(This chapter is oddly significant to me... hence the cool act card.)
3rd Person P.O.V.
Claire stood at the peak, overlooking the city down below. All she had on her was some clothes for her travels, a backpack, a pocket knife attached to her backpack via a carabiner, a miniature version of her staff attached to her backpack also via a carabiner, and a strange device clipped to her pocket.
This strange device was a radio of sorts that Claire invented herself. There were earbuds attached to it. She unclipped the device and pressed a button, turning on a random radio station. She stuck the earbuds in her ears and clipped the device to her backpack before walking away. But her eyes widened upon hearing an instrumental start. The song was familiar, but the lyrics were different...
It was clearly from Hamilton, but not a song included in the musical...
I saved every letter you wrote me
From the moment I saw you I knew you were mine
You said you were mine
I thought you were mine
Claire had heard about this song from Piper... it was the original version of the song Burn. Claire's blood began boiling as the song continued, realizing how closely she could relate to Eliza...
I'm burning the letters you wrote me
You can stand over there if you want
I don't know who you were
I have so much to learn
I'm re-reading your letters and watching them
Burn
Claire ran, hoping to escape her guilt. All attempts were futile. There was no way she could avoid HER feelings.
The feelings she didn't even know she had.
Max told her she had no heart, that she could never understand because she wasn't like him.
She wasn't human.
She didn't have feelings.
And that was when she lost it with him.
She lashed out.
That's what her guilt was about.
No matter how much he deserved it, Claire knew she shouldn't have done that.
Everything spiraled downhill from there.
Heaven forbid someone whisper
"He's part of some scheme!"
Your enemy whispers so you have to scream!
I know about whispers...
I see how you look at my sister...
Upon hearing Eliza sing those words, Claire couldn't help but think about Serenity, who was like a sister to her. It wasn't just Max she'd be leaving... she'd be hurting all her friends...
But Claire wouldn't let that overcome her.
She wasn't naive.
I have seen women around you
Don't!
Think I don't see how they fall for your charms!
All your charms!
Claire screamed and the crystal in her backpack glowed as she shot a bust of fire from her fist, burning the ground before her. She stood there, in tears as the song continued.
I'm erasing myself from the narrative
Let future historians wonder how Eliza reacted
When you broke her heart!
You've thrown it all away!
Stand back watch it
Burn
Claire ran around the fire and didn't watch where she was going. She almost ran over the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea.
And when the time comes
Explain to the children
The pain and embarrassment
You put their mother through!
Claire's bag dropped to the ground, and one of the carabiners on her bag had nothing attached to it... Claire was holding her pocket knife.
When will you learn?
That THEY are your legacy!
WE are your legacy!
If you thought you were mine...
Claire put the knife up to her hair, the back of the cold blade barely touching her neck. Claire's eyes glared out onto the horizon, letting the anger fuel her.
Don't!
"I thought I knew you... but I was wrong..." Claire's eyes burned as tears streaked down from her face. She then quietly sang to the tune she just heard.
"Let me erase myself from this narrative
Don't come crying when it's said and done
Forever I'll yearn
I'll never learn
And that's why you say I don't have feelings...
I'll let the past
Burn"
The fire she lit crackled as it was fueled with her emotion.
"Let this be the last time
I'll ever be this way
Let me be cold-hearted
Let me live my life alone
Stop haunting my decision
I'm done dealing with you
And I'll never see your face again!"
As the sun set on the horizon before her, a silhouette of Claire is seen collapsing to the ground.
"Let it all...
Burn..."
And everything faded to black as nighttime approached.
~~~~~~~~~~
I COULD SERIOUSLY MAKE AN ANIMATIC OUT OF THIS!!!
I am crying...
I'm sorry, but I had to do this to Claire...
Forgive me please.
I won't spoil what I just did, no matter how clear it is.
I'll leave that to the fandom... and future historians who try to retell SAMTBK or something in-universe...
Well... that's it.
Bye!
(Note: if you want to listen to First Burn, here's a lyric video.)
(Bye!)
YOU ARE READING
Timelines Are Not Meant To Be Joined Together (SAMTBK Vol. 5)
Fanfiction"My name's Destiny." "I'm Claire... Claire Nova." "Claire Nova? You're... Neol?" ----- "I'm Serenity." "That's my name too!" "Wow! That's amazing!" "Yeah... Mama really liked that name. She told me she knew my name before I was born." "That's nice."...
