Chapter 27: Thank You
Olivia's POV (I know, never thought you'd see that again)
"I presume there were no survivors." Moira deduced behind me, conversing with a few of my agents about Scott's recent antics in nearby villages. A small smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth in response to him flooding my mind again. It was... nostalgic.
"It was Scott, of course there were no survivors." I replied, cutting off the few nervous agents standing behind me. 'He's never been merciful. That's what I adore about him.' I tried to prevent even more fond thoughts from coming up, speaking before the others could continue. "Any ideas where he was headed? Does he know of our location, plans, meetings, protests?"
I didn't bother turning to any of them, instead staring out at the landscape lying directly behind my window. The office the building had compensated me with more than made up for how long it took to get here, the view of the luminescent streetlights and holographic advertisements decorating the buildings lighting up the night sky took my breath away. We were near Numbani, the name of the city alone sparking memories to jut out and take hold of my focus.
I should've spent more time staging the protests, or perhaps participating. The more my face is out in the public, the better.
"Our best operatives haven't been able to track him. He seemingly disappears after every massacre. But his presence is often felt in the cities he visits, not only through the stories they tell about him, but the body count."
Smiling, a bemused thought entered my mind. "The Scourge. That's what they call him, correct? That's adorable." I remarked, listening to the soft hum of my augmentations supporting my body, strengthening the tendons Talon had severed years ago. Despite the facade I kept up, I very much remembered who was responsible. Flicking my eyes to Moira, who sat behind me comfortably, I contained the rage I felt when I saw her. 'Her time will come.'
"Speaking of adorable," Moira smirked maliciously, "I hear he's taken in a young girl under his protection. That or the songs about him kidnapping and eating children alive weren't grossly overexaggerated."
"It's true, ma'am. Our agents are working on pinning down her exact identity, former place of residence, and other information. She may lead us to him."
"Don't waste our resources on that. He'll come to me. Focus on placing a bounty on his head, push the narrative we discussed earlier. If he manages to catch up to us, he'll only dig a deeper hole for himself. My word is gospel to the world, and soon my dream will become a reality. Any attack against me is viewed as an assault on religion." I chuckled, though not at all displeased with the idea of running into him again.
The reason for said longing, I couldn't pin down exactly. That, or I just didn't want to. 'I gave all that up years ago, let go of him just like the others. Nothing else will stand in the way of my dream again.' I reminded myself of that often.
"Our word, Ms. Colomar. Need I remind you of where the nearly limitless resources poured into giving you the political and social standing you've acquired came from?" Moira corrected, the doctor eyeing me suspiciously.
'You don't need to remind me. I've seen what this virus you've created has done to hundreds of children.' I thought.
'But do I have any right to judge? When I benefit so greatly from it? Without this virus, I wouldn't be able to bridge the gap between two peoples so readily. Without their research, we wouldn't have a cure to sell to the world and a message of unity to spread. Besides, how many lives have my ambitions consumed? It certainly outweighs what this virus has wrought.'
Deciding on stopping myself from continuing that train of thought, I spoke up. "You all have my undying gratitude, as without said support I would not be here. I would not even be able to stand, most likely."
Motioning to the jagged lines in my skin that housed the titanium used to support my bones and connect my tendons, Moira smiled in satisfaction. "It's a partnership to be envious of, for certain. Your talents, our resources and troops. And with this new cure we're developing, our labors will finally begin to bear fruit."
"If there's nothing else," I began, ignoring the compliment, as they tended to aggravate me more than anything else. "You're all dismissed. Report any news of Scott to me and finalize the preparations for the celebration in Numbani."
The agents shuffled quickly out of the office, muttering to themselves all the while. A soft downpour of rain began, droplets trickling down the window in front of me as I sighed. Moira stayed behind for a moment, and I could feel her mismatched eyes staring daggers at me.
"You seem troubled, Olivia." She stated dryly, causing me to scoff. "And why would you say that?"
"Scott is on your mind. I wish to be certain that you've left your past and your relationship to him behind you. We cannot afford setbacks."
