Revenant // Sebastian Sallow.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

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Heartache threatens to rip the remaining hope left from my soul as I watch the sun set from the clouded window. 

The only sound being heard, Sebastian's rhythmic breathing next to me as he lay in the old raggedy bed mattress. 

Luckily, I had found an old blanket tucked away in a basket, to which I had draped over his body, wishing him a restful sleep. Part of me wished he would go like this, peacefully, in his sleep, instead of harshly giving his life to someone else.

I wasn't sure if it would be painful, I hoped it wasn't.

I stared down at his peaceful figure, his chest rising and falling like he no longer had the fear of dying tomorrow. I envied his peace, his nonchalance in a situation like this.

I reached down and ran my fingers gently through his hair, cherishing the feel of his brown hair brushing against my fingers. Though I felt helpless, like time wouldn't stand still just for my sake of wanting to save Sebastian, deterring fate from taking him would be my last stance. My last battle.

Saving Hogwarts had been one thing, but saving Sebastian would be devastatingly harder.

I slowly got up from the bed, making sure I wouldn't wake him up. I walked over to the fireplace, which had spiderwebs along its edges. I pulled out my wand and cautiously conjured a fire, the old logs surprisingly taking to the flame.

I sat down on the filthy floor, not caring much if my school robe got dirty. I traced nonsensical doodles in the dust littering the floor, hoping that when the sun came up the next morning, that he would change his mind.

A creak on the wood tiles sounded behind me, to which I swiftly turned around and looked to see Sebastian rubbing his eyes tiredly as he walked towards me, talking a seat next to me, and looking at the fire. 

"Can't sleep can you?" He says, continuing to gaze at the warm flame in front of us. Despite the cold, unforgiving atmosphere outside, at least here in this tiny abandoned hamlet we had this fire, and each other.

I let out a dry chuckle. "How can I? Tomorrow will be filled with things I don't want to happen." I say coldly. My sadness had now morphed into bitterness and anger at his decisions. The way he would so easily leave everything behind. How he would leave me behind.

Sebastian looks down at his lap. A quiet sigh leaving his lips.

"I don't want to die. However, there isn't another way." He paused bringing his knees up to his chest and wrapping his arms around his legs. In the moment, he looked like a nervous little boy, hoping to give himself some comfort. He continued, "trust me, I've tried looking. There wasn't a moment in the year that I was absent that I wasn't looking for a better solution." He finished.

I turned to face him seeing his defeated expression. 

"Maybe you could think about just letting things be." I reply quietly. Sebastian shakes his head slightly, facing me as well. The reflection of the flame in his eyes, making them bright, illuminating the green that rested in them.

"My actions haunt me. People don't usually get the opportunity to wrong their rights, but I do. If I don't, I fear I'll only live the rest of my life resenting myself." He says looking off to the side. 

His words pass through me, affecting the way I had previously seen him. Even if I had known he missed his sister and felt a great sense to make things right, I hadn't truly anticipated him to carry self loathing within him. 

As a person who was so externally cocky and confident, you wouldn't assume this. At least, I hadn't about Sebastian. 

"I understand the feeling of messing up. But if you surround yourself with people who care about you, you learn to accept your wrongs and move on. That's life, Sebastian. You're telling me at every single traumatic event in your life you'll go around and play with your life because you think it'll solve everything?" I say, my tone becoming a bit firmer.