Some Scars Don't Heal ~openish~

[Elle Brayelle]

Elle tossed and turned as she heard the storm beat against the window. She had asked for a room with now windows, but apparently the top tower was the only one they had open. It was better than no roof.

The night was dark, and the sky light was being hit by something, she couldn't tell what. The rain was hitting hard, the wind reacting the way it howled before.

Elle was in a closet of the castle, her eyes stinging. Her sleeves wet with salt water. That's what her mother had told her once at least. That tears were salt water. The noises had finally stopped, the castle completely quite.

Elle moved back the panel that had kept her hidden, taking some time to find the latch. The room was entirely dark. She felt her way to the door knob of the closet and opened it into the moonlight hall way. Elle swallowed.

She could sense something was wrong. Of course It would be wrong. But the entire energy of the castle was wrong. She wished she could feel, or hear something. Her hand felt for the wall. It touched something wet and sticky. She pulled her hand back and sniffed. Coppery.

Elle heard foot steps coming down the hall.

"FATHER? Father? Is that you? Father?" She called out.

She felt someone wrap their arms around her, she could smell the musky scent of Austin. "Austin? Where's my father?" Elle asked.

Elle could feel Austin studying her. Probably staring at her scars.

"Elle, your father died in the raid." Austin said.

Elle felt her knees grow weak and collapsed against Austin.

"No, no no no no no." she repeated over and over. Her cries turning to sobs.

She tossed in her sleep. Calling out to her father in her sleep. Repeating no. Calling Austin.

[Austin Tride]

Austin rushed into Elle's room, hearing her cries.

He sat down on the edge of her bed grabbing her hands and making her sit up.

"Ms. Brayelle! Elle! It's me, Austin. Wake up." He said, quickly.

[Elle Brayelle]

Elle heard Austin's voice and opened her eyes. Only to show she was awake.

The dream faded. She could see in her nightmares and dreams sometimes. But some things she could never see. Like Austin, no matter how hard she tried she couldn't picture him, at all. Though, who knew if her 'sight' and reality mixed.

"Austin?" she said, giving him a hug. "I was remembering again. I just can't get it out of my head."

[Austin Tride]

Austin just held the girl to his chest.

He had no idea what to say. The girl was scared. Sometimes imagination can be worse than the real. Though, he could barely see something worse than the after math of the raid.

[Elle Brayelle]

Elle felt safe with Austin, probably the only one left that she would ever feel safe with.

"Austin, Can you see the stars from the window? Or are the clouds covering them tonight? The storm is very loud. Is there lightning? I hear thunder, but I can't tell if there is lightening or not. Isn't there always lightening with thunder though? Is it light or sound that travels faster. Light right? There's that rule about counting thunder after seeing lightening. Can you see the stars?" Elle rambled.

Austin barely talked so she found rambling to fill the silence. She didn't mind the silence but sometimes words filled her vision's gap.

[Austin Tride]

Austin smiled. Elle was odd when she babbled sometimes.

"No, I can't see the stars, Miss Brayelle. Light is faster than sound." Austin said.

[Elle Brayelle]

Elle turned her head up, she didn't know what part of his face her eyes were focused at but she hoped it was his eyes.

"Why do you call me Miss Brayelle, Austin? Aren't we good enough friends that it is no longer needed?" she asked.