Nancy pulled her car into the parking garage, happy to finally be off the slick roads. The snow was falling in thick sheets, as if the clouds themselves were being shoveled out of the sky. She turned off her car, grabbed the large, red book off the seat beside her, and opened her door. A blast of snowy air rushed in, sending what little heat her car had managed to generate fleeing out the open door. She pulled her blue scarf tighter around her. This walk wouldn't be as pleasant as her last.
White blindness covered her eyes and the streets as she made her way back to Stark Tower. Red and green lights blinked dimly in the windows of the stores, winking themselves at the brightness of the snow. Christmas had passed two weeks ago, but the New Yorkers were reluctant to let it end. Reluctant to let go of their facade of joy, to realize the horror of the year behind. A new year. New hope. With little red and green lights blinking to light the way.
Nancy marched her way – slipped and skated her way – up to the door of the Tower, the red anthology still clutched under one arm. She pounded on the door with the authority of an agent, and a woman who was freezing her nose – and everything else – off in the cold.
"Come on, come on!" she shouted over the blasting wind, "You could freeze fire out here!" She slammed her ID against the glass and waited for the guard to grant her entry.
The guard, having been thoroughly chastised last time Nancy came calling, immediately buzzed her into the building.
Nancy burst through the door with a huff, her grand entrance rivaling those of the Tower's owner himself. She was on a mission and a biting winter wasn't going to stop her. Although, that guard did take too long to answer. He'd hear about that later.
With a few brushes to the sleeve of her jacket, where snowflakes were quickly turning into droplets and bleeding through, she turned and marched to the elevator. At least Stark wouldn't be there. She was glad for that. Last she'd heard, his house in California had been blasted to pieces; his own fault for publically broadcasting his address. As if the whole world didn't already know where the famous, glamourous Iron Man lived. According to her research, he was still in the hospital. And Pepper, too. Wanting to cover all her bases anyway, Nancy had called ahead. She spoke to the receptionist, who supposedly passed on the message to Thor. Good, faithful, trustworthy Thor. Yes, this would work out nicely.
Thor waited at the elevator, just waiting for Nancy's arrival. Stark and Banner had long ago secluded themselves in their laboratory, and therefore Thor had taken the call telling him that Nancy had arrived. He had somehow known that she would return, and he liked her presence. She was calm, unlike most of the others here. Calm, and caring.
Nancy smiled to him as she stepped out of the elevator. "Merry Christmas. Er, belated." She opened her satchel, trailing her fingers over a small box hidden inside. If she was going to give a gift to his brother, she may as well give him one, too. He was the only one she trusted, anyway. With a grin, Nancy pulled a box of Pop-tarts out of her bag and held them out to Thor. "I believe these are the kind you like?"
Thor accepted the Pop-tarts with a smile and a hearty nod. "My thanks! I am afraid I have no gift in return."
Nancy shrugged, knowing he had no idea about their earth customs. "It's alright." She glanced down at the book again and bit her lip. She hoped Loki would like it. She really did. With a bright smile, she showed it to Thor. "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Many stories in one. I hope he'll like it."
She cuddled the book to her chest. It was her favorite. Her own personal copy. She could always get another. This was her copy from her first years of college. Her years of struggle and turmoil, as she strived to succeed in a world that wanted to eat her alive. This book meant the world to her. It was old and ragged, written in and dog-eared, but it was hers. And now it would be his.
"Would..." Thor looked around as though Tony or Bruce or some other resident would appear from around any given corner. Seeing no one, he turned back to Nancy with a lowered voice. "Would you like to present it yourself?"
"What?" Nancy blinked at him. She could see him? Thor would actually let her see him? Stand there next to him? Speak to him? "You trust him?" she asked, bewildered.
"He is chained and muzzled. There is not much he can do."
Wait… muzzled? Muzzled?! They'd muzzled him? She'd seen it before, when he was first captured, but the last time she came, he was free. Why would they muzzle him?
"You muzzled him?!"
"Not I." Thor looked away from her. It pained him greatly to see his brother treated this way, but the others had said it was for the greater good of all. Just until Thor took him away from Earth. "He... he attempted to use his words to magic himself out. They insisted."
Nancy closed her eyes and nodded. He didn't deserve to be treated like an animal. Yes, he was a criminal, but this was beyond detainment. This was confinement of the worst sort. Confining him into the prison of his own mind. With no contact to the outside. It was sickening.
"I want to see him." she opened her eyes, a look of sheer determination crossing her features, "In person."
"I will arrange it." Thor herded her to the elevator before anyone could tell him not to. "The others must not know."
Others? What others? The agents? Rogers? As far as she knew, they weren't there. Of course, she never knew what missions the other agents were on. Perhaps they'd hung around a while. "I won't tell."
"Good." He smiled and pressed the button for sub-level six.
As Nancy boarded the elevator and they rode down to the level, she worriedly played with the strap of her satchel. The same strap Loki had fingered the last time they spoke. He'd been trying to distract her. She knew that. And it had worked. She was so excited to see him again. To be near him again. But… what if he rejected her? She couldn't deal with that. Or what if he'd try to hurt her? He was chained. She'd be able to get away. But… he had his magic. No, he wouldn't hurt her. He'd healed her. And he kept her alive for a purpose. She had to know what that purpose was. She had to know why he cared. And why she cared for him.
Thor felt his heart beat in overtime. No excursion of war had ever made him as anxious as this, going to see his own brother. Still, he knew he had to remain calm for her. He exited when the doors opened and offered his hand back in to Nancy.
Nancy smiled at the gesture. He must have noticed her nervousness. Her anxiety. She shook her head slightly and gripped her satchel-strap tightly.
