seeinghcsts

[seeinghcsts]

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎— ALL THOMAS COULD muster in reply to the comment that came from what he had learned to be loose lips was roll his eyes , tilting his head forward before dramatically tossing it back to THUNK against the cabin wall behind him . he sipped air slowly , cautiously , through his nostrils as if worried the very virus in question was drifting on the stale air between them . if he got sick , he'd go to find luke in the great beyond by hurling himself off a fuckin' cliff . having to deal with all of this and a cold ?? thomas would die . one way or the other .

with each sneeze , thomas winced , striking his spine against rotted wood as the urge to curse at milo pinched his throat , catching his tongue between his teeth . maybe he'd go stay with cam and eliza ; a circumstance that , at one point in time , seemed too close for comfort but now was appearing to be his only saving grace lest he catch whatever illness was accompanying the drugs and bottomless stupidity that coursed through milo's body .

" you get cam sick , it'll be a whole other fuckin' problem , man , " thomas grit between his teeth , closing his eyes , feeling the thrum of his pulse as a headache bloomed in his temples . the temptation to continue knocking his skull in rhythm with his heartbeat on the wall behind him was so strong it felt irresistible . so , he tightened his jaw , rounded his arms around his legs , and dropped his forehead to his knees instead .

" you don't wanna know , " thomas groaned into denim , just thinking about the camera's price tag enough to make his already flittering patience thin . " - way too much fuckin' money . too bad i didn't pay the god damn insurance on it cause i didn't account for the mindfulness of my company. "

"you don't have to be so violent. a virus is like a lil kiss from the wind... but i'll do my best to steer clear." they emphasize their point by stopping just short of the doorway, putting the short distance of the cabin inbetween the two. they're on the ground in seconds— milo would only be standing as long as they needed to at any given moment, legs crossed in a sort of half-assed lotus position as they begin unzipping bags, sniffling and grimacing as their sound equipment drips onto the cabin floor.

"i don't even fucking know what chivalrous means, man." a boldface lie, a habit he'd gotten into when he realized he could no longer be called an academic weapon. double down on the stupidity and you're not letting anyone down "i wasn't cold. didn't think—" their arm flies up right on time to sneeze into the crook of their elbow "this would happen."

under all the soaked electronics and clothes, milo pulls out two tightly packed, long plastic vacuum sealed parcels. in one, an array of greens and yellows and browns. he quickly shoves that back under everything. in the other are a few items: a neatly folded stack of bills, his white lighter, and a squished pack of marlboro reds "rather it be me than cam, anyway." his speech is muffled as his teeth bite along the edge of the plastic, ripping it open "yeah, man, like... five minutes into this shit too soon."

they're taking a cigarette carefully into their hands, fingers gently tapping along the circumference in a futile attempt to round it back out "how, uh," another sneeze "how much i owe you for that camera?"

[seeinghcsts]

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎— THOMAS WASN'T BLIND to his effects on the other , just as he wasn't naive to the effect she had on him . eliza marquis was like that of a scarlet fever that burnt beneath his skin ; festering and nipping at his every fiber and infecting him beyond saving . there was irony in her hold over thomas ; like she were the sole cure to a disease she was responsible for giving . the cause of an insatiable hunger , an unquenchable thirst . his abdomen cramped at the sight of her so complacently leaning in to his guiding touch , not missing the act of swelled pillows as they greedily enveloped his finger , a viper's tongue flicking tauntingly at its tip . a groan tom couldn't stop made his throat vibrate , a plume of steam seeping from flaring nostrils and warming the quickly chilling air around them . eliza ; his little vixen. . . his proudest possession and his most prized secret . it was easy to forget the guilt when those mossy eyes were peering at him like he were the axis her world she turned on in . the solid earth beneath her feet . the gleaming sun that warmed her skin .

is this how addicts felt about their vices ?? he thought to himself , canines scrapping against his lower lip . tirelessly devoted to their fixes ?? just as much in love with them as they were spiteful ??

" - you wanna write the check to the school for the missing equipment ?? " tom's voice came , rumbling in his chest and slipping from his lips in a purr . despite his inquiry , he clearly was not focused now on the camera - mind having gone adrift as he allowed her to wind her arms around him , brush the tip of her pink nose against his , deeply inhaling as the smell of her skin and her perfume clouded his senses and made him dizzy . made him momentarily forgetful of their surroundings . where they were . . . WHO they were with .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ( nevermind milo . thomas didn't want to talk about milo right now . )

" thought we agreed you were gonna behave. . . . " thomas murmured , using the fingers still curled around her chin to lift it up further ; exposing her swan like neck to greed-struck gaze . with an abandon that bordered on reckless , thomas bowed his head to drag parted lips along the column of her throat , sighing against milky skin . his other hand fisted the fabric of her jacket , tugging on it with a want he wouldn't voice . they couldn't ; not here .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎but jesus fucking christ did he want tto throw caution to the wind and devour her .

despite himself , tom's hand slipped beneath her jacket , finding her waist , palm scrapping along the hem of her clothing until it pressed beneath it to brush against the warm skin of her back lower back , pads of fingers tracing the contours of her spine . teeth grazed at eliza's heated flesh , desperate and eager to taste it , his voice a ragged growl as heated breath fanned against her ear .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎��‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" you promised me you were gonna be GOOD. . . "

— THE COLD , RAW WIND ( a mix of the mountain air & impending winter ) rolled over them , stirring eliza to curl into the heat that licked off of thomas's hunched frame . he always ran hot , even now when their only escape from the peak's frigid bite was by a crackling fire . it should not have been as cold as it was ; the weather was reported to be a brisk autumn . not to mention , monte cristo sat above a basin at moderate elevation . and yet , the thin air felt as if it were one drop away from freezing — coating the ground in frost & freezing the riverbank . hiding in the shadows , tucked away from the inviting light of day , certainly did not help .

