Have you ever felt like a goldfish? Well, I had one for a grand total of six months when I was twelve that I called Goldilocks. Rydian, who had been seventeen at the time, scoffed at getting one but Clarke had gotten one too after I whined that Goldie would get lonely.
I spent hours watching Goldie and Bob (creative Clarke) swim for hours on end, their tank put in my room under the warning not to feed them too much. So I fed them and watched them and fed them and cleaned their tank. But I knew as soon as I left them that they would forget me. And just continue swimming in circles as happy as could be. They knew no better.
I was fine with them forgetting me. And I always thought I would feel that same sense of acceptance when the day came that Will forgot me. Sure it would be a great deal longer than the few seconds it took my fish to move on but I thought it would be for the best. Optimistic considering he (and admittedly I) knew what the bond felt like but I thought it was what I wanted. But this was not just painful but cruel.
Tears that had already been sitting in my eyes began to fall while new ones immediately rushed to take their place. "Oh God Will, I am so sorry for all of this. For every stupid decision that led us here and Elisavet and…"
"What?" he mumbled. "No, no. It is not your fault…"
"Willow," I hiccuped.
"Willow…" he mused, rolling the word out slowly as though testing it out for size. "Lovely name. Mine is Will. Will Benedict."
"I know," I laughed, trying to dry my eyes off my shoulders, "We know each other."
"We do?" he frowned. His posture suddenly changed, the backs of his shoes scratching against the floor in his haste. "We do! You do look familiar. I saw you a few times. Do we go to school together?"
"Eh, yeah, sort of." I said. Elisavet said she could reverse this, right? This was agony keeping my tone neutral so as not to frighten Will. Though if he knew… "We were… are soulfinders."
"Wow no, no, no," Will shook his head adamantly. "I would definitely know that! All my brothers, except me and Vick, have soulfinders."
"And how would you 'definitely'," I tried gesturing with my hands to no avail, "know that? You know bad savants, yeah, well one just messed with your mind."
Somewhere in my dramatics, Will had started to squirm and duck his head. Since when was laid back Will… Embarrassed? I tried to catch his eye before he gave up.
"How… How would anyone forget someone as…" his voice cracked. He paused to clear his throat before continuing, "Beautiful as you are."
Will ducked his face down, thankfully missing the rush of blood that flooded my cheeks. Even confused, Will was still a sweetheart and while I found it hard to accept the compliment, my stomach did a little somersault of pleasure. "You cannot see shit in here." I muttered.
Will laughed and it echoed all around us. Surprised, I looked up to find him grinning. "Is that how you always accept compliments? I struck lucky if you are my, um, soulfinder." He quietened thinking about it. "It feels right but this 'thing'... It matches nothing in my head." He sighed.
"What about your heart Will?" I whispered. "That matters too."
He grew quiet and the silence lingered until we heard the slow, heavy clang of metal against metal a few levels up. This was shortly followed by a set of footsteps that rapped in short, hard snaps against the floor, echoing back down to us.
Stay quiet I ordered as the footsteps grew nearer. Another heavier metal sound cancelled out the snap of footsteps again until we heard nothing for a good minute. Closer now, older metal groaned as someone possibly pushed open a door. I shuffled around to face the direction of the sound, my only defense in knowing what we would face. Just a few feet before me now was a narrow, metal set of stairs leading to a door high up on the wall. And with an extended squawk, something clicked and the door was pushed open.
"Hey guys, how we doin'?" Elisavet laughed. She made her way down the stairs with a tray held up gingerly in one hand. "I come bearing gifts. Now since there are a few trust issues," she came over and tapped at my bound wrists. I coughed to hide the pain this caused my burnt up wrists. "I shall help. I strongly advise that you comply." She said glaring at me. Fixing on a smile, she turned to Will.
"Oh, how is the pretty boy's head?" she cooed. "Christophe asked I fix you up in a bit because dragging around a messed up lump like yourself is just bad for business." She splayed her fingers across Will's forehead for a few moments before crossing over to me. "And I seriously doubt you need it but Christophe's orders." She sighed before doing the same to me. This time I could see possibly how Elisavet should be using her gift. Her touch flew through my memories, seemingly shifting blurred, damaged ones into memories so clear they could have been made just hours ago.
Each memory felt fresh and beautiful with some old ones from years ago clearer than ever before. Elisavet did not destroy memories; she could bring them to life again. Maybe she heard me thinking this before she took her fingers away but if she had, her expression gave away nothing.
"The things I do," she muttered as she plonked herself down on the ground between us. "Ok guys I have salmon and cream cheese sandwiches, braised red cabbage and duck sandwiches and cheddar cheese sandwiches." Her nose rumpled at the thought of the last option. "Pretty boy?"
"Cheese," he said, shifting to sit straighter as Elisavet crouched down beside him. As she fed him, I could see Will grimace slightly at the taste before resolutely opening his mouth for another bite.
Not up to scratch?
There is like wine or strawberries in it! If this is cheddar then Yves has the IQ of a gnat and Victor is as scary as a house rabbit!
I accidentally snorted causing Elisavet to whip her head around to me. I immediately shut up but the faint grin on Will's face nearly set me off again. He was back! I swallowed and looked away to keep myself from laughing while Elisavet turned back around to finish feeding Will.
Oh we really have ourselves in deep Will.
True but we also are being fed sandwiches, however pretentious. So for now, we best just go with it and enjoy the finery.
Hey, I have to pick between basically a fish paste or cabbage sandwich! You got off easy!
As Elisavet gathered up her tray to come over and feed me, Will winked. Enjoy.
