24 Dreams Of You And Me

48) Where The Heart Rested

"I lost you when you left me to find yourself."
-Joseph Gordon-Levitt

***

"The witch had me killed?" Rachel asked. "And you're one of.. those.."

"Walkers." Robb finished.

"Yeah. That." Rachel mumbled.

"I can't.." Robb shook his head and then exhaled slowly at a loss of words.

"You never told me about any of this." Rachel said, her voice cracking. "This Walker thing, all spells, magic and.. and not just you.. your whole family?" She whispered the last word in hurt.

"It didn't matter, Rach." Robb looked up at her. "I was out. Before we even met, I had left my family. I wanted no part in it. This was the first time I went back home in three years."

Alyssa carefully listened to everything her brother was saying.

"I wasn't the heir," Robb shrugged, "it didn't matter whether I continued the family of Walkers or not. It was Ian who had to have someone from the tribe. So I was free. I had a will, I had a say."

"So? You couldn't have told me all that? Wait, is that why I never met your parents? Because they'd not like their son to date a.." she looked at Levi. "What do you call a one of me?"

Levi sat up straighter. "Um, one o-of you?"

"Yeah, you're a Walker. What am I?"

"A-A human?" Levi guessed.

Alyssa rolled her eyes. "We're humans too, Rachel. Don't worry. You're just a non Walker."

"Because I'm a non Walker?" Rachel completed her sentence at Robb.

Robb licked his lips and shook his head. "No. You didn't meet them because I didn't meet them. I never wanted to go back."

"Then why did you? After three years? You suddenly disappeared."

Robb felt like screaming and punching something in the face. The girl he loved, admired and adored was dead. And he was answering questions.

"S-Something came up." He replied vaguely.

"Another lie." Rachel scoffed.

"Look, Rachel." Alyssa said. "I think he's not in the best position for a confrontation."

"Is he dead? Because I am."

"Exactly!" Robb exasperated. "You're.. dead, Rach! What am I supposed to do now?" He scoffed.

"Once you're.. out.. of here. Will I have to stay back?"

Robb nodded, not meeting her eyes.

"Oh." Rachel whispered in understanding. Her spirit couldn't cry, but the hurt she felt of the separation from her home, family, friends, Robb.. was too much to bear.

"You know, my mother always used to say," Robb said softly, "how I should've had Renee's mind. She always wanted to be a Walker and I always wanted to be normal. I'd like nothing better than that to be true, especially right now."

Rachel just sat beside him. Breathing deep and fast.

"Robb, we're terribly sorry.." Alyssa said sincerely. "I would've never-"

"It's okay. You didn't know. Neither did I." He cut her off.

Alyssa breathed and looked up at the ceiling. It shouldn't have happened this way.

"My mom expects me to come back home tomorrow." Rachel said as she stared at the floor.

"Baby, trust me. I'd give anything, absolutely anything to make that happen." Robb grabbed her hand.