I'm so sorry about missing a chapter yesterday! I spent all day searching for the muse but they were no where to be found. I should hopefully be posting another one later today in order to make up for it, but if I don't just know that I do have the next few chapters planned out and I should be able to continue publishing them daily.


"Alright, Gently now," Coulson said, waiting at the top of the steps of the front porch. He was being a bit overcautious, sure, but he really didn't want Kora to get hurt within her first few minutes with them.

Melinda gave him a pointed look, telling him to stop worrying, but he couldn't help it. He had previously stress cleaned the already clean house, then paced for about an hour before the doorbell finally rang, saving Melinda from going crazy and Phil from an early death via murder.

"We have a room set up upstairs. It's a little empty because of the short notice, but we also figured you would want to decorate it yourself when you got here," Phil continued, nervously making small talk.

Kora just nodded a little, slightly hesitant. She wasn't necessarily in the mood for small talk, her head still reeling from everything that had happened. She was worried if she began speaking she'd end up crying, and that would be a terrible first impression to leave on her new... legal guardians? foster parents?

They made it up the stairs of the front porch and into the house, much to Phils relief. Relief that was short lived, though, as Phil realized that Kora's room was upstairs.

"Melinda, we may not have thought this through."

"We have a guest room on the main level, just until you're feeling well enough for a room upstairs," Melinda remarked, looking at Kora, who gave a weak smile and nodded, not making eye contact.

They made their way to the guest room, which had been decorated in gentle lavenders and grays. Kora could feel Mr. Coulson looking at her with anticipation, so she tried to give a weak smile, but it had probably come out as more of a grimace.

"Well, we'll let you get settled in. Dinner should be around 6 if you're feeling up to it," Melinda remarked gently before she looked at Phil and they both left the room.

Kora looked again around the room. The bedspread and focus wall were lavender, while all the other walls were gray. There was a darker purple nightstand next to the bed, and a large window with purple curtains on the far wall. Kora had never considered herself a purple person, but she really liked the decorations, even if they did look distinctly "guest room-y."

She crossed the room to sit on the bed, met with soft blankets and a comfortable mattress. It was surprising and nice, though Kora couldn't help the quick pang of guilt and nerves over it. They were willing to let her into their house, use their guest room, take up their time and space out of the goodness of their hearts. She didn't deserve that. She didn't deserve much of anything. She had practically killed…

Unless they aren't doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. What if they want something in return? Chores and stuff are fine, but what if they wanted something more sinister?* She had trusted people before and it had gotten her shot in a back alley. *Won't be making that mistake twice.

She leaned back on the bed, and finally let herself cry. Not loudly, or in any way that would garner attention, but just slow, heavy tears in reverence to all she had lost. She let herself feel the hurt and guilt and terror of everything. She let herself feel the betrayal and the pain and the reverberating ache of the wound on her side.

And slowly, amidst the heartache and pain, she found herself drifting off into the gentle depths of sleep.


It's a lot shorter than I would've liked, but it's something! Also, thank you for all the nice reviews! I'm so glad you guys seem to be liking it. I'm incredibly elated that people seem to be liking the story I'm weaving here!