Chapter Four: Real Wild Child (Wild One)


Chapter contains explicit content


Here in the darkness of the shadow cast from the church, she felt something gnawing at her stomach. Suddenly all the hormones and nerves cam bubbling up and she did not feel as if she could take another step. Mabelle being nervous only ever happened when Danny was involved. He had a way of sneaking into her mind during all her steamy alone time sessions while in the bath. Danny's warm face always forced it's way behind her eyes when she least expected it. She's just lucky her father had only half his hearing and never heard her whispering his name like a prayer during those times.

The worst part was, he was a friend of her fathers from school. They had met in France where they both grew up and she could only guess that he was one of the reasons her father decided to move to Good Easter. While it's true that her parents were young, the man was old enough to be her father even if his looks did not reflect his age.

Even still, his manners and demeanor always caused her to flush. The kind and gentle way he spoke and acted towards her was unlike any other interaction she had with people. Usually her brash and badass way of acting caused people to take her less seriously and even treat him like a teenager.

Which caused her to groan at the next thought.

He was indeed old enough to be her father but she was of age too. Being so nervous and worried about what other people saying should not really matter. I am an adult, I can do as I please. No one ever complained about 14 year olds being married off back in the day. Scoffing at the thought and the mixed emotions that always made her stop and pace in front the church before being able to calm down and enter the Holy place.

This was certainly going to bother her whether she sat out here or went in so she swallowed her pride and pushed against the heavy wooden door. It creaked with age far greater than her own, sliding harshly against the stone floor. The entrance looked the same as ever minus the new candles decorated with the Virgin Mary and multiple versions of Jesus. The contributions and candles left by members of the church stayed, long after the wax had been burned and the lonely wicks sat at the bottom of the glass jars.

Chuckling soft, she noticed the donations box she helped make for Danny was still there. It was pretty old now but the colorful flowers and terrible drawing of religious figures still sat there. Such a simple box made her feel so important and she had even refused her father's help on the project. That moment was probably the first time she could recall where she realized she liked the Pastor a bit more than what friendship called for.

So when Mabelle walked into the church, moving around the column that held the trinkets of the good people, she had to hold in a laugh. Danny was moving around, lighting candles and had not even noticed her walk in. That door was loud and creaked with every inch that it moved. The man really did not have any idea of going ons around him. She held her hips and braced herself on her right side while smirking deviously. She could really do some damage and give the man a heart attack the way he was so oblivious to his surroundings.

"But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear." She loudly proclaimed with twinkling eyes.

She watched as his body jolted a bit and without turning around, he answered with a cheerful voice. "For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." He set down the match he was holding and turned to face her. "Matthew 13:16-17 if I'm not mistaken, I'm surprised you knew that one Mabelle."

With golden glittering eyes, she smiled back at him. "Well of course. Dad had me reading that darn book everyday before and after dinner. You wouldn't believe how incredibly religious you made him." Laughing, she started to walk forward as he simply snickered at her accusation.

"Your father was a good man and I'm sure he saw many things hidden in the word of the Lord. Surely you know I did not make him do anything."

"Come on Dan, you know I'm just kiddin' around." She met his outstretched arms with her own and embraced him in a tight hug. The warmth suddenly giving her new energy in her tired bones. Looking up, she expected to see his carefree smile but instead saw worry in his weary eyes.

"Mabelle, are you alright? You look like something awful has happened." Taking her chin in his hand, he turned it to each side and examined her battered face. Ignoring her hands trying to swat him away at the sudden, forced contact. "Really, you should take care of yourself better and stop hanging around such rough people."

She scoffed and pulled back before retorting. "And be a monk like you? Hiding in church all day? I don't think so mister."

Danny had been so used to her trying to bicker with him so he simply laughed and placed a hand on her shoulder before continuing to light the candles around the church. Small talk never came easy to Mabelle like it did Danny but he knew better than to try and force her to chat.

"Hey do you have a phone charger? Mine ate up all the battery during my flight." She yanked it out of her pocket and showed him what kind of charger it needed. He took it from her hands with a smile and went into the backroom where he had all of his belongings. Luckily for her he seemed to have one and she would not be cut off from her friends for much longer.

