Each creak of the floorboards beneath her feet made her cringe, the sounds this house made where new to her. Once upon a time she wouldn’t have batted an eyelid walking down to the basement and hearing the old groans of the house, but now it felt different. Having been gone for so long from this house it no longer felt like a home, it felt like a damp old shed that would fall down at a small breeze. Touching a place on the wall feeling for the light switch she wasn’t surprised that when she turned it on there was no light, of course there would be no electric to the place no one had paid the bills. Maybe she should have asked Jacob for so money to disappear, it would have at least brought her some light and warmth for a few days before having to face someone she didn’t want too. 

Feeling around on the shelf just below the switch her hands clasped around a small box which was filled with matches inside, not too far from the box was a candle which she wasted no time in lighting to give her a bit of light down in the basement. Clasping the candle close she ventured down further into the basement only to wrinkle her nose and frown at the stench that came from it. Grimacing as she finally reached the bottom, she could see in the dim light the makeshift cell they had made. The blood stains that surrounded the floors and walls and it looked like nothing had changed.  

[color=f49ac2]“What would have happened had I not agreed to that stupid plan? Would I still be dating a man who isn’t stable? Would my father also be alive?”[/color] Talking to herself as she paced through the small basement eyes sweeping over each mark and each stain that she could see, empty glasses of water. Bowls of food that where so far gone to saving and if she looked close enough she was sure there were flies buzzing around, but coupled with the smell she wasn’t surprised. 

[color=f49ac2]“I would never have met him I guess, was it worth it? Those few moments of happiness compared to the amount of damage I have caused?”[/color] Iris found herself frowning to herself feeling conflicted over it all, worried that the choices she made weren’t the right ones in any sort of way. Had she not have ruined the plan by falling prey to a bear trap she’d never have gotten to know Cas, in fact she’d have probably been rotting away in a cell for a failed assassination attempt. 

Feeling a chill run through the room she rubbed her arms trying to warm herself up, turning her back on the room it was time she got some rest. At least she could get some rest in before facing him, perhaps some sleep would do her good and it would be a start at getting accustomed to life back in the districts. Climbing the staircase back to the living room she blew out the candle as she reached the top thankful for the fleeting natural light that seeped through the windows. 

Walking through the kitchen she knew there was no way there’d be anything salvageable in terms of food, that was purely a wish that wouldn’t come true. Regardless she would need to sort that out if she did plan to make it back out here, lost in her own train of thought at how best to get started. 

“Well, well, well… I didn’t expect you to be back so soon. You must have [i]missed[/i] me.”

Hearing that voice, that dreaded voice was something she didn’t expect, out of shock the candle fell from her hands clattering against the floor as she felt her anxiety rise. Iris knew where the voice had come from, but she didn’t dare to turn and face him. Not yet.