☆

CLARA SHELBY HATED HOSPITALS— she despised them in fact. It was a burning hatred, one that ignited every atom of rage and dislike within. She hated the bright, blinding lights, she hated the antiseptic smell that cling to each surface and lingered on the inside of the nose. She hated the barren hallways that heeled boots and shoes clattered against. She hated the pinch-faced nurses with their condescending tones and their wandering and prying eyes.

She hated hospitals so deeply, which is why she strode alongside two doctors with a scowl across her face as they made their way through the hospital. She attempted to soothe her qualms but even the dose of cocaine she had taken did little to help.

"You must understand, Miss Shelby, his injuries were extensive. He may not be willing to see you today." The doctor explained as he turned and led her down a dark and ominous corridor. The girl suppressed her shudder as her boots clicked against the floor. Her hands were tucked deep into her trousers as her shirt and coat provided warmth in the eerie and cold environment.

"Hm...wouldn't be the first time. " the girl merely responded as her eyes fixed on the door that came into view ahead of them. The bricked hallway felt damp and uninviting as they approached the closed door. The doctor put his hand out to stop her from going any further as he sucked in a breath and opened the hospital room door.

"Mr Shelby? You have a visitor." Clara could hear him say calmly. She couldn't hear Tommy's response but she presumed it had been some unintelligible grunt. The doctor lingered halfway in the hospital room as Clara stood firm and unmoving, her eyes narrowed on the shadow of a man hidden beyond the door.

"Alright, in you go, Ms Shelby," the doctor cleared his throat as he gestured for her to enter. Clara shifted her stance as she took a deep breath in and moved to cross the threshold of the hospital room.

The girl was hit with a sharp smell once she entered. The disinfectant smelt almost acidic and made all of the hairs inside her nose fry. She was acquainted with the smell; it would forever be distinct.

"So what are they dosing you up with?" Clara commented as she stopped in the centre of the room behind Tommy who was standing by the far wall, smoking a cigarette. "Morphine?"

Tommy didn't answer. She didn't expect him to. Her eyes trailed from his still body towards the walls and the surrounding room. The room was miserable in layman's terms. It felt damp and cold, the windows high up the wall did little to brighten the dark room. A singular hospital bed lay against the far wall, a singular chair placed haphazardly beside it. God knows who used it. The girl shrivelled her nose in disgust. The room felt heavy– if it ever could feel like anything. Clara felt it in her soul, the weight the room added. It seemed to diminish any flicker of glee or hope that dared reside.

"What? Couldn't splurge and get a better room?" Clara remarked, idly moving across the room as she sat on the bed. "Christ," she moved on the bed to bounce slightly. "This is hard as a rock. If your little brain injury won't kill you, this bed definitely will, good lord!"

She was only met with silence.

"Oh come on, I haven't seen you in three weeks. They couldn't find any clothes lying around in that extended period of time?" She tried again, her finger moving up and down in the air at Tommy, who was only in a pair of boxer shorts.

Silence once more.

"Fine," Clara huffed, "Let's get down to the real business if you're so against my very important conversation starters." She stood to her feet and resumed her position behind Tommy. "The books are mostly unaffected, however, there have been multiple queries into your whereabouts for meetings and whatnot." Her voice was monotonous and bored as she continued. "The Grace Shelby Institute is coming along nicely and is expected to be ready for opening within three to four months...maybe six. The den is still bringing in its usual take, but I wouldn't be certain because, you know, I'm not bloody allowed work there."

She paused as her eyes narrowed on her brother who was still mindlessly smoking a cigarette.

"And John burned down the Garrison with Jeremiah Jesus' help, and Arthur became a priest and left Linda. Oh, and Finn learned how to read!" She mocked, knowing that her words would fall upon deaf ears. "Can't forget Michael who discovered that communism was his ultimate calling! Good for him, right?!"

"You said mostly," Tommy pointed out. His voice was low and gruff as if he hadn't spoken in far too long. "'The books are mostly unaffected', explain."

