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Snow pelted the earth as a lone figure trudged through it, leaving a single trail of boot prints in her wake. The cold bit through every layer while sharp winds threatened to tear away Furioso's protective gear. It had been two weeks, three days, and eleven hours since she'd last made this journey. She counted.
The thick snow goggles partially obscured her vision. Even so, in the distance, she could see her destination. A small lodge cabin, lights off and chimney devoid of smoke. It looked abandoned. Once, it had been. Now it was home to someone who rarely left it. Partly of her own accord, partly at Furioso's urging, she made the derelict cabin her home. Furioso ached to see her once more, visits few and far between so as to not arouse any sort of suspicion.
As her boots made contact with the wood of the porch, she reached a gloved hand out to the wooden plank that barricaded the door shut. Lifting it up and resting it upright against the wall, she twisted the doorknob and stepped inside.
The air in the cabin was thick, almost comfortingly so, as it fought the harsh frost of the outside. She shut the door with a loud slam, locking it the moment it was completely closed. Her eyes scanned the windowless room before settling on the far corner.
Piercing red eyes stared back at her, unblinking.
As she slowly walked toward them, the silence felt heavier than the storm outside.
Her hands found their way to her goggles, lifting them up to reveal her face.
"It's just me. I'm here."
Pulling off a glove, she drew the knife from her waist and pressed the blade against her palm. The familiar sting made her wince as she opened a fresh cut and extended her hand toward the figure in the corner, shrouded by a thick blanket. The figure looked hesitant, as if holding itself back, but slowly left the safety of the blanket. She looked completely disheveled. Her hair was a mess, likely not being washed in days. The bags under her eyes spoke of several long, restless nights. Furioso mainly focused on her eyes, ocean blue replaced by crimson.
"I missed you, Espo."
Espoir didn't answer. Her eyes remained fixed on Furioso's bleeding hand.
"Eat. I understand you are hungry."
When Espoir finally met her eyes, shame had replaced hunger. Furioso had hoped never to see that expression again.
It was one she had grown far too used to.
She had to keep herself from flinching as the girl's tongue made contact with her wound. Sharp fangs hovered carefully around the wound, never touching skin as she drank.
Though she'd done this several times, it had yet to become easier. If anything, it was harder. Her eyes darted downward as she felt her mouth retract.
"That cannot be enough."
Espoir mumbled, "Sure it is."
"Espo, do not starve yourself for my sake."
Espoir paused, her expression shifting to one of hurt.
"And who said it was for you?"
"I am just trying to help you. I don't want-"
Her fangs were barred, it was unlikely she even noticed. Furioso did, silencing herself. Their sharpness was apparent and Furioso recoiled slightly.
"Whatever. Why do ya keep comin' here."
"Because if I don't, you will starve."
"So what if I do? I'm a monster, Furi."
"No, you are not."
"I just ate your fuckin' blood! Is that a normal thing to do?"
"That isn't fair."
"All of this ain't fair. Furi, you have to do it."
"Do what?"
"Don't play dumb."
Furioso's expression tightened, followed by the rest of her body.
"You know what I mean."
"I refuse."
Furioso put her knife back inside her jacket.
"Please. I can't... I can't do this anymore, Furi."
"I would sooner let you bite me."
"Don't go sayin' this shit again."
"I mean it."
"That's why I said to stop fuckin' sayin' it!"
Espoir took a long breath, steadying herself, "We can't... do this forever. I don't want to be like this anymore."
A sharp inhale followed her words, serving as the only response Furioso was willing to give before walking to the kitchen. She positioned her hand below the faucet and let the water clean her fresh wound. She was sure this one would scar and frowned thinking of a suitable excuse.
"Ya don't got food here, Furi. I checked."
The voice behind her caused her to flinch, hand jumping to guard herself. She swiftly lowered said hand once her eyes caught up with her instincts.
"I know that."
"Oh, so you get to starve yourself?"
