He was going to kill her. She could tell. For a second, she had thought about fighting back and then decided not to. It was better this way. She knew this might happen and was prepared for it. In a way, she was relieved. She had given up on her brother and Will finding a cure, and every day they looked at her with even more contempt. This way, she could die in peace. After all, if a Nova thought it was so bad that he looked at her like she was death itself, then surely she deserved to die?

So, Sadie waited. She remained completely motionless, her gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun started its descent, casting a deep orange radiance that filled her room with a serene combination of white and gold hues. She hoped he would come soon. Maybe he would be kind to her and make it quick.

Yet, he didn't. Adria returned and fussed about the room, promptly ignoring Sadie and then leaving again until Sadie was left in the darkness, her only comfort being the moon's light. He is going to kill me in my sleep. He had felt guilty about raising her hopes and didn't want to confront her disappointment so he would do it when she was unconscious.

Satisfied with her reasoning, Sadie stood up, her white dress pooling around her feet as she stared numbly at the door. Yet, why couldn't he come now? She couldn't do it herself–Will would never allow her to do it. Clenching her fists, Sadie considered seeking Hashim out herself, but a quiet knock on her door made her stop. Flying across the room, she swung it open, heart beating in her chest as she awaited a knife to plunge into her skin, but was instead met with the serious expression of William.

"Why are you sitting in the dark?" Will asked, "Is Adria not with you?"

Immediately, Sadie drew back, fear spiking in her chest. Yet Will only stood there–waiting for her to let him in. He made no mention of anything that had happened yesterday.

"S-she went out–I do not know where," Sadie answered, stepping aside to let him in. He looked around as Sadie frantically went around the room, lighting candles until it was bright enough to see.

"And you let her?" Will asked, his voice calm but Sadie noticed the tension in his neck as she quickly said, "I'm sorry."

He sat in silence, gazing at her as she took a seat opposite him. Her eyes, a striking shade of blue, betrayed her anxiety as she pondered whether he was feigning forgetfulness or if he had genuinely been manipulated by a Nova. Will was too astute to fall for such a ruse - he was well aware of the capabilities of Novas and had drawn several protective charms on himself to guard against their magic. Though such actions were prohibited, Will often operated under the radar. He claimed to hold no fear of Novas, and while many Terrans made similar boasts until they faced a Nova themselves, Sadie truly believed him. At times, she even questioned whether he possessed a soul.

"You survived," he finally said. Sadie's eyes snapped up to meet Will's cold, brown gaze. A flicker of emotion crossed his face, and she thought he was about to apologize, but it was shut down as he asked, "Did you kill it?"

"Y-yes."

His eyes shimmered like two radiant embers in the warm glow of the fire, casting a golden spark on his hard features. A thin smile crept up his stern face, but in his eyes, Sadie could discern nothing but utter and complete anger.

"You were planning on running?"

Sadie froze at his words and shook her head.

"N-no, I was trying to find a way for us to get out; I-I would never think that." Will's stern face didn't move as he stared at her.

"Sadie, I don't care if you were thinking it. Thinking does not equal action, does it?" Will said, "Intrusive thoughts are nothing to be ashamed of."

He uttered those words with a hint of anger, a tightly-coiled tension underlying his seemingly impassive expression. Sadie had become adept at deciphering these subtle cues. She knew that Will's words often belied his true feelings, making him challenging to deal with. It seemed as though Will himself wasn't entirely conscious of this tendency. In that moment, she chose to remain silent, afraid that any response, be it affirmative or negative, would only stoke the flames of his anger.

"I came to tell you I was proud of you–you were so brave yesterday."

Sadie kept her head down, but a leap of happiness filled her chest as she smiled, and Will took her hand and she tensed at how hard he held it.

"But you didn't move when you were supposed to. You hesitated, and we weren't able to kill the Nova ourselves and you had to get your pretty hands dirty. Do you understand what you did wrong?" William demanded, his grip on her hand growing stronger with every word.

Sadie's wide blue eyes overflowed with fear as Will, with a mix of anger and love in his own brown eyes, watched her.

"Did you feel bad for him? Were you scared?"

When she didn't immediately respond he reached for her shoulder and she yelped before stuttering, "H-He was just doing his job but I put my life before his." Will stopped at her words, and he laughed quietly–a sound that only Sadie heard in private.

"Your life might be worthless, yes, but while you are a bug he is trash, and a bug has the right to feast on waste. Do not pity scum, my dear."

A small tear escaped Sadie's eye and Will wiped it away.

"Don't worry, I love you, Sadie–no one will love you as much as I do. Don't you remember how much I've done for you?"

Yes. She did. He had done everything for her. He had tainted himself for her, and she would forever belong to him. How ungrateful of her to think she should have escaped?

"I'm sorry, Will." she whispered. Will smiled and said, "It's okay–I forgive you." He stared at her hands before he looked up again and said, "Now, Sadie, tell me. Is that Nova dead? Was he truly Angus?"

Ah, Hashim. The handsome man who was going to kill her. Should she tell him? Would Will kill him for her? Yes, he'd kill him, but not for her. If she didn't tell him and then died would that be escaping?

He's a Nova–he's evil. How can you even be considering not telling him?

But he had saved her. So did Will, you fool. But really what was any harm in keeping it a secret? Will would never know Hashim was Angus. But Hashim had said he would kill him. Is that so bad?

Sadie tensed at such a thought. What was she doing?

Turning her face to William, she smiled and spoke.