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There’s an awful silence as I hop off Ekko’s hoverboard. Rubble crunches under my boots, tears falling to mix in with it. I can’t comprehend that my sister is gone. The thought persistent in my head and making my tears unable to stop. I look around and see all of Viktor’s fallen, metal minions lying all around on the ground. I look to my left and see Ambessa and Maddie both dead, my eyes widening in slight surprise but mostly relief. My wandering eyes land on Mel and realize she’s holding someone. My heart leaps into my throat as I recognize the unmistakable navy blue hair.
”No, no, no,” I start to panic, my eyes welling as I sprint over. I release the remaining gauntlet from my arm as I fall to my knees. Mel looks at me with a solemn expression, carefully passing Cait over to me. My chest constricts as my hands caress her face, my eyes frantically scanning her body. She’s bleeding from her side from a nasty wound that I instantly apply pressure to. My eyes go back to her face and notice the blood pouring from her left eye. Or where it used to be.
I can’t help the choked sob that escapes my throat as I cradle her, my hands covered in her blood. I take note of her chest rising and falling and the slight twitching of her right eye. She’s still alive. My vision blurred from crying, I pick her up and start carrying her as fast as I can, desperate to save her.
I wake up, shooting upright in a cold sweat. My breathing and heart rate trying to compete in a race, I run my fingers in my hair, leaving them there to hold tight onto the strands as I take deep breaths. I look down to see Cait still sleeping peacefully. My eyes wander her face, taking in every detail. From the slight furrowing in her brows as she dreams, to her hands curled up against her chest. I bring a hand up to gently stroke her cheek, my fingers brushing against her eye patch. I feel tears threatening to fall but I can’t be bothered to stop them as the thought that I very nearly lost Cait clouds my mind. I lean down and press a gentle kiss to her forehead before getting out of bed.
I quietly make my way downstairs and sit down on a table in front of the fireplace. My breathing still feels laboured and my chest keeps tightening, anxiety in a constant state of trying to take over. I close my eyes, focusing on the warmth of the fireplace as I breathe deeply, trying to keep my mind as blank as possible so I can calm myself. The soft echo of footsteps enter my thoughts as I feel a presence approach closer and closer until the aroma of lavender and vanilla takes centre stage in my senses. My eyes flutter open as I feel soft lips press against my cheek.
”Are you alright, Violet?” Cait asks quietly, her fingers gently running through the shorter strands of my hair. I sigh deeply, wringing my hands around.
”Just a nightmare. Well, memory of finding you after the war,” I tell her, my voice barely audible. “Finding you covered in blood, missing your eye. I could have lost you, Cait. I very nearly did,” my voice quivering, as I rest my head on her chest, her cheek pressing against the top of my head. I feel her hand come up to caress my cheek, her fingers wiping my tears and stroking my face tenderly. Her hand finds my chin, lifting it so I can meet her gaze.
”I’m so sorry, Vi.” She tucks some hair behind my ear before grabbing my hands in hers. “I understand your anxiety. I really do. As I fought, I didn’t know if I was going to see you again. If we had been in opposite positions, when you found me, I would have been so terrified thinking that you were gone.” I give her hands a gentle squeeze and she reciprocates.
“I should have been there to help. I.” I’m cut short by Cait holding a finger to my lips.
”I don’t want you blaming yourself anymore. It’s alright, Vi. I’m right here. Might have lost an eye out of it, but I’m here, aren’t I?” I nod silently as she cups my face. “That’s what I want you to focus your mind on instead. To try and help to calm yourself in a bit of a quicker way. The fear of almost losing me can try and preoccupy your mind, but the reality is that I’m alive. I survived and I’m right here with you,” she reassures me and I nuzzle my cheek into her hand.
“Thank you, Cait,” I whisper, leaning up to press my forehead to hers, as she gently kisses me.
”I love you, Violet,” she whispers and my breath hitches as I pull away slowly to look into her bright cerulean eye. I lean in and my lips capture hers in a soft but passionate kiss.
”I love you too, Cait. I love you so much,” my voice shuddering as I speak those words to her for the first time, even though they’d replayed in my mind a thousand times over. I pull her in for another kiss before my lips move to her neck, softly kissing and sucking on the skin. I feel my face being carefully lifted away and I look up at Cait with confusion written in my expression.
”You need sleep, darling.” I don’t respond and instead pout my lip out at her slightly. “You’ll be so tired tomorrow,” she adds. I really don’t want to go back to bed, worried that I’ll just wake up from another nightmare. I can see Cait notice my anxiety.
”I’ll be right with you, Vi,” she reassures me, standing up and giving me her hand. I take it as she leads me back upstairs, her fingers intertwining in mine. I step foot back in her room as she shuts the door. I flop onto the bed, tiredness becoming more apparent in my body. Cait slides in next to me.
”Can you hold me while I sleep, Cupcake?” I ask, my voice sounding unsure. She doesn’t say a word and opens her arms. I wrap an arm around her waist, the other curled up against her chest, gently holding onto her shirt. The heaviness of my eyelids has become too much for me to fight and I shut my eyes in an attempt to try and get some more sleep.
”I’m always here, Violet. I promise,” those being the last words I hear before I doze off again.