𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟓

𝐓𝐖: mention of
drug use/almost overdose

To say Maeve Shelby was a good person would be beyond a lie. She knew it, Arthur knew to. Everybody who ever had contact with her knew it. But people tended to dismiss her behaviour and put it down to the fact she was clearly not mentally well.

Which of course was no excuse. Maeve herself knew how terrible she was. And she hated herself for it.

Over the years, Maeve found herself destroying everything around her solely for the fact she couldn't accept the help given to her. Also because she wasn't being given the correct help.

Every time Arthur looked at his daughter, it was like he was looking down into a dirty puddle and his reflection was staring back at him. He truly believed that Maeve was the way she was because of him. Him and his ways. Children do adapt to their surroundings, don't they? It's just unfortunate Maeve adapted to her father's.

But it wasn't just Arthur who was to blame. No, Tommy was the one who taught her that hurting people was okay. He seemed to be the leader of it all.

Maeve would often think how different her life would be if her mother hadn't abandoned her and instead kept her at her side, under her comfort. If she had stayed in America and married Jonathan, if she had done what John had and withdrew her position the day she almost died at the hands of the Changretta's — if she had never survived any of it.

Maeve stood with the phone at her ear, listening to the rings torment her. Finally, a voice answered. "Hello?" Jonathon asked. Maeve took a breath. "Jonathan." She said shakily, "i'm sorry." She muttered. "I'm so sorry." She continued.

Jonathon frowned and took a seat. "Maeve? Is everything alright?" He asked. Maeve struggled to hold the phone. "I can't marry you. You deserve somebody who will treat you just as good as you treat them. I can't do that for you. You don't deserve to be dragged into this life." She admitted.

"What— Maeve what has brought this on?" Jonathon asked with a hurry. Maeve felt her eyes burn and she swallowed the lump in her throat. "I'm sorry, Jonathon." Was all that she said before hovering the phone back onto the stand, hearing his pleads on the other side before finally placing it down.

All of this, of course, had sent Maeve spiralling. As well as the fact she'd almost killed Linda and Max had returned.

Maeve's chest burned with guilt and she pressed her palms into her eyes. Was this a good idea? Maybe marrying him would have been her final escape.

Her heart was beating rapidly and her hands were shaking. She walked around the drawers beside the bed and began rooting through them. Frustration grew within her as she began emptying the contents angrily.

And this was when she stopped thinking. She stopped considering what was good for her. And all the progress she'd made over the years disappeared within a matter of moments.

So there she stood, shakily making her way down the stairs in Arrow House. Her vision was slightly blurred and her forehead was sweaty. Maeve's ginger hair was no longer neat but instead messily resting on her back. She muttered words to herself as she tried to make her way down the steps.

The lights were burning her eyes and she could still hear the light chatter of the remaining guests.

Maeve gripped onto the bannister and felt her knees grow weak. "Dad?" She whispered, finally making it down the stairs and toward the drawing room. Her mouth was dry and her heart was pounding.

She twisted the door handle and pushed open the door, all heads turning to her.

"Maeve? Ya alright?" John asked with concern in his voice. He leaned forward in her chair and they all watched as she swayed slightly, her face pale. "Maeve, love— what's happened?" Polly placed down her champagne and slowly approached the girl.

Arthur looked up from where he'd been sat and frowned.

Just as Polly got to her, her knees gave in and Maeve fell forward. Polly caught her and held her up. "Maeve— jesus! What the hell has happened?!"

Ada jumped from her chair and helped her aunt lower the girl to the floor. "Is she joking— what's she doing?" Arthur hesitated before standing up when realising something was seriously wrong.

"Maeve?" Arthur asked. He joined Polly and Ada's side and they all kneeled beside her. Finally, the rest of the family realised it wasn't some joke and something had happened. They all stood and watched from a distance.

Ada gently touched Maeve's face and frowned. "Maeve, love— can ya hear me?" She asked softly. Maeve's eyes rolled back for a few moments before closing. "Polly want the fucks going on with my girl?" Arthur asked with panic.

Polly stepped back and put a hand to her mouth whilst thinking.

"What's going on?" John asked from where he'd been standing. Isiah clenched his fists at his sides and bit his bottom lip. Tommy stood beside the fireplace and watched. "Pol?"

"I don't know!" The older woman snapped and began pacing. Panic set in quickly among the family and Ada continued trying to talk to her niece but nothing happened. Isiah looked between them all. "Maeve?" Arthur finally joined in. He tapped her face. "Maeve!" He said with slight annoyance in his voice.

Annoyance that stemmed from panic.

Isiah's breathing was heavy and he watched Tommy storm over. "Maeve— Arthur move." He demanded, moving his brother out the way and placing two fingers on Maeve's neck. He leaned down and placed his ear over her mouth. "She's breathing." He said quietly.

Isiah was quick to storm out of the room and practically ran up the stairs, John following not too far behind him. When he got into Maeve's room, he saw exactly what he had expected to.

