AN: so, here is the next chapter. poor Prosper is depressed :(. well, read on!
Chapter Seven: Depression
Prosper walked down the now-familiar alleyway to the canal. He felt as if he might memorize every alley and passage in Venice if he kept this up. His cheeks were still tear-stained.
It had been three weeks since Hornet had runaway. Three long, dreadful weeks for Prosper. Every minute passed like an hour, every hour passed like a day, every day passed like a week. Time was his worst enemy.
Every night, Prosper cried himself to sleep, and everyday he secluded himself, wandering aimlessly around Venice, always looking, watching for that long, dark braid. After a week of searching, almost everyone else had given up; everyone had gotten lost in the maze of alleys countless times. Scipio and Victor kept searching, but were busied by other cases, and Riccio and Mosca had promised to keep their eyes pealed, but Prosper was the only one who really searched anymore.
He absentmindedly kicked a rock that was in his path, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He could feel the tears coming once again, ready to leak from his sad, tired, bloodshot eyes.
Prosper could feel eyes on him as he stepped out of the alley and up to the small canal that lay there. He had come here almost everyday, leaning over the edge of the canal, staring into the water as if could tell him where Hornet was.
He didn't stir when the bell of the nearby bookshop rang, signifying a customer. He just kept staring into the canal.
Prosper still wasn't exactly sure why Hornet had left, what had driven her away. Was it him? It had to have been. Why else would she have gone? Who won't throw everything down to be reunited with their mother?
Prosper watched as a tear landed in the canal, causing the water around it to ripple and give wide berth.
It was you. You scared her off, Prosper's negative side thought.
Then why did she kiss me before she left? Prosper's positive side argued.
She could obviously tell that you weren't going to let her go and she needed to distract you, negativeness retorted.
But she also asked me to go with her. What about that?
She was just being nice.
Prosper just decided to tune out the argument. He was losing terribly anyway.
For one split moment, Prosper would've sworn he saw her reflection, standing beside his, but when he looked up, there was no one there.
He cursed his delusion, angered. A thought ran through his head, telling him he could end it all, right then, right there. The canal water all off a sudden seemed quite inviting.
Prosper was hoisting himself up on the ledge when a voice behind him called his name. He immediately turned around, startled by the sudden presence of someone else.
It was Scipio, wearing a horrified grimace across his face. "What were you doing?"
Prosper just looked down, ashamed of his rash actions. Scipio guessed his silent answer.
"You weren't thinking of jumping into the canal, were you, Prop?"
Again, no answer.
"You know, if you keep this up much longer, people are going to start ignoring you back," Scipio said, leaning over the canal, too.
Prosper just vacantly looked ahead, pretending no one had spoken.
Scipio sighed, knowing it would just continue like this. But he didn't particularly care and kept talking.
"We're all worried about you, you know? Bo, Ida, Victor, Riccio, Mosca, and me. We're worried you might do something rash, like you just tried to do," he said, though he knew his words were probably falling on deaf ears.
But they didn't. Prosper let out a heavy sigh and rested his head down on his arms. Then he mumbled muffled words, but Scipio still understood. "But is she worried? Tell me, Scipio, is she?"
But Scipio had no actual answer for his question. He was also stunned that, for the first time in over two weeks, Prosper had spoken. He didn't want to let Prop down so he responded, putting a hand on his shoulder, "Yes, I'm sure she worries about you, day and night, and if she finds out about what's happened, then I'm sure she'd be very disappointed."
Prosper shook his hand off sharply and practically shouted at Scipio, "No! She doesn't worry about me! I'm probably the damn reason she left in the first place!"
And with that, Prosper ran off, leaving a shocked Scipio behind him. Along with the rest of the world.
AN: please excuse Prosper's French. he was just upset. :( review if you want Prosper to find Hornet!! (45 sounds nice)
see ya! eclipsed heart
