#i:rory

[qvintcssence]

The sun hung low in the evening sky, both illuminating the city and casting deep shadows across ally ways. Summer had approached quickly. The days were growing longer—warmer—as they passed, and it was nice; being in this moment. If only temporarily, they were free from all the horrors brewing outside of their town. They were protected by the magic within; by the blood within their own skin. More often than not, though, Rory worried it wasn’t enough. Her parents were out there; her grandparents... her little brother, even. A deadly virus was running rampant, and save for begging her girlfriend to run out there and bite them, there was little she could do. 

It didn’t seem fair. Then again, the world rarely was. She was sitting beneath a tree, her camera bag at her side, when her phone buzzed. “Dad” flashed across the screen and she finished chewing her sandwich before setting it aside and lifting her phone. Opening the text, her brows furrowed. “Dad just sent me a bunch of bread and a fried egg...” She said. There was a hint of questioning in her voice, but before she could ask, several other messages came through. “Wait, now he’s sending me a pie. Two pies? Two peanuts....” She looked up, still more confused. “I have no idea what this means.” Quarantine must be getting to him, she thought. Returning to her phone, she typed out a quick response, speaking the words slowly as she wrote, “You’re—cracked.” She chuckled. 

[qvintcssence]

( @howlingwind — Chrissy)

Rory strummed on her guitar, singing an acoustic mash up of Blank Space and Style by Taylor Swift. She didn’t do this often anymore. When she’s first got to New York, she would go to Times Square and perform all the time, but it was always more about handing out the photography cards Syria had helped her make than the music. She wasn’t a stellar musician, but playing popular music seemed to get the attention of New Yorkers about as well as anything else. But then Devone interfered, and she was so traumatized and academically behind that she’d simply forgotten.

Now, she sat on the polluted sidewalk, cross legged and shoeless, hair tied up in a messy bun and a stack of business cards by her side. It felt a little like returning to her roots, and if she made a little money? That was good too. She really needed to buy a decent ring. The ring pop, cute as it was, wasn’t cutting it anymore.

“Hey there!” She called out, pausing her singing but continuing to strum. A beautiful young woman was passing by, and Rory could only hope that she was a student or actor in need of some photos. “You look exceptionally photogenic,” she declared. “Any chance you need a photographer? College graduation is right around the corner...”

[qvintcssence]

( @ofcaliginous​​ — Sam)

The first thing she noticed was her wrists. They were bound and rubbed raw, the angry red marks stinging her skin with each and every movement. She knew the feeling well, and instantly, panic washed over her. “No,” she breathed. “No, no, no...” Her lip quivered, and she whimpered before the anger settled in. She screamed at the top of her lungs, frantically yanking at the chains but to no avail. 

She was back. 

Somehow, she always knew she would be.

The only hope she had was— She jerked around desperately searching the dimly lit room and froze at what she saw. Reese chained lifeless from the ceiling, blood dripping to the floor. Sam was nowhere to be found. The color drained form her face, and she screamed. She screamed, and she screamed, and she screamed. Her wrists ripped open as she tugged and pulled at her chains. Reese was dead, and Sam was gone, and she was all alone. It could only mean one thing. He had her, and this time, there was no escape. She could hear him laughing; taunting, and jeering. 

She screamed until her throat felt horse and raw when suddenly, her eyes snapped open and she jolted awake. She sat up in her bed, throat burning and covered in sweat. She reached up to touched her cheek. She was crying, but she was free. It was only a dream. 

[qvintcssence]

(  @ofcaliginous. -viktor)

She was just about to bite into a nice, warm, pretzel when she saw him. They were older now, and she was happy (truly), but those feelings of betrayal—that first heartbreak—were as raw as they were when she was fifteen. 

“Oh, fuck me,” she groaned, immediately annoyed by his mere presence. “You’re still here?” 

[qvintcssence]

She wrung her hands, gazing intently at the floor as she paced. Back and forth. Back and forth. She felt as though she’d been doing it for hours. And who knows? Maybe she had, but her mind was elsewhere, stuck very much on the person right behind it. She snuck a peek at the bathroom door but turned away quickly, the steady stream of water still sounding from behind. Why was this so hard? She bit her lip, trying again to find the courage to go in there. She shook her hands, attempting to rid herself of nerves. 

Just two years ago this was something that she never wanted, and now, she couldn’t imagine her life without it. The words were as true as anything she’d ever known, but the thought of losing her now? ...It was unbearable. She sucked in a breath, incapable of waiting any more, and marched to the bathroom door, pausing just inches before it.  

She stared, body shaking and more terrified than she’d ever been. This was it. Reaching for the knob, she flung open the door and headed straight for the toilet, slamming down the lid and plopping atop it. She ignored the hazy fog, letting her face fall into her hands. “I need to talk to you,” she said. No turning back now.  // @ofcaliginous

[hunter-somtimes-tee]

[Left in his room inside a box]

I know we’re not very close, but I decided to get something everyone this year, and I thought those gifts would be perfect, the hug coupon never expires, so you don’t need to worry about using right away, and you can use it every time you need a hug, and I will be more than willing to give you one, the snow globe I thought was cute, I hope you like the gifts, Merry Christmas.       - Rory

Thank you Rory! They're amazing!