" 'i told you so' . . . seriously ?? " still , despite the played-up annoyance coating her words & decorating the tear-stained creases in her face , obediently , at the simplest command from his forefinger , eliza's face lifted . her eyes met his , searching for answers . like always . a face that'd once been as easy to read as phonics had , over the span of a year , rewritten itself like a riddle she could not reason .

hopelessly , the woman wondered what he was thinking . what he wanted . why his smile no longer met his eyes . more often than not , such as now , he seemed to only wear various shades of anger . " it's just a camera , tommy . you have other ones , " she murmured . the frays of thomas's accent buzzed in her ears . eliza loved when it peeked out , the way it rolled off his tongue like a growl . a shame it only showed when red was in his eyes . " milo's kiiinda warming up to me , actually . they're cute . . . like a stray puppy . sweet , naive , dumb . "

breath hot against the pad of tom's thumb , spheres of jade sparkled as the other leaned in , and , under the overpowering rule of greed , the exposed openness surrounding them went forgotten . playfully , pearly teeth nipped at his finger before her lips wrapped around it — tongue flicking at its rough skin & eyes glittering with a devilish light . her own fingers fell from the outer folds of his jacket and slid downward , crawling underneath while she wrapped slender arms tightly around thomas's waist and drew herself into him .

" hmm ? couldn't sleep without me curled up next to you ? " , the temptress purred , releasing his thumb . eliza's lashes , still wet with salty tears , fluttered as she brushed her pink-kissed nose over his . her traitorous chest pounded against him — the poor girl's heart as desperate for the affection attention as her mind was for a distraction . " i could crawl into your sleeping bag tonight . . . but only if you keep quiet . don't want cammy's pet dog to start barking . "

[seeinghcsts]

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ THOMAS OFFERED A stale laugh in response to kingston's joke , his shoulders trembling as the hollow sound echoed in the chamber of his chest where lungs should be . suddenly , air felt scarce , and he drank it in desperate gulps as he waded through the familiar waters of anxiety . he tightened his fingers grips , bitten nails digging into the ice-bit skin of his hands , the muscles in his jaw flexing as he ground his molars together . " jesus , " he coughed through his frayed amusement , brows furrowing , an almost pained smile gracing his features as he found the strength to lift his head back up and cast a glance kingston's way . " you guys went through it , from what i heard. . . " he trailed , testing the waters — gently wading . waiting , with bated breath , to see if kingston wanted to talk about what had happened the night of the storm or simply let it go .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ he was praying for the latter .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ his marbled eyes , glazed with fatigue , moved back towards the camp . it looked like a scene right out of a horror movie ; mist rolling along the green , seeming to seep into the camp from the woods itself . an inky black sky peppered in stars blinked down at them , the moon hung low in the sky , almost as if it feared what it would see if it rose too high and was able to peer over the mountain peaks and see them directly .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ " one of a kind is definitely a way to describe it , " tom huffed , eyes rolling , lifting one of his hands to press its heel to his throbbing temple . " — least it's only a week , right ?? get the footage we need. . . then get the fuck outta here ." then , cursed beneath his breath ; " i never wanna see this place again . "

❝ Felt like it was going to become one for a minute there, ❞ Kingston admitted, his tone a little too serious to be a joke, the thought of the water, violent and unforgiving, still fresh on his mind. He wasn't sure what was more terrifying . . . the idea that he and Reeve could have been the next faces on missing posters, or the realization that he wasn't terrified at all. When he slipped, as it carried them away, he wasn't oblivious to what was going on, the thought that he could die was on the forefront of his mind. And he hadn't cared.

Marcus was heavy on his mind ; lying in bed, feverish, he had refused to look in the corner of the room, sure he was being stared, a matching pair of eyes that only knew who his own belonged to. Perhaps his brush with fate had brought them closer together, again. He wondered, was that what he had felt in his final moments? When the glass surrounded his brother, was he aware? Was he relieved?

Clearing his throat, he swallowed thickly before speaking again. ❝ It has a . . . one of a kind feel to it, that's for sure. Bit of nothingness. ❞ He couldn't say that it bothered him, really. In another life, Kingston may actually like this place, somewhere that felt so heavy with ghosts and secrets . . . but enough of those surrounded him no the day to day, he had no desire to seek more out. ❝ You know, I guess when you think about it, a man that has everything has to want nothing. ❞

[seeinghcsts]

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎IT CAME SO naturally , the words from her lips , slathered in mystique and theatrics as she leaned into the part reeve had casted her for . thomas squinted through the view finder , a bleary red light blinking on the camera's screen that had red flashing upon his skin , and he found himself grinning as the sun sparkled in the foreground ; illuminating her as she spoke. god, it was so euphoric to get the perfect shot. . . but , tom realized in hindsight , it was also kind of morbid . such a beautiful shot dampened by the harrowing topic it addressed . in a way that made a chill slither down his spine , it almost felt as if luke was winking at them through the flittering rays , his laughter a whistle on the wind that brushed past them .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ " shit , ko , that was. . . really good , actually . " he complimented as he leaned back from the camera , ending the recording before smashing another few nameless buttons as he looked down at the screen on its back . brown eyes lifted to find hers , a lilt of a smile on his lips as he cleared his throat and cocked his head . " — not that i had any doubts but — you come up with that on the fly or. . . ?? "

