Flame Inside ✿ Damien and Matthew

Chapter 7

(Trigger Warning: Self-deprecating thoughts and mentions of abuse)

As Thalia left the room, Emma couldn't help how her mind wandered back to what happened after Malix attacked. She frowned at the odd bitterness she was feeling towards my best friend.

"Of course Thalia gets all of the attention from the boys."

"Stop it, she's my best friend. If I were in her situation they would have helped me too."

"Stop lying to yourself, they're all in love with your best friend and not you."

"I–"

"You know I'm right."

"Stop!"

"It only makes sense she is obviously prettier than you, and smarter, stronger, braver..."

"STOP IT!" Emma yelled desperately, grasping her head in her hands, pulling at her hair as tears began to fall down her face. James, having heard her shouts, bursts into the dining room and envelopes her in a tight hug.

He comforts her as she begins to cry harder. "Hey, everything will be okay. Is there anything or anyone I can get you that may help?" James asks.

She looked up to see James' concerned face. "M-Matthew." She stuttered out. James nods in understanding, being just as aware as the others of how she seemed to trust Matthew more than the others.

He leads her to Matthew's room and then leaves without saying a word, trusting Matthew to handle whatever was ailing her. Emma sent a grateful look at James' back before knocking on Matthew's door.

Matthew heard a small knock at his door and he stood to open the door. At the door was a crying Emma. She rushes forwards and hugs him tightly, sobbing. He held her close to him while he kicked the door shut with his foot. He led her over to his bed and he gently sat her down on it. She continued to cry into his shoulder.

Eventually, she calmed down enough to talk. "What happened that made you so upset?" He asked her softly.

She sniffles a few times before pulling away and answering, "Me. My thoughts to be exact."

Her thoughts? What could she have been thinking about to make her so upset? He thinks to himself before voicing, "What kind of thoughts?" 

"Dark thoughts. Jealous thoughts."

"Jealous? Jealous of who?"

"Thalia."

"Why?"

"I don't know." She sighed and looked into his eyes.

"A few years ago, I ran away from home due to the fact my father... Well, when I was fifteen he began to abuse me both physically and verbally. I couldn't take it anymore so I left." She then points to the scar on her forehead, "This is from when my father smashed a beer bottle on my head. He was actually sentenced not too long ago... Unfortunately, it was only for three years. I'm fairly certain he bribed the judge..." She trailed off before shaking her head, "Anyways, I've been living with Thalia since. A few weeks after I left, the voice in my head started telling me things."

"What kind of 'things'?"

"Things like that I was worthless or that Thalia is better than me so there is no reason for me to exist." He frowned. She then continues, "A few months later, the voice went quiet. Then it came back saying things like that all of you boys are in love with Thalia and tha–"

"That makes no sense as I'm definitely not in love with Thalia. I mean she's awesome and all but I...like someone else." She smiles at him gently, one that he returned.