The Fall

The Escape

CLAIRE POV

I ran until my lungs and feet burned, pushing my body harder than it could really handle. To give it a reason to cry and scream and release the tornado of confusion wreaking havoc in my mind. A mindless zig zag through the city so that they wouldn't follow me. Though I suppose if the owl really wanted to track me it wouldn't be that hard for him.

My incoherent thoughts stumbled over the idea of Xavier being an owl.

It didn't surprise me when I found my feet encased by the cold sand of the beach. Waking up from my break from reality.

Without thinking about it I had made my way to the ocean. The frigid water chilled by winter was not yet warmed enough by the initial attempts of spring sunshine for general use, and a cluster of clouds had temporarily stolen the sun. So the stretch of beach bordered by sandy yellow cliffs was only populated with seagulls and exercise enthusiasts.

It was exactly what I needed.

I ran in screaming, and dove deep. Pulling myself under the icy waves until my lungs burned and fire filled my limbs, to come up gasping and laughing and crying.

I wasn't insane.

The owl and the man were one and the same. I had been in his arms at the clinic, though the rest of the time there was still a haze. I'm sure the itching and burning and heightened emotions were a human response to whatever he was. The doctor was in on it. Sally was in on it.

The warmth had drained me as I treaded water ejaculating emotion, so I dove down for round two.

This time was less shocking, and I was able to enjoy the tingling feeling of being so alive. I freed my arms from the straps of the dress and shivered at the water sliding over my sensitised bare skin. Pulling my hair behind me. Embracing everything I had to unload. Bubbles surrounded me as I shouted horrible things to last people I would have expected to lie to me. Sally and the Doctor.

Breaking the surface and filling my lungs with life, I allowed my mind to continue. The hippocratic oath and the inability for my best friend to be a moral hypocrite meant that there must be a damned good reason for gaslighting me.

Had she figured it out? Had Xavier told her while I was high as balls at the surgery?

No wonder he knew how to play my body like a fiddle, he had watched me get myself off and already gotten me off while I was high. How did I feel about that? Violated? No. I think I remembered telling him not to stop.

As my thoughts trailed over Xavier I wonder what it would be like having sex in the ocean at this time of year? Probably either phenomenal...or ending up in hospital with cases of hypothermia.

I dove down for the deepest and longest dive of the session so far. Icy water tugged at my dress, encouraging further exhibitionaism. Disturbed sand swirled around me as it was caught by the invisible currents, sunlight broke through clouds to glitter along the surface above me.

I angled towards the shore and emerged gasping. Chest heaving lungful after lungful to warm me up after the arctic sea. Warmth trickled out from my lungs to the tips of my fingers and toes, swirling black patterns took over my vision as I pulled up the straps of my ruined dress and intentionally hyperventilated. It was a full mental reset, and when the beachscape reappeared from the black swirls I felt at peace.

Seagulls squawked at the spectacle of a dripping smiling me as I wandered down the beach to my favorite cafe. I squawked back, wondering if any of them could turn into people, or if that was only for nocturnal hunters like owls...and wolves?