at it, her mind flooded with memories of laughter, shared secrets, and the unspoken promises of friendship. She stuffed the necklace into her pocket, the chain entwining with Hermes's ring.

    For Rory, the decision to leave was not an easy one. Despite the tumultuous journey she had endured—the spasms, the insomnias, the relentless yearning for Luke—life at Anya's house had offered a respite from the chaos that had consumed her existence. In the quiet moments she shared with the children, she had found a semblance of peace—a fleeting sense of belonging that had eluded her for so long.

    But as she packed her belongings, the weight of her responsibilities pressed upon her, a silent reminder of the journey that lay ahead. Though the thought of leaving filled her with a sense of trepidation, she knew that staying any longer would only prolong the inevitable—a painful farewell that would tear at the very fabric of her being.

    As Rory embraced James and Chloe tightly, she felt the weight of their longing press against her, their arms clinging to her as if afraid to let go. In that moment, she wished she could freeze time, to linger in the warmth of their embrace indefinitely. But she knew that such moments were fleeting, and the call of duty beckoned her forth with an unrelenting urgency.

    The children's reluctance to release her was evident, their embraces lingering as they sought to prolong the fleeting moments they shared together. In their eyes, she saw the fear of separation. They had grown accustomed to her presence this past fall, had come to rely upon her as a source of comfort and stability. She had become their anchor, and now, she was about to leave them adrift.

    But as much as she longed to stay, Rory knew that she could not. The journey she had embarked upon demanded her presence elsewhere, beckoning her forth into the unknown with a sense of purpose that burned within her soul. With a heavy heart, she gently extricated herself from their grasp, offering them a reassuring smile as she prepared to depart.

    Despite their reluctance, James and Chloe eventually released their hold on her, their expressions sorrowful and resigned as they watched her walk towards the front door. Each step felt like a betrayal, a silent acknowledgment of the pain she was causing them by leaving. But Aurora Cooper should've felt used to betraying the people she loved.

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I absolutely hate this chapter but I wanted to post something and this was the best I could do 💀💀

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