A Simple Story About A Mad Man
Part 2
Maka Albarn woke up for the first time without any aching limbs or sore muscles. Sleeping on a real bed had been wonderful. This reminded her much of the past when she had always had a bed at her parent's house. The time when she played with Soul every day and at the parties how he kept teaching her how to dance.
Soul. All the time they had been spending their time together. All the laughs, tears and happiness they spend together. It had been one of the best times in Maka's life. Or rather, it had been the best time in her life. Being a prostitute and living on the street isn't a glorious life at all. She only had Patricia, her own fear and her dreams and memories of everything going back to normal.
She looked at the clock inside of the room and it showed it was already afternoon. The night's events had really taken its toll on Maka. She had officially lost her only friend but she had seen her old childhood friend Soul Evans. But she had lost all her trust and faith for him just because Jack The Ripper had the same red eyes.
"You should really take a shower."
Her eyes snapped toward Soul who sat in a chair beside her bed. He was in casual clothes and he didn't look tired at all. Well, he could have slept well until he had heard about me running into Jack The Ripper.
"S-Soul", I stuttered, trying to say something more but nothing really came to her mind. The horror of those red eyes sends shivers down her spine.
"When was the last time you took a shower?" he looked her up and down quickly, "And got your clothes washed. You look like a mess."
She found that slightly offended by his comment. She looked away from the young man and her old friend. "You know everybody doesn't live a good life in a mansion with plenty of food on the table and has a bed and clean clothes."
Soul sighs loudly, scratching the back of his neck. "I'm sorry. I just tried to lighten the mood a little."
"Well it didn't help Mr. Evans"
Soul raised his eyebrow at the name Maka had given him.
"Mr. Evans? So have we gone back to that? You know I prefer it when you call me Soul."
Maka didn't dare to look at him. They had once been best friend until that awful day they had been separated and now, they had been brought back together. It had gone a very long time. Soul had been thirteen and Maka twelve when they last saw each other and now Maka are twenty and Soul must be twenty-one.
"It has been years since we saw each other. I don't think it is appropriate to call you by your first name." she closed her eyes. "After all, trying to have some manners is the only thing I have left now."
Her eyes started to turn moister and she had to force herself not to cry in front of her former friend. The one she had once had a little crush on when she was little. She had indeed had feelings for her childhood friend but it only went to a small crush, after all, they were from two different worlds and were to never cross paths. But the worlds moves in mysterious ways, she lost her friend and regained her old one. She wasn't even sure if she was supposed to be happy or sad. That night she had almost lost her own life but she didn't thanks to the officers who scared Jack The Ripper away.
Soul sighs loudly and ran his hand through his messy hair. "Maka. You can call me Soul. You don't need to feel rude about it."
"But it was years since we saw each other, besides, you don't even known what I had to go through to stay alive."
"Then why don't you tell me?"
Her heart stopped for a second. Tell Soul what she had gone through after they had parted what they had thought was for life. It isn't a happy story and she would end up crying and she knew it.
"Okay, but it is long and not a happy one."
Soul nodded like telling me he was ready for what was to come.
"I lived at the orphanage for years. I never had any friends there and just because I recently lost my parents they bullied me for it. And just because I had lived a great life with my parents they bullied me even more for it, but the bullied me the most for hanging out with upper classes like you." Maka's throat started to swell and she felt like crying.
"I was always alone and scared of them. I was afraid they would go father then just bulling me. I was always tugged away in the corner of the room and tried to become invisible." Tears started to roll down her cheeks. She hated crying. She hated showing signs of weakness and that made her want to run away from everything and be alone. She had always been best left alone.
"When I was eighteen, they kicked me out and I was starving on the streets. That is when I met Patricia." Saying her name left a stab wound in her heart. The only one for a very long time who had actually showed her signs of kindness and she had died by the hands of the killer.
"The one who died…" Soul muttered most for himself.
"She taught me everything how to survive on the streets of Whitechapel. She taught me how to seduce men into giving me food or money for intercourse. She showed me the best hiding places and how to fight back if someone tried anything with me." Her body shook from her sobs.
"Even though I had Patricia, I was scared and alone. I was always afraid for my life and when Jack The Ripper first stricken I become even more scared. I could no longer sleep or even do my affairs properly." She was now full out crying. The salty water trickled down her cheeks uncontrollably and all the feelings she had locked inside of her body now came searing up toward the surface.
