Chapter Text
" I'm so sorry for your loss. "
William heard the young woman but chose to ignore her, walking straight past her and her child who was gripping on tightly to her hand as if she was going to disappear. He wished he didn't decide to come to work today, maybe Katherine was right about him actually having emotion behind his face and needed to stay home as a grieving father.
Upon walking outside his head was soaked in the mid-afternoon rain, drenching his clothing in the process, which made this all the more a " stupendous " day for him. What had he truly done to deserve this.
Luckily enough for him his car was right there, sitting up on the curb where the benches and streetlight was. It was where he usually parked it so when he got out the vehicle was already waiting for him. Even on days like this when he left early, which was never the norm, even if he had a cough or sore throat.
William hopped in his car and sat for a bit, his hands attached to the wheel and eyes looking out the windshield but not moving. His blueish-grey eyes were empty, emptier than usual if anything. His body was cold and he hadn't done anything to tame his hair in three days. The sudden death and murder of his youngest son occured two weeks ago, so why was he only feeling upset now?
He had yet to cry although. His wife, oldest child and youngest had sobbed a thousand and one tears, he knew that, but he was the only one who hadn't even shed a single tear. As composed as he looked on the outside, inside his body felt miserable and was crying out for help. His heart pumped slower and his lungs felt like they were going to explode.
With a heavy groan, William turned the key in the ignition and started the car, tires creaking as he drove out of the parking lot and down the alley so he could reach home quicker. He'd never seen this part of his business unless he was out hanging up posters or doing what his employee's didn't do: throw out the trash.
He drove slow and leisurely, the rain pounding now against his hood as if it were hail, the empty bottles of alcohol clinking against each other in the back seat. He needed to get rid of those, just when he was back and shape.
Suddenly, William stopped when he noticed something in the corner of his eye. A small child, banging its fist on the hefty glass of the windows to his place and screaming. It wasn't like you saw something like that everyday.
He sat in his car in the same position he was in while driving with his back hunched down, but instead he was watching. Looking close and carefully as if he were a predator catching his first look at his prey. He couldn't catch himself and turn away from the situation. He could only look.
" Please! Please! " The kid screamed. William could tell she was a little girl from the pitch of her voice, " This isn't funny anymore! I'm scared... ". The last part was reduced to a faint mumble, pathetic, and anyone would be able to sympathize with that or feel some sort of pity. William didn't.
He remained waiting as the little girl continued to bang on the window. William couldn't tell if there were tears streaming down her face or if it was the rain. Most likely both.
It didn't take long before the kid gave up and leaned her head on the glass, sobbing harsh and shivering from the cold. From that angle, William could easily tell who it was a mile away.
Charlotte Emily, the daughter and only child of William's best friend, Henry Emily. They've been working together since college and only three years ago had Henry announced the birth of his beautiful daughter. She had brown waves of hair that reached just to her neck as her mother didn't want it growing past there for her age, and bright green eyes that proved her innocence in any given situation.
She would usually be at the Afton household during work days or with her aunt, but today was one of her friends' birthdays, and with her being the youngest she was bound to the nasty picking and playing they did, which was being locked out of the restaurant that day, Will guessed.
Without thinking, he stepped out of his vehicle and quietly shut the door behind him. He just stood there, by the car door and willingly let the rain pour on him. Charlotte had yet to notice his presence.
Her sobs added to the crashing of the rain and occasional rolls of thunder in the distance, " Please... Don't leave me..! ".
If this was William's daughter, he would obviously help the poor girl, even if she was just the friend of her father, which was the case. But for some reason William didn't feel anything that resembled sympathy, sadness, or the will to help. He felt a rage boil inside of his gut. He had to watch as his poor son died, helpless and weak right in front of him, yet here Charlotte was, crying over the fact she was out in the rain. It was better than being kilt, so she didn't deserve to cry over something so foolish.
It wasn't fair. Henry had everything he wanted. A loving family that would go out of each others ways to care and mourn with one another, a successful business that was just starting to grow to a height they both could've never imagined, and kids that actually were alive and right here in his view. In his heart. Henry had everything Will wanted. Everything Will needed, prayed for. He had a family that was breaking apart by the seams and only two children after one was brutally murdered—Only one kid if he was cruel enough to send the other away for what unjust act he did.
It wasn't fair he was only known as the man donning flashy purple with the kids business. It wasn't fair.
The pocket knife in William's back pocket was reaching his fingertips as he pulled it out and let out his anger.