Two Truths and a Lie (c)

[Script]

Wraith had led Script home, back to the Lodging House, before taking off again to rescue Goblin from the Refuge.

The first thing Maggie did was take a scalding hot shower. She scrubbed herself until her skin was raw, her bitter tears mixing with the water. She still didn't feel clean.

When she crawled into an infirmary bed, back turned away from the door, her skin was still pink. She'd left her corset, robe and stockings in a heap in the bathroom. She wanted to burn them first chance she got.

Images of her 24-hour ordeal at Heather Mae's kept running through her mind. Being stripped naked and changed, face being painted, being sent up to Eastman's office. Bobby Eastman always got first turn at the new girls. Maggie was no exception.

She lay in bed, but wasn't sleeping.

[Goblin]

Goblin had just gotten back to the lodging house with Wraith and Cav. He'd pointed Cav in the direction of the bunkroom and left him to brood about Footsteps, then immediately gone looking for Script. When she wasn't in the girls' room or up on the roof, he had a good idea where he would find her.

There she was, lying in the infirmary. Wraith had told him what happened to her. He couldn't even think about it, not yet, and he didn't even know if she'd want to see him. He knocked on the door and slowly stuck his head in. "Hey," he said softly.

[Script]

Her breath hitched in her chest when she heard him, but she didn't roll over, only whispered. "I'm awake." And waited for him to come to her.

[Goblin]

He hesitantly came in and sat in a chair by the bed. "Is there anything I can do, Maggie?" He didn't bother asking how she was. After what she'd been through, it would be a downright stupid question.

[Script]

"No--yes...I don't know..." She glanced up at him. "Hold me...please..?"

[Goblin]

He climbed into bed with her and took her in his arms, holding her gently against his chest. It was such a relief to be holding her again, warm and safe--except that she wasn't safe, of course. It was too late for that. She was broken now, like him, like Clara, and it was all his fault. He'd done this to her, swallowed her up in his big elaborate plan, and let it chew her up and spit her out. She'd never be the same sweet, trusting girl again. And he'd never hated himself this much in his life.

"I'm so sorry, Maggie," he whispered, choking the words out.

[Script]

She let him cradle her, wanting his warmth and his strong arms to comfort her. They did, but only a little.

"It's not your fault, Sebastian." Except a little part of her, a dark part of her, thought that maybe it was. "You didn't know theyd' send me away."

[Goblin]

"I should've gotten you out of there the minute I found out they were taking girls." He closed his eyes. "You never should've been in there in the first place."

[Script]

It was a long moment before she said anything. "You're right. I shouldn't have been." She swallowed, trying to keep her voice calm. "But you needed me to be. Right, Sebastian."

[Goblin]

He was too miserable and guilty to point out that she'd almost insisted on it. Because if she hadn't, he probably would have found a way to manipulate her into it anyway. He just nodded.

[Script]

Maggie finally rolled over to face him, still laying in his arms. There had been something Riddle said days ago that had been eating at her from the inside out. "Sebastian, I need to ask you something. And you need to tell me the truth." She let her hand touch his cheek, her eyes meeting his. She loved him. She just wasn't sure that would be enough.

"Sebastian...why did you start dating me?"

[Goblin]

He wasn't surprised at all to hear the dreaded question. He didn't even feel any real dread anymore...more like total and complete despair. He remembered how hard he'd tried not to date her, how her touch made him flinch, how her sweet, open nature clashed with his screwed-up complexity, how he liked her but thought it could never work out...until it dawned on him how useful she could be.

"Because I needed a girl in the Refuge," he said dully, letting go of her and sitting up on the edge of the bed, even though it was one of the hardest things he'd ever done. He didn't think she'd want him holding her when he told her this. "And I thought you'd help."

[Script]

She sat up, too, legs curled up under her as she stared at his back. She wasn't surprised, she'd known the answer before she asked the question. But knowing already didn't lessen the hurt.

"I slept with you, Sebastian. I gave myself to you, I trusted you. And you've been lying to me since day one."

[Goblin]

I tried to warn you, he thought. If she hadn't been so damn persistent...but she was only being herself. She'd had no reason to expect any less of him. And if he really had fallen in love with her, so what? Telling her that wouldn't change anything; it would only make the betrayal that much worse.

"I'm sorry," was all he said, barely above a whisper. He wanted to get out of there, but he figured she had a right to say or do anything she wanted first, so he just waited.

[Script]

"You said you loved me, Sebastian. How am I supposed to believe that? How am I supposed to believe that everything you said and did wasn't just all part of the bigger plan?" She bit her lip, eyes welling up despite herself. "What am I supposed to do now?"