The thing about Echidna, what made people hate her, want to kill her, was the fact they could never burn her. No matter how hard they tried, she was a chaotic force and when she got angry not one thing could survive – ask around. So many bodies carry the scars around with them, they remember her and they hate her because she burned them instead. Made sure they ever forgot her even when she’d long forgotten them. The funny thing is that she could walk by her nemesis and never even know it, never flinch at their death glares. She’s oblivious, too hard, you can’t burn stone. It might be singed a little or cracked but it survived the heat. Echidna will survive and she’ll do it in style and maybe that is one reason why he decided he didn’t want her anymore. He seemed weak for the vulnerable types.

Echidna doesn’t tuck tail for anyone. There were times in her life when she was down so far, no light could get in but she always bounces back – she’s too stupid not to. He wants to think about the inconsistency of life and love and all that dumb stuff. It would make her laugh if she knew because what was she in that messed up brain of his? Part of her suspects trouble, an endless vortex of confusion and pain because he never says anything out right. He likes to dance, he likes to boogie, and Echidna would rather smoke a cigar by the exit. Finally, he admits to his need for chaos and it makes her give the slightest of smiles, this warmth blossoming like a flower inside her chest because that sounded more like him. More like the Tarquin she knew.

But she keeps on because isn’t there a lot to say? Why not confess all her sins in these quiet moments and see what happens? You can’t send a demon to hell, after all, it’d just be going home and Echidna isn’t bothered if he wants to get angry about it. Anger was better than whatever this was he was going through right now. He points to his eye and how blind he is and she rolls her eyes at him. She wants to say, ‘yeah and that’s why you went after all those skanks and you deserve to be blind’ but she doesn’t because maybe he’s talking about her. He’d been too blind to see the truth, that she’s poison in a tiny bottle and everyone wants to test their luck.

He’s on about cutting away things and she meets his gaze with her own, which is slightly more narrowed than she might have liked. She can practically feel him bristling beside her. Why couldn’t he just be honest, be blunt, say what he meant – he’s always dancing, she thinks. Echidna scratches her head, shakes out her hair. There’s a bit of stubble starting to grow along her chin, she probably needs to shave soon but that’s another time.

That’s bull, she says.

Echidna swipes her thumb over her lip and tastes blood. What was left of the carcass is starting to stink and the flies are so loud now. Is that all I am then? You keep me around because you can’t find it in yourself to cut me out because I’m like a collectable item on the shelf? Her voice is steady, her eyes keep on his because she won’t back down now. You’re more than the people you’ve encounter and you want more than their collective needs. You want to act all jaded and calloused and icy about it then fine –

She shrugs, reaches down to pick up a pebble from the dirt and roll it over her knuckles. But you’re just too afraid that if you let yourself be happy then all the emotions you keep walled up will come flooding in. You sabotage yourself, Quinn.

Which, so did she.

Echidna throws the pebble into the grass and she wonders why she even bothers. He’ll just get angry and flustered and no doubt bring up all her crap – she’s aware of how terrible she is and she’s accepted it. I made a lot of mistakes in the past, I did things I wish I could take back because they hurt you and made you doubt me – but, she takes a deep breath and shakes her head, I can’t go back, only forward, and I’m getting tired.

Her arms circle around her legs and her chin rests of her knees. If you wanted to bang one last time then you got it, at least. I just wish it meant something to you but I guess it doesn’t.