𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚 | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐬 (𝐎𝐂)

SEVEN

The evening had settled quietly after dinner, the soft clinks of dishes being cleared away the only sounds breaking the stillness. Julia followed Becca up the stairs, her steps slow and uncertain, the creak of the wood beneath their feet foreign to her. She kept her head down, eyes flickering occasionally to Ryan as he bounded ahead.

Becca paused at a door near the end of the hall and opened it, revealing a small, cozy room. The walls were painted a soft blue, and the late summer evening light filtered in through a window partially covered by light curtains. A bed sat neatly against the wall, its quilted blanket tucked in perfectly. There was a dresser in the corner and a small nightstand beside the bed, but otherwise, the room was simple.

"This is your room." Becca said gently, stepping aside to let Julia enter. Her voice was warm, but understanding the girls need for space. "I know it's a lot to take in, but I want you to feel safe here. You don't have to worry about anything."

Julia stood in the doorway, her eyes scanning the room. It was small, simple, but cozy. The walls were painted a soft shade of blue, and a single window let in the fading light of the evening. A bed sat in the corner, covered with a quilt that looked handmade, its vibrant patches a sharp contrast to what she was accustomed to. A small dresser stood next to the bed, with a lamp casting a soft, golden glow across the room.

She took a hesitant step inside, her fingers brushing the fabric of the quilt as if testing its reality. Everything about this place seemed to...normal. Too calm. The quiet unsettled her in a way she couldn't explain.

Becca, sensing the girls hesitation, didn't rush her. Instead, she walked over to the dresser, pulling out a pair of soft, pajamas. "These might be a little big, but they should be comfortable." She placed the clothes gently on the bed, folding them carefully, then turned back to Julia. "I'll leave you to get settled. I'm just down the hall if you need anything."

Julia nodded silently, not trusting her voice that felt difficult to speak even if she wanted to. Becca lingered for a moment, watching Julia with quiet empathy before offering a reassuring smile. "I'm going to check on Ryan, make sure he's getting ready for bed. Take your time."

As Becca left, the door closed with a soft click, leaving Julia alone in the stillness of the room. For a moment, she just stood there, her body frozen in place as her mind raced to keep up. This was her room now. This soft bed. These clothes. It didn't make sense. Too good to be true.

She walked slowly to the bed and sat on the edge, the mattress dipping slightly beneath her weight. Her fingers brushed over the pajamas Becca had left. They smelled faintly of laundry detergent, something clean and comforting. Julia picked them up and changed into them slowly, her body moving on autopilot while her mind remained elsewhere.

But as she slid under the blankets and lay back against the pillows, she couldn't help but notice how strange this all felt. The bed swallowed her in warmth, so much different than the cold, rigid bed she had been used to for so long. It felt too safe, too secure-like a dream she was afraid to wake up from.

As her breathing slowed and the weight of the day pressed down on her, she let her eyes drift shut, still cautious, still uncertain. But maybe, just maybe, it was what she needed to finally feel like she wasn't just a test subject anymore.

The room was still, shrouded in the deep quiet of the night. Julia lay tangled in the sheets, her breathing soft, chest rising and falling in the rhythm of sleep. But beneath the surface, her mind was anything but calm.

In her dreams, the memory returned. Vought's lab. The cold cell reflecting the chaos that had erupted, the faces of her dead friends, the sounds of destruction echoing like a symphony of terror. She was there again, powerless to stop the devastation as everything around her crumbled. Her heart pounded, fists clenching involuntarily as the face of her best friend and the power she took from him clouded her mind.

Suddenly the nightmare sharpened, as she looked down at her hands, the sight of the remnants of the supes blood all over the room and herself rippled through her subconscious.

Julia jerked awake, breath coming in short gasps again. Her eyes snapped open, wide with panic, but the darkness disoriented her. For a moment, she didn't know where she was. The soft textures of the bed, the faint hum of silence-none of it registered. Her body acted on instinct.

With a violent thrust of her arms, the bed frame splintered beneath her grip, wood cracking like a dry twig. She leaped to her feet, adrenaline flooding her veins, her fist swinging wildly and smashing into the wall, sending plaster flying. Her eyes darted around in a frenzy, searching for enemies that weren't there. She stumbled backwards, crushing the bedside dresser, the lamp falling and shattering on impact.

"Julia!" Becca's voice was sharp but steady, cutting through the chaos.

Julia froze, chest heaving, her vision still blurred by panic.

In the hallway, Ryan stood wide-eyed, his small hands gripping the door frame. "Mom, what's happening?" He whispered, his voice trembling.

"Stay back." Becca said quickly, holding her arm out to keep him from coming closer. "It's okay, Ryan. I'll handle it."

Ryan nodded, though fear flickered in his gaze as he backed away, watching his mother step carefully toward Julia.

"Julia, it's me." Becca said softly, her voice gentle. "It's okay. You're safe. You're here with us."

But Julia couldn't hear her. Her mind was still trapped in the nightmare, the memories of the lab gripping her like chains. Tears stung her eyes as the faces of the other children flashed before her again, vivid and unrelenting.

"Dead..." Julia managed to choke out, her voice raw.

Becca was close now, her heart breaking at the sight of Julia's trembling form. She reached out slowly, wrapping her arms around Julia's waist, pulling her close despite the girls tense, unsteady movements.

"Shh, it's over." Becca whispered, her voice soothing. "You're not there anymore. Just breathe."

At the touch of Becca's embrace, something inside Julia broke. The tension in her muscles released all at once, and she collapsed into Becca's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. She clutched at Becca as if she were a lifeline, her strength ebbing away, leaving only the fragility of grief.

Becca held her tighter, gently stroking her hair. "It's okay. I've got you. You're safe now."

The tears flowed freely, a release of the pain she had been holding back. The destruction around them-shattered furniture-broken walls-faded into the background as Becca whispered reassurances into Julia's ear.

Slowly, Julia's sobs began to subside, the storm inside her calming. Her breathing steadied, though the weight of the memory still hung heavy in the room. She pulled back slightly, voice barely audible as she whispered. "Sorry..."

"You don't have to be sorry." Becca said firmly, brushing a strand of hair from Julia's face. "None of this is your fault."

Behind them, Ryan hovered at the door, hesitant but worried. Becca glanced at him, offering a small smile. "Come here, Ryan."

He padded over cautiously, slipping into Becca's other side. He looked up at Julia, his innocent gaze filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

Julia blinked back the last of her tears, offering a shaky nod. "Yes."

Becca squeezed her hand, her touch warm and steady. "We're here, Julia. We'll always be here."

As the three of them sat in the wreckage of the room, the night seemed to regain its peace. The nightmares might return, the memories might never truly fade, but for now, in the quiet moments between them, Julia knew she wasn't alone.