Sometimes it was easy to forget that he not only worked here but lived here as well. The man had long since stayed in this church and given up most of what he owned. He claimed that a man of God had no use for such material things. The small room only held a bookshelf filled to the brim, a small bed fit for someone her size, and various religious trinkets he had kept.

He returned shortly with a wire and handed it along with her phone back to her. He pointed to the wall in the front of the church and let her know where to find the plug. After making sure her phone was ready to charge up and turning it on after a couple minutes of getting some life back, she stepped from behind the alter and went back to sit at the front pew. The walnut finish was still glossy but showed the signs of wear and tear from being the most used.

Every time she would visit the church, she noticed that most people sat in the front to hear their beloved pastor speak. Almost all the pews in the back went unused and ended up dusty before the week was out.

Funny how it always seemed different at the chapels she and her father went to in France. Now those were always filled sparingly, with most people scattered about as if they were trying to avoid each other like the plague. Her thoughts of a time long past were cut short when she realized Dan had begun talking to her again.

"I hope you have been well Mabelle, it has been such a long time since your last visit. I was beginning to worry about you. Hopefully you've been staying out of trouble, regardless of how you look now."

"It's been alright, considering...er, things. So, how have you been? I know it's been a while since I last came around here but I was busy in the states, well, more like a little vacation to get my mind off things."

"That sounds like it must have been fun Mabelle."

With a pout, she stared at his slowly retreating back. That man always uses her full name like that. It just made her think of his age and hers even more. He treated her like such a child and she did not like it one bit. Even though she has already brought up the subject multiple times, he would always just laugh at her and tell her he just liked her name. It was as he said, as she remembered it, "It was given to you by God and your father, a beautiful name for such a beautiful face." While it caused her to blush and stutter, he managed to get her to stop pestering him about it.

Such a small compliment when a very long way for someone like Mabelle who's face was not exactly the epitome of beauty and grace.

"Did you meet anyone? Is that why you went?"

The way he asked was strange, almost jealous or anxious in a way. This made her nerves act up again, giving her a weird feeling. With his back still turned, she could not see the look on his face and she really wondered what she would find if he would just turn around. So instead she just leaned back and held her head up with her hands. "Well, I guess you could say that. Met a couple of musicians actually. Turns out they're from here and one of em wants to jam. Been waiting for them to call me and set up a date."

At the sound of the word "date" slipping from her mouth, she whipped her head to the side to stare at Danny when the box of matches he held suddenly fell out of his grip and clattered to the floor. Her mouth was hanging open at the surprising noise and sudden jerk she saw from his body. Now that was weird, something has to be going on in that Holy skull of his.

"Y-you alright Dan?" Standing and nervously walking over to his body as he crouched down to pick up what he dropped. His hand was hovering over the box and his stiff form worried her. "Come on answer me, you okay?"

Throwing his head back and staring down the painted ceiling. Sighing heavily, with a weariness she never heard from him before. "Mabelle, I'm fine. Please, just wait out here and I will return." Deciding to abandon the fallen matches, he stood and made his way to the backroom.

Suddenly filled with worry but choosing not to bother him further about how weird he was acting. She instead stepped back and made her way to the low arches that sat in front of where he distributed the pieces of bread and sips of wine for those who came to pray. She leaned against the post and laid her head down onto her arms while staring up at the statue of Christ that stood before her.

While she never believed in religious and spiritual things, the statues and artwork that came from such people always astounded her. Such beauty from times like the dark ages made her wonder what would have happened if religion never existed.

White light

White light
White light
Alcohol, alcohol, alcho-

Her ring tone echoed in the chapel and she cursed silently before moving to go retrieve it. Scrambling to get over to her phone quickly, her bad knee gave a jerk causing her to stumble over the raised floor that led to the altar. She fell with a grunt and huffed in annoyance. Reaching an arm out, she grabbed at her phone until she managed to grab the end and flipped it open before standing up to dust herself out. "This is Mabe, who's callin'?