I felt myself lost in a strange state of melancholy I hadn't felt in years. I was elated with the progress I've made, yet a heavy weight hung around my neck, threatening to strangle me.
"I piled them up, like you said. They're all gone." I made a passing attempt to deny her concerns.
"Yet, he still lives. I warned you not to let him go on, yet you did anyways." She continued to prod me, digging into my psyche in an unwelcome manner. "Was it in some attempt to prolong his suffering, like you'd want me to believe? Or do you still harbor feelings for him?"
Frowning, I focused on his screams. His anguished cries echoed in my mind, thundering in my ears.
He had taken everything from me, so I repaid him in kind.
Refusing to falter under her gaze, I stood proudly and finally turned to face her. Her pointed nose scrunched up in a small scowl as I met her eyes.
"He serves as a reminder of what I once had. Of what I gave up getting here. I cannot allow myself to forget."
In a sense, I gave her the truth. I could've killed him, but he proved to be a useful glimpse at what I've sacrificed to get here. He was like Javier, pushing me further into my obsession with seeing this through to the end.
"As you wish. Just be careful this... reminder... doesn't prove to be your undoing."
With each step she took out of the office, the better I felt. A wave of relief washed over me, having passed what felt like an interrogation.
I was alone with my thoughts now, which could prove to be dangerous. Only in moments like these could I feel memory's cruel grasp on my heart tighten. I had smiled at Scott as he yelled in agony, having masked the pain I felt, even from myself. All of them died for me, joining the ranks of the thousands of others who had fell before.
'I cannot repent. I cannot apologize. If I give up, all of it was for nothing.' The thought rushed into the forefront, stopping my pensive waltz down memory lane like it always did.
Sighing, I listened to the steady rhythm of rain pouring down on the roof above, taking a seat at the desk and shutting my eyes.
When I opened them, I could see my reflection in the glass windows. My scars were healing well, and my hair had grown out and was lush and beautiful once more. My cheeks were full again, my body strong, and with the help of my augmentations I was healthy again.
A small smile returned again tonight as I listened to the rain, memory tugging me back to the night I spent with Scott in Monaco before he... he left.
After the celebration, I had invited him to my room to discuss... whatever came to mind. It was an excuse to have him by my side. Only now as I reflect on him do I realize what it was I felt for him.
My body felt warm, and my cheeks flushed as I found myself daydreaming about it, soon scolding myself. 'My dream won't be accomplished reminiscing about him. He's a reminder, that's all. My feelings for him didn't stop him from betraying me.'
Yet, even as I set to work on the tasks before me, I caught myself on occasion hoping that he'd find me so I could see him again. To feel his anger, his rage, his passion again. Even after all he'd done, after all I'd done, some things never changed.
Scott's POV
I couldn't find the strength to stop her, nor the strength to stop myself. Before I could even manage to remember how I got in this situation, I was lost in her eyes.
My arms moved without my brain telling them to, pulling her so close to myself I feared I may consume her entirely. But she wasn't resisting. She pulled me closer as well.
'What am I doing?' I questioned myself, pausing to take a breath and get a grip on the situation. "Olivia... I..." I failed to find the words. When I opened my eyes, pulling back from her kiss, I was caught in a trance as she stared at me. Bangs rested on her face, slightly disheveled from when I had pulled her hair.
She paused, though not stepping back from me. The moonlight cascading along her naked and toned figure caused my eyes to wander despite my worries. Only now did I realize my shirt was off in the heat of the moment. It lay right next to her dress from the ball. I couldn't even retrace my steps properly to see how I went from dancing and twirling in the center of a ballroom to in her private room, my body telling her all the things I had been too afraid to say.
Suddenly, I felt self-conscious in her gaze, aware of my augmentations. I was probably cold to the touch, my titanium limbs chilling her to the bone. Even now, in my most intimate moments with her, I failed to feel good enough. 'I must leave. Whatever happens between us, I must become her equal. I must be more.'
Olivia could sense my hesitation, as if hearing my own thoughts as they stampeded through my mind, rattling my skull.
Her soft hands met my face as she cupped my cheeks in each hand, forcing me to meet her eyes. Those deep blue oceans washed over me again.
