Not a part of the Sparrow Saga, this brief fanfic is based off of the musical Hadestown, which retells the Greek Myth of Orpheus and Eurydice [IT HAD 14 TONY NOMINATIONS!!!! *nerdy scream of excitement*].
If Looks Could Kill
Orpheus gritted his teeth. Such a simple task. A simple, simple task. “Wait for me,” he muttered under his breath, even though Eurydice couldn’t speak to him. He focused on the path that led to freedom, readying himself to show the way for everyone behind him.
“Wait,” he said again as he started walking. With every step he replayed the memories he had of Eurydice, from the moment he met her until she was gone. She had been everything to him, his muse, his love. They had stood side by side for so long, but she had left him for Hadestown.
He had failed her, and she had abandoned their life, their love.
It was different now, though, right? She had seen the cruelty of Mr. Hades, seen the futility of the River Styx. Where was she? She was behind him, right? He wanted to turn, to search for her, call her name, but then all would be lost and she would never escape Hadestown.
Of course she was with him. Orpheus kept walking. She’s gone back, his traitorous mind whispered. She’s gone back to Hadestown. No, he countered, she loved him more than that. She wouldn’t have given up already.
Every step felt like he was hauling his body up an impossible cliff. She had turned around. He wasn’t enough for her. It felt so true, so tangible. He pictured her turning, looking back at him with sorrowful eyes, and walking down the hill.
No. She was still with him. Was she watching him, trudging upwards without her? No, she was there.
The hill leveled. Orpheus visualized her walking downwards towards the comfort he never had been able to give her. She had hated working for their lives above the surface. Hadestown was everything she had wished for – riches, comfort.
His steps quickened towards the entrance. He was close. In his mind, he sensed that Eurydice was about gone. As he crossed the threshold, he knew with every certainty in his heart that Eurydice was almost out of sight. She was leaving, and he would never see her again. He had to see her again.
Orpheus turned on his heel and threw his gaze out to the horizon. Before his sight reached it, it was interrupted by the figure standing five steps behind him.
Eurydice. Her face was aghast, shock leaving her features wide and frightened. He saw her dark hair trailing over her shoulders and saw the emotions sink into her surprise – loss, betrayal, fear, hurt, anger – and hated himself.
Orpheus was silenced with the horror of the moment. Eurydice. She had been there. She had been there. She had always been there. They had been five steps from living the life they wanted, the life she wanted. She had been coming, had been ready to leave Hadestown for him, and he had betrayed her.
He felt as if all of his emotions had been torn from his heart, and hated that it still continued to beat.
Oh, that he could have trusted, Orpheus thought, irony twisting in his gut. Before she left he would have trusted her, but now she was gone forever. He had lost his songbird, and had no wish to live. Orpheus crumpled to the ground as the gate to Hadestown closed between them.
“Wait,” he said again as he started walking. With every step he replayed the memories he had of Eurydice, from the moment he met her until she was gone. She had been everything to him, his muse, his love. They had stood side by side for so long, but she had left him for Hadestown.
He had failed her, and she had abandoned their life, their love.
It was different now, though, right? She had seen the cruelty of Mr. Hades, seen the futility of the River Styx. Where was she? She was behind him, right? He wanted to turn, to search for her, call her name, but then all would be lost and she would never escape Hadestown.
Of course she was with him. Orpheus kept walking. She’s gone back, his traitorous mind whispered. She’s gone back to Hadestown. No, he countered, she loved him more than that. She wouldn’t have given up already.
Every step felt like he was hauling his body up an impossible cliff. She had turned around. He wasn’t enough for her. It felt so true, so tangible. He pictured her turning, looking back at him with sorrowful eyes, and walking down the hill.
No. She was still with him. Was she watching him, trudging upwards without her? No, she was there.
The hill leveled. Orpheus visualized her walking downwards towards the comfort he never had been able to give her. She had hated working for their lives above the surface. Hadestown was everything she had wished for – riches, comfort.
His steps quickened towards the entrance. He was close. In his mind, he sensed that Eurydice was about gone. As he crossed the threshold, he knew with every certainty in his heart that Eurydice was almost out of sight. She was leaving, and he would never see her again. He had to see her again.
Orpheus turned on his heel and threw his gaze out to the horizon. Before his sight reached it, it was interrupted by the figure standing five steps behind him.
Eurydice. Her face was aghast, shock leaving her features wide and frightened. He saw her dark hair trailing over her shoulders and saw the emotions sink into her surprise – loss, betrayal, fear, hurt, anger – and hated himself.
Orpheus was silenced with the horror of the moment. Eurydice. She had been there. She had been there. She had always been there. They had been five steps from living the life they wanted, the life she wanted. She had been coming, had been ready to leave Hadestown for him, and he had betrayed her.
He felt as if all of his emotions had been torn from his heart, and hated that it still continued to beat.
Oh, that he could have trusted, Orpheus thought, irony twisting in his gut. Before she left he would have trusted her, but now she was gone forever. He had lost his songbird, and had no wish to live. Orpheus crumpled to the ground as the gate to Hadestown closed between them.