Post by RUBY HERRERA on Aug 1, 2023 19:05:49 GMT
━ an ache for home; a shelter against storms ━
RUBY VERIFIED THE PARKING LOT’S EMPTINESS through the windows before slipping out the door. It was nearly two in the morning, so Cory shouldn’t have been lurking, but who fucking knew in this town. Also, did reapers even need sleep? Probably not.
She thought about leaving Mystic Falls for good and heading back to get revenge on her dad. She’d get stopped at the border, though, flagged and deposited back into Detective Carnegie’s hold… or worse. Probably worse. They’d most likely have someone on the inside to take her out, too, so she was out of options.
The only one left, now, was to go for a run. She could’ve easily shifted in the parking lot and darted off, but she was still a little ashamed, worried that someone would see. Ruby wasn’t the best at it yet, and what happened when she needed to shift back before someone saw a jaguar walking into a motel room, but her clothes had been taken away? No, she’d walk to the woods, and then she’d shift.
Her feet took her to the bridge instead. It’d been repaired━likely not for the first time━though they hadn’t reinforced it with steel. Idiots. There was talk about putting a barrier up, but Ruby didn’t involve herself in the town’s politics. She didn’t wanna be here for much longer.
Laying her hands on the beam, she leaned over slightly and peered into the dark water. It was mostly still, but any tiny movements were highlighted by the moon. It looked… almost pretty. And peaceful━if she forgot about the fact that her mom had been buried here, and that she almost was, too.
Maybe it wasn’t so bad for a final resting place. Tears stung her eyes, and Ruby’s first instinct was to glance around with cloudy vision, making sure nobody was around to witness this. But who the fuck would be?
Regardless, she sniffled and blinked them away, still trying to hide her emotions. “Dunno if your ghost is still around,” Ruby mumbled, since clearly that was an actual option. “I spent my whole life hating you for not being here. He never talked about you. I thought you didn’t care. I thought you left me. Maybe I didn’t hate you; I just didn’t feel anything. It’s weird to miss someone you can’t remember, but everyone says you were a good person. A good mom. Maybe it’s just bullshit, ‘cause they have to say that, but… I know you tried to save me from him.” She spoke softly in Spanish, like her mom’s ghost would understand it better. “Sorry he killed you. That… sucks. I’m gonna get him back one day, though. For us. I promise.” Ruby sucked in a slow breath through her nose and felt it fill her lungs with clarity, purpose. She would do it. She’d get rid of him. She’d pay him back for all the shit he put her through.
Ruby’s fingers flexed on the railing, and suddenly she felt a prickle at the top of her spine. Someone was here. They were behind her, getting closer━she heard the clacking of… hooves? What the fuck?
Spinning around, Ruby’s eyes flashed blue, and her knife slipped from her sleeve. The moment she raised it at the horse-riding, scarecrow-looking motherfucker, he lifted his gun in return. “Do it, pendejo, put me outta my fuckin’ misery, huh?! You look like a used tissue, you fuckin’━” He cocked his gun, and Ruby froze.
Again, she was overwhelmed by the surprising feeling that she did not want to die. She couldn’t. She had so much left to do.
Ruby turned and darted to the side, trying to dodge the bullet as it sprang from the chamber. She heard the shot radiate over the water, and she challenged its volume, screaming Cory’s name.
But he wasn’t around to save her this time.
She disappeared in a puff of green smoke, and reappeared in the station, trembling and all alone despite the mass of people also waiting for their train.