Interlude

Vin is afraid of abandonment. That one day he will finally find his family, and they will not want him. That he will still be alone, despite fighting to be otherwise. It's what his nightmares are made of.


Zero is afraid of fear. That one day, she will succumb to cowardice, and that it will be her ultimate undoing. That her weaknesses will cost her those that she loves. Fear has controlled her before.


Trixie is afraid of sexual assault. To this day, she cannot bear to be outside after dark, and she is terrified – so, so terrified – that she will not be able to live with herself if something happens. This fear is not unjustified.


Newton is afraid of failure. His mistakes have cost them all dearly in the past, and each one he knows he could have avoided simply makes it worse. He is smart enough to know better, yet things still go wrong, and it is always his fault. He knows it will cost him.


They all live in fear, in a world far too big for them. They deserve better than what they have gotten, but unfortunately, Fate is not that kind. The worst is yet to come.


7/10/17