Drown My Will

A/N: I don't know how long this'll be, but since it's a slow burn, I hope I'll be able to pull it off. Turns out I never gave Valen a last name, silly me. TW: Mental anguish, suicide ideation/attempt, abuse.

Sandy drew her knee up to her chest as Valen banged and clamored at the door. She went over to the window, rain sticking to the pane and barely giving her the view outside. She opened the window, seeing the ground below and thinking of herself plummeting down, down, down. As rain soaked the top of her chest and dress, she reached out, gripping the banister. It would be so easy to just fall.

As her dress steadily became soaked, Sandy didn't hear the door snap open. She grunted as Valen threw her back inside, his grip gone for a moment until her head whipped to the side.

She gasped from the force of the blow, mind a cacophony of how Valen hit her, how much it surprised her more than anything. She backed away as he reached for her.

"Don't touch me," she hissed, leaning against the bed. She pressed a hand to her stinging cheek as Valen kneeled in front of her.

Valen reached for her, watching as she flinched and pressed herself further against the bed. He sighed.

"Tomorrow, I'll be hosting a get together. Do not ruin this for me." He said, standing up to leave the room.

Sandy sunk to the floor as he left, gaze drifting to the now closed window. She needed to escape.

Shadow huffed as the carriage Randy set him up in bounced along the road. He needed to see Sandy, needed to get her away from Valen. Or at least ensure he could be around. As the carriage stopped, Shadow looked out the window at the large manor of the Fritz family.

He stepped out of the carriage, using his canvas cover as a shield from the pouring rain. Thunder cracked as Shadow reached the door and knocked, swallowing as a servant answered the door.

"Can I help you?" she asked, pushing her glasses up.

"I. . .the lady of the house requested me." Shadow answered, shifting.

The woman looked at him for a moment before letting him inside. He looked around as the maid led him to a room. He paused as she held a hand to stop him, entering the room.

The maid sighed at the state of Valen's wife, she was on the floor, fresh tears pricking the corner of her eyes as she gazed out the window. She offered Sandy her cane, helping her new mistress stand.

"You have a guest," Amina said, leading Sandy towards the bed as she quietly whimpered.

"I," Sandy started, her voice cracking. "Send them away, I don't wish to be bothered right now." She continued, quietly thanking Amina as the maid helped her into bed, covering her leg with the duvet.

Amina nodded, intent on sending her guest away. She exited the room, finding the tall, black and red hedgehog right where she left him.

"I'm sorry," Amina started, walking past Shadow. "She isn't in the mood for guests right now."

Shadow frowned, reaching into his jacket and pulling out a leather-bound notebook. "Then, can you at least tell her Shadow stopped by, and to give her this." He said, pressing the notebook into Amina's hands.

Amina nodded, watching Shadow see himself out into the pouring rain. She huffed, turning the notebook over in her hand before reentering the bedroom. She set the notebook on the nightstand, watching Sandy's hand appear from the closed canopy.

"A Mr. Shadow stopped by, Mistress." She said, watching the hand still the disappear altogether.

Amina swallowed, leaving the room after tidying up.

Sandy sighed once Amina left, lighting a candle after drawing the canopy back. As she opened the notebook, she blushed at the amount of sketches. Of her overlooking the ocean, of her peering at the viewer over a book.

As she flipped through, the sketches grew more solid, thick lines etching out her figure and face.

She sent him away.