Burn
The girl squeezed the lighter a little tighter between her bruised fingers.
Warmth from the burning house was the only thing that seemed to reach the frozen edges of her heart.
She thought it was ironic, that the house that had turned her very soul to ice was now warming her. She had dreamed of this moment almost subconsciously. She had yearned for it, but she had never dared to think it was possible. The day that she would finally be free, had until today just been a blurry image that had kept her going on the really bad days.
How many years had it been? Five?
Something in her warmed at the thought that it was over and despite it all, she was still alive. She had survived years of abuse and pain and she felt just a little better watching the flames burn her old life to the ground. She was ready.
Ready for the change, whatever that may be.
The Mob boss slid from his perch on her abusive ex's favored car, a baseball bat his only companion-- besides her--of course.
He swung the arm holding the bat around her much smaller shoulders as he watched the glass of the windows explode from the heat.
Months ago any touch from any man would have sent her into a panic. Just the fact that his touch didn't terrify her anymore meant that she had made some progress.
"Looks like your nightmares stop here Salty." He murmured while hunching over so he was closer to her height. Dark eyes as solid as coal meeting her own. They, even with their bruding edge were warm and welcoming; they had a softness to them that had somehow become a refuge. A home.
It was strange that a man who looked so cold could turn out to be so kind and good.
She darkly snorted to herself. Who was she to think she knew someones deepest intentions? She had so far been a poor judge of character and it had ruined her.
She gave him a weak smile but shook her head slowly. "I don't think they will simply stop just by burning down this house Fluke, there is a lot more to my nightmares than just this house." She hated to admit it, but it was true. Her demons ran far deeper than something as materialistic as this burning pile of wood.
Fluke looked pensive, the dark circles under his eyes were even more prominent then usual. Though he would never admit it, he had been worried for her. "Well we will meet those bridges when we come to them or somethin'." He said with a shrug.
She couldn't help the small laugh that came from her lips. "That sounds like something from one of my books." He was so simple and to the point. Everything was black and white fir him.
Fluke looked away from her amused stare a snort coming from his lips "Whatever ya want to believe Salty." He switched the bat over to his other hand and turned away from the house, bored of the spectacle that had long sense lost any interest to him. Grabbing her fingers he began to lead her away. "Let's go make you a new home Salty," They both passed the once beautiful mustang that was now beaten in beyond recognition by the bat Fluke carried. "Kinda like one of those nice homes in yer books." His giant hand squeezed her fingers gently. "A place you can get better."
Tears pooled in her eyes as she looked at the tall menacing mobster that had somehow become one of her dearest friends.
Didn't he realize it?
She had found her home already.
She swallowed the lump in her throat as they made their way towards Fluke's SUV
"Yeah that sounds good." She whispered.