Clara straightened up, her eyebrows raised in surprise. "There were just a few minor bumps, but Pol and I sorted them out easily." She explained, "A large sum of money seemingly disappeared, I went through the books ten times over and it turned out to just be a slight error in the mathematics. I redid everything and it should be in the clear."

"You redid them?" Tommy sighed,

"I'm perfectly capable of redoing them, so yes, yes I did." Clara rolled her eyes as she nodded.

"Michael is the accountant, not you,"

"Michael is busy picking up the work left by you and so is everyone else... if anything you should be grateful we found the bloody mistake at all."

There was a tense silence once more. Tommy still had his back to her. From where she stood, Clara could spot the bald patch on the top of his head where they had to stitch up his injuries. The sight made her stomach twist. Her eyes lingered on the healing wound, too afraid to look away yet too afraid to not look at all. It was good to be faced with reality every now and again, it was desensitising.

"Look, I solved a minor problem— and perfectly, may I add," Clara eventually sighed, her arms folding over her chest. "No need for lectures or disappointed huffs and puffs. It gets old, Tommy. You're sick, very sick. Christ, you almost died! The family needs you, so stop bloody nitpicking my work efforts and start focusing on getting better."

Tommy turned slowly to finally face Clara. His face was half-covered by shadows but the girl could still pinpoint the difference in his appearance. Tommy's face was scarily sunken, his cheekbones more prominent and his usual stormy eyes were a lot cloudier. He looked far from alright— which Clara supposed was to be expected. The damage had taken its toll.

"The priest," He eventually breathed out, blowing a cloud of smoke into the dim room.

"The priest?" Clara's nose scrunched up as she tilted her head. She'd only ever heard of the priest Tommy was supposedly doing business with.

"Don't trust him, don't bloody interact with him, do not under any fuckin' circumstance engage in this business." Tommy hissed.

"Done," Clara shrugged easily, "never liked priests all that much, far too righteous." Tommy turned his back to her once again, leaving her staring at the scar on the top of his head. Her hand slowly lifted her pocket watch that hung from her waistcoat before she swore softly. "Tom, I have to go. I have the business to get back to. Go take a nap or something, I don't care."

Clara walked towards the door, the heel of her shoes clattered loud against the stone. Her hand faltered over the doorknob as she took a deep breath in. She turned her head to look at Tommy once more before she went.

"And Tommy?" She spoke. Clara saw his eyes cautiously drift towards her. She lazily lifted her finger and pointed at the wound on his head. "The scars will fade...they always do."

"Do they?"

His voice was cold yet amused and Clara let a small smile flicker across her face as he answered ever so briefly.

"I believe it will, but if not, it'll be a reminder not to run headfirst into a fight...goodbye, Tom."

And with that, Clara rolled her shoulders back and left the depths of the room.

☆

CLARA SHELBY TUCKED A STACK OF PAPERS INTO the briefcase beside her as she pulled into the side of the road just in front of a pink shop front. Her eyes flitted to the display windows which were packed with neatly designed garments. The girl smiled ever so slightly and grabbed the briefcase before she exited the car.

As she pushed open the door, a faint bell chimed. Clara stepped inside and shut the door, her eyes flitting around the shop. The shop was daintily decorated with flower wallpaper and lace decorating shelves. There were pre-made articles of clothing on tables and rails around the shop floor, each piece of clothing folded and presented perfectly. There was a clashing flowery scent that lingered in the store, its sharp contrasting fumes causing Clara to sniff and inwardly gag.

The girl wrinkled her nose as she strode towards the counter where an elderly woman sat at a sewing machine with her head down working diligently. Clara stopped at the counter and carefully cleared her throat. The woman's head shot up.

"Oh, I'm sorry, deary," the elderly woman chuckled, "I didn't see you there...how may I help you?"

"I was wondering if Nadia Evans is working here today?" Clara answered, her eyes drifting towards the backroom.

"Ah, yes, young Nadia," The woman mused, "She's just finishing up in the back."

"Is there any chance I could speak to her?"

