They say it is horrible to watch someone descend into madness. But what if it happens so fast, you don't even see it?
Fracture
"She's…dead."
Dead. Dead. Dead dead dead. "No…no. She can't-. She's not-. Leila!" He wept into the night, at the edge of the forest on an enemy-controlled island. Years of training as a spy and thief forgotten at two words. Dead…she's…dead.
"…I'm sorry, Matthew."
His head whipped around at those words. "Sorry? You fucking bastard whore-child," he screamed, anger overpowering the despair in his eyes. "It's your fault she's dead! You knew this was a suicide mission. And you sent her anyway, knowing she would die. You killed her, and you tell me you're 'sorry'? Fucking slow-minded wretch!" With this Matthew drew his knife and leapt at Hector. They collided and fell to the ground with a crash. Hands pulled them apart just before his blade found Hector's throat.
"Matthew!" Someone yelled. Leila? "Matthew!" He tried to respond, but nothing came but tears as he sank into himself. He didn't feel himself fall to the ground, or his companions leaning him against a nearby tree. He didn't hear Ninian's warning of enemies, or Uhai's appearance and the start, or end, of the battle. He just sat, shaking, crying, staring at her lifeless face the entire time. Leila…
It was quiet, he suddenly realized. He turned his head to see Lyndis approaching him. Or did he? No, it wasn't Lyndis, was it? Her hair was much shorter, and a pinkish-red color. How could he have made that mistake? He was in the gardens in Ostia, and Leila was walking up to him. But for some reason, he was crying. He knew that, but he had no idea why.
"Matthew?"
"Leila-"
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Lyn was leaning over him, worried. "Matthew?" she asked again. Still no response. The thief simply sat where he was, moaning and staring at his beloved's body. She turned back to the group waiting behind her. "He's completely unresponsive. He wont…he won't even acknowledge that I'm there. I don't know what's wrong, but we can't leave him like this."
"We may have to," butted in Hector. "The ship has left, and we have to move forward. And we are not bringing him with us. He tried to fucking kill me! Not to mention if he snaps again he'll bring down every enemy on this island!"
Lyn looked around desperately for support. "Ninian! You have…some kind of powers, can you tell what's wrong with him?"
The girl in question approached slowly, silently. She kneeled down next to Matthew and placed a hand on his shoulder. Eventually, she started speaking, though barely a whisper. "His mind is…shattered. He thinks he is elsewhere…he thinks he is…with her."
"Maybe he is."
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Not long I know. First try. I just kind of thought of this all at once and wrote it down. Maybe I'll write more later, but there's also a few other stories (read as: longer than this) that I have planned out to do. Leave a review, advice, etc. Always a fan of Matthew and Leila.