Antihero ✷ Tyler Galpin

𝐱𝐱𝐱𝐢𝐯. 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬.. 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧

- The Devil You Woe -
2x2

After her particularly bold show at the Pyre, Vada needs some time to reflect. And what better way to do that than to take a walk through Jericho?

She can faintly remember the times when her walks around Jericho were full of hate and disdain. Disgust that her father would dare send her to a school with humans or creatures who live on earth. It was monstrous back then.

But now, her walks through Nevermore are with sadness. Not because she misses her father or because she misses Weems (even though she does) but because she misses a certain boy.

She never would have believed this would be her. Pining after a boy she was once in love with and hoping secretly that there was a way to reconcile what they have going on. Yet, here she is, staring at the closed sign on Weathervane cafe.

A heavy sinking feeling clouds her gut as she swallows thickly and looks past the white stickers on the door and to the empty counter where Tyler once stood, serving coffee with dimples on display and eyes lighting up when she walked through this very door. But now? It was cold and dark, empty.

The houses fuse together in her mind as she passes them by, each step seeming less a chore and more a mechanical movement by the time she's made it to the end of the road.

Her dark eyes catch movement and for a moment, she hopes to look over at the house and see Tyler with Elvis, smiling as he waves to her and invites her for dinner.

Instead, she sees an exhausted Donovan Galpin get out of his truck with a six pack of cold ones and a take out bag. He has dark circles under his eyes and he walks with a slight slouch now.

He shuts his truck door and goes up to the porch, kicking the front door open and back shut with his boot.

Vada's eyes go to everything she hadn't noticed a moment ago. The writing all over the house in spray paint. The curses and angry words. Evil. Kill Hydes. Tyler deserves to die.

She feels sick. The normies didn't seem to handle the news of Tyler being a monster well either.

To be fair, he had murdered the Mayor and several other beloved members of the society. She hopes Donovan never tells Tyler about it in letters. She knows he doesn't visit his son. Tyler can't handle it.

The weight of options hits her. She can ignore this and go back to her dorm before Enid wakes up and questions her. Or she can do something—she can't believe she's about to admit it—nice.

Several raps from the wooden door hurts her knuckles as she looks away from the red paint and boarded windows. She can't imagine how many Donovan had to have replaced before he gave up. He used to put so much pride in having a nice home.

The door opens and Donovan's face falls into an expression of confusion and somewhat hope. "Vada?"

"I see not all press is good press." She replies coolly, hoping her presence won't be pushed away. He had just asked herself and Wednesday for their help in a case, so perhaps he will welcome the bitter face.

"You'd be correct with that one.." he trails off and licks his chapped lips. He really has let himself go ever since what happened with Tyler. "You.. uh.. here about the case?"

"Somewhat. More than anything, I'm here to.. check on you." She admits and looks away. She hates admitting she has feelings and as much as she hates the man in front of her, Tyler wouldn't exist without him. She needs to think of the right thing.

"Come in." He opens the door wider and the girl steps inside. The dishes are piled in the sink, the table clattered with empty beer bottles and molded take out containers.