It's been way, way too long. I'm sorry I haven't updated recently, so here I am. I've had a major case of writer's block, but I'm just recovering, as my mind's beginning to untwist. This chapter may be a little bit boring… so I'm sorry, but I couldn't move it along too fast.
A week or so later, Gwendoline received another party invitation, this time in the post. She opened it at breakfast, curious. Was it from uncle Al? She took a bite of bacon as she unfolded the invitation; a tasteful square of cream and gold filigree.
She dropped her fork, causing uncle Charles to start a bit from behind his newspaper. Aunt Veronica looked around, concerned.
"What's wrong, Gwen? Is it from Uncle Al?" Mary-Lou, who was sat beside her asked, craning her neck to see.
"…It… it's from… A-Andrew Ryan. 'Dear Miss Hazelmere, I hope you will excuse me for obtaining your address. Your uncle shall be attending one of my little parties. It would be a pleasure if you would join us, a mind like yours needs exercise, or knowledge quickly becomes stale. Regards, A. Ryan.'" She read, faintly.
"Oh my goodness…" Aunt Veronica said, staring in surprise.
"Andrew Ryan? Well, well. You've got to go then, sweetheart." Uncle Charles said, flipping the page of his paper and sipping from his coffee.
Gwendoline nodded vaguely, and stumbled off to her room. Gamma, who had been gazing intently through the window, perked up and pressed his hands against the pane. She hurried over and slid open the window, which was facing out onto the 'street'.
"Gamma, read this." She said, holding out the invitation to him. He took the invitation from her, holding it between two fingers to he could still read it.
Are we going?
"I think we have to… it is Andrew Ryan…"
Do you want to go?
"Maybe. Yes. Yes, I do! He said there would be lots of brilliant minds there, they won't be like all those silly actresses and film directors Uncle Al invites to his parties."
Gamma made a strange noise… was he laughing? She smiled a bit, he sounded kind of funny.
"Anyway, I should probably pick an outfit…" She said, walking over to her wardrobe, and opening the doors. Gamma shifted so he could carry on watching her.
You look beautiful in whatever you wear Gwendoline. But maybe the mint green one.
Gwendoline looked around at him in surprise and laughed. So, he had a sense of humour too? He was becoming more and more human to her… was it that she just hadn't noticed before?
"Well then, personal stylist, Gamma… Mint green it is!" She said, setting out the dress on her bed and rooting around for her shoes.
***** Later that evening *****
Gwendoline was staring intently at herself in the mirror, frowning. Due to her self-consciousness, she had the habit of never being happy with how she looked. She adjusted her necklace again, for the tenth time, and sighed.
You are so beautiful, Gwendoline.
"Shut up… I look awful, everyone's going to laugh at me." She mumbled, blushing scarlet. Gamma reached into the window, and stroked her cheek with a hand, causing her to flinch and shuffle away.
Do not worry. You will be fine.
She sighed and got up. He was probably right, even if he did have an unnerving was of saying it. She pulled on her coat over her dress and walked towards the door. Andrew Ryan had invited her, her! She felt honoured, proud and understandably nervous… she was going to meet the true greatest minds in rapture. Regardless of what Mr. Ryan said… these people were the monarchs of Rapture…
She hurried out of the door, being met by Gamma, who had immediately moved towards her, like a faithful familiar. She didn't find him himself creepy any more… but his behaviour, that was another story. He would switch from humane to bestial in an instant… his strength and hostility towards others terrified her, but his gentleness towards her made her feel safe, protected.
She said nothing to him and, as he followed behind her, headed into the constant dimness of Rapture's electric-lit streets. The now reassuring sounds of Gamma's heavy metallic footsteps echoed behind her, however… she was sure she didn't just hear one Gamma… She stopped suddenly, almost being ploughed into by Gamma, who halted just in time, confused and casting the light from his helmet to and fro to find what had made her stop.
The heave footsteps continued. The indistinguishable sound of a little girl talking could be heard also, from further along the street, round a corner, down an alley… the sounds were distant, she couldn't make out where. Robert had mentioned little girls… She looked up at Gamma and was about to speak when a scream and a series of shots rang out.
A whale-like howl echoed through the streets, followed by more gunfire, screams and yells of someone, something adult. Gamma dived in front of her, forcing her back against a wall, despite the gunfire being distant. She knew this, however fear got the better of her and she clung onto his lower back desperately, burying her face in the rough fabric and cold hard metal of his suit
A tremendous, wailing howl, weeping and whimpering of a child… silence. Gwendoline slackened her grip on Gamma, and stepped out slowly to the side of him, as he drew his knife cautiously
"G-Gamma…?" She managed, the name leaving her mouth as a whisper.
Stay close.
"What… what was that? I heard a little girl… We can't just leave her, she may be alive, Gamma. I'm not going to abandon a child…" She thought of Mary-Lou, despite how annoying she could be, she was still precious to her…
Its dangerous though… I am supposed to protect me.
"Then do your job! I need to go that way to the station anyway…" She snapped. How could he be so… insensitive? He worried about her, yet not about anyone else…
They moved forwards cautiously, Gamma with his knife raised in front of him, Gwendoline picking her way behind him. They turned a corner and were faced with a scene Gwendoline hadn't even seen in the scariest horror movies she'd ever watched. A Big Daddy, a proud, powerful creature, lay dead, his helmet shattered, his dropped weapon lying on the ground behind him. Bullet casings littered the floor like brazen snowfall, and pools of thick, oily blood made it slippery and difficult to walk. The bodies of a man and woman lay on the ground, both had machine guns clutched to their bodies. They had been mangled, presumably by the Big Daddy.
There was no sign of a little girl. Only a small, cobbled-together doll; a crude, poorly made imitation model of the 'Daddy' that now lay slain a few metres away. Gwendoline, her face pale with horror, crouched down and picked up the doll, staring at it in disgust, sadness, confusion. Gamma, who had assessed the situation as being safe, had sheathed the knife and was now inspecting the corpse of his doppelganger.
After she had finished being sick, Gwendoline placed the doll in a safe corner, in case the girl came back for it, and walked over slowly to Gamma. He was still sat, staring down at the Big Daddy's brutalized form.
"Gamma… are… you okay?"
Why did they kill him, Gwendoline?
She stared at him, her heart swelling with pity. She didn't know how to answer him, because she didn't know why… and seeing Gamma so… vulnerable… was scaring her more than anything that could have took place here. She walked over to the kneeling figure and placed her spindly arms around him.
After Gamma had regained his composure, he walked over to the Big Daddy's weapon. He couldn't protect anyone now, but Gamma could. He picked up the Rivet Gun, and studied it for a moment, made his way back to the Big Daddy's body and collected the ammunition from his belt, slotting it onto his own.
I won't end up like him Gwendoline. I will protect you, forever.
"Stop being such a big girl's blouse Gamma. Hurry up, I'm late already." She said, snapping to hide her urge to squeal at the fact he actually looked rather…. Heroic.
