𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒍𝒇 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 ➪ «𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛»

ch. LIV - 《serendipity》

whew babes, i'm tired from all the schoolwork i procrastinated on in favor of writing this lmaoo

pls appreciate me, im a struggling artiste

oOo

When Diana returned to her own body, she found herself the target of two intense stares. Uneasiness settled into the pit of her stomach once she saw she was no longer in the safety of her new room and the group she'd chosen, but rather with bow on her lap, once again in Hershel's by-now-familiar drawing room. Sitting next to her on the sofa and across from her on the armchair were Rick and Hershel, respectively.

The best her anxious brain could muster was, "Wuh just happened?" The energy in the room was very ambiguous and hard to read.

"I believe your alter ego was attempting to leave an impression, Ms. Lobo. What was the name you gave her? Minerva? Very clever." Hershel stood like a whirlwind, storming over to his desk while keeping his back to them.

"That's- that's not-" Diana had no idea what she was trying to defend. What had Minerva said? What had she done?

Rick stood as well and joined the older man, whispering harshly, "You don't mean to tell me you don't believe what you saw with your own eyes." He gestured at her, and Diana felt the bow hum even deeper on her lap; defensive.

"There is only one God, all of this is blasphemy." He glared at her over his shoulder, his eyes like a tornado of emotions. "When my time comes, I will not be following you into hell."

Oh, so Minerva had told them everything. "Listen, Hershel, I don't know exactly what I missed but everything she told you is true."

"I refuse to believe a word of it. You are just a girl who is delusional and sick. Dissociative identity disorder, schizophrenia, exceptional acting, call it however you want, it is not real!"

"And the bow? Is that acting too?" The state of passiveness had flowed past, now she was frustrated as hell. "Do you think, maybe, that I'm just a really skilled magician? Is it sleight of hand when the arrows appear out of thin air? You think I hide them up my sleeve?" She stood, almost stomping her foot in indignation but not letting herself fall into the childish move.

Rick nodded at her and then faced Hershel, who kept his back turned to Diana. "What does she... what do we gain in lying?"

"Were you tryin' to make my Maggie join your little cult?" Hershel turned back around as if the realization hit him suddenly, totally ignoring Rick.

Diana furrowed her brow. "Cult? You mean back in her room? That was no fucking cult, man, I was trying to summon Minerva." Ah, shit, not the best phrasing.

"Summon her?!"

"That's not what I mean." But it was. "I... I..." For all the toughness she was putting up, she could feel it slowly tearing apart at the seams, replaced by frustration and anger. The tears already stung her sinuses and squeezed her throat. She fucking hated confrontation. "Look, I'm just surprised as you are! You think I asked for this? I live half afraid of flesh-eating creatures and half terrified of how people like you will react when they see what I can do!

And I'm giving you definite proof of a higher power, does it matter what form it takes? Isn't that enough? Are you really gonna put their existence on my shoulders? Why should I carry that burden? And why should I pay for something I had no choice in?"

In the following silence, Rick added, "Who are you to cast stones in the name of a god?"

Hershel's eyes were downturned, brow heavy and pensive.