Chapter 4
Problem With Memories
Once upon a time Madeline lived in a quaint town where no troubles could ever possibly reach her frail body. It was in this town that she and her papa lived in peace; something now seen as just a hallucination in the dark. Memories of that time still seem to haunt her when left to herself. Of the soothing melody her papa would hum while sauntering around the kitchen with a soft smile clasped on his lips. Of her hand in his; rough hands enveloping her own yet careful never to injure. Of the stories he'd tell when the sun began to slumber and the moon came out to guard.
Madeline barely remembers the reason for the towns dread that soon impacted her life. Soon her papa had grown worn out, he'd stopped humming, the light grip becoming harsh with fear, just as the stories began nothing more. Worried, he was so worried, so finicky and quick to jump into a defensive post. It had never made sense to the tiny child then why he'd change so much. Neither did moving.
Hardly a word of opinion reached her lips before they'd left their quaint home of tranquility for a land of cold. Far from anys reach. Her papa taught her to hide, to stay out of reach. At the time Maddie didn't know why she was in hiding and she was too busy day dreaming of a prince that would save her to care. Sometime in the winter her papa left, he'd said he'd be back. But he was too late, he could not protect her. Reality had already swept the child away.
The sun was just rising, birds chirping off in the distance; where barred windows did not exist. Where freedom was all up to one's will power. The yellow bird never came by since and i'd grown lonely without it's vibrant yellow. Unlike me the bird had the choice to fly away, and by the look of the empty window he had.
"Good morning!" Amelia cried, hands in the air as she waves towards my form. She seemed excited for something, though I was unsure just what. The thought of something important pricked my mind but was quickly deleted when she sprung onto the bed halting all thoughts of the night before from submerging. "Today is the day, the one we make history!" She exclaimed with an abnormally large smile.
"And what type of history is that?" I asked in humour as she hummed in thought. A mischievous glint in her eyes as she glanced first at the door then at the window.
"Oh don't you remember Maddie? " She complained, a fake huff of annoyance escaping her lips before she turned back to eye me. The goofy smile soon to make it's claims on her face moments after thinking of a retort, "today is our great, heroic escape from the demons lair!"
Escape? I couldn't help but stare in confusion. For never had she ever spoken of such a thing, it was always claims of safety but never of escape. It was as though the idea had only recently been added to her vocabulary; which honestly was a misfortunate list of words. "What do you mean by escape?" I could not help but question.
Disbelief entered her face, "Maddie don't tell me you don't know what freedom is, you've been here for a long time yes, but not that long i'm sure". She rocked her head at this, vision of the past prodding through her thick skull. As though she still remembered the times before, the times left to dream of. To beg for return.
"Long enough to have me wonder why this was never brought up before" I contradicted her, surprised when she quickly mouthed back. For unlike Braginski she did not seem used to correcting herself.
"Of course I didn't! I only just now got permission." At this she made a triumphant pose, chin pointed out in the air as though she'd just discovered the answer to world peace. No matter how proud I could not help but feel something was missing. The one who'd given her permission must have been powerful to control such an uncaring spirit.
"Who gave you permission?" I inquired in a voice soft enough to calm her. To mislead her into admitting the truth. Only, by the way she shook her shoulders in disinterest it would seem was no secret.
"Same person who you just made a pact with last night buddy." She hardly glanced my way after admitting this, her face molded in disgust at the thought. Though if I thought about it, he was truthfully not as foul mouthed as i'd first thought. Her looked of disgust made sense but at the same time none. Never the less now I knew who it was that had set her up with me and why Gilbert knew her. What did not make sense was his knowledge of Braginski and I's conversation the day before.
Or well, how he knew that would sway me to make the pact.
I remember last night as a sort of timid dream. Like a mist that slowly surrounds you but gives bits of room as to not intrude too far. Unlike my first dream with the man, there was no town, no child and his dog, and no ball to light my way. Just complete darkness and the sound of water at my feet.
Crickets were chirping somewhere far off in the distance. Slightly louder than that came the chuckle of the red eyed demon. His laugh one different from any other, but not enough for me to spot the demon in the darkness.
"Gillian?" i'd questioned the darkness, in hopes that maybe the demon would show himself but instead his laughter grew louder, closer.
"Who else would it be?" He cackled as flickers of light came into my view, fireflies bounding between me and what seemed to be a translucent pond. A shape was reflected in the water, that of a mans. Slowly my gaze moved up towards a body that connected to the reflection and let out a gasp.
"Surprised?" He mocked as he peered down at me with a large smirk. Something he seemed to always have plastered on his face, now that i'd thought about it. He seemed to wait, instead finding some sort of joy in watching me in my immersed confusion, before speaking yet again. "I'll be honest with you birdie" he says with huffed exasperation "I am; as your 'master' said held captive...but my need for you doesn't go any farther."
Gilbert growls at this, his nose crinkling at the thought. "I've no interest in you, besides a way out." He hums at this, eyes off in the distance. The reds of his irises light with the thought of freedom. An almost innocent look on his face after such harsh words. It was as though this thought was an obvious deed he'd given great thought. Though by the way he hummed I could not help but think the answer wasn't one he entirely wanted.
His humm soon becomes a silly song made by grizzled vocals. As the waters underneath us begin to glow with the light of fish. Bright yellows that swam carefully around our bodies. The colours were beautiful and felt so peaceful. As though their whole point in life was to remind others of the goodness in the world. To help guide those in a confused or scared state to reform. It was almost as though I could just follow them right to my freedom.
"There is one thing I need you to do for my freedom" The demon interjected, stealing my attention to his own. "This of course will lead to your own. Are you willing to do as I say?" He asked in a sickly sweet voice, eyes narrowed in pleasure for her already knew the answer.
He held out his hand and waited, and just one would expect of scared child backed into a wall I nimbly brought mine to his.
It was then that things were settled but after that I could not remember.
"Actually I lied" Amelia admitted after a long silence. Now hanging near the window she let out a giddy laugh. Almost nervous, only she never was nervous. To full of herself for such an emotion. Energetic blue eyes sent me an apologetic glance before Amelia let out another chuckle. "Today isn't exactly the day we're breaking out...But we are going to! Just not yet."
"First you have to do one important thing." At this she pauses, glancing my way in wonder. Curiosity ringed through my ears in a static dance at this. With butterflies squirming in my stomach I could not help but lean closer. A simple prod for her to continue. Only her eyes glistened with something dark that caused the butterflies to screech in panic.
"I need to free Gilbert?" I asked in hope, for this was one i'd already acknowledged far before.
"Nope." She retorted with regret. A nervous smile now planted on her pale face. Light blue connected with anything but my own. The butterflies began to scream with the feeling of dread. Hands rubbing one on the other as the ideas became even more obvious.
"I need to find a map?" I mumbled under broken breaths. At this she let out a short laugh before sighing.
"It's not that bad you know, you just need to build some trust." She stated before slowly moving closer. Careful not to intrude, she let out a gentle smile. "It's really simple Maddie, all you need to do is speak."