Soul gently rubbed her back, trying to ease the pain she had gone through. He had thought all his life Maka had been adopted into a good family and was living a happy life there without even thinking of the life she once shared with him. He had never been sure of it but he had always hoped she lived happily with her family and maybe had a family of her own.
The thought of Maka being happy with another man had always stung his heart and soul. He had thought about her every day and he had even made plans of finding her again. The time he had spent with Maka had been the best time of his life. The memory of Maka had been so strong he hadn't been able to move on properly with his life. He learned the piano without any protests from him and he went to concerts and parties but he had never enjoyed himself. He couldn't even enjoy himself when women flirted with him and he knew he was supposed to ask for a woman's hand years ago but he couldn't. The only woman on his mind was the ash blond woman.
He had understood just how much Maka meant to him when he had lost her and he couldn't take it anymore. When he turned nineteen he decided to become an officer. After all, with their education he would be able to find Maka, right? He took the education and eventually joined Whitechapel's police force. He had now been searching for Maka for about a half of a year in the police but he had searched for her at the wrong places. He searched for her in families around London but he never ever even thought about searching for her on the streets. He always thought she was the lucky one and the one who would never end up hurt but she was the one who ended up the most hurt.
"I now know what an unfair life you have had, Maka." he moved from his chair and sat beside her on the bed, "but you don't ever have to feel scared or lonely because I'm here. I will protect you from Jack The Ripper. I promise you I won't ever let him touch you."
Maka turned toward Soul and her eyes widen. The way he leaned over her and his red eyes made her get a flashback from the night when Jack The Ripper held his knife high and was about to kill her.
Her heart rushed and she was paralyzed. She didn't dare to move or say anything.
Soul immediately noticed her uneasiness and immediately looked away and gave her some space. "I'm not him Maka. I would never do anything to hurt me."
Maka relaxed slightly but she still didn't get over the red eyes of the killer and how Soul's hand his eyes seemed to be similar in some way. She knew if Soul was just like they were kids he would never do anything to hurt him. He had always been the one to throw him in front of her to protect her from everything even if it was a little spider or a sword. He would do anything for her.
"I know." she managed to say. "I know you won't harm me but I just can't get Jack The Rippers eyes off of my mind. They are so similar to yours." She looked into the white haired man's eyes and as she forced herself to relax. It was not him who attacked her.
"I have searched for you for so long," Soul once again leaned toward Maka, his hand cupped her cheek and his thumb gently caressed her cheekbone.
Her cheeks heated up while her stomach fluttered. She had only dreamed of Soul touching her like this and now it felt so magical. No one she had an affair with had ever showed her this kindness toward her.
"You are the only woman who are occupied my mind. I can't eat without thinking of your beautiful ash blond hair and I can't sleep without dreaming of you. You have no idea how joyful I am for finding you.''
As Maka started to arise toward him, Soul started leaning down toward him.
"Believe me, I know," their lips were only an inch away from the other ones. Even without feeling their lips brush against each other's they could feel the bliss from each other's sweet breaths hitting on their lips.
Maka was exhilarated. No one had ever kissed her. No one hadn't ever kissed her when she had her affairs and now the little boy she had a crush on was about to kiss her.
The door to Maka's bedroom slammed open, revealing Maka's bodyguard Kid. "Quick! Miss, you need to come and see this quick!" Kid hollered and while Soul and Maka jumped away from each other, flabbergasted of Kid's entrance.
"W-What is going on Sir Death?" Maka asked while she stood up from her bed.
"Jack The Ripper has send a message. You should see this one."
Kid's words pierced Maka's heart and her fear flared up. Jack The Ripper was here? With a message? This couldn't end well for her.
"Come on let's go!" Kid said and all of them followed him out of the police station. Outside stood many officers and among them were Black*Star and his assistant Jacqueline. They all looked up toward the mayors building and from a noose hung a woman. She had a sign around her neck but they couldn't see what it said.
"What do the sign say?" Maka asked.
Black*Star turned toward Maka and her company of bodyguards. Black*Star's eyebrows were narrowed and his lips were stretched into a thin line.
"Take a look yourself Miss," he said and handed her a binoculars.
Maka immediately grabbed it and placed it toward her eyes and the woman hanging from the mayor's house got larger. It was a female in her age with long blond hair just like Maka. Now when Maka think of it, she wore the same color on her skirt and blouse as Maka did. She even looked just like her except she was taller and curvier than her.