John came to a halt when seeing what Isiah had picked up. "Fuck!" John kicked the door, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Isiah swallowed hard as he stared at the small bottle of cocaine in his hand. "I thought she wasn't doing that shit no more!?" John shouted to Isiah. Isiah shook his head slowly. "She wasn't— at least she told me she wasn't."

John spun on his heels and returned to the family again. "It's fucking snow— Tom! She's been doing cocaine again." He said, pacing the room.

Arthur and Ada shared the same worried expression on their faces and Tommy tapped Maeve's face slightly more aggressively than Arthur had been.

"Tommy stop it." Ada said seriously. He continue. "Bloody wake up will you!?" Tommy shouted, continuing. "Tommy stop!" Ada repeated.

"Thomas." Polly warned. Lizzie walked into the room and saw the sight, stopping in her tracks. "Lizzie— Lizzie call someone." Tommy pointed. Ada moved away, unsure if her niece was going to be alright.

"Tom what's happening? Is she— is she gonna be alright, eh? Tell me she's alright." Arthur begged, his voice shaking.

Tommy began blocking out the sudden shouts coming from his eldest brother and grabbed Maeve's face, trying to wake her. Isiah managed to pull Arthur away and John helped Tommy drag the girl up, both of them holding her up.

Her head fell and the pair moved her to a couch, gently putting her back down.

Maeve's body was covered in goosebumps and she was shaking slightly, her fingers twitching.

Arthur's ears rang harshly as Isiah held him back. Tommy and John fussed over trying to get the girl conscious again. Arthur shouted things but he himself didn't know what he was shouting. Polly grabbed Arthur's shoulders and tried to calm him down.

Ada on the other hand was tending to her youngest brother who had suddenly came in and seen Maeve's state. "What's she done? Ada is she dead?" Finn asked with wide eyes. He tried to push Tommy and John out the way but failed. "Maeve!" He shouted. "Tommy get the fuck out the way." Finn said, barging past his brother and seeing Maeve.

Finn grabbed her face and shook his head. "You're alright, Maeve. Wake up." He said. "Wake up." He begged. "Maeve! Wake up!" Finn shouted, grabbing her shoulders.

Maeve could begin feeling the aggressive shaking of Finn but she couldn't open her eyes. There was a sharp ringing in her ears and her whole body was burning hot. 

-

An all too familiar sound filled the ears of Maeve Shelby as she was rushed through what she assumed to be the hospital. The eyes were burning brightly in her eyes and many voices spoke over each other. All of which she couldn't identify.

A fogginess was still there but she was now somewhat conscious. Her body jerked every other moment and her hands were clenched into fists, tensed so tightly she couldn't do anything else with them.

She was freezing and goosebumps ran along her skin.

Time was moving strangely. Every time she blinked, it was as if minutes had passed. One moment she was in the hallways and the next she was in a hospital bed with two doctors examining her, another keeping Arthur out of the room.

"Just bloody sit down, Artha!" John grabbed his eldest brother by the shoulders and forced him into the chairs of the waiting room they'd all sat in one too many times.

"First fuckin' Linda and now my girl—" He said worriedly.

"Linda's fine! Maeve will be fine! How many times has she been in this bloody hospital and walked out alive?" John said seriously. "Too many times." John added. "If she can survive a bullet, she can survive this."

Maeve tried to look around to figure out what was happening but her neck ached. Her whole body ached. "What's going on?" She croaked, almost unable to talk.

"Miss Shelby please stay still." A doctor pleaded.

"Where's my dad— dad!" She called out, attempting to sit up but regretting it automatically due to the sharp pain that shot through her.

Upon hearing this, Arthur shot up and tried to force through the doors once more. "I'm here— i ain't going no where!" He assured her, John holding him back again.

Maeve's heart was racing scarily fast and her hands were cramping up. "Help me." She whispered, unable to breathe. "Help me—" Maeve begged, gasping for air. It felt as though she was choking on nothing. No air was getting to her lungs.. at least that's what it felt like.

She shook her head quickly when realising her attempts for oxygen wasn't working. Panic was setting in quickly and the doctors were trying their best to calm the girl.

Her hands clutched at her chest and clawed at her neck. Her ribs felt bruised and there was a lump in her throat.

"I can't—" She tried to speak but couldn't form a sentence. "Please." Maeve was begging like she had never begged before. She thought she was going to die. Like actually going to die. Maeve had been close to death many times but never once was she so scared of something she believed would never catch up to her.

For once in her life, Maeve Shelby was frightened of death.
For once in her life, Maeve Shelby didn't feel in control.

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

Not fully proof read. I'm too tired.

Short filler chapter whilst i figure out this mess of a story. I absolutely despise writing Season five and Six of peaky. For some reason it seems to drag on forever.

Also, are we wanting Isiah and Maeve back together or what? And do you have any idea of what could happen next?????

I'm having terrible writers block with this story.