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎It shouldn't have still felt like some kind of cosmic joke that the two of them got so often paired off but at some point, Kody knew she had to get used to it. She signed up for this project to help Reeve however she could and, unfortunately, that meant Thomas was a part of it. Honestly, it wouldn't bother her so much if she had been able to get any kind of closure about the breakup, but some things simply didn't have answers ( another thing she should have been used to by now ). Walking around Monte Cristo had brought back such an intense feeling of deja vu that she couldn't help but get lost in it sometimes, staring off into space as though if she looked hard enough or long enough, Luke would step out from behind a tree or a bush, like he'd been waiting for them this whole time. It would be just like him to do the impossible. Hearing his voice, Kody glanced up at him, pulled out of her reverie to focus on the task at hand.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎"Uh, yeah, sure." It was hard sometimes to keep so many things compartmentalized, it was why Kody tended to disappear into her art as a way to process things, but this trip didn't exactly come with a studio that she could run off to. Clearing her throat, she stood up straight, trying to live up to the expectations of being one of the two allowed on camera for this. "Behind me is one entrance to the mines in these mountains, this particular shaft, Pride of the Mountains, has been blocked off for years after the mines shut down but as you can clearly see, they are blocked off no longer. Was there a way in a year ago and is that were Luke went? There's no way to know for sure, unless we follow." Wait - that was pretty good, she'd have to remember that.

[seeinghcsts]

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎IT WAS TEMPTING to scoff at her theatrics , though her dramatics were no foreign concept to the man currently lending his ear to them . however , in this moment, he for once believed them to be warranted — having to face the iron claws of death head on and dismiss the reaper of it with nothing more than hope to hold onto ?? thomas would have failed . the icy mouth of that river would have swallowed him whole ; consumed him . the ragged rocks lining its floor would have shredded him to ribbons and sunk his pride deeper than it had already fallen since the moment they had returned to the threshold of the mountain . even before they had gotten to monte , thomas's already fleeting enough confidence had wavered — he had recognized the laughter that had bounced off the walls of the motel and yet he had opted not to find its source . thomas was scared of luke , more than he was of death , which is why he knew his attempt to save himself would have been futile .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎not for a lack of effort , or a lack of strength , but from a lack of will . of trying .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" — what ?? " came his voice , the sound of his own speech as distant as his train of thought had been , eyes finding hers as brows furrowed in momentary confusion . then, after some delayed processing , the words she had spoken fell into place and he shook his head dismissively at them . " no — 'course i'm listening , baby , i'm sorry . i'm just . . . i dunno , taking it all in . " a half truth , one that whisked through his teeth as he shivered , a sudden chill zipping up the length of his spine and plaguing his flesh with goose pimples .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎the skin of her cheek , in contrast to the frigid air , was warm , familiar , and yet the heat that singed it was not of his own doing so in that sense it felt . . . strange . a ball of worry knotted in his chest , burning hot as it spread amongst his ribs and curled around each one , breaths shallow to prevent his lungs from accidentally pressing against them . thomas got distracted by the flutter of her lashes as eliza spoke , the way moisture clumped them together , how salt beaded along her lower lash line and bubbled in her tear ducts but seemed to have relinquish all efforts to continue cascading downwards .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ a soft , almost sad smile graced his features , lowering his face just barely towards hers ; " i told you to come with us , " he reminded her , voice smooth like silk as it floated on the brisk air between them , leaning into their usual dynamic under the safety blanket of shadows that was being cast over them by the cabin . the resistance to touch her was not often a battle well won by the man . her breaths sung to him , the beat of her heart a cacophony of damn near deafening silver bells , the will of her whines and whispers enough to leave him a man bewitched and yet his gaze still , often , found a way to leave her . the panic always , eventually , swelled . anxiety always managing to steer his tongue and move it cruelly .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎falling in love with her came with a price , and as he teetered at the edge of a pit with a harrowing plunge , he had yet to find it in him to jump . would it be worth it ?? why risk what they had in silence in favor of anything else ?? this was working. . . WHY was she so insistent on changing that ??

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ what was it that she even saw in him ??

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ feeling eliza's hands fiddling with his clothing , tom's abdomen tightened , curling up tight like a frightened animal as it yipped and begged him to back up . put space back between them . comfortable , reliable , space . the sanctuary they were tucked away in would not last long ; someone would eventually come looking for them . mousse eyes fell to the workings of her cold-nipped fingers , his own hand still grazing the curve of her cheek until pointer and middle ran along the edge of her jaw , finding a spot beneath chin and pushing up against it to tilt her head upwards ; bringing her wet eyes to meet his own .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" it was fine , " tommy murmured , not wanting to talk about it . " — not nearly as bad as what you dealt with . stupid fucker didn't drug us but he did lose my camera so , can't say i'm particularly pleased about that . " brooklyn roots weighted his speech , grounding his frustration in the curl of his tongue . the pad of tom's thumb moved to brush along the pillow of her lower lip , eyes buzzing with the temptation to cast a glance over his shoulder but refraining , lips burning with an urge to kiss her but resisting . his voice lowered , a hushed whisper ;

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ " — wish you had come with us , though . "

— EVERY FLOATING BREEZE THAT passed , rustling the falling leaves & tickling her cheeks , carried with it a memory from the day prior . the roaring laughter of the storm as it thundered overheard , strikes of lightning streaking through the air , teasing them with its close chase . the river's hungry desperation as it swiped at the old log crossing , wishing — willing , even — a warm body to fold into it's icy embrace . how eliza , herself , had very nearly fell victim to its wuthered waves ; a fate she likely would not have withstood as easily as the two that did float its violent course . where their thick skin was but bruised & battered , her porcelain bones would have been ground to fine dust — a sparkling layer of sand to decorate the wet , pebbled floor .