A grimace covered her face as she glared into deep red eyes.
"I'm not starving myself. I'll eat when I get back."
"You're really somethin'. All worried about me all the time, but when I do it I'm the bad guy."
"I didn't say that."
"Your eyes did."
With that said, Espoir retreated back to the couch, covering herself in the blanket again.
Furioso wrapped her palm and followed her, sitting to her left.
"I just want to be normal again. I miss the Sun, weirdly enough."
"I thought you liked the night more?"
"Gets borin' when it's all ya can see."
Furioso nodded, leaning her head onto the other girl's shoulder.
"Careful. I can smell your blood still and my head's throbbin'."
"Sorry, I just... want to be near you."
"I get it, Furi. I don't want to bite you is all."
"I still think you should."
"Then what? We both starve to death?"
"There's a town not too far from here."
Espoir stared at her.
"...You don't seriously mean-"
"You wouldn't have to kill anyone."
"Absolutely not, Furioso. I feel disgusting taking your blood as is."
"We are running out of options. I can't keep giving you mine."
"Then don't! Leave and pretend I died before any of this ever happened."
"You know I can't do that."
"Fuckin' try then. I'm not biting you."
The shoulder that had once been comforting now felt rigid beneath her head. She debated moving before deciding against it. The tension in the air burned hot, the room feeling noticeably warmer despite the ongoing blizzard.
Furioso was powerless, useless. She had nothing left to offer, all she could do was hurt herself more and more for Espoir's sake. Now, she couldn't even do that.
She glanced down at her palm, then up to Espoir who seemed to also be eyeing it.
It was clear she could still smell the blood, even Furioso could. Between exhaustion and blood loss, sleep claimed her before she could fight it.
With one final look at Espoir, she drifted off.
It couldn't have been more than a few minutes before she was forced awake, having felt something wet against her palm.
Her ears noticed before her eyes could, still blurred by sleep.
Espoir was breathing heavily, lips stained with what could only have been Furioso's blood. The bandages lay discarded on the floor, soaked through where Espoir had licked at them before tearing away.
The crimson eyes that stared into her looked frantic as they shifted between her eyes and her openly bleeding hand.
Though further lacking in blood, her palm was devoid of even a single bite mark. Her gaze returned to Espoir's as she showed her.
Espoir resisted.
Gazing back into her eyes, she could tell how terrified she was.
"You didn't bite me. I told you that it wasn't enough earlier."
A low groan was her response, her teeth still barred.
Furioso took a cautious step backward, hoping the distance would help.
Espoir followed immediately.
Furioso took another step, the distance closed once more.
With her back against the wall, the two could feel each other's warmth against their skin.
"I'm sorry." Espoir whispered breathily as she brought her fangs to Furioso's neck.
"It's okay, Espo. It'll be okay."
"I can tell you're nervous. You're shaking like hell."
The set of fangs hovered right above her skin, their intent clear.
"Do it."
A single tear slid down Espoir's face.
Her fangs trembled against Furioso's neck.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
"I can't."
In one swift motion, she pulled the knife from Furioso's jacket and sank it into her heart.
She collapsed onto the floor before Furioso even registered what had happened.
Her pupils dilated as she looked at Espoir. The girl was coughing up blood, choking on it.
Furioso rushed to her side, sitting her up.
"No, no, no, no. Espo, Espo stay with me! Why?"
Tears dripped onto Espoir's coat as Furioso cradled her head in her lap. She was freezing, as was the room. The warmth it had so valiantly clung to dissipated along with her. Looking into her lifeless eyes, Furioso knew there was nothing left for her to do. She sat there for what felt like hours, staring at her corpse.
"I never got the chance... to tell you, Espo."
Her throat felt hoarse.
Tears welled in her eyes once more as she looked down into her eyes, their blue had returned since her passing.
"I wish..."
Her voice broke.
"I wish it had been me. Because..."
Silence.
"I love you."