Lost

A/N: I might as well finish this up since I took such a long break from writing in general. Luckily listening to music helped a lot. TW: Ableism, abuse.

The night air hit Sandy as she left the theatre, ignoring the onlookers and hitting the top of the carriage as Valen followed close behind, hopping in before the carriage took off.

"What's the matter with you?" he hissed.

Sandy took in a breath, the grip she had on her dress increasing the more the carriage jolted across the cobblestone. She just wanted to go home. Valen never should have brought her to the theatre.

"I," she started, taking in a gulp of air. "I miss dancin' so much it hurts." She mumbled.

The arrival back to Valen's was tense, Sandy immediately heading to the bedroom and flopping onto the bed. She eased her prosthetic off, rubbing at her knee in an attempt to alleviate some of the pain she felt and knew wasn't actually there.

Three years. Three years and all she had to show for it was a busted leg and another prison. She watched as Valen entered the room, taking long strides before grabbing her and shaking her.

"Do you know what you've done?" he asked, not waiting for an answer. "Not only are people talking about how I married a fucking washed-up cripple, but now she can't even sit through a damn ballet." He bellowed, his grip tight on Sandy's arm as he shook her again.

Sandy whimpered, squeezing her eyes shut. She kept them shut as he continued his rant. A vase crashing to the floor and the door slamming open is what made her open her eyes, ragged breaths punching out of her. She stumbled up, braced her hands against Valen's chest, and pushed. Pushed him out of the room and closed the door with a final click and turn of the lock.

Shadow arrived back in Talfryn a few days ago. He looked up as the Cheeks manor loomed over him, somehow giving off the impression of being empty. Of being devoid of life.

He knocked on the door, a chill sweeping through him. When no one answered, he went around to the rose bushes, finding the secret passage Sandy told him about.

He clutched a leather-bound notebook in his hand, filled with drawings of his muse. Sandy. As he transversed the passage, his heart swelled at the thought of her. Hopefully, she would be waiting for him.

Shadow swallowed as he came upon an empty room. Maybe she was somewhere else in the house. He went through the empty halls, noting the amount of dust that settled in certain places. She wasn't here.

"Randy," he called, heading towards the study. He heard a clamor as he neared the study, the door creaking open as Randy peeked out at him. "Where is she?"

"Valen," the other man croaked. "Valen took her."