He Came To Collect (A Gruvia FanFiction)

Chapter 08 - A Lie to Save Your Life

Chapter 08 - A Lie To Save Your Life
[Updated: 13/09/2015. Unedited]
(AN: Another update (unedited, again *sigh*), and one week left of school for me. One more exam left; a Japanese reading test! It really is a strange thing when you have to study the kanji for Natsu's name ...)

❅~~~☁ ~~~♥~~~☁ ~~~❅

Tap, tap, tap. Clink, clunk. Creak.

Emotionless and defeated, Juvia didn't so much as breathe as she heard light footsteps echo down the hall, followed by the telltale jangle of keys and the memorable, rusty creak of the cell door. The raspy sound sent shivers cascading down the water mages spine like a waterfall.

'Juvia.'

Facing the wall, Juvia made sure her voice was clear and bland, 'What does father want?'

Masao was silent for the space of six, long, agonising heartbeats, each one counted by his daughter. Juvia could feel his fiery eyes glaring straight through what was left of her clothing and into her soul; her being. She knew his piercing gaze too well to mistake the sickening feeling for anything else. She resisted the urge to curl tighter into the corner where she sat, resorting to a simple turn of her head into the mossy concrete wall that smelled of mould.

'Juvia,' Masao repeated. 'You have a visitor.'

A gasp bubbled up inside her chest, held down only by the lump that built up in her throat, which was held back only by her fierce determination not to cry in front of her father.

'Visitor. G-Gray-sama?'

Perhaps the notion was a wild card and she was being stupid, but the hope and desperation was too much for the distraught girl to handle. Without meaning to, she turned around.

Masao Lockser wore a smart black suit adorned with an orange tie like a lick of fire. Juvia would've scoffed if she weren't terrified of the irony accompanied by it. Compared to her own ripped, faded and dirty covered attire, he stood out like a flame in a dark room.

He stepped backwards and nodded for Juvia to stand and follow him.

Though not really an answer, Juvia rose, excitement building; he's come for me, she thought.

Led by her father, Juvia walked silently down the hall, unperturbed by the clanking sounds of the chains around her wrists. She bit her lip, feeling the metal rub against her tender skin which was already red and raw with flecks of dried blood.

Masao traced an unfamiliar route through the Temple, but Juvia didn't take any notice. She wanted to see her Gray-sama.

'Juvia.'

The water wizard blinked, a little shocked, as she realised Masao had stopped outside a wooden door with two metal latches at the top and bottom. The wall on which it was set was completely stone grey and hollow feeling. A pin could've dropped and sounded like a bomb.

Masao opened the door, proving it unlocked and pointed his daughter inside, speaking formally as he went. Juvia followed his instructions without question.

'You speak of this Gray as if he is important to you, yes?' Masao questioned.

Wary, Juvia nodded; lying would prove bad, she had learnt long ago, 'Gray-sama means everything to Juvia.'

Masao nodded as if he expected that answer, 'What would you do if you saw him hurt?'

Blood roared in Juvia's ears, 'Father didn't-'

'He is fine, as of now,' he cut her off. 'Answer the question.'

Lowering her head, Juvia's eyes fell into shadow as he dirty, unwashed hair toppled over her forehead, 'Juvia would rather die.'