CHAPTER 1 – DD2
It was a normal winter day; Matt woke from his deep slumber and sat on the
edge of his bed, rubbing his face adjusting to being awake. He made his way to
his kitchen pouring himself a new hot cup of coffee. He threw on some old
clothes and made his way downstairs to check his post. An abnormally big sized
later was in his postbox, Matt curious opens the letter. He rushes over the braille,
it reads Mr Murdock, we're writing to inform you that you are invited to the
Dione Private school daddy daughter dance on 24th March 2019. Matt was
confused, they must has sent this by mistake. But how did they know Matt was
blind and it sent a Braille version. He needed to investigate this letter, he called
the school 'Hi, my names Matthew Murdock, I think you sent me a letter…' before
he could finish the lady on the other end of the line cut him off.
'Mr Matthew Murdock, she said you'd called' the lady had a soft voice she
sounded old 'I think you should come in for a chat Mr Murdock' she continued 'I
told her not to wait this long'.
They set an appointment to meet later that day. Matt was confused, he picked up
his cell and dialled for Karen 'Hey Karen'
'Matt, hey its 9 in the morning on a Sunday. What could you possibly want?'
Karen yawned.
'Can you come round?' Matt said panic in his voice.
'I can't today Matt, sorry is everything OK?' Karen asked worry in her voice.
'Oh yeah, everything is fine. No worries. Speak tomorrow?' Matt said and they
quickly hung up the phone. He could feel his heart beat a little faster every 5
minutes. This can't be right, its definitely not for me, this is just one big old
misunderstanding. Matt thought to himself.
The clock in his apartment sounded '2:45pm' Matt jumped at the sound. It was
getting closer and closer for him to start heading to the school. Maybe it's a new
client that needs my help, Matt reinsured himself, which made his heart stop
beating as fast as it was. Matt, tighten his tie and headed out to grab a taxi. He
managed to hail one quiet quickly.
'where to bud?' the driver asked.
'The Dione school' Matt answered.
'Wow you got some money! My daughter wanted to go there. 100 grand a
semester. Ha! Taxi drivers don't earn half that. Sure thing bud' the driver replied,
shock in his voice. The driver pulled up to the school. Matt couldn't see but he
could already feel the grandness of the building. He made his way to the
entrance.
'Mr Murdock!' a familiar voice called. The old woman walked up to him to guild
him into the lobby. It was a massive grand design building with high ceilings with
orchestral music playing on a low level.
'I'm sister Noelle. It's so very nice to see you. Please I'll guild you' she took him
into a side room off the lobby and sat him down in a seat and followed the desk
round to sit herself 'do you know why you're here Matthew, do you mine if I call
you that?' Noelle asked.
'Matt is fine, umm sister. Why am I here?' Matt repeated.
'I told her to tell you' Noelle said shaking her head 'Electra gave birth to your
child Matthew'
Matt's heart skipped a beat, he could feel his whole chest tighten. 'No, no! Electra
died, she's dead' Matt stood up from his seat, heated and angry hands in the air.
Noelle rushed up to calm him and seat him back down. Once he was a little calm,
Noelle continued.
'Her name is Celaeno, she's 6 years old. You're her father Matthew' Noelle said
softly.
Matt couldn't hold his tears they streamed down his face. 'I thought I lost her; she
was leaving a piece of herself here. That is what she meant' Matt was shaking, he
didn't know what to do with this information. 'Does she know who I am?' Matt
asked, holding his head up and looking towards Noelle.
'She knows she has a father, that is all the information we were instructed to give
her' Noelle replied.
'Instructed?' Matt snapped.
'Electra, had given us specific instructions on how to approach you, if anything
should happen to her' Noelle explained.
'She's been dead 3 years and I only know about my child now!' Matt shouted.
'Please Mr Murdock, it was not our decision to hold this information from you.
Electra had paid for everything, for your daughter to be cared for, looked after.
Fed, watered and taught' Noelle explained.
'I want to see her' Matt said.
'you'll need to calm down before I can take you to see her' Noelle replied.
Matt sat in the office room for 30 minutes, calming himself down. Waiting for
sister Noelle to bring his daughter in. his heart was still beating fast. He heard
footsteps from outside the door.
'Are you ready Celaeno?' Noelle asked looking down at the little girl.
'Is he nice?' Celaeno asked.
'Charming' Noelle replied.
Matt can hear them fast approaching, and suddenly the door opens. 'Celaeno, this
is Matthew Murdock, your father' Noelle said calmly.
