Chapter 6

*trigger warning*

Mentions of physical abuse

Perspectives on Lilliana, Addie, Ade and Rylee

Eyes, black eyes blend with unforgiving shadows. Darkness closing. It seems to Addie that as the sun begins to rise and the light glows on the undisturbed ground that it is just getting darker. Harder to breathe as they close in. She speeds down upturned streets, but you cannot escape the darkness and you can escape light. Willows whispering shadows begging for her to join them. The shadows change always changing to unforgiving things but now Addie slows because they look kinder now. Their unforgiving words now sweet kind lullabies. She shook her head surly not, this had to be a trick. She felt safe as she approached a small lake and looping river that seemed to never end. It had to be a trick. She had never seen the shadows this gentle. Never felt kindness from them.

Cool breeze on stinging skin-soothing searing burns. Rylee approaches crumbled buildings on how it felt to finally be free. The smell of old woods and salty breeze. Why had they come here they had not known but they are here. Unknown to Rylee a kind smile and gentle touch awaits them when they stumble to a lone lake, a broken girl unknown by her own worth.

Addie gasped at the sight of this new person as they stumbled towards her. She had not been sure whether they were female or not but judging by the short hair but feminine figure she had thought better of using either until shed known for sure. The shadow that this person had was angry, but it did not feel like they were a danger to her and that is exactly why when this young person stubbled towards her covered in burns she caught them with open arms.

Tending to the flaring burns neither Rylee nor Addie spoke to each other. Coldwater was, unfortunately, all they had and its worried Addie. She had been far too used to tending to wounds, but these seemed to still be inflicting themselves. They were warm and sizzled when she pressed the torn cloth from her own shirt into them. The two of them had been so focused on the task at hand that they both jumped startled when a man ran to them screaming incoherent words. Lisping the broken words and howling sobs.

Ade had felt like he had lost his mind as his feet started to fall over each other in a frantic run. He had never been used to not having people around. Even when he had been at home he only ever stayed to sleep or for two hours alone. He had preferred to help his struggling community. Thinking of home brought a pang to his heart what had happened to them if he had turned up here. He screamed in relief when he had stumbled into the two girls sitting next to the flowing creek. had not meant to startle them as he had but it seems that even if he had not yelled, he would have still scared then these poor people had been through far more than he ever had. and he realised as he delved into the story of their aura that one of the girls was rather a 'they' not confined by the force of gender.

"I'm sorry I did not meant to scare you, I um apologize it's just its been awhile since I've seen anyone," his words were stuttered and he seemed so entirely earnest, his shadow had radiated a warmth that Addie had never felt before. She was comforted by just being in this man's presence but as the younger person in front of her began to shake with fear shed known they didn't feel the same.

"hey, you're alright he won't hurt you child trust me," Addie whispered to them softening herself in a way she remembered only her mother could. "I'm Addie and judging by the look of you both you ended up here the same way I did so we might as well stick together." Ade had been stung by the realisation that these two did look a lot like they had been throne into the water without a moment notice the same way he had been. Delving into the darkness of their auras he found just that, how had he not seen that in their past before.

"it was a regular day in the office when the building began to shake and I heard the floor crack underneath me and I was just in the water and um my name is Ade," it was clear to Addie that the man who sat in front of her had not been used to meeting the same way someone from the city had been. His movements were gentle, but his eyes flickered between them consistently. "I've never told anyone this but I can read auras and they tell me what kind of person you are, your intention and your past," this worried Rylee further she didn't like people knowing what had happened to her.

"I'm Rylee and I escaped from the psych ward by jumping in a river which ended up in me being here," Rylee knew from all their treatment that it was better to be direct. "And I'm getting sick of introducing myself every dam day so ill just fucken say it, the scars on my back never heal and burst into flames when I feel anything of anything," it was the first words Addie had heard from Rylee and she was surprised by how abrasive they had been. Ade felt terrible for them when their painful story flashed in their aura.

"well my boyfriend abused and used me before breaking my heart and leaving me on a curb, the shadows brought me here," the others looked confused "I can see and hear shadows communicated with them and such and they tell me if a place or person is safe," the others nodded," Ade was not used to having to feel so protective of people hating anyone that he didn't even know. They had hurt someone so innocent and these people truly were innocent and had no reason to ever be hurt the ways they had.