Chapter 14
Antoinette walked out of her house to the corner to catch a taxi. She was on her way to see Eli at the jail. A young man walked up to her.
"Excuse me."
She eyed him.
"Yes…"
"Are you Ms Antoinette Salandy?"
"Yes."
He smiled.
"This is for you."
She took it and his smiled disappeared instantly.
"You've been served."
She gasped and the young man bolted before she could respond. Not knowing what to expect, she cautiously opened the envelope. It was a one year petition from Michonne to the court asking for full guardianship of Natalie until she becomes eighteen years old. Half crazed out of her mind she screamed.
"This f*cking bitch really think she can take my child away from me?!"
She screamed for Sherri who rushed out of the house down to her.
"What is it mom?!"
She waved the documents in her hand.
"Your c*nt of a sister is going to the court to be Natalie's guardian!"
"What?!"
She grabbed the papers reading through them quickly.
"B*tch!"
Antoinette grabbed the documents from her and was about to tear them up when Sherri stopped her.
"Don't!"
"Why the hell not?!"
"It's an official document! Tear it up and you go to jail!"
"So what should I do?! I don't want this garbage!"
"Give it to me. I know what to do with it."~*~*~*
Michonne was aware that she had the stupidest smile on her face as she prepared breakfast for herself and Natalie. Rick did that. She wondered what it would be like to kiss him full on the lips, tongue and all and promised herself the next time the opportunity presented itself she will make it happened. The door opened behind her and she looked around. Natalie came walking out like a zombie. She pointed at the stool for her to sit down.
"How did you sleep?"
"I haven't slept this good in months." She yawned, putting her head on the counter. Michonne pointed at the eggs.
"One or two?"
"Two please."
She picked up four eggs, cracked them in a bowl, added grated onion, two tablespoon of evaporated milk, butter, chives, celery, black pepper, a generous handful of parmesan cheese and stirred well. She snickered at Natalie's reaction to her version of scrambled eggs.
The pot was nice and hot, so she took it off the stove for twenty seconds before gently pouring the eggs in. It sizzled immediately and the rich aroma filled the kitchen. Natalie took in generous sniffs.
"Oh God it smells so good!"
Michonne smiled and gently moved the eggs around the pan, returning it to the stove for five seconds and removing it again. She took off the stove and continued stirring softly.
"Bring a few slices of bread."
Natalie took out two slices of bread each and put them on a plate. Michonne gave the eggs two more quick stirs and shared out the eggs.
"Milk or juice?"
"Milk."
Michonne poured a glass of milk and a glass of grapefruit juice. They started eating. Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Natalie jumped out of her seat.
"Hey? What's wrong?"
"It could be mom." She whispered.
"I highly doubt that. She would be banging down the door."
Natalie still wasn't convinced. She walked around the counter and stood next to her.
"Wait here. I'll check the door."
She walked to the door. It was Daryl. He hugged Michonne and noticed Natalie. He waved at her before turning back to Michonne.
"Is she alright?" He whispered.
"Yeah. Just a little spooked."
"How are you holding up?"
"I'm good….for now. Antoinette should be served with the guardianship papers by now."
"So expect fireworks."
Yes."
"Hmmmm." He held up two paper bags. "Merle and the Mrs sent over her special."
"Thanks."
"Gotta run now.
They embraced again.
"Don't hesitate to call me if there is any trouble…ok?"
"I will."
He left and she took the food to the kitchen and put it away.
"We have lunch and dinner for today."
Natalie relaxed.
"What do you want to do today?"
"I don't know."
"I'm going to see Sasha. Do you want to come?"
"Yes."
"Ok. Start to get ready."~*~*~*
On her way to the jail to visit Eli, Antoinette decided to make a stop at the hospital to see Natalie. She wondered if she knew of Michonne's plan to file for guardianship of her. Even if that was the case, she would make it very clear that she will be coming home with her as soon as she is discharged. She jumped out of the cab and walked across the parking lot to the hospital.~*~*~*
She washed up the dishes and cringed at Natalie's terrible singing voice. She smiled though. It was nice having someone else in the house besides herself. When she left home 14 years ago, she slept on the street with a couple of other teenagers like herself. She stole food from grocery stores and clothes from the backyard of houses.
She did other unspeakable things to survive. Eventually, she was picked up by the Social and Welfare Division and placed in a supervised shelter. They taught classes and eventually she was enrolled back in school. From there, she never looked back. Soon, she got a job and found the tiniest studio apartment.
She remember being scared and unable to sleep the first night in the apartment. She has always been alone until now. She now had family. It was a really good feeling. She also had friends in Sasha, Abe and Daryl. She also had Rick. He is a friend too but he was a different kind of friend. He was someone who she could see herself having a really bright future with.
The singing stopped and at the same time, there was a gentle knock on the door again. She opened it up and was surprised by her visitor. Her surprise soon turned to horror by what the unexpected visitor did next. She felt three quick but deep painful plunges into her belly. She opened her mouth to scream but her throat locked.
"I should have done this when I had the chance." A cold voice whispered in her ear.
Then she felt another plunge…this time so deep inside and the object was twisting that her lips trembled and tears flooded her eyes. With that, there was chuckle and the person disappeared. She fell backwards, leaving the front door slightly opened.~*~*~*
Antoinette walked to Natalie's room and found it strange that it was empty. She went to the nurses' station.
"The patient in room 207…where is she?"
The nurse on duty looked at her confused.