They walked up to the nervous looking Matt, he crouched when down so he was
level with the tiny big brown eyed, dark auburn hair and olive skinned girl. All
Matt could do was smile; even though he couldn't see her she was already
perfect.
'Hi dad' Celaeno whispered under her breathe. Matts smile grew bigger, Celaeno
walked up closer to Matt and sprung, wrapped her arms around his neck. He
could hear her heart beat slow as she felt comfort in his arms.
'I'll leave you both alone, get to know each other' Noelle said as he slowly walked
out of the office. Matt was so overwhelmed, this little girl standing in front of him
was his. He helped her up on one of the big office chairs as he sat back down in
his own.
'Celaeno, that is a beautiful name' Matt stuttered. Not knowing what to say but
wanting to ask everything.
'My friends call me Cel. Mummy always called me Cel, I miss her' Celaeno replied.
She looked down at her hands; Matt could feel she was crying. Celaeno
mentioning her mum, threw Matt off guard.
'What was your mum like?' Matt asked.
'The best!' Celaeno said, raising her whole body up from the chair 'she was the
best, I miss her everyday. But its okay I hear her' Celaeno said still head low and
tears running down her face.
'You hear her?' Matt asked, confused he wanted to know more.
'Can I call you dad?' Celaeno asked, face a little more cheery.
'Of course, do you know what? You can call me whatever you like' Matt said smile
across his face.
Noelle entered the room after a few hours of leaving them apart. 'OK Matthew, its
dinner time soon for the little one' Noelle explained gesturing for Celaeno to get
ready to leave. Another sister came along with Noelle to take Celaeno to the
dinner hall, Noelle entered the office and sat back at her desk. 'Perfect isn't she?'
Noelle asked.
'Why did she not tell me about her?' Matt stuttered angry. Noelle raised her
brows and continued.
'Mr Murdock, The Hands weapon and Daredevil have too many enemies. She'd be
the first one they'd all find and use against you both' Noelle explained.
'She told you about me?' Matt snapped.
'Well of course, we know everything about the parents of the children that walk
through that door Mr Murdock and don't worry the secrets in this building have
been kept for more than twelve decades' Noelle replied 'From here out you have
two options, Electra was very specific in her instruction, you keep Celaeno here
with us. Your late partner has paid for her to live here with the sisters and myself
until she is 23. You can visit as a guest once every month or you have the right to
take her home? Given of course if your housing is suitable for the little one'
Noelle finished waiting for the nervous Matt to answer.
'Why once a month?' Matt asked.
'For a secret to be kept a secret Mr Murdock, there must remain the secretary of
the child being an orphan, you visiting more than that time frame, puts the child
and my school at risk' Noelle said looking up at the man.
'If she was to come home with me, how do I keep her safe?' Matt asked.
'Well, the devil of Hells Kitchen that is down to you' Noelle whispered. 'But just
so you know, once that little girl leaves Dione we can no longer accept her back
here, so please give yourself sometime to think, how is your schedule set for
another meeting next week?' Noelle asked.
'Yes, I can come in next week' Matt said hesitantly.
ONE WEEK LATER - TUESDAY
Celaeno was so exited to see her dad again. She was breathing on the frosting
window so she could look out the front, waiting for her dad to pull up the yellow
taxi. Celaeno went down to the lobby after her Maths lesson. 'Sister Noelle!'
Celaeno yelled as she run down the stairs to greet her.
'No running child!' Noelle yelled back noticing the excitement in the little girls
face.
'Its today, right? I get to see him again?' Celaeno cheered. Noelle didn't have an
answer for the little girl. Matt had called multiple times postponing the meeting
with her and the school. But she hadn't heard from him today, but it was only 8
in the morning.
'I'm sure he'll come in due time Celaeno' Noelle reassured.
'It's OK I understand' Celaeno muttered under her breathe as she walked off with
her head low.
Noelle headed over to her office. Rubbing her forehead, worrying for the little
girls mental health regarding her father. 'Sister, there's a call for you' said a
young nun popping her head in Noelle's office.
'Who is it?' Noelle asked.
'Mr Murdock' the young nun replied.
'Put him threw' Noelle said as she grabbed the phone to answer.
'Sister Noelle, its Matthew' Matt answered.
'Yes I know who it is, cancelling today's session again Mr Murdock?' Noelle
replied harshness on her voice.
'No, actually I'm calling to say I'll be with you at 10' Matt said.
'See you then Matthew' Noelle said smile across her face
Hey, hope you enjoyed the chapter. Feedback much appreciated.