Chapter Two: A Proper Meeting

In Art class, Madoka had her face buried in her sketch book. She was still illustrating the girl, but was now making landscapes and creating surreal patterns with her inspiration from earlier. Sayaka had never seen Madoka so invested, or even obsessed with something. Even if it was a determination to lift her grades, the vibe she was giving off was rather serious and acted as a juxtaposition to her adorable exterior. She shook her head and proceeded with her own work, thinking maybe this was just a new turn for the better. At that moment, the aura of a sophisticated girl with a bed of sweeping, long, seaweed hair intruded on her.

'Wow, Madoka', she cooed quietly, peering down.

Madoka instantly reacted by covering her work 'I-it's not finished!' she exclaimed, blushing, as she found other pairs of eyes in the classroom finding her at her outburst.

Taken aback, Hitomi stepped back, hands clasped. 'O-okay, I understand. I'd loved to see it when it's done though'. She smiled softly and walked back to her place, prodding her with a judgmental stare.

Madoka, looked down for a moment, embarrassed by her own secrecy. she rested her head in her hands. Just as Sayaka was getting up to check on her, the teacher emerged. His voice was firm, but gentle too.

'Miss Kaname, may I see your work?'.

'…Yes, sir'.

She handed him the book. His eyebrows raised and hums and murmurs of approval sounded. He took a chair and pulled up to the desk to talk to her.

'Have you heard of an artist called 'Zdzislaw Beksinski'?'.

Madoka was dumbfounded and slowly shook her head.

'Hmm, how about 'H.R Giger'?'

It rang a bell and she nodded. The teacher smiled.

'This is brilliant, Madoka. This is exactly what I was looking for. You're demonstrating so much more understanding and you're even looking at dimensions and perception which I'm impressed with'.

Madoka lit up.

'One criticism however, I'd advise you to study and look into horizons and vanishing points'.

'Okay, sir. I will. Thank you' she said, relieved and satisfied by her efforts and now emerging style and talent.

'Don't forget to reference your work too, Miss Kaname' he advised, rising from his seat.

'Sir?'.

'Yes, Miss Kaname?'

Her voice dwindled to a whisper.

'This is kind of a personal project, so, I'd kinda like to keep it secret until it's finished, is that okay?'

He blinked a little, but nodded assuredly out of respect, smiling and walked away.


'Perhaps I've made this project TOO personal' she mumbled to herself as she exited the school with Sayaka and Hitomi.

'The teacher was impressed, Madoka. Whatever this is, don't abandon it' Hitomi said, rather insistently.

'Yeah, I'm really sorry I snapped at you earlier Hitomi. It's just there's something i'm kinda experimenting with and I don't wanna show it till i'm sure' Madoka said, nervously.

The rich girl smiled 'No worries. I understand. I will say i'm looking forward to it'.

'Thanks'.

Sayaka deviously crept behind Madoka, commentating on herself 'As the Madoka makes her way through the wilderness, she thinks she's escaped the worst. Oblivious. A wild Sayaka leaps from behind!'

Madoka yelps and Sayaka gives chase, the two exchanging laughter, as Hitomi trails behind them, amused.


'You're not going to that church now, Madoka?' Sayaka groaned, swinging her satchel about impatiently.

'I'm just gonna check something there quick. I saw something earlier and wanna see if I can get a picture of it' Madoka said, turning and heading for the alley. 'Cya guys tomorrow!'.

Sayaka and Hitomi blinked, looking at each other, puzzled. 'I hope she doesn't stay too late. That area can be really rough at night' Sayaka murmured, concerned. Hitomi, in response, nodded.


By the time she arrived, crimson red dominated the skies again. She waited, walking back and forth, between the pews, beside the altar. Why was she so certain she'd return? Did she think this was her hangout spot? A hideout? Who was she? Madoka wanted to know. She wanted to start over and hope this was just a misunderstanding and that at heart she's a good-natured person without a hint of desire to harm anyone. Just a lost soul, she hoped. The baby-pink eyed student was so lost in her thoughts. She should be terrified of her, after that incident, where her eyes had captivated her and she exposed those sharp edged teeth. It was a look that could kill. Her heart pounded thinking about it, thinking about her. What would the girl even think, knowing she had been studying her. Would she be creeped out? Would she laugh in her face? These negative thoughts started trapping her in her ambition and she soon found herself governed by troubling thoughts again. The skies turned savage again as they clashed with the arriving night.

'What was I thinking?' Madoka said to herself. 'I'm so stupid. How do I even know for certain she'd show up here? I need to go home'.

She picked up her bag and froze. A loud clatter of metal echoed from behind her, followed by a long metallic drone, like the church itself was coming alive. A wind, so strong to be a gale, slammed the church door shut and it turned pitch black. She screamed, as the night air howled like a wolf from outside, as a full moon rose just behind the altar, creating a halo form just behind the standing cross. It shone brightly, softly and Madoka stepped towards it cautiously. Her lone footsteps settled her mind somewhat. As she stepped up to the altar, there was a feeling security in the one spot of light. The world stood still and silent. The girl's glistening gaze grasped the shining of the cross, that projected hope into her heart.

That is until a bizzare sound could be made out. It sounded like crunching, munching. It came from high up. Her pounding heart lodged in her throat. The girl from before, sitting upon the beams high up, with fiery, deep, ruby eyes, was staring down into her soul again.

End of Chapter Two