"I'm... how can you... I'm hideous..." I stumbled over my words, feeling a lump get caught in my throat as I gripped her hand with mine softly, relishing her touch. Her face shifted slightly, mouth opening to form words and seemingly breathe life into me, like they always did.
"Scott... you know I've never been good with... mushy feelings." Her faint chuckle seemed to echo in her quiet room, the storm outside supporting her each word with an orchestral arrangement of rain.
"But..." she bit her lip, a nervous habit that I'd noticed in her. "I... can't express how much what you've done for me means. I'd be dead without you. My dream would've fizzled out with me in some battle. I'd return to nothing, just like I was before. Scott, you're..."
She was struggling with her words, just as I usually did. It was so unlike her.
'Probably finding the words to say that won't drive me away from her dream. Maybe I'll still be a useful tool.'
Pushing that thought away from my mind, I grabbed her waist with both of my hands, seizing her for my own. 'This is my one chance to show her how I feel before I leave. Even if I'm just some tool to her, she can use me once more, tonight.'
Olivia's short gasp transformed into a stifled moan, my scarred lips crashing into hers in a heated embrace. Her mouth opened for mine; body laid bare against my chest as I held her tight. My hands supported her as I leaned into her and tipped her backwards. Her fingers dug into my hair; her other hand sprawled on my neck, tracing the scars along my collarbone.
'This changes nothing, but for tonight, I won't let my insecurity and distaste for myself hold me back. I'm not worth her time, a simple slave to her every wish. But maybe, just for tonight, I can fool myself into believing I'm more.'
A drop of water splashed on my cheek from a leak in the ceiling above me, flushing my memories down the drain and sending me sprawling back to reality and the hell I found myself in.
'It's raining, just like it was then.' I thought, the sound of it crashing into the roof overhead causing a smirk to form.
It dissipated as I realized that I had dreamt of her once more, longing for her again, despite what she's done. 'Damn myself to hell, what a pathetic sack of shit I am. Daydreaming about the woman who slaughtered my friends before my very eyes.' I continued to berate myself, scowling as I thought of her. If their voices weren't here to remind me, would I choose to forget and be blissfully unaware? Would I still be a slave to my feelings for that damn woman?
Choosing to focus on getting my bearings instead of answering my own questions, I shifted slightly, hissing in pain. The makeshift bedroll I was sprawled out on felt as though it weighed a ton, burying me under it. I was far too weak to push it off me or rise to my feet, instead trying not to writhe in agony as I could still feel those flames rising up my limbs, scorching my skin.
'What a fool. I warned you, yet you let it consume you all the same. Though maybe that's for the best. You've only ever been good at mindlessly killing those in your way.' Genji's once soft voice had hardened over the years, taunting me every day since I'd lost him. I could barely remember what his smile looked like.
He was right though. I failed him yet again, his sword nearly killing me along with the others. With the pain I was in, I don't think I'd really mind it finishing the job.
The bandages littering my body brought me back to far too painful memories of my time with Overwatch to reflect on for long. I could almost hear Angela scolding me like she was my mother. I never change. I just keep making the same mistakes in life, waiting for it to get me killed.
My gear that covered my upper body had been stripped from me and rested next to my bedroll. Turning to my left, I ignored the searing pain rocketing up my neck and allowed my remaining eye to focus on the silhouette in the window.
For a moment, I hallucinated that it was Lena, those innocent eyes piercing right through me.
As my vision focused, the blurriness faded and Efi appeared, glancing out the window longingly as a storm raged overhead. The neon lights that littered the streets reflected in her eyes, glistening in the dark. A small television rested in the corner, local news displaying words I couldn't make out. My vision was getting worse, the flames having burnt my eye.
"Where-where are we?" My voice was hoarse, and I only now realized how dry my mouth was. My scars split open, burns becoming more inflamed after speaking. Efi jolted a bit, my rough voice startling her. I was never good at speaking softly, or good with kids for that matter.
"You're awake!" She exclaimed, more excited and relieved than I believed she would be.
