HYACINTH

chapter 17

[ acceptance]

Author pov.

The dawn cracking up showing the signs that the sun is coming up. The warm hues of colors taking over the dark blue sky. The stars fading away as moon dimmed its glow, giving the fire ball it's time to shine. The white clouds showing up as the sea became rough with the sudden picked up wind. The couple ended up sleeping outside last night after a lot of teasing.

From both Lavinia was the first one to wake up. She can feel Luke's arm around her waist making sure she is with him even when he is deep in his sleep. slight blush still can on her face as she looked at the sleeping figure next to her. She admired him in silence of the dawn.

He looks so pure and innocent when he is sleeping. His longs lashes resting still. She is not going to lie here, those lashes sure made her angry at him cause well, they are longer than hers. His sharp features softened while he sleeps. With an evil plan on her mind, she slowly and with a lot of struggles got out of his grip. Still managing to not wake him up as she did so. Looking at him one last time she tiptoed her way into the tent grabbing her bag which had watercolors. She originally brought it here to paint but given the circumstances they are in; it was never used. So why not use it in her evil plan.

Making sure that Kane is deep in his sleep she went out near the sea to fetch some water. After that she smeared the red color on her body making it looks like she is badly hurt by the monsters and bleeding. After that she dissolved some in water and poured it in the sand not so far away. before she lies down there and scream her lungs out, carefully she teared her cloths making it seems like she was attacked.

"This will end up in a bad way but it's too late to back away now." She talked to herself.

With that she screamed her lungs out. Making sure that Luke will wake up from his dream. Seeing him jolting up she got into act closing her eyes. Pretending to be dying.

"What was that- Lavinia, LAVINIA !!" as soon has he scanned around looking for her, he spotted a familiar figure lying on the ground with what seems like blood-stained sand.

His heart stopped a beat or two comprehending what would have been happened. Sweat beads showing up as his mind ran a marathon of thoughts before dashing towards her screaming to Kane to bring the medical kit. Kane who also woke up with sound rushed towards them with medical kit a little later.

With quickened short breaths Luke sat near her 'harmed' body. picking her up from his trembling hands as he looked for her pulse. He thanked God when he found out its normal. In the heat of the situation his mind failing to notice the signs he tried to wake her up with his cracked voice. which happened to be her last string as she started to laugh like a maniac. Kane, who was almost there with medical kit, cursed the shit out of his breath after hearing her laugh as he turned around.

It took Luke sometime to figure out the things as he looked at her having the laugh of her life and his hands which has 'blood' stains on it. dumfounded that he fell for her another prank he got up leaving her alone. Cursing on his way back, joining the misery with Kane. Looking at you going to clean yourself up to the sea.

"We seriously need to stop her from doing that." Luke said while shaking his head in disbelief.

"You, specifically." Kane added feeling defeated. "She is your girl, plus I don't want to die from your hands."

"I just never thought she would do something like that in this situation.??"

"She is going through a lot right now. She is doing that as a coping mechanism."

"But she looked fine last night-"

"That doesn't matter boy, after that gruesome death happened ahead of us, everyone is traumatized. You, me, and her... she is women unlike us. She is strong in many ways, but everyone has weak spots." Kane sighed. "Talk to her. She is bottling up her emotions too much. Might be because she is trying not to be a burden to us.... This whole situation is messed up."

"She never will be a burden to us... or at least me."

"You all businesspeople are the same... what I am trying to say is she might feel like that. You both are oldest here so try to get my point. Trauma is not something we all should take lightly. From what have I seen she has affected the most. From all of this, from you both stupid fight, from that... incident."

"I get it... and I will. Plus, don't forget a point my dear little adviser. We both are humans too, so don't ignore your feelings too. I don't know about you, but it surely gave me a toll."

"Why are you keeping me aside." Kane said annoyed.

"Well, who knows. You three did a lot of sketchy things in the past. I thought you are in some mafia."

"Even if we are in mafia, no human would do that." Kane opposed.

Seeing Lavinia coming towards them, Kane patted Lukes back giving him the much-needed encouragement. with a quick hug Kane stood up leaving them alone for their little talk. Wishing them Goodluck he wondered around the back deciding to make wooden spears for the journey they have ahead.

"Why would you do that.?" Luke asked.

Hurt and sadness could be felt as he spoke. He never imagined this would happen. Yet again its life about which we are talking. Taking a deep breath, he grabbed her hand and slipped inside the tent is swift motion. Zipping it up, he looked back at her. The water beads on her collarbone area shining as the light was reflected by it.

"My dear little princess we need to talk." He emphasized the word talk as he stepped closer to her. "Shall we sit down first."

"Look I was bored and had nothing to do..." she tried to explain herself.

"Silence. Do not talk until I say so."

that's the moment she knew that shit has gone very wrong. She had successfully managed to prank him again, but at what cost. Both of sat down close to each other as Luke holds her hands.

"Your actions earlier today are unacceptable. In what mind or thought you figured that would be a pleasant thing to do. Not considering the situation we are?" he starts his talk. "I get you want to light the mood up, but that is not how it should be done. Talk to us, let us know what's bothering you.... We have talked about this before too."

Disappointment was all she could hear from the other words. The anger and sadness both equally visible. She felt bad. For herself, for them, for the rest of them. Tears forming up as she looked up to him. she couldn't hold it in. thought her nightmares now have calmed down she still hears that pained scream of him. her mind suddenly will become blank as she gets lost in that incident. Her eyes would randomly show her how he was devoured. She is not okay, but she figured she will make others worry more if she tells them. That's why she decided to do what's she is doing last few days.

"it's okay my love, let it out." Luke hugged her. "Tell me everything... show me your scars."

"But why?" she muttered.

"I want to see how many times you needed me, and I wasn't there." He whispered tightening the hug.

"I want to help you heal, my love."

End of chapter seventeen