"One minute, dear,"

Clara watched as the woman stood up and slowly hobbled towards the backroom. The woman was slow...painfully slow. The type of slow that made Clara want to rush over to the old woman and drag her by the arms to go faster. Was that rude? Clara didn't think so. She thought it to be quite fair. She liked the fast life and right now, this senile woman was far from fast.

When the woman eventually disappeared into the backroom, Clara almost thanked the gods above that she had actually made it. The girl shoved her hands into her pockets and idly fiddled with the contents inside as she waited. Her eyes drifted towards an ornate clock that ticked incessantly. She'd swear that if it kept ticking, she'd throw it out the window. It only took two more minutes for someone else to appear from the door to the backroom.

Nadia stepped out into the storefront, her hair pinned back out of her face (bar a few loose strands that hung around her ears and forehead) and dressed in a red apron that covered her pale orange dress. Clara simply stood in silence and admired the girl as she approached. Nadia was beautiful...she always was and probably would be forever.

"Clara," Nadia smiled fondly as she stopped beside the girl, her hand loosely placing itself on Clara's arm. "I'm working."

"That's why I'm here," The Shelby girl grinned, her fingers traipsing up Nadia's arm. "Can we talk?"

"You're lucky it's a slow day," Nadia rolled her eyes as she beckoned Clara to follow. The girl led Clara towards another room off of the storefront. Nadia shut the door behind them and as soon as it clicked shut, Clara spun Nadia around, so that the Evans girl was flat against the wooden door.

"Clara!"

"Happy birthday," The Shelby girl spoke. Her lips pressed a light kiss to Nadia's neck. "Thought I'd forgotten?"

"You didn't call," Nadia murmured, her eyes fluttering closed.

"I know...but I'm here now, and we are going out tonight." Clara pulled away ever so slightly, "All on me, of course."

"And if I say no?" Nadia pondered as a sly smile crept across her face. Her eyes reopened and met Clara's gaze.

"Then we won't go out...but I know you."

"Alright," The Evans girl nodded, tilting her head down so she could steal a kiss from Clara. "but you're buying and you have to pick me up."

"I'll see you at nine then?" Clara smirked as she withdrew from Nadia.

"Nine," Nadia agreed and just as Clara pulled away, the Evans girl pulled her back and captured her lips with her own. Clara smiled up into the comfort of the kiss, her hands placed on Nadia's shoulders for stability.

☆

CLARA SHELBY STOOD AT THE MIRROR IN NADIA'S apartment, fixing a gold earring into her lobe. The sweet melody of Marion Harris echoed through the rooms. It was comforting to hear the music Clara had grown fond of, strictly because of Nadia excessively playing it. She ran her fingers over the outline of her pink-painted lips as she wiped away any excess lipstick on her cupid's bow. She had arrived ten minutes earlier and simply awaited Nadia as she finished getting ready.

Clara hummed along to the song playing as she turned and leaned against the small cabinet. Her arms folded across her chest atop the emerald dress she adorned. The dress had a cascading detail of beads that would glimmer under the lighting when they were out. There was a fringe detail at the bottom of her dress, just below where Nadia had cleverly and sneakily sewn her name along the beading. Clara took pride in wearing Nadia's name and design, she made sure to flaunt it when dancing and when taking it off at the end of the night, Nadia was always careful not to tear it. It was a dress that Clara found herself completely enamoured by, which said a lot considering her go-to attire was a tailored suit.

"Nadia, at this rate everywhere will be closed by the time we leave!" Clara called out as she picked at her nail beds in boredom.

"You can't rush perfection!" Nadia yelled back.

"You're already perfect, there shouldn't be much to do!"

"Smooth, Shelby," The Evans girl replied as she glided out of the bedroom, her eyes focused on the mirror behind Clara. The Shelby girl was at a loss for words. Nadia wore a deep red dress to her knees with a sheer red fabric gathered across each shoulder, leaving a gap of bare skin between her shoulder and upper arm. Nadia reached out and with two fingers she lifted Clara's jaw to shut her mouth. "You'll catch flies."

