Okay, so Red had a pretty shit childhood, yeah? And it only got worse after Noah died.

One of Dad's classic speeches, all about how he "hated them", how they "corrupted Noah" and of course there was how they "deserved to be the one the coyotes snacked on every night".

But today there was also something new.

"I hope you live. I hope, when God comes back to reclaim his children, you're left here. I hope you wander the earth forever- stuck with the wars and the sinners and I hope you never die."

They still think of it- every time they have a near death experience. Got shot two millimeters away from the heart? Dad must have pushed it just enough. Got heatstroke followed by frostbite? Dad was the one to freeze them while keeping their heart pumping. Survived torture? Musta been dad who lead the rescue team.

It's funny- some people would thank God for surviving, but Red? Red would curse the man who knocked their mother up and helped bring them and their brother into the world.

Sometimes, when things are quiet, Red remembers the other half of that day. What happened after dad said those things.

They'd run from the house, past the baker who always accused them of stealing, past the farmer who made them work extra hours when Noah had died- "making up for lost labor" he said, past the doctor who hurt them and past the woodcarver who let him.

They ran and ran and ran until they couldn't run anymore.

They ran to the lake.

Their lake.

The place that was once a safe haven, where they and Noah would play until the moon came up and the wildlife hushed.

The lake where the strongest men of the town held Noah down under the water, held him until he stopped thrashing, all under The First Son's watchful eyes.

Maryanne had sobbed that day, sobbed until they couldn't breathe through the tears, until they held their head under the water.

But of course- they survived.

Dad had cursed them after all.

What have I literally done I have so many wips why this