He was there, laying on the floor, and for the first time in weeks neither Aiden nor Elias were with him. His head was empty of any voices trying to reassure him or making him feel worse. He was alone and it was over. Elias wouldn’t come for him. No one would. It was either he died here or he accepted Maryse’s terms. He didn’t know what was best. Tears started to fall down his cheeks, but he remained silent. What was the use to scream ? Nothing would save him. A month had passed and nothing had changed, except that he felt worse and worse, dying a little more every day. His tears had started to form a little puddle on the wooden floor. He could taste their salty flavour on his lips too, along with the bitter one from the blood in his mouth. But he didn’t care, didn’t move or try to stop them to fall. He just stayed like that, embracing the void around and within him.

He didn’t hear when the door flew open, but he saw the foot in front of him a few seconds later. He didn’t move, though, only closed his eyes and waited. But nothing happened for a moment, so he opened them again and tried to look at the person that stood here. He couldn’t, every movements hurting as he tried to move and look up. But he knew who it was anyway. She came every single time, after all. Right after her men had hit him, she came and talked to him, broke him a little more. Today, she wouldn’t for he was already completely shattered. “Kill me, please.” he begged slowly, every word hurting his tightened throat as he talked. “Please… I wanna die. I want this to be over.” She got on her knees next to him, caressing his hair with the same careful movements she always used. “My poor, poor baby boy…” she said in her melodious voice. “Everything’s going to be alright, I promise.” A sob escaped Will at that. Maybe she was right, maybe he would be fine at last, but he didn’t want to. All he wanted was to give up for good. But she wouldn’t let him. She never helped.  “Please. I can’t…” he tried anyway, perfectly knowing he was wasting his time - and energy. “Shhh…” she whispered, her fingers going down his cheek to erase the tears there. “It’s okay, my love. You’re okay.” He didn’t dare to move but bit down another sob. “You’re so beautiful, you know that, right ?” she asked in his ear. She was so close he could feel her breath on his skin, dancing along his jaw up to his ear. He wanted to throw up, but even that wasn’t possible. “So, so beautiful.”

She moved him then, and before he realised what was happening he was laying on her lap and she was stroking his face again, careful and gentle, almost like she really loved him, really cared for him. But she didn’t love him, he knew that very well. For a few seconds, everything was silent and Will continued to cry, dampening Maryse’s white dress. He saw the red drops on the soft fabric as well, noting it was his blood but unable to care. Then, in a low, soothing voice, she started singing. A beautiful lullaby that he remembered in some way, something his mother sang to him when he was a scared little boy. Just like he was today. He closed his eyes again, his shoulders still trembling from the silent sobs he escaped evenly. The song didn’t ease him in any way, but he was too tired to fight back anymore. So he just stopped and waited for it to end.