“I want to be there to help him. I love him so much, Connor. I just worry he won’t want me there once he knows I know. I’m worried he won’t accept that I can love him while knowing about him being a wendigo, and not end up like his father. I’m worried he’ll run away.”
She looked up at him, once again reminded of Joshua, but this time it was in the comfort he offered her, in his advice and his brotherliness. He was comfort and calm and collected and all gentleness despite his size and intimidating stature. He was like a big, fluffy dog that just wanted to lay in your lap when you were sad. She smiled a little at the comparison before sighing. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she continued.
“What do I do if he does run, Connor? I don’t think I can let him go, especially not like that. It would kill me to let him go like that.”
Connor heaved a sigh, he didn’t have an answer; and it frustrated him. All this strength and power, and he couldn’t even help someone he cared about. What use was he? Why was he even here in the first place. Yet he was possessed by a need to stay, to at least be present. Even if it all came crashing down.
“I don’t know, I’ve been running all my life, sometimes running is the easiest way out. I always figured you could outrun the world if you tried and maybe Todd thinks he can do the same… I don’t have an answer for you, but… maybe he needs people and he doesn’t realize it, maybe he doesn’t want to admit that. I say let him run, as long as you can find him again. One way or another Todd has to face what he is, we all do, and make his peace with it. I think the only thing you can do is stick by him to the end, no matter if that end is glorious or tragic.”
Sam nodded and tipped her face into his shoulder with a stifled sigh. This was probably the best advice that Connor could give her. After all, if he had been running all his life, he would know better than anyone. Sam couldn’t imagine what that must be like. For Todd to have run across the entire country, just to be safe. She couldn’t imagine having to live like that. Her life had been warm and full of love and she’d never wanted for anything she couldn’t have. Meanwhile both these men had to fight tooth and nail and run from their demons.
Sam was going to make sure they had a home here. She was going to keep both of them safe. They were never going to have to run ever again. Not if Sam had a say in anything. She wrapped her arms around Connor’s and she squeezed tight. Would he eventually want to run away too? She didn’t want to lose Connor.
“Neither of you is ever going to have to run again. I’ll keep you both safe. I won’t let anything happen to you. And maybe, maybe then you’ll both never want to leave. You’ll both stay. Please stay, Connor.”
Sam's voice echoed in the distance, but Connor was far away so much he could barely hear it, instead he stood over a scene of blood and tears. A man on the ground, his throat ripped open by fangs; his fangs, his jaws. The man's flesh was already down his throat, his blood covered his lips. It tasted fresh, it tasted like life. His heart beat, a growl entered his throat, and the beast desired to feast on his kill, the rage and the tempest could barely be contained within him. Only one look stopped him, and that was a look of horror, disgust, and pain in wide golden eyes.
"Leave! Please, just leave!" Miriam shouted. Connor felt his eyes sting with tears, Miriam shouted at him, but he couldn't hear her. Her golden eyes turned orange, and her voice softer. And then Sam was there.
"Please stay, Connor.”
"I'll... I'll stay, I promise," Connor held her, so her head stayed buried in his shoulder. He didn't want her to see the tears soaking themselves into his beard.
