Illusion

Elizabeth awoke with a fright, her chest felt tight and it was difficult to breathe. Her vision blurred suddenly and tears leaked down her face, why was it so difficult to breathe?

A large hand rested on her shoulder and Elizabeth flinched away, falling off her bed with a yelp and a thud. She looked up fearfully, why was she scared? Why? Why? Why?

Meliodas sat on the edge of the bed staring down at her worriedly, his eyes wide.

"Elizabeth? Elizabeth are you okay?" He asked, Elizabeth nodded and groaned, pressing her head into her hand.

"I...I'm fine. Just a bad dream" Meliodas grinned and stood up, offering her his hand and pulling her to her feet.

"I'm gonna head downstairs to make sure everyone's setting up, after all it is Saturday today, the bars gonna be busy. Come down when you're ready"

Elizabeth didn't reply as Meliodas walked out the door, closing it softly behind him. She went to her bedside table and pulled out a calendar her sister had given her last Christmas. She had never gotten around to hanging it up.

Skipping to May, she checked the date and frowned. It was a Sunday.

*~*~Illusion...~*~*

Downstairs everyone was sat at the bar, drinking ale and laughing. Elizabeth walked in and immediately flinched back. Fear crawled up her throat like bile, wanting to spill out. Gripping the doorframe, Elizabeth balanced herself and took deep breaths.

"Elizabeth?" It was Diane, "You feeling ill?"

"You're very pale, you should maybe go back to bed" King added cautiously, Elizabeth gluped down air and stood straight, giving a reassuring smile.

"I'm fine, honestly, you shouldn't worry about me"

It didn't stop the worry from tainting their features, pressing creases into the place in between their eyebrows. Fear once again took hold of her but this time she hid it. She didn't want to burden them all.

Elizabeth took her regular seat next to Meliodas and Gowther while Meliodas did his pre work speech.

"Okay guys, we're in a pretty big town and it's Saturday so tonight's gonna be super busy. Diane I want you waitressing from nine till midnight, Elizabeth you do from six till nine. Ban I want you in the kitchen, King I want you helping me at the bar. Gowther, you work for as long as you want, okay? Merlin you can do whatever, you can waitress if we need it. Let's have a good night!"

"but what about Hawk?" Elizabeth found herself asking. Heads snapped to her suddenly and curiously, eyes narrowed.

"Who's Hawk?" Ban asked, sipping on his ale. "Never heard of this guy, you sure you're feeling fine Ellie?"

Fear flooded her again. Everyone's gazed burned into her, despite knowing who he was, she hadn't even known how she knew or remembered 'Hawk' yet...she remembered him. He was a pig with a dark pink clover on his rear, he was always running to her complaining about Meliodas and Ban threatening to cook him. She loved him like a little brother or son.

"I...I..." she faltered, had Hawk even existed? Meliodas had met him after he was framed and Ban had a great friendship with him but she couldn't have imagined it?

"I had a good friend named Hawk, I thought you all knew him too"

"I don't recall knowing anyone called Hawk" Gowther said, pushing his round glasses up on his nose, the circular brims making the golden irises pop.

"I don't either" King agreed, Diane frowned.

"You look even paler, I think you should lay down" she said softly, Elizabeth sighed and nodded.