Apotheosis- A TGWDLM Fanfic

Chapter Eight: Voices In My Head

Harriet opened her eyes groggily. Where was she? She didn't remember what she was doing. Or why she wasn't at home. Although... there was something very familiar about her current situation. She couldn't for the life of her figure out what it was though. She breathed in. Ah yes. The apotheosis had begun. It was all coming back. She'd killed a lot of shit. She made a friend. And... holy fuck they were on a time limit before they fucking died! She bolted upright, and felt a tug at her hair as she did, wincing in pain. Wait. She'd braided that. That meant...

She turned to look behind her, only to be met by her uncle's eyes. He'd been playing with her hair. So THAT was the familiar feeling. Her eyes widened. Oh god. She remembered now. He was one of them. They'd fully taken him over. But if that were the case... why wasn't she dead? He should be tearing her guts out or something, not combing through her hair. Was this heaven? Had she died? She looked around. Heaven looked a lot like a sketchy alleyway. She concluded she must be alive. But how...

"Good. You woke up." Henry cleared his throat, interrupting her thoughts.

"I should be dead." Harriet blurted out.

"If by that you mean I should have killed you, you're entirely right." Henry sighed. "But they let me go again."

"Fucking plot development." Harriet grumbled.

"I see you and I have come to the same conclusion." Henry smirked.

"It's only logical." Harriet shrugged. "Their last plot left on a cliffhanger. So they needed a sequel. But a sequel that people would actually watch. Not just a simple murder. No. They needed a complex, emotional plot. Which was why they were going to have you kill me, even after we had reconciled."

"And they're doing it again." Henry admitted.

"What?" Harriet quirked an eyebrow.

"They've let me go for plot development on your part, and Paul for Emma." Henry revealed, pulling Harriet in closer to him. He wrapped an arm around her protectively while his other hand ran through her hair.

"Paul? As in..." Harriet realized, a tinge of jealousy kicking in. He had better not steal her one friend.

"Allow me to introduce you." Henry chuckled. "Paul, she's awake!"

"Which one?" A man hurried around the corner and into the alleyway.

Harriet took a moment to take in her surroundings. Something was on her hand. She looked down to see her hand tightly gripping Emma's, who was right beside her. Good. Emma was safe. Other than that, there was blue shit and trash everywhere. The man she was looking at looked absolutely exhausted. He wore a white dress shirt with a black tie. His chestnut hair was neatly combed, his pastel blue eyes wide with anticipation. His clothes was neatly pressed... obviously not the state they'd been in after the apotheosis. He'd dressed up. Likely to win Emma back. Which she had no problem with so long as it didn't interfere with her friendship with Emma.

"Mine." Henry told him. "Paul Matthews, Doctor Harriet Hidgens. Harriet, Paul Matthews."

"I wish we were meeting under more casual circumstances." Harriet smiled softly at him.

"Ummm... thanks?" Paul quirked his head to the side a little. "How long until Emma wakes up?"

"Again, I don't know!" Henry rolled his eyes.

"Believe me, I am as anxious as you." Harriet added. She needed to set boundaries. Paul was not the only one there for Emma, and he needed to know that. "She was trying to tell me something before we both passed out. I'd like to know what it was."

"Well what did it sound like?" Paul asked, eager.

"Is this really necessary?" Henry huffed.

"It could be important." Paul reasoned.