𝑊𝐴𝑁𝑇 𝑇𝐻𝐼𝑆 (locke and key gabe)

28 rewritten

"Sit down. We need to talk." 

Immediately, she hated those words. Avery heard her own heart beat quicken. "Sure," She murmured, fumbling after her sister. Kinsey sat at the table. Avery mirrored her, as gentle as she possible could be. She didn't want the chair to break as she pulled it from beneath the table, or to accidentally knock a tile from the kitchen floor. She sat as gracefully as her body would allow oh her disjointed-feeling limbs. She still wasn't used to how delicately she had to do everything. 

Tyler and Bode were already seated at the table. Very formal. Somewhat suspicious.

"Listen," Kinsey started, running a hand through her hair "We need to talk about-"

"Dodge is back," Bode cut her off.

Avery stiffened. She'd been too reckless. They'd found her out. Would they kill her for her betrayal? Surely they wouldn't let her live, knowing what she was. 

Kinsey cast a sideways glare at her younger brother. "He's right," She admitted. Only her tone didn't appear accusatory, more...concerned. "Scott saw him in the hallway at school."

Dread sliced through Avery's stomach. She had told him it was reckless. "And he's sure?" She managed to blurt. What if they found Gabe? What if they took him away from her again?

Kinsey nodded.

"He'll be angry, especially at you."Tyler told her, "You need to be on your guard, okay..."

Avery tried to hold back her sight of relief. They knew he was back, but at least her cover hadn't been blown just yet. And yet for some reason, she still had the sense they weren't telling her something.

"Scott said that he still looks like Gabe," Kinsey said, slow and cautious. "I'm just worried you might- I don't know."

Avery made her best attempt at looking fearful. "Never, Kins," She exclaimed, appearing horrified at the thought, "I know what he is, I wouldn't." The lie almost stung. She still loved her siblings, and she hated having to lie to them, hated being caught between both sides like this. And yet Avery knew that she was no longer safe with her family. If they found out what she was, what she had done- it didn't matter how much she loved them, Avery knew she couldn't have both. 

"Just be careful okay? He'll probably be back for the keys, or revenge after you..."

"Killed him," Avery finished, hoping her fear seemed believable enough. Then again, she supposed that in some ways it was. Only she wasn't afraid of Gabe like her siblings were, like they thought that she was. Avery was afraid of what would happen when they found out her secret.

There was something so peaceful about the beach at night. 

Avery watched the waves roll in, the frothy whites seemed to glow faintly in the heavy blue darkness. She watched them break and wane, enthralled by their movements. 

She should have been cold. The icy wind should have chilled her to her core, and yet the only indication that if even touched her was the way that it ruffled her thin linen shirt. 

She was immune to the cold, just as she was immune to heat or blades or flames.

"Fancy a swim?"

A smile blossomed at her lips at the sound of his voice. "What're you doing out here?" Avery called, her gaze never leaving the ocean.