delivered to t. brandon, b. lucine, and q. gaines
[After these events. Three boxes, each containing the following corresponding letter. Bunny and Quinn's boxes also contain one article of Luke's clothing, while Thomas' box contains the rest.]
I’m sorry. It seems like the right way to start this letter, because out of everything I need you to know that’s probably the most important. It seems less significant when it’s written, I know, but you’ll just have to take my word for it when I say that I mean those two words more than I’ve ever meant anything in a long time. I’m sorry for a lot of things, things I’ve said and done and but mostly things I haven’t said or done but should have. Neither of us are very good at talking, though, which is why a lot of stuff went unsaid. For starters, I’m sorry for getting myself into this situation. I’m sorry for failing you, especially when you did everything you could to make sure I knew better. I can’t tell you where I am because I don’t even know myself, and I don’t know the name of the woman keeping me here either. I do know what she wants, though: money. I wish I didn’t have to ask you this, but you have to give her whatever amount she wants. I wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t important, because I didn’t just get myself into this mess – I got Wren dragged into it too, and the only way to save her is if you pay the money.
What you need to know is that it’s not your fault no matter what you might want to believe. Ever since I met you all you’ve tried to do is protect me, and what happened now was my mistake and mine alone. I don’t know if I can fix it, but I’m sure you know me better than to think I won’t try. If there’s a way out then I’ll find it, but still - please try not to blame yourself and take on the guilt that belongs to me, okay? Do it for my sake, at least, if you can’t do it for your own. There are a lot of people who need you, who rely on you, and you have to take care of them – but take care of yourself too. Don’t forget that.
I know that when you made me your heir it was more about precautions and making sure things were taken care of rather than family, but the truth is that you really are the closest thing to family I’ve had in the last few months. I knew what I was getting into when I agreed and I haven’t regretted it since. Even now, if I had the chance, I wouldn’t change my decision. Back when we first met I was just a silly kid who really didn’t know what I was doing, and you could have sent me on my way without a second thought. But for some reason you didn’t, and you cared enough to make a difference – and you have made a difference, Thomas, not just for me but for a lot of other people. You’re one of the best people I’ve ever met and I hope you manage to remember that, no matter what happens in the future. Everyone is human and everyone makes mistakes, but the difference is that people like you care enough to try to fix them and teach others not to make the same ones.
I could probably write pages and pages if I wanted to, but there isn’t enough paper and I think I’ve said almost all the important stuff already. Since I started the letter off with apologies, though, I think I need to end it on a different note.
Thank you, Thomas, for everything. You’ve done more for me than you probably know, and I want you to know that I’m grateful for all of it. Everything you’ve taught me, all the things you did to try to keep me safe – even if I didn’t appreciate it at the time, I do now. So whenever you think that you’re the reason for all the negative things that happened to me or something stupid like that, just remember that the exact opposite is true.
- Luke.
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I’m not even sure what to say or where to start, because I know what will happen if I tell you why I’m writing this, but I’ve already kept too many things from you in the past. I don’t know where I’m being held or even who I’m being held by, but I’m writing this because I want you to know that I’m okay and because there are some things I want you to know, just in case.
We’ve kind of just taken the first steps from friendship to something more, but you’ve been one of my best friends for a while and I’ve cared about you nearly that entire time. I was just this awkward teenager buying some comic books and you were this amazing girl that half the guys in the store probably had a crush on, and I never actually thought I’d ever have a chance with you which was why I never made a move – besides, I’m not really good with that kind of thing. I told myself that being your friend was enough, and I didn’t want to risk losing what we had by saying anything in case it made things awkward or uncomfortable. I admit it took me a while to even get up the nerve to tell you how I felt, but I’m glad I did. Especially now, I’m glad I took that chance and found out that it was worth it.
I’m not sure if you really know just how great you are, but I do know that I’m not the only person who thinks so. You’re beautiful inside and out, which isn’t something that can be said about a lot of people, and the way you care about everyone is something I’ve always admired. I could always rely on you no matter what, whether it was to listen to me vent or cheer me up whenever I needed it. The only thing I do regret is not telling you how I felt sooner, because we could have had more time together. Still, I'm grateful to be lucky enough to have met you in the first place.
No matter what happens, always remember that you're an incredible person and make sure you never let anyone tell you otherwise.
- Luke.
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There’s a lot I can’t say in this letter, but I’m going to try anyway. I know we haven’t known each other long and I’ll be honest, I never expected that we would actually become friends. Those are the best kind of friendships, I think, the ones that just seem to happen on their own without being forced. Maybe it helps that there are some things you know about me that most of my other friends don’t, but either way I’d count you as one of my good friends and as someone I have a lot of trust in. There are some things that I never got a chance to tell you, and to be honest I’m not sure if I’ll have another chance after this to do it, so I have to settle for writing it in a letter instead of saying it to you in person.
I think I might have given you the impression that when we kissed on Halloween it didn’t mean anything to me. That’s not true. It meant something, although I’m not sure what, but even despite the circumstances I don’t regret it. What I do regret is not making that clear before, because we never really had a chance to talk about it and I think I might have gotten the wrong impression about how you felt about it. Even though some people would have drifted apart after something like that we remained friends, and I'm glad we did.
I shouldn’t have acted the way I did on Thanksgiving, and I am sorry that I never got the chance to tell you that I was glad you came, because you didn’t have to. It meant a lot that you were there, even if I didn’t act like it. Just remember that you really are a good friend, especially for putting up with me.
The reason I’m writing this is because I was stupid, and I got myself in some trouble. Wren ended up being dragged into it too, but don’t worry about her – I’m going to make sure that she gets out of this mess even if I can’t. Please take care of her when she returns, Quinn, and look after her for me. Just in case I'm not there to do it myself.