Disclaimer: I don't own Gone. Otherwise, the disgrace that was Lies would never have happened.

Note: I'm setting this sometime after Plague, possibly during Fear, but who really knows. Warning for mild Plague spoilers. Oh, and I posted this on another website as well, don't freak out if you see it there.

Beyond Repair

Astrid Ellison sat down in the indicated chair and frowned at the boy sitting across from her.

" Don't think you can bribe me into spying on Sam for you. There's nothing you could possibly offer me."

Caine Soren smiled, as though the idea had never crossed his mind, but Astrid knew better. Why else would she be here?

" I know. That's not what I want, Astrid."

" Then, what do you want?"

" I just want to talk. "

She eyed him skeptically. Caine had had her kidnapped from her bed, because he wanted to talk? " About what?"

" What does it feel like?" he said after a long silence. " What does it feel like to be separated from someone you love, simply because you made one stupid mistake? I mean, sure, it was one hell of a mistake, but still... this...this total emptiness inside. Like part of your soul has been torn out. "

She was about to say that she highly doubted that Caine Soren had a soul, but two things stopped her. The first thing was that Astrid knew that she herself was in no position to discuss the absence of souls with anyone, and the second thing was that t she saw a stream of tears running down Caine's aquiline nose.

She studied him again and was shocked at how vulnerable he seemed. Who would have guessed that someone who threw people against walls without a second thought was capable of normal human emotions like love and sorrow?

She started to realize just how similar she and Caine were. They'd started out as proud, intelligent individuals, determined to prove all doubts—both their own and those of others. And their arrogance had broken them both beyond repair—their minds, their bodies, their spirits, and—most of all—their hearts.

Astrid felt tears staining her cheeks as she thought about her own failures and about Caine's. She wiped her eyes with the torn sleeve of her nightgown and then reached a hand across the mayor's desk to touch Caine's hand.

Their eyes locked, and though neither of them said another word for a long time, each knew that the other understood. And when their tears finally slowed, Astrid removed her hand from Caine's and left the room.

Caine didn't try to stop her. He knew that she'd be back when she had built up the courage necessary to continue this conversation. He only prayed that it was soon.

The End

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