We had been travelling for at least eleven or twelve hours now and my back, legs and arms were crying out to change position. An exhausted Will had fallen asleep as soon as Elisavet had left. With his guard now down I could see the toll his mind had been through so I fought off my desire to keep him awake for company and kept quiet.
Mercifully my meal of fish paste sandwiches had stayed down, though it had churned horribly at the mercy of the sea as we endured a rough patch a few hours ago. I had even dozed off for a little while before the sounds of Will awakening brought me back to the present.
"Ugh, how long was I out?" Will moaned, twisting his neck around. I heard it click a few times before he moved on to stretching out the rest of his body as best he could.
"Maybe half a day," I said sighing. "You know it takes like a week to travel by boat to Europe."
"Seriously?" Will groaned as he tried to lie back. His arms, however, had other plans, as the zip ties forced them to stay up at an odd angle. Eventually he settled with just leaning on his left shoulder. He let out a stream of expletives I doubt he would want repeated.
"You got that out of your system Benedict? As hard as it is to hear, there are simply just some things we cannot get out of."
"Not for most Benedicts," he sighed. "I bet you every one of my brothers would be doing more than just sitting here, with their arms going numb from the cold of this pit, watching their soulfinder suffering the same fate."
"Then distract me," I whispered, my voice echoing out toward him, "Like tell me how we do not have another six days in here. Or... Or tell me it is not my brother and father's fault we are in this mess. Tell me that there is going to be an after to all of this. Tell me that Vick and Xav and Crystal and… And…" my voice rose, growing more hysterical as hot tears poured down my cheeks, "Can help! They can call or…"
Sssshh, calm down Willow. He must have been trying to talk to me out loud but I was too frightened to listen. His voice brought me the same type of calm I associated with scented candles, body oils and liquid chocolate as he gently spoke to me over our bond. If there is one thing I know for sure, we will get out of this. And we can only be stronger together. Both of us may literally have our hands tied here but I have always held the belief it will eventually work out.
How? There is too much metal here to play with electricity and melt the zip ties. I would fry my wrists more or burn you. Freshly barbequed Will, two euro a finger!
He laughed softly, dipping his head low to the floor before continuing. I might have a dollar in my sock for ya. But yeah, I have no idea yet. Maybe Vick will get a speedboat to catch up with us or we might break free when we hit land. Where are we going though?
Ireland. I visited there a few times. Mum was born in its capital.
Huh, never been. When we get away, you have to pretty much be our Sat Nav then. I can be in charge of sensing the bad guys.
Or how about you cross your fingers, your toes and your nether regions-
Willow Lovell Woods! Your mother would be appalled at that language.
Will.
Sorry.
Anyway, cross everything that Vick and Yves stick their big fat brains together and-
Wait, ssh!
I wanted to reply but Will had gone completely still, his head cocked to the wall. I did the same on my side, scooting back a few inches so as to hear better. Initially all I heard was the heavy thrum of the boat's engines, plowing us through the crashing waves and slushes of water as they battered against the hull of the boat. Nothing else.
"Can you hear it?" Will whispered. 'Listen closely.'
Slowly a different sound came into focus as it grew closer, a steady rumbling of a different engine overheard. I frowned and looked towards the ceiling as I began to distinguish a rhythmic 'wop, wop' sound… Were they?
"Helicopter blades," Will said, his voice questioning his own sanity.
"It is a helicopter!" I exclaimed. I squirmed in my spot, trying to scramble to my knees. Will, however, remained sitting. "Will?"
"Is it ours or theirs though Willow?" He said, an unreadable edge to his voice. He remained looking straight forward.
"Of course it would be V-," but the words fell flat in my mouth. Was it actually Vick and the crew or a speedier way to take us off radar? My stomach churned and I knew the sea was not to blame for that one.
Author asshat here,
Em... Ok I did not update in 2 months. (Ducks for cover). Reasons why:
1. I was writing up the plan for a new fanfic... Focus is back on Willow though :)
2. WORK. I work as a waitress in weddings so my hours usually are 3pm- 3/4am and the summer is literally wedding season. Worked about 200 hours in July. So... I was busy. And tired. Those hours just mess with your sleep.
And thanks for the reviews. For the Guest who asked, no I am not Dutch. I am Irish :) The reason why Willow, her family etc. live in the Netherlands is because Crystal mentioned in 'Seeking Crystal' that Will's soulfinder was in Amsterdam.
And for those asking for me to update, whether it was lately or a while ago, sorry I took so long! Promise to update much sooner next time :)
Hint for the next chapter! Ok, one character will show a new side to them that may help Will and Willow out? But who? Have a guess in the reviews!
Also, I am sure many of you heard that the singer Christina Grimmie was killed on the 10th of June 2016. She was the friendliest, funniest and kindest person who deserved to have the world hear her. I longed every year for this to be 'her year' and that we, her frands, could be there for her rise.
Remember how Prince and David Bowie passed away earlier this year? There was this outpouring of grief everywhere as their fans mourned their loss and there was no escape from the grief, online or in news reports. They were legends, greats they said. Yet, while I could see the pain over their passings, I never truly understand the grief their fans felt until I logged onto Facebook and saw a report that Christina had been shot.
Denial. First came denial. I quickly opened another tab, Twitter- it was trending worldwide, Google- there were already news articles on what they knew. And then I flicked back to Facebook and cried. Yeah, I cried. This could not be true.
This series and Christina hold huge places in my heart. And With Love I just wanted to say here that Christina Grimmie, you were and truly are great. R.I.P