Chapter 2
Raelle heard Scylla behind her crying and calling out for her, but heartbroken, Raelle didn't turn around. She ran all the way to her dorm room, without stopping in the hallway. Her boots smacked against the tile floor as she ran through the hall and up the different floors, taking two steps at a time. She made it to the room, pushing open the door, out of breath and in full tears.
The first thing that Raelle saw when she entered the room were both Tally and Abigail. Abigail sat on her bed on one side of the room, her brown hair down for once; Tally was sitting on Raelle's bed, which was fine, she usually did that so she didn't have to peer over the end of hers and risk falling. Tally was leaning against the wall, but sat up straighter as Raelle entered the room. Raelle looked from Tally to Abigail and back again and immediately Tally closed the gap between the two of them, wrapping her arms around Raelle, holding her close.
Raelle felt Tally's strong arms around her, she always did give good hugs, even though they didn't hug much in their unit. Raelle slowly and gently hugged Tally back as Abigail spoke up, "Scylla? What did she say?"
Raelle broke away from Tally and wiped her eyes as she went to sit on the edge of her bed. Her left leg stretched out to the ground; her right leg bent, resting her foot on the side of the bedframe. She nodded softly, "Yeah, it was Scylla. She wanted to tell me that she loves me and why she did what she did. But I just don't know." She left out a heavy sigh, looking across the room at Abigail.
Tally moved to sit next to Raelle, placing her hand on the woman's back, giving a gentle rub. Raelle smiled softly as she looked at Tally and took her hand, giving it a small squeeze.
Abigail moved to sit on the edge of the bed and looked over at Tally and Raelle, "What do you want Raelle? What do you need? I will help you out in anyway you need." A small smile formed on her lips. Raelle had always butted heads with Abigail, but in moments like this and after they graduated, she knew that even if they fought, they were sisters, always and forever.
Raelle's eyes met Abigail's from across the small room, "I…I don't know Bells. I still love her and I don't think I'll ever stop. I need her to not lie to me. I want everything to be okay. I just want…" She lets out a small sigh, "Scylla."
Abigail bows her head in a nod of understanding as Tally rubbed her back. Abigail responded in a soft, sweet voice, which was unusual for a Bellwether. "I know Rae, I know you do." She had a hint of compassion in her voice. For Abigail, or even a Bellwether, compassion is something they didn't do all that well. But after everything that Abigail knew that Raelle went through and that she was used by someone she loved and is her sister now, she knew that Raelle needed something.
Raelle sighed softly, the tears dry on her cheeks now as she laid back on her bed, staring up at the bottom of Tally's bed. She closed her eyes slowly, trying not to think about it. But, not thinking about it was harder than she thought; she just wanted to run back to Scylla, but she didn't want to be hurt again. She quickly sat up, looking at the concerned look on Abigail's features. "I want to forgive her; I know she's now helping us take down the Spree. I know that she loves me. But what do I do?"
Abigail's head moved from side to side in a slow motion, "I don't know Raelle. Maybe try talking to her. We know you love her and she loves you. Sure, she made a mistake, she knows that. You have to think about that she could have taken you to the Spree and delivered you like she was supposed to the night of my cousin's wedding, but she didn't. She stayed and danced with you. That was the night she said she loves you." Abigail took a small pause as she slowly stood and moved a few paces to the bunkbed before she spoke again. "We can all tell that she fell in love with you Raelle."
Raelle looked up at Abigail and reached her hand out for her sisters'. "That's what she says, but how am I to believe anything she says to me after she lied?"
Abigail gave Raelle's hand a small squeeze as they hear a light knock on the door and a familiar voice, "I know you can't believe me Raelle, but I promise you…I promise that from this moment on, I will never lie to you again."
Raelle looked up at Abigail and then over to Tally. They both nodded as they left the room, closing the door to the room, to give the two some privacy. Raelle positioned herself to where both of her feet rested on the floor, her hands on either side of herself, getting ready to push herself off the bed. But instead of standing, she looking up at Scylla, every happy moment they had together seemed to just rush through her mind, in slow motion. From the moment they met out in that field, to feeling Scylla's lips against hers for the first time, even to Scylla whispering 'I love you' into Raelle's ear. Raelle let out a long, slow sigh as she pushed herself off the bed.
Raelle let out a few deep breaths as she slowly stepped towards Scylla and moved past her, towards the door, hand on the doorknob. Scylla had followed Raelle's movements closely as neither of them spoke to one another. Scylla turned, reaching her hand out, lightly touching Raelle's arm, whispering, "Raelle…" She didn't want to lose the one good thing that had happened in her life.
The feeling of Scylla's touch on her arm, sent a shock through Raelle's entire body; starting from the touch to her feet, head and heart. Raelle clicked the lock on the door and slowly turned to face Scylla, their blues eyes locked onto one another. Scylla slipped her hand to Raelle's waist and gently pulled her in, stopping when they were merely inches from each other.
Raelle's hand moved to Scylla's neck as they held each other for a single moment. Raelle pulled Scylla closer to her, their lips clashing together as if it were the first time. Raelle could hear the small breathy whisper from Scylla say, "I'm sorry," as they closed the small gap between them and their bodies pressed tight together. Raelle moved Scylla back, walking with her to the lower bunkbed. The two women fell onto the bed, never breaking the kiss and Raelle responded, "I know…"