Hi everyone! So I have hit total writers block with all my existing stories, so I am going to attempt to start a new one, and just focus on it instead. I have a vague outline planned, but suggestions are welcome.
Most importantly reviews would be very much appreciated as it's motivating to know people are reading and feedback is welcomed!
The story starts during Carla's mental health focused episode aired on the 31st May 2019. Everything up until then will remain the same.
Everyone held their breath as Peter made a b-line for the fire escape stairs.
He paused, and stood quietly at the bottom of the stairwell, fixated on Carla who was slowly making her way up the stairs to the top of the fire escape. She appeared totally oblivious to her surroundings, lost in her own world. Something was drawing her up higher and higher. An invisible force pulling her further and further away from him.
He wanted to rush to her but didn't, for fear of startling her and causing her to do something she might regret. So instead, he shadowed her, slowly following her until they reached the top, silently praying she'd come round and reach out for him.
Instead she continued, gingerly taking each step with trepidation, he watched as she approached the edge of the balcony, reaching out for a non existent figure.
'Hayley?' she spoke softly, her voice full of hope and bewilderment. The familiar sight of Hayley's robin red macintosh a friendly reminder of happier times.
He closed his eyes, blinking back tears as he realised she was hallucinating, envisioning her late friend before her very eyes.
He grimaced as she recoiled suddenly, her stance so fragile and weak, almost as though she didn't have the strength to hold herself up.
'Rana, I'm so sorry, I so sorry'.
She broke down, letting go of her tears and crying loud, painful sobs. She fell to the floor, and he made his move, racing up the stairs and wrapping his arms around her frail frame.
He held on to her, his arms forming a protective barrier against the scrutinising eyes she felt boring into her.
When she finally spoke, lifting her head so her eyes met his, wet with tears, but bright with a sudden semblance of hope.
'Aidan, my kind, brave, beautiful boy' she said, clutching his face in her cold hands, her eyes entirely focused on Peter's, but seeing a different face to his own.
'Oh I love you so much'. Her eyes were dark and smudged, her skin pale, her lips sore, and yet any imperfections were eclipsed by the beauty of her smile as she connected with her dead brother.
Whilst Peter knew she wasn't seeing him, he felt it natural to respond with how he felt, and how he knew Aidan had felt about his dear sister.
'I love you too' he said, watching her smile fade and her brief happiness crumble as she shook her head and her voice lowered.
'You shouldn't, I'm evil' she spoke, her voice hoarse as she blinked back fresh, hot tears. It was as though a darkness had befallen her, her pupils now dilated and her jaw taught.
'I killed Rana' she continued as Peter shook his head, his heart breaking at how convinced she was that she was this figure of hate.
She broke down, asking him if she was waste of his kidney, before growing cold and stating she was bad, rotten to the core.
'I killed her' she said again, this time her face was blank, expressionless, her dark hair framing her tired eyes.
'It was an accident, Carla, you have to believe me' Peter urged her as he pulled away, her eyes now leaving his face and staring at his chest.
She broke into a small smile, her eyes soft, one hand on her heart, the other reaching out towards him. Peter frowned as she ran her hand over something she seemed to see so clearly, yet was invisible to him.
'My baby girl' she whispered, blinking back tears as she gazed lovingly at the tiny infant she saw before her, safe in Peter's arms.
Tears were now falling down Peter's face as he so desperately wished that he was indeed holding their child, that he'd never treated her so poorly, that he could help her.
'Love..' he said as she leaned forward, placing a lingering kiss against her daughter's head, drawing in a breath.
'I have to go' she whispered, 'You look after her, for me' she said, suddenly pulling back, turning round and reaching for the railings.
It all happened in slow motion, she put a foot onto the first railing, hauling herself up with such force that had Peter not lurched forward and grabbed her, his arms locking round her waist, he was sure she would have jumped. He held on her, using all his weight to counterbalance hers as she leaned over the edge.
Closing his eyes, he remained put, still and steady as her chest heaved and she caught her breath, her eyes focusing on the four people below her, Roy, Johnny, Michelle and Kate.
Finally, the strength she had wilted and she collapsed into Peter's arms, shaking with fear and crying into his chest.
He held onto her, not letting her go. He allowed her to cry, to shake, to fall apart in his arms, but all along, not letting her out of the safety of his arms. He pressed a kiss against her head, as he heard emergency services pull up, their sirens ringing loudly in the street below.
How he was going to let them take her, he didn't know, but for now, she was safe.