" i'm officially not built for this . . . this 'granola' bullshit . i miss my silk sheets & brita filter & vanilla scented three-wick candle . it wasn't this awful last time , was it ? i mean , at least it was , like , warm . nobody told me to pack for the ice age ; i'll freeze to death , unless i kill myself out of inconvenience first . "

eliza had hardly spoken to the others since arriving at camp . selfishly , she loathed them . how quickly isla had taken charge amidst the torrent , how ( seemingly ) easy it was for kingston & reeve to endure the mountain's might . she felt significantly insignicant to them — frightened & feeble . inferior ; it was a feeling she did not naturally take to , nor did she welcome . an event of unforeseen chaos that should have united them had , instead , left the woman with a miserably bitter taste atop her tongue . instead , she found refuge from melancholy in the company , attention , & pity of camille . and , when their's too had waned , thomas .

" tommy . are you even listening to me ? " arms wrapped around herself , pink nose twitching like a snow-tailed rabbit's , eliza's voice was but a whisper on the wind , for every time her pitch began to rise , thomas's gaze would sharpen with an edge that cut her whines back down to whimpers .

the cabin's shadow was a sheer cover , though she wasn't entirely sure from what is was they were hiding . eliza had noted a shift in his demeanor since the trip's announcement — since the name 'luke' had wormed its way back into their mouths — , and more so since the promise she had sworn him under . could they not even be seen together ? was mere association too risky a chance at implication ?

the off-beat rhythm of her anxious heart only calmed when a careful , tense hand brushed the stained apple of her cheek . the first time he'd touched her since their split groups had reunited . she took it as an invitation , stepping forward to close the distance .

" i guess it was my divine punishment for being impatient . " she sighed , knotting cold-nipped fingers in the fabric of his jacket . her thumbs traced over the buttons mindlessly as red-rimmed eyes dragged up to meet his — which had taken up a habit of looking everywhere but her . she frowned , but tried not to let the annoyance seep into her tone . " not that you guys had much of a vacation , either . i don't know , though . i think a night in a haunted house sounds kinda fun . . . that , or milo slipped something into all of your waters . "

[seeinghcsts]

𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 — 𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘻 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎CLICK , CLICK , CLICK . the shutters of tom's camera was all that filled the air between the two as they shuffled along the earthy carpet that led to the old train bridge , one eye peering through the view finder as the other scrunched to keep itself shut. tom felt as if they were parading through an ancient burial ground , secrets and bodies alike lost to the will of monte cristo's ever-stretching woods and mystery. however , as a man of art and photography, he could appreciate good scenery .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎tom finally became attuned to the fact that reeve was possessed by an uncharacteristic silence , having spoken hardly a word since the two agreed to go on this little excursion and test out tom's camera equipment and line up their story boards with the actual setting. knowing what he knew about what they group had endured , what reeve himself had endured , thomas's spit was tempted to hurl a told you so in his face. gloat over the fact that he had believed , from the beginning , this was a bad idea. however , when he cast his gaze over to the man , tom couldn't bring himself to do it.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" you feelin' okay , man ?? " tom questioned , though he already knew the answer . no doubt was a sickness grasping at reeve with iron claws , but with little tom knew about the man , he was still able to figure reeve wouldn't been keen on admitting that . " we can take a break here , if you want . i can . . . i can uh — i can just grab some sample shots . you know , test some of my lenses . you wanna sit for a sec ?? "

@secndbest

[seeinghcsts]

𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 — 𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘮 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘯

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎TOM CHEWED ON the cuticle of his right thumb , elbows pressed to his knees , listening to kingston's wheezed breaths as he sat beside him on a fallen log just outside the man's cabin . the sun had started to set , a crisp breeze brushing across the camp as the mist rolled back in , the embers of a dying fire giving a few pathetic crackles every now and again . the silence between them was awkward , palpable , and tom wasn't sure how to fill it .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎his confidence always seemed to waiver around akeem , who he had always believed to be an extension of the man who was the very reason they all were here . but , he felt bad . about what had happened . he even found himself pitying reeve — but the guilt for kingston went deeper . he had always been a good guy , in tom's eyes ; wholesome . gazing out at the camp , familiar yet foreign , thomas pressed his thumb against his teeth , but winced as he swore he tasted dirt beneath his finger nail .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎‏he had never be able to scrub hard enough to make them feel clean.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ripping his thumb away from the gnashing of his teeth , tom cast his gaze over to kingston , noticing how his face seemed swallowed by sickness . only twenty four hours , and the eight have already been put through a trial ; one that damn near took some of their lives .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎frowning , tom looked away , clasping his hands together between his knees and rocking his weight further forward onto his elbows . an ache rippled up his curved spine , and he dropped his chin to his sternum , lids too heavy to keep open but too restless to close .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" place feels like a burial ground , " he finally spoke , voice nearly lost to the chill , absorbed by the waning fire . " i never understood luke's fascination with this fuckin' place . "

