Hidden Away

Part 15

"No, we're not risking this." Lucien's hands left my shoulders, fell limply to his sides. "...okay."

"I don't think we should attack without knowing exactly what's going on. The person who did that to Zachary is lurking around somewhere too..."

"I know. That's why I didn't want to rush in by myself if you didn't-"

"Lucien...you made it sound like it was either now or never." He went silent. Lucien wasn't looking at me anymore. He was staring at Zachary in the distance, hunched over his precious cross. "Haven't you wondered why I know what he's doing?" huh? "You're actually a witch hunter too?"

"...I realize you think you have an amazing sense of humor, Echo. To joke that I am the exact same kind of witch hunter scum that-" He cut off abruptly mid-sentence, a hand flying to cover his mouth. Why... why did I say such a stupid, unnecessary thing? "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry, I-"

"Just don't. Do it. Again. It was on a night like this too... The full moon... it looked exactly like this."

"you mean... the night your parents-"

"I thought we were safe, you know? My parents weren't exactly pushovers. I thought the witch hunters were down. Dealt with. Not dead, though... contrary to popular belief, my parents weren't actually monsters." I had a sinking feeling that I wouldn't like where this story was going. After all, we already knew the ending. Lucien was still here, but his parents... weren't. "...what went wrong?"

"One of them could still move, just a little bit. She pulled out a cross and started muttering something over it. 'Dear Father in heaven.' sound familiar to you?"

"That... you're not saying..." My head whipped around to stare at Zachary. His head still bowed over the cross. "It's the exact same incantation. I remember. And if i remember correctly how long it was, he should be opening his eyes... right... about... now." The cross let out a single flash of golden light. Zachary's irises blazed gold for a brief moment before returning to their usual blue shade. Then he leapt to his feet like he wasn't in any pain at all. Even though he still obviously hurt. The bruises and cuts on his skin looked bad as ever. Lucien let out a little sound of disgust. "This is why i hate witch hunters."

"Wait. So the witch hunter- did she...?" Lucien let out a wet shaky laugh. "We just... weren't expecting it, you know? My parents were so young... We had absolutely no idea what she was doing, until she..." he gestured wordlessly at Zachary. "Just look at him. He couldn't stand before, and now..." Lucien's lips were twisted into a bitter smirk. "The human body isn't designed to be pushed like that, but they do it anyway. Crazy, sociopathic freaks, all of them."