Woven in Shadows (agatha x rio)

Crossroads

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Crossroads

The journey back to Westview was nothing like the journey out. The air seemed heavier, laden with the weight of unspoken words and lingering uncertainties. Each step brought them closer to an unknown resolution, the woods thinning gradually as the distant shimmer of the town came into view.

Rio walked a few paces ahead, her posture tense but purposeful. Agatha and Nessa trailed slightly behind, the younger girl occasionally glancing nervously at the silent figure leading the way.

Agatha's eyes stayed locked on Rio, her thoughts a whirlpool of emotions. She couldn't stop replaying the morning in her mind....the kiss, the way Rio had pulled her close, and the small admission of something lingering deep within her. It was enough to keep her hope alive, even if it felt as fragile as a thread.

As the sun reached its zenith, the trio stopped by a small clearing to rest. The grass was soft beneath their feet, and the faint sound of a nearby stream provided a soothing backdrop. Nessa busied herself collecting water while Rio leaned against a tree.

Agatha approached hesitantly, her fingers brushing against the pendant around her neck. "Rio?"

Rio's gaze shifted to her, sharp and inquisitive. "What?"

Agatha hesitated, unsure how to voice what she wanted to say. "You've been quiet" she said finally.

"I'm always quiet" Rio replied, her tone clipped.

Agatha sighed, stepping closer. "I mean quieter than usual yes, but where's my sarcasm? Is everything... okay?"

Rio's jaw tightened. She didn't answer at first, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. Finally, she exhaled sharply and turned to face Agatha. "No, it's not okay. Nothing about this feels right. And I don't just mean now—I mean me."

Agatha's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Rio looked away, her fingers tightening around the handle of her scythe. "I feel... hollow. Like there's this empty void inside me where something should be. It's not just the lack of memory it's something else. Something I can't explain."

Agatha's heart ached at the admission, and she reached out instinctively, her hand brushing against Rio's arm. "You're not hollow" she said softly. "You're still you. Maybe a little lost right now, but you're still here."

Rio's gaze flicked to her, something unreadable in her expression. "You say that like you know me" she said, her voice tinged with frustration.

"I do know you" Agatha replied firmly. "Better than anyone else ever could."

For a moment, Rio looked like she might argue, but then she sighed and leaned back against the tree. "I don't know what's real anymore" she admitted. "But... I know that when I'm near you, the emptiness feels a little less."

Agatha felt tears prick her eyes, but she blinked them back. She didn't want to scare Rio away with too much emotion. Instead, she offered a small, hopeful smile. "Then stay close. Maybe we can figure it out together."

Rio didn't respond, but she didn't pull away either.

By late afternoon, they reached the edge of the woods, the familiar outline of Westview's buildings rising in the distance. Nessa cheered softly, her steps quickening. "Finally! I thought we'd never make it back."

Rio didn't share the enthusiasm, her expression unreadable as she stared at the town. Agatha stepped up beside her, her hand brushing against Rio's lightly before she let it fall. "You okay?"

Rio nodded once. "I'll be fine."

As they crossed the threshold into Westview, the air seemed to shift. The streets were quiet, the sun dipping low on the horizon. Agatha felt a strange unease settle in her chest, but she pushed it aside. They had made it back, and that was what mattered.

"Let's head to my place" Agatha said, glancing at Nessa. "We'll figure out the next steps from there."

Nessa nodded, her expression determined. "Let's do it."

As they walked, Agatha cast a glance at Rio. She wasn't sure what the future held, but she knew one thing for certain—she wasn't giving up on her.

The house loomed at the edge of a dense thicket, its silhouette dark and foreboding against the soft hues of the late afternoon sky. The once white paint was peeling, revealing weathered wood beneath, and ivy crept along the cracked walls as if the forest were slowly reclaiming it.

The windows, dark and dirt streaked, seemed to hold secrets that dared not be spoken aloud. The air grew colder as they approached, the crunch of their boots on the gravel path echoing louder than seemed possible. The front porch sagged under its own weight, the door slightly ajar, as if waiting for them.

As they stood before the ominous house, the tension between them seemed to hum in the still air. Nessa lingered a few steps behind, giving them an unspoken moment of privacy. Agatha's eyes were locked on the door, her lips pressed into a tight line as she steadied her breathing. Rio, noticing the way her hand trembled slightly at her side, stepped closer.

"Hey" Rio said softly, her voice cutting through the charged silence. Agatha turned her head, her expression a mix of apprehension and resolve.

Without waiting for permission, Rio pulled her into a firm embrace, her arms wrapping securely around Agatha's waist. It wasn't rushed or fleeting; it was steady, grounding. For a moment, Agatha stiffened in surprise, but then she melted into the warmth, her hands clutching at the back of Rio's shirt as if afraid to let go.

"You're not alone in this, I don't know what you're going through but I'm also here for you as well...Even if i have no memory of who you are." Rio murmured into her ear, her voice steady despite the turmoil she couldn't entirely explain. "We'll face whatever's in there together."

Agatha buried her face into Rio's shoulder, taking in the faint, familiar scent of rain and earth that always seemed to cling to her. For a fleeting moment, she allowed herself to feel safe allowed herself to believe that no matter how fractured things were now, they could still stand as one.

"Thank you" Agatha whispered, her voice barely audible.

Rio pulled back just enough to look at her, her piercing eyes meeting Agatha's with a softness that almost broke her. "Always" Rio said simply, brushing a stray strand of hair from Agatha's face before stepping back.

Agatha gave her a faint, grateful smile, her heart aching with unspoken emotions. Together, they turned toward the house, shoulders brushing as they moved forward, ready to face what lay ahead.

The creak of the door echoed like a warning as Rio pushed it open. Inside, the air was heavy, thick with dust and the faint, metallic tang of old magic. Shadows danced along the walls, and the faint outline of what might have been a hearth stood against the far wall.