Coughing, I tried to sit up and push myself to my feet, faltering before I could even push myself up with my arms. Falling back down with a groan, I mumbled a few curses under my breath.
"Woah, try to take it slow. Your wounds are still fresh. It's only been a few days." Efi began to explain, her short dreadlocks falling in her face. A small smile spread across her lips as she chuckled.
"You collapsed before we got a mile from the village. Lucky for you I jumpstarted a car and saved you before the vultures started to dig in."
'You should've just left me to rot. I'll only cause you trouble.' I thought, for once my conscience creeping in and reminding me of the danger I put her in.
Swallowing the apology that was caught in my throat, I scowled slightly and glanced at my bag. "I need a smoke."
Ignoring her as she rolled her eyes, she fished a cigarette out of the cartridge and handed it to me. I fumbled with the lighter she gave me, fingers still too weak to properly light the damn thing.
"Piece of shit..." I muttered, gritting my teeth before she grabbed it and lit my cigarette for me, sitting next to me and on her own bedroll. Inhaling the familiar smoky scent, it settled my nerves a bit and I began to take in my surroundings. We were in some small, abandoned apartment, bits of trash and scrap metal littered about the place.
"Those'll kill ya, you know?" Efi mocked. My mind flashed to Olivia when she said the same thing to me in Talon.
Ignoring the urge to try and fight something to get Olivia's grin out of my head, I focused on the girl beside me. She was in some new clothes, small green tank top having oil and grease stains on the front of it. Her tan cargo shorts were several sizes too big judging from how baggy they were and the tattered belt around her waist holding them up.
"Still haven't answered my question." I mumbled, ignoring my feelings and taking another shaky drag of my cigarette, cherishing it. "Numbani, my old stomping grounds to be exact. Just the way I left it too."
Her gaze fell to the floor for a moment, what seemed to be a lingering regret eating at her before it passed. "Explains all the scrap metal, you little grease monkey." I snorted, watching as she hesitated to slap me before realizing I was too frail to handle even that, let alone stop her.
"Called in a couple favors, made sure no one was looking when I brought you in. Don't need people breaking my door down to get at the infamous Scourge."
"You mean you bandaged my wounds?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. She nodded, holding her knees to her chest. "Makes sense, given how shitty I feel." I jabbed, listening to her scoff.
"Fuck you, Scott." She replied, lacking the smile I was hoping I had brought to her face. 'I'm such a fool. Mocking the only reason that I'm still drawing breath.'
Shifting uncomfortably, I ignored the pain rushing through my side as I reached my hand out to her. "What I meant to say was, thank you. I-I haven't had much practice giving thanks recently."
She grinned in response, lighting up some dim part of humanity that still lied within me, buried by my grief and rage.
"Yeah." She looked back at me, and I found it hard to not smile, for once. 'Don't get too comfortable. You'll get her killed too.' I heard Angela's voice taunt me with what I knew deep down to be true. The urge to smile died like the rest.
"Still can't get over the new hair thing..." Efi pointed at me, and I frowned. "What the hell are you talking about?" I tugged at a loose strand of hair, eye widening as I noticed it was snow white. My black beard had now done the same, making me feel like Santa Claus if he lost his suit, had all the joy sucked out of him and lost an eye.
"Oh, god damn it." I cursed, listening to Efi giggle. "Oh hush. It kind of suits you."
I struggled to sit up, ignoring her attempt to help me as I pushed upwards and finally sat up entirely. It was such an endeavor I was tempted to lie back down in exhaustion. "Guess that happens when an ancient ancestral power nearly consumes me." I remarked, gazing at Genji's katana as it rested by the window. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear rush through me as I thought of it taking control again.
Exhaling more smoke after another drag of my cigarette, Efi nudged me slightly. "What the hell was that? A damn dragon?" She asked.
"To be honest, I don't entirely know. The sword isn't mine, not originally. That ancestral power I mentioned, also not mine."
"Whose was it, originally?" She prodded me once more. My shoulders slouched a little more in response. 'Put my foot in my mouth this time, haven't I?'