"M-Mabe? Mabelle, is that you?" Sounds more like ewe, 2D has the cutest accent. Mabelle laughed and let him know he had the right gal. "Oh, er, I didn't expect yer ta' answer, I 'ave been callin' for a bit now and it kept goin' straight ter voice mail so I were a bit worried."

"Mmm, yea my phone died but I managed to get it charged enough to turn it on. Wanted to make sure I had it on ju-u-ust in case you called. Lucky me right?" She rasped in a sing song voice before laughing. "So what's up my blue haired friend?"

"Well, I were just wonderin', if yer want to, well, if yer would like ter go get some lunch tomorrow and maybe jam a bit af'er." 2D gulped nervously and twiddled his thumbs.

Bet he's biting his lip right now, he kept doing that when he seemed to be thinking really hard. "That sounds fine with me! Where do you want to meet up tomorrow? Got a couple things to take care of first thing in the morning but afterwards I should be free."

Their giddy chatter continued and she learned of a little place called Farm Pizza over in Basilton where he likes to go to eat greasy pizza to get away from the paparazzi. With each word, he sounded more and more like he was gaining confidence and losing that stutter. It was nice to hear him talk instead of just mumbling words. She listened to him babble on about driving around the desert some before Murdoc had given up and told him they were going back home. Apparently they lived pretty close and 2D told her he'd like it if she came to jam at their make shift studio at their apartment.

While talked loudly with excitement, she hadn't noticed the shadow growing behind her until a hand reached out and grasped her phone. Before she could get another word out, the hand slammed her phone shut, cutting 2D's words short and then it was tossed aside where it spun across the floor. The body behind her pulled her close and the warm breath – of who she now realized was Danny – wafted over her neck.

"Mabelle, I'm glad you are home."

The sudden contact had sapped any logic from her mind and all she could do was awkwardly stay frozen in place while he held her close. This kind of thing had never happened between the two and she was now convinced that her had been jealous earlier and was even more so now. The violence he inflicted on her phone was evidence of that. While he had never shown those kind of feelings towards her, he had always been there for her and put down whatever he was doing when she visited. He never gave her a sign or any kind of hint, so why now?

"I know it is wrong but I, I care for you dearly. I want you to stay with me, here in Good Easter. By my side, Mabelle." The way he whispered her name was so sultry and hot, he spoke in such a manner it made Mabelle's legs wobbly and weak.

"Dan, I – we can't. You're so much ol – " She tried.

"Older than you? Do you not think I know this?" He hissed, pulling her closed, letting her feel him hard with need against her backside. "How long have we known each other? How is this wrong if we both truly care for one another? God might have sent you to me knowingly."

She felt his soft kisses along her neck, the warm and soft lips leaving a trail that became cold with the breath that followed in their wake. His hands covered her stomach and he had her up against the altar rails. The marble of this holy place now holding up their sinful dance.

"Mabelle, I want you, if you will have me." Groaning into her neck and continuing his soft barrage upwards to her ear. Nipping at it lightly then nuzzling his face into her hair. "It will not matter if we are not wed yet, in the eyes of God, we could very well be together already."

She wanted to tell him this wasn't quite right and that they should stop but holy hellfire this felt amazing. Somehow this lonely pastor knew exactly what he was doing and she found herself wondering if he had pleasured himself to her image just like she did all those times before. His touch gave her goosebumps all over and while she felt so hot, it made her shiver with pleasure.

Richie had never done anything as gentle and erotic as this. He had always been so rough and demanding, like a demon. Danny was more like a starving man given a chalice filled to the brim with milk and honey. Greedy, yes, but gentle enough with the goblet that he did not spill any of the precious liquid.

Reaching her hands back, she gripped his pants and held onto his legs before leaning back to open herself to him. He took this as an invitation to please her even further. While continuing to tease her neck and shoulders with his warm lips, his hand danced around her stomach. Lightly caressing the half marred skin and giving it the well deserved attention he felt it needed. He felt the muscles spasm and flutter at his touch. Sensing her want and her moans, he undid the button on her jeans and slid the zipper down slowly. She threw an arm back to grab at his hair and moaned for more, letting him know that she had enough of his teasing.