"Would be worth it," Clara ran her tongue over her bottom lip as Nadia leaned over her shoulder to double-check her makeup in the mirror.  Nadia laughed and drew away from Clara's body, her fingers brushing over the Shelby girl's neck.

"Is that your way of complimenting me?" Nadia questioned with a smirk,

"You know very well that I'm not one with many words when presented with a beautiful sight," Clara shrugged slyly,

"Nice recovery," Nadia hummed as she moved away to turn off the music that played. Clara shamelessly watched her waltz around the apartment, her eyes trailed up and down in awe. "Alright...you ready?" Nadia turned to face Clara with a mischievous grin.

Clara merely rolled her eyes and joined Nadia as she left the apartment. The Shelby girl waited until Nadia had locked the door before she looped her arm through hers. The two waltzed out onto the streets of London, their heels clicking loudly and frequently as they stuck to the footpaths and roadways that would lead them directly into the centre of the city. Of course, Clara could've driven them both, but given what Clara intended to partake in that night, it wouldn't be the smartest. It was a short enough walk...well, short enough for London.

The two easily merged with the hustle and bustle as they found themselves on the street leading up to the 43 Club. Women and men alike queued up to enter the esteemed club yet Clara and Nadia bypassed them all as they walked right up to the two bouncers guarding the door.

"Henry...Marcus," Clara greeted, her lips pursed as the two men looked down at the girls.

"What's the occasion this time?" Marcus questioned as his eyes darted toward the grumbling queue.

"It's my birthday," Nadia drawled, "Be dears and let us in?" The two men exchanged a quick look before Clara huffed and drew a five-pound note from the strap under the top of her dress. The Shelby girl handed it over and as she did, the two men stood aside and allowed the two girls to enter. Nadia pulled Clara forwards in excitement as they stepped inside the lavish club. They were instantly greeted by the obnoxiously loud music that practically rattled all of the chandeliers in the place.

"Drinks?" Clara questioned as they approached the balcony that overlooked the dancefloor and tables below. It was busy tonight. People flocked to the dancefloor that surrounded the bad in the middle as they played their raucous tunes. Limbs moved in a jagged manner, with no two people doing the same dance, yet they all kept to the changing beat. 

"Drinks!" Nadia agreed. The Evans girl grabbed Clara's hand as they descended the grand stairs down to the tables where they were quick to grab a free one. Clara pulled out a chair for Nadia to sit on before she moved to seat herself in the chair beside her. Nadia stopped a passing waiter and swiftly ordered their drinks. Clara sat up in her seat and pulled a cigarette from her dress. She rubbed the cigarette along her lips before she leaned forward to light it with the burning candle on the table. 

Clara withdrew the cigarette and brought it to her lips once more, allowing the smoke to infiltrate her senses as she took a deep breath in. She only waited a few moments before she exhaled the remnants, flooding the air around her and adding to the smoke that already lingered around the room. Her fingers lightly tapped the cigarette against the ashtray as the stray ash tumbled into the glass.

"Did you bring snow?" Nadia asked as she rested her head on her hand to gaze over at Clara. The Shelby girl hummed and swiftly drew out a small blue bottle she had also stashed beneath her dress. "Christ! You're like a magician! Got anything else for me under your dress?"

"So much more," Clara smirked as she exhaled another puff of smoke and leaned closer to the girl so they were a mere few inches apart. "–but you'll have to take it off to find out..." The girl took another cocky drag of her cigarette as something flashed across Nadia's face.

"Your drinks!" the waiter announced, breaking the tense silence between the two girls. He placed two flutes of champagne down in front of them. Clara watched with steely eyes before she pulled away from Nadia and picked up her glass. Seeing the watchful gaze from the Shelby girl, the waiter was quick to depart.

"To you," Clara grinned, holding up her glass to Nadia.

"And you," Nadia smiled as they clinked their glasses together. Clara raised a brow as she proceeded to down the entire flute of champagne. The bubbles barely burned her throat as they went down. She kept her eyes on Nadia the entire time.

"It's rude to chug champagne," Nadia chided as she continued to sip. Clara knew that the girl was simply teasing. Nadia tended not to care for society's fickle ways, it was something Clara could easily relate to.