"She was discharged."
"What?! When?!"
"Yesterday."
Antoinette eyes widened.
"How can she be discharge?! I'm her mother!"
"Miss, you will need to speak to the doctor about that."
Then the truth hit her. Michonne did this. She ran out of the hospital enraged.~*~*~*
Michonne started feeling cold as her blood ran down her sides to the floor. She was trembling. She tried calling out to her sister but she could barely hear her own voice. She knew it was more shock than the pain that seized her throat.
She crawled on her side to the dining area and stopped. She was in so much pain. She did the only thing she could to identify her attacker. Dipping her finger in her own blood, she scrawled into the hardwood floor.
"Sherri."
She put her hand over her wound trying to prevent more blood from coming out but it was no use. As she bled out she thought about Sasha and Daryl and how much their friendship meant to her. She thought about Natalie, the only family she cares about in the world and leaving her alone once again.
Then she thought about Rick. Sweet, sweet Rick and all the things she wanted to say and now might not get the chance to. She can't go out like this. Taking a deep breath, she cried out.
"Natalie!"
The last thing she remembered is screaming before seeing black.~*~*~*
The first thing she noticed was the open front door and the pool of blood. She followed the trail into dining room and she started screaming.
"No no no no! Michonne!"
She dropped to her knees and tried shaking her awake.
"Wake up!"
Michonne was unresponsive. She ran outside.
"Somebody help me! PLEASE! HELP!"~*~*~*
Daryl was backing out from the side of the bar when he heard the screaming. He glanced to the right and saw Natalie crying frantically. He jumped out of the moving truck, threw his body over the side gate and grabbed Natalie.
"What's wrong?!"
"Michonne's hurt!"
He rushed into the apartment and was met with a horrific sight…blood and Michonne's body. He tripped over himself trying to get to Michonne and he gathered her in his trembling arms as he kneeled on the floor.
"Michonne! Wake up! Talk to me!"
She said nothing and her arms flopped down to the side. Abruptly, Natalie cried out and pointed to the word on the floor.
"Sherri."
Daryl was enraged.
"You are not going to die today!"
He scoped her fully in his arms and ordered Natalie back to his truck. Natalie rushed to the counter, grabbed her phone and took a snap shot of the bloody evidence. She ran out behind him. On the way out she almost slipped and fall on some papers in the yard.
She picked and it was covered in blood. She recognized what it was instantly. Daryl was already by the slightly crashed truck in the driveway putting Michonne in the backseat.
"Get in the back!"
Natalie did what she was told and he hand her a clean towel from his bag.
"Hold this on her belly! We have to stop the bleeding."
Natalie compiled. A few early drinkers at the bar were gathering outside. Some of them shout at Daryl enquiring what was wrong.
"Someone just tried to kill my best friend!"
He revved the truck out into the street and sped off.~*~*~*
She stood across the street behind the large tree and saw when Daryl went to Michonne and talked briefly before he left. A few children rode pass her on their bikes to further down the road. She only wanted to confront her and shoved the court papers down her throat but before leaving the house, she took a large bread knife with her.
Upon seeing her face, she grew angry and started pushing the knife into Michonne's body. She didn't want to stop. Michonne's facial expression startled her at first but then it pleased her. That's why she twisted the knife in the end. She wanted her to feel pain and boy she did. She retreated as quickly as she appeared, never looking back. ~*~*~*
Antoinette was standing in the parking lot. She didn't know what to do. She started walking out to the sidewalk to hail a cab when Daryl drove recklessly passed her. She saw Natalie and began running back to the hospital.~*~*~*
Daryl drove to the emergency entrance like a bat out of hell.
"We need some help here! NOW!"
Two attendants having a smoke dropped their cigarettes on the floor and rush over. They knew him.
"What's going on D?!"
"Michonne! She's been stabbed!"
Without hesitation, they lifted her out of the van. Natalie was still in tears. She started followed Daryl and heard her name.
"Natalie!"
She recognized the voice and turned around. Her mother rushed up to her and stopped dead in her tracks on seeing Natalie's blood soaked clothes.
"Oh my God! Are you alright?!"
She moved closer but Natalie stepped back.
"Like you care!"
"Of course I care!" She reached out to touch her face but Natalie bat it away.
"Do you hate Michonne that much mom?!"
Antoinette was confused by the question.
"I don't hate Michonne! I just ….."
She didn't finish the sentence.
"Just what?!"
She waited for an answer.
"Michonne and I don't get along…that's all."
"Oh really?! That's why you and Sherri decided to kill her?!"
"What the hell are you talking about?!"
"This is her blood mom! Michonne's! Sherri tried to kill her!"
"That's a lie!"
In a rage, she pulled out the bloody guardianship papers out of her pocket and pulled up the picture of Sherri's name scribbled in blood and shoved it in her mother's face.
"Explain this!"
Antoinette was stunned by the evidence presented.
"There must be an explanation for what happened."
Natalie scoffed at her.
"You and Sherri hated Michonne for years!"
She turned to leave.
"Where are you going?!"
"I'm going to make sure my sister doesn't die!"
"No! You are coming home with me where you belong!"
"I'm not going anywhere with you ever again!"
Antoinette grabbed her arm and they started to struggle. After a minute, she pushed Antoinette and she fell to the ground. Natalie looked down on her.
"I'm done with you mom! You and Sherri. You are dead to me!"
She rushed into the hospital.~*~*~*