@akeemarcus

[seeinghcsts]

𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 — 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘬𝘺 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — 𝘤𝘢𝘮 & 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢'𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘯

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎THOMAS WAS CURRENTLY winding one of eliza's extravagant scarfs between his fingers , a static from the fabric making his palms buzz , an unspoken truth forcing the tip of his tongue to press against the backs of his teeth . he heard his sister rummaging through her own belongings on the other side of the cabin , sunlight bleeding through the cracks of the old and dilapidated roof , making the room they were in almost feel warm despite the frigid mountain air that pushed through the cracks.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" guess we uh , lucked out with the motel , huh ?? " he spoke , voice piercing through the quiet that had befallen them , gaze finding cam's silhouette and inspecting it ; as if looking for something out of place . his hold on the scarf tightened , having twisted it around his wrist , finding an odd comfort in having possession of one of eliza's things that cam could bare witness to . eliza's scarf was one thing , her heart was another .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎yet that was something cam too possessed — a similarity he couldn't voice despite the fact they came few and far between for the siblings . it made the awkwardness in his chest burn hotter , and he found himself dropping the accessory back atop the bag in which he had stolen it from , the temporary comfort having quickly faded .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" — still ticked we couldn't find that camera , though . "

@orteskycam

[seeinghcsts]

𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 — 𝘬𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘻𝘶𝘬𝘪-𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘯 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 ' 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 ' 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘧𝘵

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎THOMAS'S HANDS WERE sturdy as he managed the camera , bringing it to his face . he squinted his eye to peer through the view finder , the landscape surrounding them coming into view as he adjusted the lens . the birds chirped amongst themselves , likely gossiping about the spectacle that was the estranged exes off on their own , likely taunting him . thomas didn't speak bird , and not that he had ever considered to be grateful for that , but in this moment — he was .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎the camera found kody after a moment , her face at first a blur until tom brought it into focus , a crease forming between furrowed brows as he took a step back - the sole of his converse finding a twig and snapping it in half . it'd been a while since his camera had last found her — at one point in time , she had been its favorite muse . sometimes , in moments like this , where the sun was hitting the warm features of her face just right . . . it felt like she still was .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" yeah . . . this is. . . this is good . 'specially right now — the lightin' is perfect . " new york rolled off his tongue , words muttered , speaking primarily to himself . then , peering at her above the body of the camera , tom smiled ; it wasn't strained or reluctant , instead showcasing almost a relief for finding the shot .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" you uh , wanna just say some things maybe ?? get some sample footage to show reeve ?? ''

@kcdysb

[seeinghcsts]

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎THOMAS DIDN'T KNOW which visual was more unsettling — the way that isla seemed to touch the earth like she were one with it , or the fact that the leaves she was handling appeared to have been entirely unscathed by the storm . with how vicious it had been , how torrential the downpour , thomas had expected the land to be far less. . . dry . there wasn't so much as a dampness clinging to the air , and the cool , fall breeze was almost brittle as it wafted against his skin . he burrowed white-knuckled fists into the den of his sweatshirt pocket as he approached , steps hesitant as if she were a wild animal he was attempting not to startle.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎but the closer he got , the louder the eery laughter he had heard during his shift became as it ricocheted off the walls of his skull . its sound swelled in his head as if it were some haunted memory ; a recent and yet distant past he couldn't seem to let go of . thomas shivered , sucking in a stale breath through his nostrils , wincing as he watched her toy with the leaves as if they were an extension of himself . like instead of burrowing her fingers in the mud , she had pressed them past his ribs and was mangling the very organ that kept blood pulsing through him ; sent dread surging through his veins.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ the way she looked at him had the same effect .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ " isla , " he greeted upon catching her attention , dismissing her abrupt question — demand — in exchange for an acknowledgement of her presence . the question then settled in his mind , weight shifting between unsure feet as the rubber soles of his converse disturbed the greenery beneath them . how bad was it ?? not nearly as bad as what they had encountered , something unspokenly acknowledged upon recalling his conversation with eliza , but he didn't voice that . to him ; the motel had been awful , but there was something about the distant , void look in her gaze that made him feel guilty to admit that .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" well , you guys definitely drew the shorter straw , " tom breathed something that almost resembled a laugh , speaking before he was ready to , tongue tangling in his syllables as molten brown eyes flickered to the leaves she was tampering with . " eliza told me about what happened , " he quietly muttered , the other woman's name slithering across his tongue , whisking its way between his teeth . tom's eyes then returned to isla's , a waver in his breathing , an even more apparent reluctance to holding her gaze as he bit on the inside of his cheek ;

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ " — are uh , are you doing alright ?? "

WHEREABOUTS SECURED: A MANGLED CLEARNING BRIEFLY ESTRANGED FROM THE CABINS, WITH @seeinghcsts

isla was hunched over in the wet tangle of underbrush,   fingers digging through the mud,   the smell of damp earth thick in her nose.   everything was slick,   soaked through,   like the world was still dripping from the storm,   and the air clung heavy around her,   like a damp cloth over her mouth.   she could barely see what she was grabbing,   just picking apart the soft,   green things that twisted up from the dirt,   plucking them loose like she was pulling teeth.   the river was still in her head,   loud and mean,   roaring like it had a voice,   like it was taunting her,   daring her to come closer.   she saw it every time she blinked—the way it had taken kingston and reeve,   swallowed them whole,   chewed them up,   and spat them out downstream.