"Oh my apologies," The Shelby girl simpered,

"Make it up to me?"

Clara's lips spread to each side of her face at the other girl's remark. Her blue eyes flitted to Nadia's eyes before they moved back to the Evans girl's. Clara reached forward and locked her pinky around Nadias.

"It would be my pleasure," Clara grinned and stood up, stubbing out her cigarette as Nadia finished her drink and grabbed the blue bottle of snow from the table. Clara's finger remained locked with Nadia's as the latter stood up and fixed her dress. The Shelby girl's face softened as she watched Nadia's concentrated eyes brush down her dress.

Nadia looked up once more with gleaming eyes and an even brighter smile. It made Clara's stomach flutter and spin in the most sickly manner. The Shelby girl pulled Nadia closer before they navigated their way through the various occupied tables, no one giving them a second look. The two of them bypassed the dance floor, their main focus on the bathrooms just beyond the main club. Nadia and Clara had discovered the bathroom a year and a half ago. It was closed off to the public, Clara presumed it was a staff bathroom, yet no one seemed to use it. It made for a great hideaway.

Nadia and Clara were laughing as they stumbled over one another, down a small corridor leading to the bathrooms. The two were now pressed side to side, with Clara's arm around Nadia's waist and the latter's around Clara's shoulders. The two tumbled into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind them.

Clara found herself up against the door as their lips met. It was a frantic kiss, one of yearning and passion all tied off with a ribbon of complete and utter deprivation. Clara's hands wove their way into Nadia's immaculate curls, holding the girl closer. Her heart was racing, one of Nadia's thumbs that stroked the curve of her cheekbone wasn't helping to soothe it. Clara leaned into the touch, kissing back with such ferocity, a ferocity she saved strictly for the London girl.

Nadia's other hand was tracing circles on Clara's hip, the brush of her nails causing a shiver to run down Clara's entire spine. Their bodies were pressed together against the door as their kiss got messier. Nadia pulled back from the kiss, her chest rising and falling with the heavy breaths she was taking. She wasted no time as Nadia dropped her head to Clara's neck and attached her lips to the soft skin there. Clara found her mouth falling open as her hands tightened in Nadia's hair.

Clara thought her heart would very well explode right there and then.

Her head fell back against the wood of the door, allowing Nadia to move upwards and closer to her jaw. The Evans girl was leaving a trail of bruises, ones which would be very hard to explain to any of her family yet Clara could not find a single cell in her body that cared.

Nadia lifted her head, her eyes twinkling in the dim light as their foreheads met in the middle. Her hand was still on Clara's hip but was slowly moving its way down to just above her knee. Nadia didn't break eye contact as she lifted Clara's knee causing the Shelby girl's dress to ride up to her upper thigh. Nadia glanced down, her lip between her teeth as she raked her eyes over the sight below.

"Is that a gun strapped to your leg?" Nadia muttered, her eyes focused on the gun that was indeed strapped on Clara's upper thigh. Clara's heart dropped. Her body stilled and froze as guilt consumed her.

"I'll take it off...I shouldn't have—"

Nadia cut Clara off with a deep kiss. Clara didn't know how to react. Surely everyone else would be running for the hills right now, but here Nadia was, worshipping Clara's lips as if it was her last ever moments on earth.

"You will not take that gun off," Nadia ordered, her voice low and stern as her finger lifted Clara's head so that they were eye to eye. "I am so incredibly attracted to you right now, so...we're going to take some snow, get high off our tits and then...then I'm going to fuck you on the sink."

Clara's breath caught in her throat, her mouth opened to speak yet no words spewed out. She simply looked at the girl in shock. Clara shut her eyes and slowly opened them with a half-smile.

"Well then...what are we waiting for?" Clara bit the inside of her cheek. Nadia smiled and bent down to the floor where she'd mindlessly thrown the bottle of snow. Her hand playfully ran up Clara's leg as she straightened back up, the bottle clutched proudly between two fingers. Nadia pushed Clara back further against the wall and used her fingers to lift the Shelby girl's head.