Slowly following the top of her panties, he fingers moved like a ghost across the delicate area. Mabelle groaned again and bucked her hips slightly as she felt his hand dip down further. He ran a finger down her womanhood, causing her to cry out. She was so wet for him, full of want and need, and he had just what she was looking for. Stroking it a few more times in a painfully slow motion, he chuckled as she yanked on his blonde locks. Seeing her so pent up and gaining such an appetite for him made his erection painfully stiff. He ground his hips into her backside once more.

The feeling of someone wanting to please her and having been alone for so long now had Mabelle's mind clouded with lust. "Oh, Danny!" She couldn't control herself or mouth anymore, hot breath slipping through her cracked lips. Everything he did just felt so amazing and she pressed her back into him even more, slowly grinding herself onto him just as he had done to her.

Slipping a finger inside of her and trying to control himself, he slowly moving in and out of her. Making sure to give her more pleasure than just the image of him she probably had conjured while playing with herself. For such a long time now, he knew of her feelings toward him. It was only when the threat of another man taking her away from him that made him snap. He truly cared for her and if this is what it took to get her to stay, he'd do anything.

So Danny grasped one of her breasts and leaned down to brush his lips over her ear. He cooed and teased her, whispered sweet nothings to her. Said things about her hair, before she had dyed it. The wild, fiery locks that looked like the burning sun. How she should not of dyed it black and how she would have been so beautiful to let that fire run free. To let her true self out and show that fire which burns within in, is ever present.

"Oh Mabelle, the fire within you, the fire that was your hair. Fire may have marred your skin but-"

A hand clasped over the rough hand that lay on her breast. A deep scowl appeared on Mabelle's face as she removed herself from the older man's grasp.

"I don't want to hear anything about it. You know how it makes me feel." Straightening herself up and fixing her shirt, she begins to walk away. She was not about to sit here and listen to this rubbish. The mood was completely gone and he just had to mention those things.

"But I - wait - please!

"What is it? What could you possibly have to say about it that I haven't heard from everyone else? Even dad used to go on and on about my hair! I like it like this, it's dark and nice. It fits ME."

He watched as she put her hand over her heart and held tight to the fabric of her band tee. Knowing it would only provoke her, he kept on, without being able to shut his mouth.

"But it was you. It always made you look so natural, so beautiful and like your mother."

"Don't you dare talk about her! I don't want to hear it Danny!"

With wild and angry eyes, Mabelle turned from him and made for the door. She listened to his pleas but never turned back. He could sit and wallow in the dark of that church for all she cared. Everyone always said the same things. Commented about her red hair and how unladylike she looked now. None of it was their business and their nosiness should just butt out.

Shoving her hands deep into her pockets, she stalked away from the cold exterior of the church and found herself walking to the graveyard. Dad was always the one I would go to when I couldn't handle people. He may have made me mad sometimes, but he always had a shoulder for me to lean on.

Stepping over some of the other graves in the crowded space of the graveyard, she made a beeline for the spot where her father had been buried. A simple, stone tombstone lay there. It was crooked and worn, like it saw plenty of rain and wind. Mabelle had never been one to visit and clean up the area, nor had she seen anyone else make the effort to keep this place tidy.

"If only Pastor Danny cared about the graves as much as he did keeping the church afloat."

"I would if I had the time Mabelle."

She whipped around at the deep voice behind her. Danny had followed her to the grave, bringing along a bible. With it clutched in his hands, he stepped forward and said some words for her father. They both closed their eyes in prayer and ended with quiet "amens".

"Do you think he's okay? Wherever he is?"

"Mm, you worry too much Mabelle. Your father was a kind and gentle soul, he is resting peacefully. I'm sure of it."

He stares at her with gentle eyes, almost as if he is going to confess something to her. Instead she watches as he turns away, his back growing smaller and his footsteps becoming quiet. Just as he reaches the end of the graveyard, he turns his head back to look at her.