isla heard the footsteps, slow and cautious. there was something tentative about the way he moved, like he was afraid of stepping on something dead that might still have enough life left to bite back. she didn’t look up,   just kept her eyes on the leaves crumpling between her fingers,   their edges torn and black,   like they were rotting from the inside out.   she thought about how easy it would be for this all to end here,   how they could just keep sinking into the muck until there was nothing left but the quiet,   and maybe that would be a kind of mercy.

round sights flicked up,   catching his for just a second,   and there was something hollow in her gaze,   something too still,   like a quiet just before something breaks.   she wasn’t really looking at him,   more like she was looking through him,   searching for a piece of the story he wasn’t saying.   she stills for a moment, two scared things in the underbrush. “ how bad was it? ” the words come out slow,   careful,   almost gentle,   but there was something sharp buried in them,   something that twisted.   it wasn’t really a question.   it was a demand,   like she already knew the answer but wanted to hear him say it out loud,   wanted to see how it sat in his mouth,   if the truth tasted as bitter as it felt.

[seeinghcsts]

𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 —𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘻𝘢 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘯

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" MAN , IF YOU get me fuckin' sick , i'll kill you . " tom huffed as he dragged the last of their water-lodged bags across the rotted wooden floor , the boards groaning in resistance to its weight . he cut his gaze to the other , a flicker of pity in his expression as he frowned , before annoyance resumed in the aftermath of another sneeze .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" look , i get the whole bit of ' givin' up your jacket to be chivalrous ' or whatever but we gotta survive a WEEK up here , man . can't have you dyin' on us ; i don't know shit about mixin' sound . "

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎tom's unspoken effort of trying to keep their dynamic civil was clearly not being executed well , dropping his ass to the ground and leaning his back against the adjacent wall with disgruntled huff . his head rolled to rest against worn wood , exhaustion burning his muscles , furrowed brows forcing a crease between them .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ FUCK , everything hurt .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" . . . shit . too soon to be makin' death jokes ?? "

@soundbord

[seeinghcsts]

𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 — 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘰 & 𝘵𝘰𝘮'𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘯

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎THE LICK OF mountain air that grazed tom's paled cheeks sent a shiver down the length of his spine , rattling his vertebrate which were stacked sloppily on top of one another . his muscles ached from how he had slept - followed by that treacherous eight-hour hike - and now his skin was prickled like gooseflesh because of the harrowing dread of someone catching the two of them alone together . someone reading too far into the conversation they were having - their situation ever precarious , like walking along a taught rope that was strung from one lip of a cliff to another . . . nothing but a plunge towards imminent death below.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎he was being dramatic,

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎tom had been worried about a multitude of things throughout the night , but he had hoped the others had gotten to camp in time to beat the storm . however , that faux belief meant to provide temporary comfort hadn't stopped him from sending just short of fifty texts to eliza's phone , despite the lack of service , in desperation to get confirmation that she was okay . hearing now of what she had endured , guilt burned through him , singeing the conduits of his veins as he swallowed the hard lump in his throat .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ they had been spoiled with the motel .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎his jaw ticked as he listened to the sorrowful lament coming from eliza's lips , concern veiling his expression as a frown creased his features . however , tom's gaze found itself occasionally wandering despite himself , that deep rooted fear of being suspected steering his attention every moment or so as he searched for the watchful eyes of one of their companions .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎once he had comfortably concluded that the coast was clear , he folded his arms , leaning his shoulder into the rotted wood of the building they were talking behind , exhaling through flared nostrils as he listened . it was all in the eyes , tom's silently reminded himself , eyes that seemed particularly muddled by whatever emotion eliza was feeling in regard to what she and the other's had endured during the storm .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎they were safe . for now , at least .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" i'm sorry , baby , " he murmured , once her story had found a pause , marbled brown eyes moving towards pools of glossy moss and sea as he reached forward a cautious hand to gingerly brush a glob of salt off the rose of her cheek .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ " i wish i had been there . thank god you're okay .

@finalghost

[seeinghcsts]

𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝟎𝟎𝟏 : ᵗʰᵉ ᵘˡᵗⁱᵐᵃᵗᵘᵐ

𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝟏𝟓𝐓𝐇 , 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 ; 𝟏𝟎 : 𝟒𝟖𝐩𝐦

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ " you wanna explain this, 𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐘 ?? " luke's words came after tom had been stunned silent by what the other had shown him , his horror no doubt visible in the creases of his expression and the slackness of his jaw . mousse eyes were wide , guilt painted across his face ; unable to meet luke’s gaze as it peered over the top of the phone currently held infront of him and bore holes into his skull . luke had shown him something he had not expected to see when he had been invited to come along and collect more firewood ; a video of him and eliza , probably taken by a brown-nosed pledge at one of luke's fraternity events .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ 𝐅𝐔𝐂𝐊 .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ the other man's inquiry rang with a delay in tom's ears , noticing when it finally registered that luke's speech was thick with venom . he didn’t need thomas to explain anything — 𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐘 𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐖 . . . his new friend's lips curled back so his syllables came hissed through clamped , pearl teeth that he presented in a tight , harrowing smile . thomas continued to stare bug-eyed at the screen , the " play " button having returned in the center displaying the evidence of his sin that luke had just shown him ; a video that exposed the most lustful skeleton's in tom's closet . their bones and marrow-rooted wants fully exposed with nowhere to hide .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ " i- uh . . . " he stammered , feeling the sudden urge to hook a clammy finger in his shirt collar and tug like some cartoon character . the need to run burning his muscles , the soles of his feet pulsing with a desperate urgency to flee .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ if he 𝐑𝐀𝐍 now , how long would it take him to catch up ??

