a willow's bloom | ✓

scene two

FEBRUARY was a time of bliss and love, as Lilith remembers. The cold air mixed with heavy wind was the perfect weather to start her game. Grinning so wide her face hurt, she sprinted towards Amber, who was laying on the grass, gazing at the clouds.

"Amber! Amber! Guess what?" she giddily asked.

"What do you want, Lili?"

"Come play with me! I made a new game, and I need your help."

Amber groaned, but stood up nonetheless. "Only this once, idiot, you hear?"

Lilith jumped in accomplishment and nodded. Grabbing her older sister's hand, she quickly took off, pulling her along. "The faster we get to the lake, the faster we can finish the game. I know you don't like spending lots of time with me."

Amber huffed and glanced down at Lilith. She was only six, yet she had such a huge imagination already. It made Amber feel like she could have been smarter at six, if she only applied herself more.

Finally arriving at the lake by their property, Lilith plopped onto the ground, landing on her knees. She patted the space next to her, and Amber reluctantly obeyed. 

"So what now?" she inquired. 

Lilith crawled into the lake. "We swim!" 

Amber would have laughed and walked away leaving her weird sister behind, except Lilith did not know how to swim, and she would drown if Amber didn't jump in after her. Just as she realized, Lilith began sinking into the murky lake, and Amber nearly dove in, had she forgot that it was not deep, for her. 

"You idiot!" she screeched at Lilith as she got hold of her. "You could have—" 

Lilith forcefully grabbed Amber's head and shoved it straight into the water, her sister wriggling around, attempting to escape. She was able to hold her under long enough, and Amber began to make gurgling sounds as though she was intaking all the water. 

Lilith happily giggled, pushing Amber's head further into the lake, as Amber's arms were wildly swinging around, splashing the water with tremendous anger. 

When she stopped moving altogether, Lilith quickly removed them both from the lake. She knew Amber was moronic enough to believe she had not yet learned to swim, yet she was practicing weeks prior for this exact moment. 

She tugged Amber all the way to a group of bushes, taking out the pocket knife she stole from her father. Switching it open, she grabbed her sister's arm, and got to work. 

By the time she as done, she got the dried out pen she kept, and dipped it into Amber's blood. She grabbed the paper she left under the bush, which was now slightly covered in dirt with spots of blood, and started writing a riddle for her parents. It was the second part of her little game, and she couldn't wait for them to play along.

❖

Ticking filled the otherwise silent chamber, as all five occupants huddled in one group. The governor, which took time for Lilith to notice, was trembling on the floor, waiting for John Watson to shoot him in the head. 

"Please!" he sobbed. 

John tightened his grip on the trigger, and the governor shut his eyes. It was tense for a couple of seconds, until John let out a deep breath and backed away.

"I can't." He lowered the gun and turned back towards Sherlock. "I'm sorry. I can't do it." 

Lilith frowned at their tense actions, observant. She never once considered killing a bad thing, until she had met Molly, who showed her there was more to life than being sealed away from life. Her eyes suddenly widened as she remembered what happened moments before she passed out. She told Molly she never loved her. But she did; at least, she thought she did. Then again, Eurus made her heart race in ways she didn't really understand before.