Baby, We Have Eternity

I was heading back to the manor after my first hunting trip alone since my last encounter with William.

I exited the secluded alley where I had left my latest victim’s remains.

“Finally alone again?” an amused voice asked.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I groaned. “I thought I told you to stay away from me.”

“You did,” Pete replied indifferently, steeping a little too close for my comfort. “No babysitter tonight? Where’s Chizzy?” he whispered into my ear, making me shudder. I backed away.

“You’ve been watching me,” I stated, trying to seem indifferent. He shrugged.

“Maybe,” he grinned, leaning in close to my ear again, just lightly grazing it with his lips.

He lightly ran his fingers down my arm.

“I can’t,” I whispered, before he could do anything else.

“He wouldn’t know. He doesn’t love you.” He paused. “He never did.”

That touched a nerve and flared up my temper.

“He loved me when he changed me,” I told him, roughly shoving him away. Pete laughed
sourly in disbelief as I glared.

“Sounds romantic. If he really loved you, he would have let you get on with your life. Your real life. Not this miserable imitation.”

“You don’t know anything,” I spat. As much as I didn’t care for William now, there was the point where I had given everything to be with him forever. “Bill loved me, before and after!” I shouted angrily, feeling tears blur my vision. He didn’t know how much me and Bill meant to each other. How could he possibly know?

“He’s not Bill anymore,” Pete pointed out quietly, no longer using his sarcastic tone.

“You think I don’t know that?” I demanded, trying to keep the tears inside. He looked surprised by my answer. “You think I’m happy?” He backed off. “Do you think I like living like this?” I asked angrily, giving a short, humorless laugh at my use of the word ‘living.’ He avoided my gaze. “Just because I have to do what he says, doesn’t mean I’m delusional.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, quiet enough that I just barely heard him.

“Don’t be,” I replied coldly, turning away so that he wouldn’t see the silent tears.

“Hanna-” he tried.

“Just leave me alone, Pete,” I said. “You cause me enough trouble as it is.”

I spun on my heels and made my way back to the manor. I came onto the property within minutes, knowing that even if Pete had bothered to come this far, he wouldn’t dare try to follow me onto Dandy territory.

I ran up the stairs, praying that I would not run into anyone, least of all, William.

“Hanna!” I had almost made it to my room when Ryan had called my name. I quickly wiped my eyes, unsuccessfully hoping he wouldn’t notice.

“Have you been crying?” he asked in concern, eyebrows furrowing.

I shook my head as more tears began to flow from my eyes and he pulled me into a hug. I buried my face in his chest, and he gently led me inside my room and shut the door behind us.

He sat me down on my bed, wrapping his arms around me. He began to sing to me softly at an attempt to calm me down, but it only made me cry harder and made old memories of my past life resurface.

I drew in ragged breaths that I didn’t even need. Ryan held me until I quieted. This wasn’t the first time I had a breakdown like this for the same reason. I hiccupped a few times, but the tears had stopped.

“I miss my Bill,” I whispered, almost inaudibly.

“I know,” he murmured back, stroking my hair.