Nadia shushed Clara as she went to speak up. The Shelby girl rolled her eyes and kept her head pointed upwards as Nadia tapped out a line of powder against Clara's collarbone. Clara kept still despite her heart running away from her. She could hear her pulse in her ears so loudly and clearly, it's echo deafening her.

She lowered her head as Nadia withdrew from her body. A faint powder dusted the tip of her nose which Clara slowly brushed away, her hand lingering on the side of Nadia's face. The Evans girl handed over the half-empty bottle of cocaine to Clara, the touching of their fingers only igniting the fire that burned within Clara's heart.

Clara felt a scheming smile cross her face as she ducked under Nadia's arms and roughly turned Nadia so that she was pressed flat against the door. Clara looked up at Nadia with her signature Shelby smile as Nadia so fondly described it as.

"Hi," Nadia whispered with a small smile, as they remained close together.

"Hello," Clara replied with her teeth on her lip as she tried to contain the wide smile.

Their chests were rising and falling as they remained in the quiet for a minute. It was comfortable, a comfort that Clara had missed, one she would always miss.

"Head back," Clara eventually spoke, an idea turned and twisted through her mind. Nadia complied as Clara admired Nadia's state. She opened the bottle once more, her eyes scanning Nadia's body with a slanted smile.

Slowly but surely, Clara lifted the bottle and carefully tapped out a line of pure white powder just above Nadia's chest. Her hands drifted to Nadia's waist, as she bent down and slowly sniffed up the line of powder until every last morsel was gone from view. Clara stood up straight with a deep sigh and before she could even begin to comprehend the powders burning, she was pulled into a deep kiss.

This was different. It was a hard kiss, one that had Clara gripping Nadia for dear life. Clara was pushed backwards still locked by the kiss as Nadia guided them both towards the marble sinks. Clara felt her back hit the countertop, her hands falling from Nadia's waist and onto the surface. She felt herself being lifted onto the cold marble, the cold seeping through her dress and sending goosebumps down her arms and legs.

Clara got lost in the feeling of Nadia's lips as the kiss deepened. The Shelby girl arched into the kiss, her back pressed against the mirror behind the sink, her hands moving back to Nadia's hair. Nadia's hand slowly slid along Clara's back to guide her even closer. The girl felt her muscles slowly melt as she collapsed into the kiss allowing the Evans girl total control. Clara would have fallen, had she not been there to hold her. Nadia ran her fingertips up Clara's forearm, adding to the trail of goosebumps that had already appeared.

She felt the electricity pulsing through her veins. The kiss completely engulfed them, until both bodies were wrapped together. Nadia leaned in closer; her focus becoming intense and unnerving. Her hands slowly parted Clara's legs so that she could stand between them and get even closer if that was possible.

Slowly, Nadia brought her lips down. Her breath was hot as her kisses trailed down Clara's neck. Nadia's hands moved to hold Clara's back as she arched against the Evans girl, begging for more as she chased the adrenaline. Nadia was whispering Clara's name between kisses as she marked up and down her neck.

Clara had her head back against the mirror, her mouth open, soft whimpers escaping now and again. Her eyelids fluttered as they tried to stay open. Clara bit her lip hard as she held Nadia closer, her dress riding up higher, closer to her hips. Through her half-lidded eyes, she saw something move in the mirror. She ignored it as Nadia bit down on a particular part of her neck causing every nerve ending in her body to tingle and spark with excitement.

"Clara, Clara, Clara,"

Clara gasped as her eyes opened suddenly, she froze ever so slightly at the grating voice. Not now...why did it have to happen now? Nadia was instantly in front of her, her caramel eyes locking with Clara's.

"Are you okay?" Nadia questioned as her eyebrows pinched together, "What's wrong? Did I hurt you? Please? Talk to me." Clara took a deep breath in and allowed her body to shake to try rid the feeling of dread that was beginning to wash over her. She leaned into Nadia's touch as the Evans girl placed her hands on either side of Clara's face.

