Mirrorless

Chapter 10

**TRIGGER WARNING MENTIONS OF SELF HARM**

A sweet relationship
With her skin and
Her blade, bittersweet.
Addicted to the feeling.

---------------------------

Lucille pulled the last of her suitcases to the car, brushing off a flustered butler.

"Miss Lucille, you can't-"

Lucille shot him a glare.

"I can and I will do whatever I want. You can't say or do anything to change my mind, so save your breath."

The butler sighed in defeat.

"What would you parents say?"

Lucille laughed.

"I don't care what they say. Now pack all my things in the car I'm leaving at the break of dawn."

The butler reluctantly motioned for the servants to get to work.

-------------------------

Lilian woke to the sound of insistent knocking at her door. She glanced around blearily, still half asleep and disoriented. She winced, pain shooting through her head as she got up to answer the door. She fumbled with the door knob, coming face to face with a glowing Lucille. Lilian's hand instinctively shot to her hair in an effort to smooth it out.

"Lucille?"

Her voice was rough and throaty. Lucille sighed and turned around, dragging three suitcases in at once. Lilian stepped back, watching in confusion. A few trips later, Lucille had finally brought in all her suitcases. She shut the door and dusted her hands off.

"I'm living with you from now on. Where's the spare bedroom?"

Lilian wordlessly pointed, her brow still furrowed in confusion. As Lucille began dragging her suitcases to the spare bedroom, Lilian trudged back to her room, burying herself under her mountain of blankets and pillows, unwilling to interact with any person other than herself.

When Lilian woke up hours later, her nose was greeted with the smell of something absolutely heavenly. Following the smell, she padded out of her room to see Lucille and the boys lounged across the couches, snacking on tater tots and engaging in careless banter.

As they noticed her presence and turned to greet her, she felt an inexplicable panic rise in her. She turned on her heel and ran back into her room, slamming the door behind her. She sank to the ground, wrapping her arms around herself, trying to suppress her panic.

After what had happened with Calix, Lilian felt herself panicking around people. She looked and felt her worse and anybody could tell. She hadn't left the house in days, shutting herself up in her room, sneaking out only to grab food from the fridge or for an occasional shower.

--------------------------

Lilian tugged on her sleeve nervously, clutching an envelope. Today would be the last day she'd ever see Calix. She had gone from bank to bank, getting loans to pay him back. The door to the cafe opened and Calix walked in, his face cold and stoic. He reached his hand out as he got closer, pulling the envelope from her hands. He tore open the envelope, not even sparing her a glance. He scanned the cheque quickly and then pocketed it. Without a word, he turned on his heel and left.

---------------------------

Lucille looked up, wincing as a harsh, severe tune attacked her ears. Setting her book down, she poked her head out of her room to see Lilian standing in the middle of the common area, sawing away at her violin with her bow. Her normally pleasant expression was twisted into an almost unrecognizable grimace. Bach had never sounded so torturous.

Lilian's tank top left the crisscrossing lines on her arms on full display, further accentuated by her impossibly pale skin. Lucille's heart sank as she realized what the lines were. She crept into the kitchen, grabbing the first aid kit under the sink. She rummaged through the box, pulling out cotton swabs and antiseptic.

As Lucille approached Lilian, Lilian stopped playing, opening her eyes. She dropped her violin and her bow, burying her face into Lucille's shoulder, her frail body racking with sobs.

----------------------------

Lilian brushed her hair back onto her face. Across from her, Aaron pursed his lips before reaching over and tucking her hair behind her ears.

"Lilian, nobody's looking at you. Besides, you look fine. Stop trying to hide."

Lilian glanced around at the rest of the restaurant. Everyone was absorbed in their own worlds, laughing and talking. She turned back to Aaron, who was smiling slightly.

"Lilian, you haven't been out in a month. Just relax. You need to stop cooping yourself up at home."

Lilian rolled her eyes and slouched in her seat.

"I'm out now, aren't I?"

"You're out, but it would be nice if you were enjoying yourself instead of trying to hide."

Lilian exhaled deeply before sitting straight. Aaron's lips twitched in something barely passable as a smile as a waiter set down their food in front of them. Lilian looked at her food, her stomach clenching.

"Aaron?"

Aaron paused mid-chew, looking at her quizzically. Lilian gestured to her food.

"What's this?"

Aaron resumed chewing and swallowed before responding.

"I heard you mentioning sometime that you really like the truffade here. So I thought you'd like to have it today."

Lilian shook her head, looking slightly flustered.

"It was, when Calix and I used to come here. I don't think I really want to have it today."

Aaron shrugged and reached over, switching their plates around.

"Now you don't have to. I only had one bite of mine."

Lilian flashed Aaron a quick, grateful smile.

-----------------------------

"Hey William, why do you hate fruits?"

William glanced sideways at Lucille.

"They're scary."

Lucille laughed, pulling out an apple.

"But look at them, they're harmless."

William jumped up and away from Lucille, holding his arms up in defensive.

"I knew it. I knew you were conspiring with the enemy."

Lucille laughed and scooted towards William, holding the apple out towards him. William's eyes flashed as he picked up the nearest object, a stress ball.

"Don't you dare. I will attack you with this very, very scary stress ball."

Lucille's jaw dropped in an expression of mock horror. She dropped the apple and clutched her hands to her chest.

"Oh no! Not the stress ball!!"

William smiled in triumph, puffing his chest out.

"Ha-HA! Nobody wins against the stress ball!"

Lucille collapsed in a fit of giggles while William just sat on the edge of the couch, looking extremely proud of himself. Lilian watched from the safety of her room, smiling to herself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello I'm BACK!

There's a lot of time skips in this chapter, my apologies. But I didn't want to sit people through scenes where there was nothing going on besides Lilian being a sad mess. Anyway, hope you enjoyed!