Last Three Years (Natsu x Depressed!Reader)

Chapter 16: Chains

***Strong language is used in this chapter. Please read at your own discretion.***

"Oh (Y/n)... is that any way to speak to your father?" The man asks, placing a hand on your shoulder.

"... What?" You couldn't believe this. "But... you're supposed to be dead.. you died... from some heart condition.." you whisper. This was too much to take in.

"I was never dead sweetie," he says. He sounded so gentle and genuine that you wanted to believe that this man really was your father. But that couldn't be. Fathers didn't murder their daughters best friends and claim that it was "for the best".

"Why then... why did you kill Athea?" The name sent shivers down your spine and caused a fresh wave of tears to fall in sync with the rain drops around you.

"I'm going to explain everything.. Please come with me." He stood up and offered a hand to help you up. "Please... I'm not going to hurt you.."

"You already have.." you whisper in response. He falls silent for a moment before grabbing your arm and pulling you up to stand next to him. He places a hand on your shoulder, but you dive away from his touch as if he were riddled with a deadly disease. "Don't touch me.."

"Once I explain myself, you can go wherever. Just give me a chance."

You didn't want to give this man a chance. If he really was your father, then why did he abandon you and your mother? Why hadn't he come back when your mother died and you were left alone? Did he even care?

But at the same time, what harm could it really do? You'd lost so much already, what more did you even have to lose? Also, you wanted to know the truth.

"Come on." He begins walking away, not turning to look and see if you were following. You watch him for a few seconds before finally dragging your feet after him. The world around you blended in with the rain and time seemed to cease to exist all together. The only thing you could see was the path in front of you, blurred by rain and empty promises. This was the only path you had ever known, and the only path you ever would know.

"In here." He turns into an old building that looked as if it had been vacant for a very long time. Rain leaked through the ceiling and blew through the nonexistent window. The floorboards were rotting and creaking, making you wonder if they would break and crumble under your weight. But when you walked on them, they stayed strong, crying and groaning from their efforts to hold up the weight.

The man turns around to you, his face dripping droplets of water. "I'll try my best to explain everything in detail.."

"Start from the beginning."

"Yes.. of course. The beginning. It must've been twenty years ago.. the day I met your mother. She was the most beautiful girl I had ever laid eyes on. We met in a bar, of all places. And though neither of us admitted it, we were both there to drink away our problems. For the next few weeks we both met their almost every single night, and laughed and drank until we could barely stand. We both heard the hidden cries for help behind our laughter, but neither of us acknowledged it. Soon after we started dating, and opening up to one another. Your mother had recently lost her older brother, and had begun drowning her sorrows in booze and boys. I remember her saying that I was different though, and that she really believed we could be something together... at the same time, I was having some major issues with my father, or your grandfather. He was abusing my mother, drinking, smoking, and so much worse. I knew he was cheating on my mother as well, and I think she knew it too. But I was so scared... I never intervened. The one time I tried he beat me for the entire night.... anyway.. your mother and I helped each other. We were good for each other. And we loved each other so much... a year later, we were married. Not long after that, your mother became with child.. with you, (Y/n). Life was great as far as I was concerned. I had left behind my family to start a new family, and I couldn't have felt happier. What happened next... changed everything."