Chapter 7
Atticus and Charon got up extra early. They noticed the past few days Odette has not been well. They suspect she's self harming and they know she's drinking. As soon as they got up they ordered the avoxes to take away all the alcohol on the train and lock it up.
They sit at the dining table ready to face a sickly,sluggish Odette, but that's not what they get.
The door opens and Odette moves faster than she has in months. Instead of emptiness her eyes are full of rage and fire.
In four strides she's In front of Charon and she raises the back of her hand and brings it across his face.
"YOU BASTARD HOW COULD YOU!?" She screams.
"Odette what's the matter with you?!" Atticus shouts and rushes out Of his seat to separate Odette and Charon "HOW COULD YOU?! WHY WOULD YOU BRING HIM INTO THIS?!".
At this Charon and Atticus freeze. "...bring who into what?!" Charon asks holding his red cheek "You know who! How could you bring Orion into this?!"
Finally Charon and Atticus understand. They give each other a sideways glance when Odette explodes again "ANSWER ME!"
Charon swallows "Odette, listen-"
"NO! I'm not listening to anything you say! How could you force him to go with your "plan"?!
"Odette please listen!" Charon says and stands. Odette looks worse than she ever has. Her skin has a more yellowish tint that it did days ago. Her hair is greasy and unkempt. Her bloodshot eyes and dark circles have worsens and she has seemed to age 40 years.
and with her features distorted with rage she's a horrifying sight.
"Look, Odette...the "plan" was to embarrass the Capitol and weaken them, had you died you would have already done the job with the bombs. We we're hoping to get you back home but that was not the initial plan."
"but did Orion know about the plan?" Odette says through her clenched teeth. Charon pauses "...yes, he did". Before Odette had a chance to pounce on Charon Atticus grabs her and holds her back "How could you do that?! Why would you make him do that?!" She screams and claws to get free.
"Odette he was not forced at all! He simply knew that you were we're not voted in!"
"YOU'RE LYING! HE KNEW ABOUT THE REBELS!". Atticus quickly covers her mouth to keep anything else spilling out.
"Of course he did! We had to tell him!" Charon whispers harshly. "Agh!" Atticus exclaims and pushes Odette away "she bit me!"
Odette turns away from Atticus and looks at Charon "I didn't mind that you had this plan behind my back! I really didn't! But how could you bring him into it! He died because of me! They all did!"
"Odette he didn't have to save you! That was his decision! He could have killed you!" "But he knew that's not what you wanted!"
Charon a sighs and rubs his face "...once again, the "plan" was not to bring you home! It was-"
"To embarrass the Capitol, yes! But after I died it could have blown over! He knew it would be better if I lived!"
"Odette he had nothing to go back to and he knew that! He has nobody to miss him!"
Odette flinches and a look of shock paints her face "HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT?! I MISS HIM!"
" as do I, but it was entirely up to him whether or not on what to do with you. But he decided it would be better if you lived"
Odettes eyes go out of focus and she is no longer looking at Charon, more through him, like his words are finally sinking in.
"...Maybe it wouldn't be better..." She finally says.
The angry tension finally leaves her and are quickly replaced by tears.
"Odette..." Charon says as slowly moves to embrace her. The sobs rack her delicate body. For the first time Charon notices how skinny she has gotten. She was always thin, but she is more...emaciated now. Her shoulder bones poke through her skin as if they are about to break through, as are her collar and hip bones.
Of course Atticus has also noticed quite a bit, since he dresses her.
After a few minute Charon speaks up "I take full blame for his death, and onyxes, and lysithias."
Odette stops and looks up at him "b-but..." She tries to get out, but just continues sobbing.
Atticus looks at the time and sharply inhales " we need to hurry, we will be there soon" He says attempting to change the subject. Charon nods and lets go of Odette.
She wipes her tears and leaves the dining car.
After Odette leaves, Atticus and Charon have a moment alone.
"You shouldn't blame yourself for Orion's death, ya know?" Atticus says quietly.
"I know, I don't. But I don't want Odette blaming herself. She has enough to deal with. But...
I am to blame for onyxes and lysithias death"
"Don't say that!" Atticus says. He looks as if he's about to say something else, but he quickly remembers the time.
"I...i need to go" he says and briskly walks out.
"Of course it's my fault" Charon says quietly to himself as
He slumps down into the chair
"I turned them in"
Hello readers! im sorry its been a while, i have almost zero time to write. My grades are not exactly where they should be at the moment (they are in the dumps) ok not all of them but i need to take some time to work on bringing them up because ive been worried about getting chapters out.
I have two more chapters pre written and those will be out in days to come, but after those two chapters it will be a while until more come.
preferably when school is out, when i will actually have butt loads of time to write.
and if i had to guess including the two pre written chapters there will probably be about four maybe 5 more chapters with this side story. then begins the second story, Royal Destruction ;D
Until Next Time!
Maddy
