𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𓆩⟡𓆪 𝕏𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕟 ℝ𝕚𝕠𝕣𝕤𝕠𝕟

「 ✦ 0.05 ✦ 」

"I know. The only thing I need that I want is for you to survive. That's the only thing that will keep me going." He whispers, brushing his lips against mine, savoring the last moments we have before it is all shattered. "Please survive, for me. Make your way back to me."

"I will, I promise. Wherever you go, I will always find you. I promise." I rest my head against his and close my eyes, not wanting to say goodbye.

"Don't try to be a hero and save me. You need to get home safely and forget this happened." He says and I open my eyes to see his gaze already looking at me, his breath fanning my face slightly.

"I can't forget this. Not after what has happened between us."

"You have to. Until we see each other again, you have to." He says and I shake my head, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"I won't. I will wait for you and be here when you need me. Always." I say and he smiles slightly, but it doesn't reach his eyes. The overwhelming sensation of sadness is filling the room, mixing with mine.

"I've waited for you to come all of my life, I'm okay waiting a little more to finally have you all to myself in better circumstances." Xaden whispers and I smile widely, loving how affectionate he is. If only it was a happy goodbye, not a sad one. "I love you. Now, you have to go."

"I hate this." I say frowning as Xaden pressing another passionate kiss to my lips. I tighten my arms around his neck, never wanting to let go.

He pulls back all too soon and stands up, pulling me with him. I watch as his moves around his home, memorizing every little detail before it is all burnt to the ground. I squeeze his hands, watching as he lets out a breath before looking down at me.

"I love you." I say one last time and he smiles, before turning around and leaning me in the living room. I hear the front door click shut and I sink back to the floor, letting my tears fall down my face. I cover my mouth with my hands, sobbing loudly into them, wanting nothing more than to chase after Xaden and fight my way through everyone. But, it would only end horribly for Xaden and I couldn't risk that. I had to survive for him, so we can find each other again. He would be joining the Riders Quadrant when he's old enough and I was determined to find a way to see him once he does.

I stay slouched on the ground for a long time, feeling the cool marble seep through my pants, attempting to cool the temperature rising in my body. When my eyes dry up, I drop my heads from my face and look around the living room that was once a place of comfort for me. It held so many memories of sleepover Xaden and I had, where we stayed up late at night talking about anything and everything. All of the fond memories are replaced with nightmares that I can't seem to shake. I let out a sigh and slowly get to my feet.

The smell of a campfire is the first thing that I inhale and I look around frantically for the source of the smell. I stop in my tracks as I gaze at the front door, blazing with flames that were spreading face. Father.

He did this. Of course he did this.

I spin around on my feet and make a beeline for the back door to escape the flames. I was halfway through the living room, when a silver glint catches my attention, causing me halt my sprints. I walk over to the table next to the couch and pick up the silver chain. Connected to the end of the silver chain was a locket, with beautiful Tyrrish designs covering the front in beautiful swirls. I brush my thumb over the designs, smiling softly and forgetting for a second that there was a fire spreading throughout this house, catching up to me quickly.

I open the locket and breathe in sharply at the sight. On the left side, it was a picture of Xaden and his father that I had taken only two days before his execution. They were laughing at a joke I made, clutching each others shoulders. I quickly snapped the picture, wanting to savor such a beautiful moment amongst the two of them. It was the last photo that Xaden has of his father. I move my eyes over to the right and see a picture of his mother, holding Xaden when he was a baby. She was beautiful, her black hair cascading down her shoulders in ringlets with piercing onyx colored eyes. Just like Xaden.

I smile sadly at the photo, knowing how heartbroken Xaden was when his mother left them. I remember him tapping on my window with tears streaming down his cheeks in the middle of the night and how I comforted him and how tight I wrapped my arms around him until he stopped crying. We stayed like the whole night, until the sun started peeking out from behind the mountain peaks and he snuck back home before anyone ever woke up.

The smell of burnt wood brought me out of my daydream and I clicked the locket shut quickly, before looking over to see the fire starting to reach the entrance to the living room. I quickly clasped the locket around my neck and tucked it safely under my shirt, before rushing towards the back door not bothering to grab anything else. This locket would cherish the most important people in Xaden's life and he will need this one day. I will keep it until that day comes.

I slip through the door and run all the way to my house, not daring to look back at the Riorson estate crumbling to the ground, taking every fond memory in that house with it.

꒦꒷︶꒦꒷︶꒦꒷ Author's Note ꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦

I hope you enjoyed! Bit shorter than usual, but I couldn't wait to post this flashback. There will be more flashbacks that show their hidden feelings early on! For now this shows what happened before their reunion after 4 years. 

Sorry for any mistakes!

Don't be a ghost! Comment!

Until next time x