"So?! So, it's weird she's hanging around you! I'm just saying that something's off about her, that's all. Just be careful around her." He was clearly exasperated.
"What's off about her?" Something was off with River's intentions, not hers.
"I don't know. I just think she has weird intentions."
"Fine, okay. I'll be careful." He couldn't help but remember that strange incident with the water.
"Good." Theo was relieved.
Despite their looks and attitudes, River and his friends truly did value each other.
-
Beatrix clearly overestimated River. He didn't say a thing about eating together with Beatrix to Charlotte's parents. She could tell them, but she didn't think they would believe her. They would probably just think it was some ploy to get out of studying with him.
So she wasn't really surprised when Clara stuffed her into River's room, yet again. It appeared he was already set to study, with his material set orderly on his desk. She quietly sat in the chair placed next to him, a generous distance away from him.
Yet as they began studying and working on homework, she found herself accidentally inching towards him, to help him when he had questions. And when he offered his help, he would also inch towards her.
Beatrix felt a bit uncomfortable, but she didn't back away.
They weren't touching, but they were sidled up next to each other, sharing River's desk.
To her shame, she didn't reject him when he started casual conversation.
"So valedictorian, huh?" He seemingly said offhandedly, but judging by his seriousness with school, he probably cared more than he let on.
"Yeah, I think I can do it." She could. Charlotte had taken a lot of advanced placement classes, and Beatrix had always been good at school. She hadn't gotten valedictorian in her own life, but with her experience, it should be possible.
"That's pretty cool, I'm not sure if I'm quite to that level. Especially with my math scores." He laughed light-heartedly.
"Well, that's why we're studying, right?" Beatrix inwardly cringed. This conversation was getting a bit too personal for her taste. She couldn't help but wonder if she was unintentionally fulfilling some sort of hidden desire through River. He was charming and magnetic, even knowing his true self. In her own life, she would have never had the chance to talk so much with someone like him. And for some reason, she didn't feel shy around him, at least not anymore.
Maybe it was because she was in someone else's body and didn't feel like herself.
Or maybe it was because she knew he was going to die anyway.
"Right. I know Clara kinda forced you, but I'm still glad you're helping me anyway."
"You're helping me too." God, she needed to stop talking to him; this was bad. He may be good at hiding it, but he hated her. And she hated him. Or at least she had to.
Regardless, she certainly couldn't be getting closer to him like this.
Yet again, she drilled it in her mind; she would have to kill him, and getting closer would only make that harder.
Besides, some small part of her was still scared of him, she could tell he was dangerous. However, she hated to admit how small that part of her was getting.
He laughed.
"You're a saint. I just point out random things every now and then." He smiled warmly at her.
"I'm gonna stop here." She said suddenly and started packing up.
"Oh, alright, see you later. I guess." He looked a bit disappointed.
Beatrix rushed out, ignoring the bit of guilt that developed.
-
This time, she was watching the fire from the outside.
The house was a huge blaze, an angry creature of destruction.
The target of the destruction was her family, dying an awful death. She could hear their raspy screams and the flesh on their bones slowly tearing.
She stood outside, on the lawn, yet she knew every detail of the events in the house.
Her mother, who smelled the smoke first, was rushing Beatrix and her siblings out the door. But it was too late. Just as they were about to escape, the house erupted.
Everyone was thrown back, hitting walls, floors, and furniture.
Her dad died on the spot, thankfully.
The rest of her family screamed for death, desperate for reprieve from the agony the fire brought. And Beatrix had to watch it.
The blast paralyzed her; she could feel it. Her spine ached against the coffee table behind her, smoke was filling her lungs, and fire was climbing her limbs. But she didn't care.
She didn't fear her own death.
She just didn't want her family to die.
-
Beatrix woke with a start, breathing frantically as she desperately tried to collect herself. She couldn't get out of that house, that fire, no matter how hard she tried.
These nightmares snuck up on her. Just as soon as she thought she was dealing with the event well, another nightmare came. She was tortured, forever cursed to watch her family die over and over again.
She got out of bed and wandered in the direction of the kitchen, intending to get a glass of water. She knew she wouldn't be able to fall asleep again. She never could.
"Charlotte?" A presence said from behind her.
Beatrix jumped, almost dropping the cup in her hands.
"You started me!" Beatrix tried to play off her fear, but River's surprise appearance scared her. She walked over to the sink and started filling her glass.
"You're up late." He walked closer to her.
"So are you." She said wryly.
"Touché." He leaned against the counter near her.
Too close.
"I'm going back to bed, goodnight." Beatrix lied.
"Hey." He stopped her, moving in front of her.
"Yeah?" She looked at the ground or the wall, or anywhere that was not him.
"Did I do something wrong?" He was serious.
"I don't know."
"Oh. Great." He looked frustrated, running his hands through his hair. Despite pretending to like her, he truly did seem bothered right now. Maybe his pride as a handsome man was hurt.
It probably seemed like she was letting him in sometimes, just to push him away at others.