The similarities didn't bother her as much as the message on the sign said. It said "you aren't very good at hiding Miss Albarn. I can see you sitting inside of the police station. Yours truly Jack The Ripper."
Maka almost dropped the binoculars in fear. He knew her location. Can he get his hands on her now? Can he finish his job and kill her?
Soul took the binoculars from Maka's hands and looked at the woman for about five seconds and then he handed it to Black*Star.
"Come on. It isn't safe here." Soul said and wrapped his arm around Maka's shoulders like he tried to shield her from the world and quite frankly, Maka liked it.
"Look out!" Black*Star hollered and when Maka was about to turn around to look, Soul pulled her toward the side and a double egged blade swirled passed her and ended up giving her a cut on the cheek.
Maka squeaked as the blade dug in between of the curbstones. Women on the town square started to scream and Maka and Soul looked toward where the blade had come from and there he stood; Jack The Ripper.
Maka could see the burning red eyes drill into her own green ones and she could feel the nostalgic fear and horror dig into her spine.
"Soul… it is him." Maka muttered and he immediately pulled her close to his chest while glaring at the man known as Jack The Ripper. He wanted to protect Maka from the evil man. Nobody hurt Maka and got away with it.
"Get Miss Albarn inside! Officer! Get him!" a crowd of officers ran toward the building he stood on and Kid shielded Maka and Soul from his view while Soul got Maka inside.
Maka was shaking madly in Soul's arms and her cut on her cheek throbbed with pain. ON their way inside Soul got the knife he had thrown on the ground and quickly closed the police station doors behind him.
"Maka are you okay?" He asked worriedly as Maka held her bloody cheek. Her eyes widen when she saw the knife with her blood on. The fear ate her sanity away. Seeing Soul hold a knife which her blood was smeared over frightened her, it didn't help either that he had the same eye color as Jack The Ripper.
"Put the knife down." She said with wide eyes, getting ready to run away from Soul if needed.
He looked confused at Maka but he then realized why she was so tense and uneasy when he remembered the blade in his hand.
"You know I won't hurt you Maka. I'm not him." He calm said as he laid the knife on assistant Jaquline's desk. "You know I would never hurt you."
Maka immediately relaxed and she felt a little guilty for feeling uneasy around Soul. She now witness Soul wasn't Jack The Ripper for real but she still couldn't help but feel uneasy about everything.
"Sorry, I'm just scared."
"You should kind of be. Jack The Ripper has set his eyes on you but I promise you I will protect you with my life." Maka walked up to Soul and skittishly wrapped her arms around her waist like she had done so many times when she and Soul was little.
"I don't want to be… I have been scared for too long. I want to feel safe. I want to feel safe and sound but I guess I never will be."
The past of Maka's when she hadn't lost her parents ringed inside of her head. The time when she hadn't been scared. The time when she had felt the safest.
Soul's arms wrapped around her waist and hugged her back.
"When this is all over, I want you to-"
"Look" Maka interrupted Soul and pointed toward the knife. Around the handle was a piece of paper tied with rope.
Soul pulled away and felt bitter of the sudden change of conversation. He had just planed on confessing his interest and feelings toward Maka. Since she was now alone he would be more than happy to take her into his home as his wife. He had strong feelings toward Maka and he was very fond of her. He would become the luckiest man in the world if she accepted his proposal.
Soul grabbed the rope and untied it; he unfolded the paper and read the message aloud. "Dear Miss Albarn. I can't wait to cut you open like a fish and see your insides. I can almost taste your blood and feel the flesh of your kidney in my mouth. If you think your bodyguards Soul Evans and Death The Kid can protect you, you are wrong. I already know you are hiding in the police station and I will hunt you down and kill you. I will take my sweet time cutting you up. Yours truly Jack The Ripper."
The letter sends shivers down Maka's spine. She would definitely not want to know the feeling of Jack The Ripper eating her kidney. That is sick and disgusting. Who would even want to eat someone else's insides?
"Sir Black*Star will read this. We have to get you ready to move to a different location." He placed the letter on Jacqueline's desk beside the knife. He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the bathroom. "But first we need to patch up your cheek."
Her cheek was already bloody from the cut Jack The Ripper had dealt toward her and she wished this was the only wound she would receive from Jack The Ripper. But she had never gotten what she wanted, so she would end up being wrong.