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ for his 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐒 to catch up ??

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏he ‘ ll be running 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 . . .

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄𝐃. . .

[seeinghcsts]

ALEX FITZALAN as HARRY BINGHAM the society 1.01

[seeinghcsts]

@finalghost

— David Cronenberg, Consumed

[seeinghcsts]

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎HE COULD SEE that his answer had pleased her , which in turn , pleased him . a happy , complacent , war-winning eliza marquis was his favorite — the one so blindly enamored by him that an accidental scratch from his canines could be soothed with a curl of his tongue . when her words came , the delectable purr of ownership rang in his ears like a crystal bell — chest spurring from the validation , from the want , that enveloped her venomous words in a thick , sugary syrup . " oh yeah ?? that right ?? " he taunted in reply , eyes seeming to gleam as she pushed her body weight up to wrap herself around him , using the hand that had been on the mattress to shift towards her hip so both now anchored her smaller form in place.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎though he wouldn't voice it with the same bold enthusiasm as the woman atop him , thomas knew that he was just as much hers as she was his . he had sifted through the options with a fine tooth comb , weighed the good and the bad , wondered if proudly brandishing the marquis girl on his arm was worth the onslaught of fury that would come as a response . eliza , so dedicated and devoted , didn't seem to think twice about it ; her plea to be publicly his one he had heard enough times that he had it memorized down to where she breathed in between syllables .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" yes , liza , really , " he hummed in reply , only half present for the response , skin flaring with fervor in response to her suggestive affections , to the warmth of her mouth as it peppered his throat in which he opened up to her by tilting his head ever so slightly to the side . hearing her refer to him as ' my love ' made thomas's stomach cramp , his grasp tightening ever so slightly on her sides , fingers twisting the fabric of her silken skirt so forcefully that it were a miracle the woven strands of its material hadn't puckered or torn . words were gruff , spoken through ground teeth that sucked in a hissed breath . " — but only when we get back . "

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎and talking about it would just be thomas telling her NO . again .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎a pleased sigh vibrated in his throat , a deep heat flooding his insides and burning beneath his skin like a scarlet fever . at eliza's words , a smug grin lilted on his lips , rocking his weight forward to command her spine back upon the mattress — his own torso pressing to hers as he rolled his hips . " now there's my good girl , " tom purred , dragging his nose along the sharp edge of her jaw as one hand moved beside her head of wild chestnut . the other , still on her hip , slid down along the milk-hued satin of the back of her thigh , kneading the flesh with an eager and impatient hand in desperate need of distraction from the words she had previously spoken . his next words were spoken like a commanding growl , pressing the instruction to her lips as he sank his eager and strained hips into her own ;

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ " — let's see how BAD you can be . "

𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃

— SHE HELD HER BREATH . apprehension mixed with hope — innocent , child-like — , & together they forged a knife that cut away at hot skin , reading his thoughts through the uneven pulse of clotted veins & taut muscles . thomas's voice fell over her like a sheet of silk ; the way his tongue etched her name made her stomach flutter . eliza . baby . his . she wanted to taste them , the delicious words that glossed his lips , but he was pulling away before she'd even a chance to lean in . her lovesick heart shivered .

" as many times as it takes , " she answered , despite him never finishing the frustrated query . words soft & gentle as a feather floating on the wind , yet couldn't help but sound like a threat . " you're mine . "

salt tickled at the inner corners of her wet eyes , & the hue of her cheeks deepened from romantically rosy to deep , hot rouge . a row of pearls gnashed , hidden behind two swollen lips , desperate to bite back . HAD they talked about it ? or had he always , always , been quick to shut down the whimsy of her desires . was he so faithfully ruled by the fear & scrutiny of others ? did he imprison her in the shadows out of shame ? thomas was selfish — she had known this for some time now . she should have left . yet , the few times she'd tried had only ended with the woman crawling right back like some pathetic addict . it frightened eliza . . . how devoted she was to thomas . how in love .

rising from the tangled comfort of his sheets , her devilish fingers danced away from the fold of his pants & up to his belly button . her back arched , chest pressing into his , as she forced their bodies upright . dancer legs wrapped his waist , sliding atop his lap , as arms knotted themselves around his chest & behind his back . she coiled & tightened like a cobra , crushing him with her obsessive desire . hungry for him . " all mine , baby . & i want everyone to know it . "

she wondered if he could hear the prayer sung to the melodious pitter-patter of her heartbeat . i love you i love you i love you .

patiently , she waited for mount vesuvius to erupt . for the steam to roll out of his flared nostrils , hot lava coating his teeth . but it never came . whatever argument or plea had climbed up his throat died there , buried in his bobbing adam's apple . silken lips traced over it , peppering his neck in poison , urging out the voice he'd seemed to lost . she could taste the anxiety perspiring on his skin . feel the way his muscles rippled under her suffocating hold . when he finally spoke again , shock & pleasure washed over her in a wave of relief .

" really ?! " her eyes widened , glittering green jewels . a shiver of triumph ran through eliza as he kissed the apple of her cheek , placating her like a child on the verge of a fit . however , she didn't care to read between the lines , or decipher his hesitant tone & dishonest eyes . the lie was enough .

