A Shadow Returns

A Chat

When Synecdoche walked out of Avril's room, Valkyrie and Skulduggery stood up together.
"Her arm is almost healed," Synecdoche said. "You can go in now."

Skulduggery and Valkyrie walked inside to see Avril lying on a hospital bed with her arm in some kind of muddy slosh. When she heard them come in she raised her head and looked up.
"Oh, hey," she said.
"Hi," Valkyrie replied, closing the door behind her. "You okay?"
"Fine. Not even sore."
"That's... good."
"Something wrong Valkyrie?"
Valkyrie looked up at Skulduggery as he sat down beside Avril. Avril raised her eyebrows in confusion and propped herself up on her good elbow. Skulduggery pushed her back down and Avril sighed.
"I'll uh, leave you two, to, talk," Valkyrie said, giving Skulduggery a warning stare, and walking back out the door to find Tanith.

Avril kept her gaze on Skulduggery, even when he started talking.
"Something you want to tell me Avril?" He asked. Her expression lifted. She knew exactly what he was talking about.
"God Skulduggery I never wanted you to find out about.... that."
"Why not?"
"Because you would hate me for killing innocent people when that's not what I did at all!"
Skulduggery tilted his head towards her.
"What do you mean that's not what you did?" He asked. Avril sighed.
"I couldn't stand killing people Skul. So I blackmailed them instead. Made them give me something of theirs in exchange for their life. I let them walk free, told them to hide. For that, I'm not sorry. I'm glad I didn't kill them."
"Is that where you got the Porsche from?"
Avril nodded.
"What about the people who hired you to kill the person? What did you tell them?"
"After I told them to hide and left them, I'd go and kill a wild deer, and sell the heart off as if it was from the person I killed."
"Cliché, but clever," he said. Avril smiled.
"I'm glad you understand Skul. But I guess that I can't stay here can I?"
"Not really no."
Avril nodded. "I understand," she said.
"I'll miss you Avril," he said. She looked up, tears forming in her pretty blue eyes.
"I'll miss you too," she choked out, trying not to cry. "And Valkyrie."
"You can tell her that yourself then," Skulduggery said and Avril looked around him to see Valkyrie and Tanith standing in the doorway.

Valkyrie had tears rolling down her cheeks. The dark haired girl walked towards Avril and hugged her gently.
"I'll miss you too Avril," Valkyrie said. "Thank you for everything. For helping us fight Jess, even though you got hurt. Thanks for trying to warn me off, even though I was a stubborn little bitch. Thank you."
Avril smiled as a tear rolled down her pretty pale cheeks.
"And, we've got something to show you," Valkyrie said. Avril looked confused again. "As soon as Synecdoche discharges you, we'll take you to our special surprise."

A massive shoutout to celine0243 for her help with the character of Jess and for doing a shoutout in her own book! If you haven't followed her yet, I suggest hitting the button on her profile.