Prompt #69
Escape
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Wei Wuxian knelt in the ancestral hall, head bowed low as words that cut like shards of glass rained down upon him.
He knew the words were false, he knew the accusations were unfounded. But knowing that didn't stop the words from hurting, or from questioning his worth to the family.
The words were punctuated by merciless lashes upon his back. But he made no sound, allowing only silent tears to fall down his cheeks, knowing that retaliation in any form would only make it worse, not only for him but for everyone else as well.
When at last Madam Jiang threw down the whip and stormed out, he curled himself up into a little ball and began sobbing loudly on the floor, his whole body shaking with the violent rush of emotions.
When finally his tears stopped falling, he laid on the floor, motionless, his back stinging from the lashes, her words still humming in his ears.
Was he truly the ungrateful wretch she had called him? Did he truly not deserve to live? Maybe.
Maybe he should just die right here, right now, and the pain would stop. Was that the only escape? Death?
He pushed himself up to sitting, and shook his head.
No, he knew what he was capable of, and he wasn't capable of that.
But…
He could leave, couldn't he? Leave the clan. That would make the pain stop. He would no longer be worthless. No longer a burden. No longer the filthy street rat leeching off the family.
He packed a few things and slung the sack over his shoulder. Was it this easy to leave? His foot was already over the threshold. Just one more step—
A soft gasp from behind made him stop, and he knew without turning who it was.
"Wei Wuxian, are you leaving?"
None of the usual harshness and banter, none of the sass and arrogance. Jiang Cheng's voice was plainly and simply awashed with concern, his fears out in the open.
Wei Wuxian hung his head wordlessly. He wanted to leave. Life would be so much simpler.
But could he leave behind the ones he loved more than his own life? His adopted father, his brother, his sister. Could he bear to break their hearts?
He knew he could not.
But, above all else, he knew that the anger that tormented him would not simply disappear once he left. It would simply seek another target. More than anything, he couldn't bear to think of his sister or his brother or even his adopted father coming under its burning flames, to be ripped to shreds, to be stripped of humanity.
With him here, at least, it found an easy target.
He withdrew his foot and stood once again within the confines of the door.
A smile appeared on his lips as he turned around to face Jiang Cheng.
"Of course not."
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