Soul got her inside of the bathroom and she took her seat on the toilet seat while Soul got a cloth and soaked it in water. He gently started to wipe the blood away from her cheek. "Are you still bothered by the letter?"
She nodded and Soul sighs. "You know we won't let him get to you. It won't ever happen."
She wanted to believe her dear friend's words but how could she? He knew where she was and he even killed another woman just to send out a message to her. He isn't dumb and Maka is sure her days are counted. She knows the skills and brain he possesses through the other prostitutes he has killed and all of them were killed on Whitechapel's streets. He hasn't been caught and now four women had been killed by the hands of Jack The Ripper, two women before Patricia and the her and the woman who hung from the mayor's house. Maka knows she will be one of the victims of Jack The Rippers. She knows it because she had never been lucky in her life and she doubt she would suddenly receive luck now.
"Maka, look at me," he grabbed her chin and forced her to look into his red eyes. "It won't happen. I won't allow you slip away from me again. You disappeared from my life once and that won't happen again." With the wet cloth still pressed on her wound, she looked sorrowful into his eyes.
"You can't promise me that. I have stumbled over many men who promised me food and shelter but that never happened. You can't be sure to keep your promise Soul."
His strong muscular arms wrapped around Maka's shoulders and he rested his forehead against hers. A gasp escaped her vocal cords and her eyes were wide as she stared into his red eyes.
"I'm not like the other men you have sold your body to. I'm for real. I would never use you for one intimate act. No, Maka, you have been my friend for a long time and you are always on my mind. I want you to-"
Once again, the door opened and there stood Black*Star. "Soul. We need to discuss this. In my office. Now." Black*Star's eyes flashed between Maka and Soul and ´how close they were.
"R-Right Sir." Soul pulled away from his friend and quickly said a "wait here" and quickly grabbed her hand over the wet cloth on her cheek.
Soul and Black*Star disappeared out of the bathroom and into Black*Star's office. Black*Star took his seat in his chair and Soul the one in front of his desk. "I found the knife and letter on Jacqueline's table mind explain it."
Soul raised his eyebrow and his eyes caught sight of a picture of a dark haired woman standing beside Black*Star. She had a large stomach and he smiled wide beside her. That must be Tsubaki, his wife ha has talked about.
"What is there to explain Sir?"
"Where did you find it?"
"It was tied to the handle of the blade Jack The Ripper threw at Maka. She knows about the letter."
Black*Star nodded in understanding. "I see. The plan of attack is getting Miss Albarn out of this building unnoticed and unknown to the public and takes her to a safe place where she won't be found. You and Kid will be living with her until Jack The Ripper is dead or behind bars, understand?"
Soul nodded eagerly at the idea of being with Maka but displeased with having Kid with him but he wasn't a full trained officer yet. He was still a rookie at being an officer. At least Maka was less scared and more comfortable around him. That is what it counts in Soul's book.
"Sire Black*Star, do you know what happened to Jack The Ripper? Did you catch him?" Soul asked.
"No. He disappeared. But the woman he hung from the mayor's house is named Elizabeth and she was a prostitute just as Maka. She as well as the other victims had been killed from a deep cut in her throat before she was hung. I will question Miss Albarn about this matter as soon as possible."
Soul nodded in understanding. This was an important event and it may lead to the capturing of Jack The Ripper and he would want that possible more than anyone else. The woman who occupied his thoughts was in terrible danger and he won't have her get killed because of a sadistic killer.
"Soul Evans. What I have seen from today and heard from officer Death The Kid, Miss Maka Albarn seems very comfortable in your presence. I want you to keep being with her for her safety and stay glued to her no matter what. If something happens. You are going to pretend being a married couple while officer Death The Kid will pretend being your cousin." Black*Star started to smirk wide looking at Soul like he had just figured out who the murderer where. "I know you won't have any trouble pretending to be her husband from what I saw in the bathroom and what Kid saw in her bedroom."
Soul's cheeks heated up from being caught in such an intimate position with his want-to-be-wife.
"No sir. I don't mind."
Black*Star nodded, pleased with his answer. "Good, now, I will inform Maka about this but we don't have any idea of how to escort Miss Albarn safely away from the police station."
A long smile stretched over his lips. It just happened to be the perfect day and the perfect time. He knew exactly how he would escort Maka away from the station and getting some time with her.
"I have an idea Sir."