The television caught my attention before I could come up with some lie, displaying a headline my fuzzy vision struggled to put into focus. Efi noticed, turning the volume up a bit.
"An official statement from government officials and political activist Olivia Colomar have been stated in light of the multiple sustained attacks on villages in Central Africa." The omnic reporter announced, my eye widening upon hearing her name.
And there she was, the camera cutting to Olivia, just as strong and capable as when I met her. The scars along her cheek and above her eyes were healing, though still raised slightly. Her hair had grown out more, full on both sides now, resting elegantly on her shoulders. Struck by her beauty, I only overcame my own stupor by remembering the rage I felt towards her. By remembering them.
"If you see this man," Her words were like ice that sent a chill down my spine. Even after all these years her voice mesmerized me. An image taken of me flashed on screen, my face twisted into its usual scowl. My hair and beard were still raven black, chin length hair loosely tucked behind my ears. Some cameras I hadn't noticed must've snagged a shot of me. "Do not approach him. Alert the authorities and lock yourself indoors. He's wanted for murder, assault, arson, kidnapping, theft, vandalism, destruction of government property, just to name a few. Not only that, but he's responsible for the murder of the former Overwatch agents known for their efforts in protecting the world from terrorist threats."
I could feel Efi's eyes lock onto me as an uncontrollable wrath wormed its way through me, leaving me stirring in my own seething hatred. 'After everything you did to me, after everything you did to them, you still have the gall to wipe your hands of their deaths. Then BLAME ME?! I'll tear you limb from limb, shatter your bones until naught remains but dust and slaughter those you ally yourself with. Those you call heroes!'
"Despite their faults, they were true friends, true protectors of the people. They aided me in striving to achieve my dream of prosperity for both human and omnic, to unite us as one people. I will never forget them. That is why Scott Gallagher must be hunted down to answer for his crimes. I have the support of this world's economic and political leaders behind me as I issue this bounty. If you've any information on his whereabouts, please contact your local authorities."
Snarling, I tried to stand up and smash the television, falling onto my face before I could muster the strength. "Scott! Take it easy!" Efi warned, hands grasping my shoulders gently to try and coax me back into my bedroll. "Don't touch me!" I growled, trying to fight her off me. Contempt was all that kept me going.
"And to Scott, if you're somehow seeing this, know that I will hunt you down for what you've done. Know that you will not escape justice and know that you won't stop me from making my dream a reality. Nothing has changed."
"Nothing has changed? After all these years, what you did to me, you say nothing has changed?!" I demanded, knowing I wouldn't receive an answer as Efi hauled me back to where I lay before my outburst and shut off the television. She's stronger than I am, given the state I'm in.
"Calm down, people might hear you!" Efi reasoned with me, my blood on the verge of boiling as I gnashed my teeth, resisting the pain rushing through every cell in my body. As Efi placed a hand on my chest, I instinctively snatched her hand and gripped it tightly, only loosening my grip once I heard her wince.
I stared at the floor, visions of Olivia flooding my brain. I could still see that damned smile of hers, the one she offered me as I reached out to her while clutching my bloodied face. It made me sick.
'I don't care how many thousands of them there are, I'll kill every last person who stands in my way. I'll offer their corpses as atonement for my sins.'
My breathing was labored, my vision fading, and I felt as though I was going to faint. Genji's sword nearly drained me of my very essence.
"I'm..." Efi faltered, glancing down at her shoes before continuing. "I'm sorry about Overwatch. About your friends."
My anger was soon directed at her as I growled under my breath. "What was that?"
Her eyes widened and she began to wring her fingers nervously, fiddling with her thumbs. "I didn't mean to, but I caught a glimpse of the photo you always keep in your bag. I was looking for any medical supplies you might have when they caught my eye. I couldn't help but notice my childhood heroes with great big smiles plastered on their faces."
"I told you to never go through my belongings. Figured you'd help yourself to my past, my business?" I asked, spewing venom with every word.
"You had no right-" I started once again before she continued, undercutting me. "You were there. Smiling with them. Two eyes, bright grin, fancy suit, just like them. With that woman next to you."