"My offer will always be there for you Mabelle. I know you keep denying me but, should you ever give in, my door will be open. You know where you can find me. Be safe out there."

"Thank you Dan, I'll remember that." She manages to whisper out.

Seeing him with a small grin and scrunched eyes, she wonders what would it have been like to have been born earlier. To have known him as a woman who did not lack her self control and could believe in the things he did. Would they have ended up together?

Mabelle watched him go and made a mental note to see him one last time before she left. She might not be back for a while and even though he was persistent, he still meant something to her. It might never happen between them now, he knows of her past but when he found out who she really was, there was no way he would stay with her.

Giving her father's grave one last glance, she looks up to the sky and closes her eyes to feel the cool drizzle fall down on her. Pulling her hood on, she leaves and sets off towards the inn.


The next morning, Mabelle found herself exhausted after a restless night. Her dreams ended up nightmares, pictures of Pastor Danny being attacked by zombies. With her recent encounters with the rotting undead, she can only shiver and worry about Danny. Would he be a target since he was so close to her? What did those creeps even want with her? She had never danced with any devils or preformed any strange rituals.

Sighing, she gets dressed in her clothes from yesterday and sneers at the smell. I really need to get this shit washed.

Leaving the quaint inn, she once again finds herself walking to the church. One last goodbye to Danny before she heads off to London in search of work. Surely there would be some crap band looking for another member. Worst case scenario she could fumble with a bass or play some guitar.

The church came into view, oddly seeming colder and even more menacing than it was yesterday. From here, she could see the warm glow of candles beyond the windows but there was a harsh wind blowing. Covering her arms up, she walked inside and hoped it was just an upset stomach and her gut feeling was wrong.

Seeing Danny stand in the middle of the church, surrounded by the candlesticks and his head hung low. He looked like he was in prayer but the way he stood was so stiff and unnatural.

"D-Danny? Are you alright?"

"Why, yes I am. I'm perfectly fine."

His voice sounded strange, like nails on a chalkboard. Maybe he's been drinking? I actually wouldn't be surprised.

She ended up very surprised when he turned to face her, an almost mechanical movement. One leg swung up in almost a cartoon manner, before plopping down to the ground. His head was still low and his face covered by his unkempt hair. Mabelle noticed he looked dirty and as if he did not shower since they last saw each other.

He took one step.

Then another.

The echo of his boots overshadowed all else and Mabelle felt a cold sweat break out upon her brow. He was walking so strangely and then he began to chuckle. A low, deep laughter that truly frightened her. With shaking hands, she grabbed a nearby pew and leaned against it, feeling the burns on her left side pulse painfully.

"M – a – b – elle. Oh, M – a – b – elle!"

The eerie way he kept calling her voice made her heart thump with fear. Every step he would take, she would take backwards. She felt like a rat trapped by a starving cat, backed into a corner and about to be eaten alive.

Then she screamed. He had looked up at her, a mangled face grinned up and met her terrified one. Half of it looked as if it had been eaten and something else had worn it like a mask. One eyeball rolled lazily in the socket and his lips, dear God, his lips. They had to have been run through a blender or shaved down with a razor, they looked like beaten flesh covered in maggots.

Mabelle held a hand to her mouth to keep the bile in. Dread rose in within her and she felt so very sick. Pastor Danny, her Danny had been killed and it was all her fault.

The demon wearing Danny's corpse came closer and reached his hands out to grab her. Screaming "No!", she knocked over the closest candlestick and ran from the church. She heard the maddening laughter from within. A dreadful sound that reminded her of the nightmares from last night.

Collapsing in the church yard, she shook and turned to vomit in the grass beside her. After witnessing that, she would never be able to hold down any food ever again. It was haunting. Danny's gaunt and mangled face staring back at her.

With her eyes pouring tears and wide with fear, she watched as flames began to lick at the windows. It swallowed everything before her. The church took time to become consumed by the fire but once it was lit, it raged out of control and Mabelle was frozen in the spot. She watched as it burned on and on, her left side burned with it.

The flames burned on and on.