" whatever will make you happy , tommy . my love . " one hand found its way into his hair , tightening around mousse curls , as the other fluttered along his chest , scratching & stroking all the spots that unwound her lover best . eliza leaned in , milky voice encasing his eardrum . " but , before i can be good . . . let me be a little bad . "

[seeinghcsts]

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ AND LIKE CLOCKWORK , their agreement continued . midnight sighs heard by none other than the walls of his apartment , the backseat of his car , any alley basked in enough shadows ; a swan's song that echoed in his mind and made him stir even when the source was within reach . lust burnt hot through his veins , a reckless abandon leaving him a man bewitched as his hand crept along the skin of her thigh moving inwards , tips of eager fingers desperate to find her pelvis's pulse point . her nod , the silent compliance , was enough to satisfy him — teeth nipping at the plush lower pillow of her lip as testosterone veiled what would otherwise be the opportunity for a real conversation . a reminder of why he could only find her in the dark , opting for tangled tongues and intertwined breaths instead of what reality would have to offer . he enjoyed living in FANTASY . for the most part .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎eliza , seemingly , had different plans .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" yeah , baby ?? what is it ?? " he murmured in response , no real urgency to hear what it was , not until the delicate brushing of her fingers along his jaw made him take pause . he knew where this was going now , her eyes two glass marbles of sea foam and moss that sent a piercing sting through his heart . the muscle twitched , whined , scratched at the door like a mutt that desperately wanted out — and his face burned , dread pooling in his gut where craving had just sat .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" eliza , " her name spoken softly , with the upmost tenderness , as if the moniker itself were made of stained glass . trying to interrupt her before she could finish . " baby , " he tried again , almost a plea .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎please don't finish that sentence .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎as if hearing his thoughts and purposely doing the opposite of what he had silently begged asked , the man bowed his head . heaving a sigh , thomas pushed his torso upwards , the hand on her thigh halting , the fingers that had once been touching her face moving to press into the plush cotton beside her head — putting some distance between her face and his own . turning away the pained , twisted expression that now crossed his face away from her view , he dropped his chin to his sternum . " we've talked about this , liza , " he grimaced , as if it pained him to voice it .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" of course i like you , " he replied , willing his face to turn , groin and chest cramping from her knowing touches , the way her words sounded like cream tasted ; sweet & rich . it was what she spoke that curdled , made him nauseas , shaking his head a bit more determined now . " — but that isn't the point . you know that . . . you know that , babe , how many — " his brows furrowed , frustration flashing in his gaze as he looked down at her ; a plea in her stare , a prayer on her tongue . she looked regal , sunken into the mess of his bedding , hair sprawled like a halo beneath him . in a way , she was just as guilty as he was — even the son of god wore a crown of thorns — but the blame , the shame , it would ultimately land on him.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎lowering back down , brushing his nose against hers , he opted to throw her a bone . maybe if he fed into that hope she held onto , she wouldn't bring it up until they got back . until he was certain that the bounty on his head ordered by one luke sinclair had been expunged . " okay , " he muttered , defeated , pressing his lips to the rogued apple of her cheek. " okay , baby . we can talk about it . when we get back , " he lifted his head , a playful gleam blinding the deep-seeded fear that pooled in his gaze . " — if you're good . okay ?? "

— IN HIGH SCHOOL , he'd been no more than her bestie's big brother . and , eventually , too , a friend . then , college came & , somewhere along the way , everything shifted . lingering stares , playful touches , rosy cheeks . eliza knew he liked her , ( though it was far more fun to play dumb ) & she liked the attention . needed it . unfortunately , something terrible happened . liking his attention mutated into the uncaged monster that was liking him , & , no matter how hard she tried , the feelings wouldn't die . in fact , they grew & grew & grew until she found herself completely , utterly devoted to him .

" theatrical , huh ? i thought you liked it when i put on a show for you . . . " eliza matched thomas's movements ; their trysts were so frequent she could practically read his mind now , anticipating his next step & falling seamlessly into synchronicity . she leaned into his touch , lustfully drunk as her mind see-sawed between the hand pressed into her bare hip & the one that tickled the porcelain surface of her face — toying with her lips , blushing her round cheeks . her eyes met his , & the woman liquefied under his gaze , serenely swimming within those beautiful pools of warm chocolate . thomas's warning almost went unheard , drowned under the sound of her own thundering heart . still , she managed a small nod before his lips melted into hers .

when he'd proposed they keep their affair a secret , she hadn't argue . he was right — it was for the best . people would only get hurt . nobody else would understand . . . but that was months ago , & hiding behind closed doors had become claustrophobic . eliza , the greedy girl that she was , wished for more .

" thomas ? " she spoke the name into his lips , her whispered tone possessing an uncharacteristic apprehension . a nervousness that was so very un-eliza . a hand came to cup his face , tracing the sharp of his cheekbone with her thumb . she basked in their addictively sweet embrace a moment longer before pulling away . her eyes said more than her mouth . " to make it up to me , maybe when we get back . . . we can , " eliza's voice trailed off , but it wouldn't be hard for him to follow the thread . after all , it wasn't the first time she'd brought up the topic . but it had been months since they'd last argued discussed it & , for once , eliza was not trying to start an argument . genuine , naive hope glittered in her loving gaze . " maybe we can talk about something more serious . more . . . public . "

the topic always made him antsy , so , the siren that she was , her other hand slithered back down his chest . french-tipped nails picked at the buckle on his belt , then the button of his pants . but her eyes never left his . " i like you , tommy . a lot . too much . " her hand teased the zipper of his jeans as she whispered , lashes coyly brushing her cheeks . " don't you like me , too ? "