Day 23: Decay
31 days of Wayhaven
pairing: Lara x Nate
words: ~500
warning: mentioned death
Everything changed with time. She just hadn't expected it to happen so drastically.
The warehouse was in a state of decay, overgrown with vines and probably populated by the forest's creatures. They didn't go in to check, simply watched the place they had once called home.
A hand wrapped itself around her waist and she looked up to meet Nate's brown eyes filled with warmth. "Everything all right, love?"
She drew in a shaky breath. "Yeah. Thank you for coming with me though; I'm not sure I could have handled seeing it by myself."
"Of course." His long fingers drew soothing circles on her hip, the repeated motion helping bring her back to the here and now. Still, if she closed her eyes, she would see once upon a time when the place was filled with their life.
After a minute, she sighed. "There's not a lot more to see here. On to our next destination?"
He nodded, "Wherever you need to go," and they departed.
The town was still there, but there were different people walking the streets, different buildings. Some were torn down, and some were built anew; some changed on the inside but showed nothing outwardly, some changed exterior but still had the same heart. When she thought about it, it sounded a lot like people.
People are born and they die. It was an unescapable truth. At least, she had thought it was. Until she met Nate and the vampires, and found out it wasn't that way for everyone. Some people lived... forever. Could she call them people? They were supernaturals, not made to live in this world.
She barely noticed where her steps took her until the pavement gave way to grass, and she lifted her gaze. She always came back here, guided by voices of the past that wouldn't let themselves be silenced.
Tina Poname
Douglas Friedman
Bobby Marks
Somehow, she missed even him. Farther down the rows and rows of remembrance she went. At the very end, there were two stones in the earth.
Rebecca Croft
Charlotte Sewell
Different generations, but beside each other on the final journey. Would she ever meet them again? Maybe she would remain on this earth for far longer than she'd ever dreamed. She spoke softly, "They made their choice. I don't blame them."
Nate tugged her close to him and pressed a kiss to her temple. "I know."
She choked out, "I just - I just wish they hadn't. We watched her grow from a tiny cell to a," her voice caught in her throat, "a cranky grandma who always complained about people speaking too loud."
"Saria and Milo are still out there, in her old home. She lives on in their, and our hearts."
"I know. I wish we could see them. But they don't know about us. Sometimes I feel so alone in this world."
He took her hand in his. "I know it's tough, love, but please remember that as long as you've got me, you'll never be alone."
"Yeah." She blew out a breath. "Yeah, you're right."