"I'm okay," Clara reassured Nadia, as she leaned back to kiss Nadia once more only for the other girl to slightly pull away.

"Are you sure?" Nadia stressed, "We can go back out there, I don't want you to be uncomfortab–" Clara cut the girl off with a firm kiss, one to which Nadia gave in to as they resumed what they'd previously started.

Clara ignored the twisted anxious bubble in her gut as she pressed further into the kiss, taking Nadia's bottom lip between her teeth. Nadia's thumbs caressed each of Clara's cheeks before she once again moved down to Clara's neck, leaving little purple marks in her trail. Clara let out a small groan as Nadia moved down further, stopping just above her chest. The Shelby girl threw her head back in bliss as the feeling of euphoria took over her body once more.

Clara's head resituated itself on the mirror behind them as Nadia's hands ran up Clara's legs and rested on her thighs. Nadia's finger drew light circles that had Clara arching even further, her fingers pulling gently on Nadia's curls. Nadia pressed a last soft kiss on Clara's chest before she removed herself fully to slowly kneel before Clara. Nadia's actions elicited a moan from Clara, who threw her head back further, her eyes darting open to come face to face with her reflection... or what she thought was her reflection.

Clara took a quick breath in as her shock set in. Staring back at her was not her reflection. No, no, no...not now...not here, why did this have to happen now? Clara froze in horror. She could feel Nadia shift between her but she couldn't pull her gaze away from the woman.

She locked eyes with the woman in the mirror.

The woman had a sharp, pale face and blue-tinted lips that smiled so menacingly. The woman's long, dark hair was tucked behind her ear. Her white shawl was thrown over her shoulders as if protecting herself from the cold. Clara couldn't move. She could see the woman's lips moving but nothing but water spewed out.

Clara's vision was slowly beginning to tunnel the longer she looked. The woman's eyes...oh her eyes, they were startlingly blue like the calmest sea during a storefront. Eyes that her family seemed to also possess. Clara couldn't look away. She could only stare at her non-reflection. The unfamiliar woman moved closer to the mirror, words now breaking through the water. The words were muffled but Clara knew what she was saying all too well.

"Goy-ras a kul-dru hanas na farr," The woman sang through ragged chokes, "Da tine a skull-rud, na suni doll-mar–"

Clara couldn't listen anymore. She felt sick. She felt as if every bone in her body was snapping, and as if every blood vessel within her skin had been ripped open. It was the lullaby...that damned lullaby. Clara fearfully kept her eyes on the woman and she didn't have to think twice about who this stranger could be.

"Mum..." She choked through a whimper, her voice was quiet. Her entire body shook in fear as she came to her senses. She could feel someone shaking her shoulders as her mother slowly backed away from the mirror into nothingness.

Clara finally let out a long-held scream and scrambled away from the sink. She pressed herself against the door in a panic, her tears clouding her vision as her fingers clawed at the shut door behind her. Someone came into her sight as they stood in front of her, their hands reaching forward to touch Clara's shoulders. The girl flinched away from the touch and slid down the door as the hands retreated. Clara shook her head and while the tears fell, she could see Nadia appear through the mist–she looked concerned...too concerned.

Clara had worried her.

Her breathing sped up as she tried to rein in the turmoil of her mind. Clara frantically grasped her head between her hands and hit it repeatedly until Nadia was forced to grip her wrists. The Shelby girl sobbed and fought the hold as she descended further into the depths of panic. She shoved Nadia away and jumped to her feet in a frenetic manner. Her fingers pried open the bathroom door without looking back.

And then Clara Shelby did what Clara Shelby did best...she ran and did not stop for anything.

☆

HELLO, MY STUNNING BEAUTIFUL READERS!

I don't write smut so of course, I had to write angst instead, hope you enjoyed it xox

ANYWAYS, HELLO, HOW ARE YOU GUYS??

I am doing well, I've been a bit sick recently and writer's block is still being a bitch but I'm trying to work past it!

I LOVE YOU ALL AND I'LL SEE YOU SOON,

BYE (and here's your weekly meme!)