"Efi." I grumbled, using what little strength I had to try and seem bigger as I sat upright. "You are treading on very, very thin ice here."
She offered a small, reassuring smile. "Is it true? They're all dea-" she caught herself, watching as my furrowed brows softened. "Gone?" She corrected. "I'm sorry. I think I understand you a bit better now."
"Don't pretend to understand." I replied bitterly, trying to hide the grief that threatened to bubble over and spill out of me. I was still trying to keep her at arm's length.
Shifting her weight and leaning against my shoulder slightly, she pointed into a corner of the dimly lit room. Scraps of polished metal, gears and springs caught my eye, and I slowly nodded.
"The only family that I ever had," She paused, something catching in her throat before she drowned the emotion that attempted to show. "Was the one I made. She was an omnic, a protector, a hero. Her name was Orisa. I wanted her to be like the Overwatch of old, the tales I heard of their heroics. And she was everything and more."
I listened to her intently, gazing at her as her soft eyes began to glisten in the night with tears. "She helped little kids cross the street, stopped robberies, saved animals, stood up for our community."
"B-but most importantly, she was my friend. She sat with me, listened to me, shared her interests with me. Every day that goes by, I miss our little talks."
My lips tightened into a thin line as I understood how the story ended, all too well. A softness overcame me as I looked at her. "What happened?" I asked, voice barely above a whisper as I feared if I spoke any louder, she'd shatter.
Her eyes met my scarred visage, as if deliberating if she should tell me or not. That or she was surprised I could sound gentle at all.
I offered a small smile, nodding at her, assuring her it was okay. For once, maybe my grief could help me keep in touch with my humanity, instead of making me discard it.
"During the Omni-Incident, she... she resisted the virus as long as she could. Dozens of them were banging on the doors, trying to get in. But with her mechanical components in a haywire, she forced me away from her. She didn't want to risk hurting me. I begged her to stop."
Efi's breathing hitched, posture sunken in and eyes blankly staring ahead as she recalled the events that transpired. "She used the last of her energy to seal the door with a barrier technology I designed for her, and- and she activated a self-destruct program I had wanted to remove for years. It was only there to begin with if she started malfunctioning during the trial phase. She insisted on keeping it, in case of emergencies. If I had just- just pushed the subject harder, told her what she meant to me... anything..."
I reached a hand out and gently gripped her small, fragile hands in mine. It snapped her from the trance she was in, one I was all too familiar with. She met my eye. "Don't blame yourself. I'm sure..."
Stuttering, I inwardly cursed my inability to string words together to form a coherent sentence that might comfort her. "I'm sure she'd be proud of you. Of what you still stand for. And for what it's worth, she sounded like a hero worthy of the Overwatch name, at least to me."
It worked. A soft smile graced her lips, forming slowly as a tear fell from her eye. "Yeah, yeah I like to think so too."
"Surprised you could make something so impressive all by yourself. No offense." I muttered the last part as she frowned, wiping her eyes and straightening up a bit. "Heh, it's not like I succeeded on my first try. Besides, she chose to be a hero. You can't make anyone into something they're not."
I huffed, smiling at her for a moment. The burns stretched with my skin as I did so, but for some reason it didn't hurt as much.
"I'm sorry about them. I'm guessing you were close." Efi returned to the former topic, bringing back painful memories. I winced, turning away for the moment.
"That doesn't matter now. They're all gone because of me." I replied, but Efi could discern that I wasn't being up front with her.
"I don't believe that, not for a second. Though I'd never have guessed you were one of them, at least when I first met you." She grinned slightly, poking at me cheekily.
"Like you said, you can't make someone into something they're not. I was never a hero, at least, not like them. They were everything I wanted to be." I stated, reflecting on the times they treated me like family. For once, I could hear their laughter, not their screams.
Scoffing, I shook my head once I noticed the silence between us as she was finally getting a good look at who I was underneath my veneer. "You know, it's selfish, but when I came back for you, I almost reminded myself of them. Trying to save people, stop the bad guys, show mercy. Of what they wanted me to be."
