forest fire

@echocleary-blog

there are a HUNDRED things she has tried to chase away -- the things she WON'T remember and that she can't even LET herself think about because that's when the ( birds scream ! ) and the WORMS crawl and S O M E W H E R E in her mind it's always RAINING a slow and endless drizzle. penned & loved by: 𝒸𝑒𝒸𝑒

12 posts

Posts

wiithdrcwn:

“I didn’t—” He sighed, cutting himself off. The male needed to remind himself that she had no idea of the danger she was in and despite his intentions, he already had doubts about how well he could protect her. “You were already a target because of your brother. I only agreed to do this when I found out it was you.” Kidnapping someone had never appealed to Matthew. He grew bored too quickly with people since he refused to grow attachments but Echo was different. He left her because he had grown attached before he could stop it and now he was back at square one as he stared down at her.

A huff, childish and frustrated, left her tiny frame. Figures he wouldn’t address the bulk of what she had just said. She had too many questions, her head felt crowded with them. Not to mention her lack of sleep. Her hands raked through her dark hair, pulling it back off her flushed face. “I suppose I should say thank you.” Echo says in an exhale, half-hearted but genuine. “So. Who do you work for and why do they want me? To extort my brother? He won’t care.”

#ch: matthew fairchild

wiithdrcwn:

Frustration would have come easy if it weren’t for the fact that he knew the reason behind Echo’s wild suspicions. Maybe not so wild considering the situation but she expected to be hurt. It sting that she might have the slightest belief he would actually do that to her. Killing had become normal for him, it wasn’t party of his own daily role within the gang but it happened on occasion and it never surprised him when someone came back reeking of copper or bleach. “No, I’m not… That’s why I’m the one taking responsibility for you. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you,” he assured, trying to keep his tone even.

Eyes narrow once more, a head tilt following not far behind. In another world, she could be comforted by that answer. In another world she might even say thank you. In another world Echo trusted him still. “Right. You’ll protect me.” She said slowly, her voice rather soft compared to usual. “You left me.” She meant to yell, she really did. But it came out horse and strained. “You left me and it’s been years and you never called, or texted, or anything -- and now you kidnap me and tell me you’re protecting me?” Echo finally managed to give her words a little bite as she stepped closer to her sort-of-ex.

#ch: matthew fairchild

wiithdrcwn:

That had not been the first question he expected to hear upon their reunion but it was narcissistic to think that what they had in the past would take priority over her confusing situation. He wished they would give the kidnapees some sort of explanation while they stayed in the attic but half the fun was supposed to be that they were clueless. “Your–? Uh, no. Do you have any idea who took you?”

No? He didn’t work for her brother. Things suddenly seemed much worse. So much worse. Seeing him working for her brother could make sense. It would even make sense out of what had happened between them a couple years ago. He could be just another shit head drug dealer then, her brother could set the whole thing up. Her brain stumbled for a new explanation but came up short. Aside from the terrible, obvious one. Matthew worked for one of her brother’s enemies. Her eyes fell to the floor, head shaking no in a flip of tousled dark hair. “Are you going to kill me, Matthew?” Echo’s voice only broke slightly as she lifted her head to meet his eyes.

#ch: matthew fairchild

wiithdrcwn:

Fire. That’s what he had noticed about her the first time they met. It was dull sometimes but always present in her eyes. Even now it made him chuckle to hear her through the walls of his room, spit insults at men that were probably twice her size. Steeling himself for what he had to do, he took a deep breath before opening the door. He ignored her as he stepped to the side so they could lead her in, nodding for them to leave once he was sure she wouldn’t have time to escape once they let her go. “So um… you’re probably confused,” he started, refusing to look at the girl after they left.

Relief, misplaced but so pleasant, rushed over her. If she was going to die, this would be an odd way. He wouldn’t hurt her. Right? Green eyes watched him carefully, her brain scrambling to process seeing him again. A hollow feeling of pain radiated in her chest, almost as an afterthought -- there wasn’t time to feel it right now. “You work for my brother?” She asked immediately, voice raw from yelling. Her tone was softer now, weary and suspicious, as her arms crossed over her chest.

#ch: matthew fairchild

( @wiithdrcwn )

Fine, maybe she had been in over her head. Echo could only hope she had been captured by her brother and not a rival of his. The past two days had been alternating outbursts of demands to speak to him and pleas that she had money -- she could buy her way out of this. “Watch it!” The two hands wrapped around her bony arms tightened as she struggled and her feet were practically off the ground as they hauled the small woman from the attic. She didn’t stop shouting until they set her back down in front of a door, Echo wringing free from their grasp. Straightening as the escorts knocked on the door, she ran through the list of threats she had prepared the last two days. “Castor, I swear to god I will kick your tiny balls so hard you choke on---” The words ripped from her throat as the door opened, stolen by the face it revealed. “Matthew?”

#ch: matthew fairchild