SCARECROW|| Automatonophobia ||i

(please do keep in mind this story is still in heavy progress and for all the chapters I want them to at least be long ones, so some chapters are shorter than others partly because idk how to write extra things in there without being boring, also sadly if ur looking for an X READER this book is an X OC but I might consider writing an X READER soon, enjoy! ^^)

If you wanted quiet, you went far from Gotham. Beyond the government who gave a slap on the wrist to murderers, rapists, thieves...list goes on.

Swan Rose Kyrell was one of the few who fled the noise and dangers of the city. A middle-aged rancher, short for her age, with the hems of her jeans bunching awkwardly at the heels of her boots. Strands of dark, wavy hair clung to her forehead in the summer heat as she walked the cracked sidewalk, regretting her choice of footwear. She would’ve worn her sport shoes to spare her the ache in her, stinging sciatic, but she left the house too quickly to think about what she’d put on.

Dinner had been on the stove, her husband eyeing it like a hawk, when she realized she was missing a few ingredients. He’d offered to fetch them himself, but she was already halfway to the door, keys jingling in hand. In her rush, she hadn’t even thought to take the car.

She occasionally cursed under her breath with each step, imagining a different version of this scenario playing out in her head like a movie: boots on, keys in the ignition, and this whole errand over in minutes.

Swans shoulders sagged with relief as she slipped inside and shut the door with her shoulder, letting a sharp sigh leave her lips as she turned. Brushing her bangs from her eyes-

“Christ, Liam—”

Her hand and flew to her chest as she jumped a little. Her voice sharp.“I hate it when you do that..” her brows pulled tight as she walked past him with the bags rustling under her wrists.

Liam chuckled softly to himself, the sound low and amused as he remained hung against the archway of the kitchen.

“Delilah! Sol! Your mothers home, were having late night dinner!”

In the bedroom above, a ten-year-old girl glanced from the door to her brother sprawled on his bed across the room. Sol, a year older, met her stare as they listened.

Delilah snapped her book shut. Bolting out the door that creeked in protest, her brother, right behind her heels.

“No fair!”

“Says who? Squirt.” she shot back impishly.

Her brunette hair flew behind her as she cut sharply toward the staircase. Laughter bubbled from both of them as they thundered down the carpeted stairway.

In the kitchen, their parents heard the commotion long before the children appeared. Liam smiled while Swan wasn’t too enthusiastic with her widened gaze. Delilah was the first to peek her nose over the counter.

Swan furrowed her brows at them. “What did I say about acting like animals in the house” her voice was blunt, not too thrilled on the idea of tending to a nasty bruise or carpet-burn.

The twins recoiled a little from standing on their toes to peek over the counter.

“Sorry mom...”Sol muttered.

“My bad ma.”Delilah sighed.

Their father chuckled at a thought. His wife quickly gave him a disapproving glare, knowing how impulsive his thoughts would get. He chuckled nervously.

The twins looked at each other awkwardly. Delilah breaking the silence. ”Sooo...What are we having for dinner ma?”

Swan tore her glare from her husband, her expression relaxed a bit. “We’re having corn and baked potatoes tonight.”

Delilah groaned, leaning back from the counter with her hands still gripped on the wood.“Man, I don’t like potatoes...”Sol rolled his eyes at his younger sister’s quiet disfavor.

Their mother turned her eyes away from the boiling pot on the stove to the grocery bag she’d brought in moments earlier. “Well, you can just have the corn then.” Sol and Delilah turned to their father when he gestured them to follow him into the living room.

“While your mother is cooking dinner, we have a little bit to watch our show” the twins sat on the couch next to him eagerly as he grabbed the remote and flicked the channels till he got to what he was looking for.

POP POP-

Tragic house break in, one pedestrian dead on scene.

The funeral took place a month after the incident. Swan was too mentally shattered to help plan the funeral, so their aunt had to help raise the funds to afford a burial.

Since then, Sol and Delilah tried their hardest to take care of their damaged mother, time and time again they would try to make her feel better but she eventually stopped talking, eating or even showering.

After a suicide attempt their mother had failed to carry out, Delilah had enough and called a mental hospital, praying that she would do better.

Despite their best efforts, on a stormy night the hospital called Delilah’s brother with the news that their mother had died of stress and a broken heart.

That just made things harder for the twins when they reached their sophomore-year of school, living with their hardened-heart aunt and high expectations on their shoulders.

It began the long road ahead for them—a road that would demand more strength than either of them ever knew they had.