Feeling a tear trying to poke its way out to trickle down my cheek, I sniffed and closed my eye. They were all smiling at me, all of us huddled around a campfire. I had Lena under my arm, ruffling her hair as Genji nudged my shoulder playfully. I could almost make out Reinhardt's embellished stories. I could feel their warmth, instead of their cold, lifeless hands grasping at me as they tried to pull me down with them.
"I'm sure they'd be proud of you. Of what you still stand for." Efi repeated what I had just told her, making me shake my head in response.
"No. No, they wouldn't." My mind was reliving all of the vile things I've done, all in the name of atonement. I was left wondering if it's what they even wanted.
'Your life is not yours to do with as you wish. It's theirs, after all, you robbed them of their lives to begin with.' My thoughts reminded me, interrupting my train of thought.
"You came back for me, didn't you? You tried, didn't you? It's all anyone can ask. Living or dead." Efi mused. It almost made me laugh, before I really considered what she was saying. I pondered it silently, wondering if everyone I've lost would agree with her. Could it truly be so easy to forgive myself for my sins?
'Pathetic, being consoled by some kid. Really think saving her absolves you of what you've done?' Jesse's voice pounded in my ears, scratching at my eye lids to escape. I can never truly be alone with my thoughts anymore. Not after what I caused.
"I've lost everything I've ever known and loved, watched their lives be snuffed out before my eyes. She took them from me."
Efi offered a sympathetic look, and for once I believed she could understand how I felt, in some way. She knew who I was referring to as well.
"What happened to them?"
Shaking my head, I realized I wasn't ready to have this conversation. Talking about it was a burden I still couldn't bear.
Efi noticed my shift in demeanor, smiling sheepishly at me. "Too much?"
"Yeah." I answered simply. Having only been awake for half an hour, I still felt as though I hadn't slept in months. My scars opened back up with each movement I made, judging from the blood soaking my bandages.
"Okay. I won't push." Efi muttered, stepping away to return to her former seat at the windowsill. I silently thanked her for not pushing any further. "Promise me you'll stop fighting me and get some rest?"
Nodding, I used what remained of my energy to lay back down, groaning and stiffening in pain before finally relaxing all the way with a sigh. Remarking on the relatively normal conversation we just had, I smirked.
"Thank you." I said, not turning to her as she looked at me. "For what?"
'For saving my life. For giving me another shot at trying to emulate everything they tried to instill in me. For offering me the only comfort I've known in years.'
Biting my tongue, I chose not to answer, shifting my weight in order to try and fall back asleep.
I heard Efi huff lightly.
"You're welcome."
WOOOOOOO, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND BONDING SESSIONS! My favorite kind of stuff to write.
Finally, Scott's learning to not be such an asshole to Efi. Finally, he's seeing that other people grieve just as he does, and maybe just might understand. We're also peeling back his awful, cruel veneer that he loves to hide behind and getting to the true Scott, as traumatized and hurt as he is. Baby steps people, baby steps.
I loved writing this chapter, especially returning to Olivia and addressing an intimate moment between her and Scott I had planned to flesh out long ago but never found the right place to put it. It fit well here; I think so at least. It addresses one of the main, core tragedies at the crux of their characters, which is that they both loved one another more than they could express. Their own selfish dreams, desires, need for approval and acceptance drove them away from what truly could've made them happy. With Scott so focused on his perceived faults and lack of self-worth, he couldn't see the truth in front of him. And with Olivia so obsessively focused on accomplishing her goals, she failed to recognize her need for someone to lean on, someone to love. Now Olivia's left with a broken dream devoid of much meaning when she has no one to care for anymore, and Scott is left with nothing but grief. Goes to show that friends, loved ones, family, as cliche as it sounds, is far more important and fulfilling.
Soon, I've got plans to show the results of this new international bounty on Scott's head and bring in a new character to the scene. Exciting stuff lies ahead...
Thank you to every single one of you who've continued reading up to this point and an extra big thank you for all the support. It means more than you know. Seems fitting to give you all thanks, given the general theme of this chapter revolving around gratitude.
Thanks again, be safe, take care of yourselves, and be grateful for those you have around you.
Until next time!
