Hi! Canadaslighter here. It's been a while, sorry for the long delay. A lot has happened. 2 funerals, exams, operations and hospitals; it's been a rough time. Sorry again.
This is something I wrote a while ago that I really liked, but I was never sure where to go with it. I think I've found it now. I'm still writing 'Codename: Canada', that's something I've been planning for a while. I'll try to do bi-weekly updates for both stories, alternating the updates. It all depends on my school load, last year before Uni and all :/
Anyway, I hope this is okay :) Reviews will make my day, and I will probably tell my mother and dance. I'm that sad XD
It had been such a long day, she thought, as she trudged home. It was past 2am, 2 hours after the supposed end of shift but of course, if a client wanted to stay she had to keep the bar open. And the thick browed Brit had decided today was the best day to get drunk. After having escorted a crying Arthur to a taxi (Madeline…why did he leave me…Madeline, am I Protestant or Catholic…Madeline) she got to collect her tips for the night and leave.
The thought of the warm stew she had set up that morning was the only thing that kept her walking, the sleep built up in the corner of her eyes. The street was dark, the street lights few and most of them off in an effort to save money. Maddie dipped in and out of cones of light, keeping her steps quick and quick, with an ear open for any footsteps behind her. She was always aware, no matter how tired she was, of her surroundings when walking alone after last year. She shuddered at the thought and fastened her pace.
~()~
She reached her small home soon after, smiling at the familiar white trim. It was a marvel she could afford such a place but she loved it, slowly but surely turning it into her dream home. Her life was so much better, she reflected, focusing on the keys in her hands as she opened the door. The smell of meat and gravy hit her, warm and inviting as she stepped inside. The keys were dropped lightly into the stained glass bowl on the table, shoes deposited in the shoe rack and coat hung up. She fell into the plush sofa, feeling the muscles in her shoulders relaxing as she leaned back, eyes closed.
It was bliss.
~()~
Life continued like this for months, the days blurring together now that she was used to this new routine. She found her mind wondering back to Alfred and Francis, to Antonio and Lovina, to the others, but she never called. How could she, after what had happened? Bar that, her life was a close to perfect as she thought it could be, hopes once again building for a somewhat normal life.
Of course it wouldn't last. She only realised this when she stared up into red eyes. That familiar cocky grin spread out across the face she wanted to touch but Madeline just drowned in the sight of him. He stepped forward, arm reaching out to grab her, to make sure she didn't run again.
The next moment she was lost in the crowd of people, ignoring the cries of Birdie behind her, holding back the emotions she thought she had given up on long ago.
~()~
It was all ruined now. He'd found her, and that meant he'd tell the others, who would definitely come. She'd left too suddenly for them to do anything but, so she supposed it was her fault. Just like last time.
Alfred's worried yells echoed through her mind as she lay in bed, the thick duvet forming a protective shield against the world. Her brother had banged at her old door, shouting to be let in, to be told what had made his baby sister run home mid panic attack. But Madeline had not opened the door, and Alfred had never found out, and now Maddie was crying alone once again.
The sight from 3 years ago was still burned in her head, the red that just happened to match her favourite hoodie, and that cold smile. That face that made her sick, those words that she had to translate to understand.
But now was not the time to dwell on the past; no, now was the time to plan. Now was the time to figure what the hell she was going to do now that they would all be coming. It would be stupid to hope that he would not follow their trail, leading him straight to her.
Who knows, maybe he was already here.