"I wanna maintain some level of professionalism. If I can."
"Of course." Thor nodded in understanding, but her calm exterior could have made him feel better. He dropped his hand, a bit dejected, and led her to the door. With a final sigh, he pushed all thoughts of what could go wrong to the back of his mind. Without allowing himself to think, he punched in the long string of numbers that would allow them entrance. "I will be right here," he promised Nancy.
Suddenly, all time seemed to freeze. Nancy could feel the blood rushing through her veins. Her own breath in her lungs. This could possibly be the last time she'd ever see him. She wanted this. Needed this. No matter what happened, she needed this.
One last deep breath, and Nancy opened the door.
Loki looked up in complete surprise. Nancy McAllister? Here? In his cell? He glanced to his brother. What was he thinking? Everyone would be in loads of trouble. Did he even think of what Loki might do to Nancy? No, of course not. Because he was thick. The thickest. And he assumed Loki could do nothing in this state. Loki narrowed his gaze at Thor.
Thor shrugged and shut the door firmly. Leaving them all alone. Of course. What an oaf.
Nancy swallowed hard and stepped closer, one hand rising to cover her mouth. He looked so innocent. So hurt. So helpless. Shackled to the wall with a muzzle over his mouth. They'd silenced all form of communication. They'd stolen his words, those dear and precious friends that would remain when all others turned away. ...Those brutes! Calling themselves 'Earth's greatest heroes'! They were less heroic than the villain they'd captured! They'd forced away all hope as if even kindness was below them.
"What have they done to you?" she whispered, her voice wavering, as tears sprung to her eyes.
Loki sighed inwardly and furrowed his brow at Nancy. Why would she risk this? Why was she here yet again? Only because she thought he could not harm her? Or because she wanted so much more information? Surely it was all a game. Even the great Natasha Romanov had seemed sincere when she came to speak with him about the archer. This was more than likely just another trick, using his own desires against him. He didn't lighten his gaze.
Nancy wiped at the tears on her cheeks and stepped toward him. She had to explain why she was there. "I brought you something." She held out her sacred book to him. Hopefully he'd enjoy it. "I hope they let you keep it. And read it."
Loki looked down at the large tome and pondered her intentions. Could it be that she had ulterior motives? Or was this simply because she understood his love for books? With little delay, he lifted his gaze to her face and forced the furrows in his brow to deepen. Why was she confusing? And what was she really up to?
Nancy noted his expression. His confusion. Of course he was confused. He had no idea of the feelings he'd left her with. Of how he filled her every thought and dream. She forced a smile and motioned to the book. "I wanted to thank you for your kindness to me." She bobbed her head a little, remembering the negative side to her story. "Yes, you kidnapped me, but you never harmed me. And I know you healed me. That book is the least I can do to return the favor."
She paused, knowing he couldn't reply. Hesitantly, she stepped closer and reached to touch the muzzle. She brushed her fingers lightly over the cool steel. She'd do anything to take it off him. "I'm sorry for what they've done." she whispered, gazing down into his eyes.
No. Not that. Anything but a reminder of what they had done. Loki gently pushed her hand aside, away from the terrible silver thing around his lips. He wanted her to overlook it. Because he had learned to treat it as if it were not there. Instead, he reached for the book in her hands. If it was, indeed, "just something she could do to return the favor" then he had no qualms accepting it. A book was a book.
Nancy's smile returned, this time genuine, as he accepted the book. With a sniffle and another brush at the tears that were streaming, she turned and sat down in front of him, crossing her legs like she had before. Before all this ever happened. Only, this time she was in the cage with him. This time, he wasn't alone.
She took off her dark-blue suit-coat and folded it length-wise next to her. Instead of her usual white button-up shirt, she wore a soft, white turtle-neck that hugged every curve and subtly revealed them. A light-blue scarf caressed her neck and hung down her front. It was simple, a bit plain, but exquisite nonetheless. She'd chosen the ensemble just for him. Just so he could see her in it. It complemented her hair, her skin, her eyes. Everything about her became more beautiful whenever she wore it. And that's why she chose it.
"Do you remember my little 'cuckold' metaphor?" Nancy asked, trying to push past the end of her tears, "Well, that book is full of them. And the language should be pretty close to what you're used to. Well, you're a bit more Victorian than Elizabethan, but still… I hope you like it. I love Shakespeare's works. So I thought I'd share them with you."
Of course. She would remember that. Well, no matter. He would put the jest out of his mind. He glanced up briefly, and allowed the picture before him to imprint in his memory. Had she any idea how alluring she looked in those raiments? How it left just the right amount of curves to the imagination, while settling gently around others. Or, perhaps, she was not as naïve as he had originally thought. Loki set the book beside him.
How to communicate when his means of communication had been taken from him? He could not speak to her, nor did he have something with which to write. He looked down. And an idea sparked. Of course. Loki looked up at her again. She was intelligent. Surely she would fit the pieces together. He indicated her with his hands, then gestured around the room.
He was trying to communicate. Of course he would be. And of course they hadn't taken everything. He was a genius and had known she'd be able to read his gestures. Let's see, a gesture to her, then to the room. He wanted her to look at the room. What was the room? A cell. A cage. Yes, it was another cage. He wanted her to see that he was in yet another cage.
Nancy gave a sad laugh. "Yeah, another cage. But I'm not here to study you today. I just told them that. I came to see you." She sighed, wishing they could really talk. Really have a conversation. "I wish I could take that off you."
Yes. So did he. Loki brought a hand up to touch the intricate carvings on the dreaded thing. If only he could get it off. He shrugged like it didn't matter. Because it didn't. Really.
Moving on, then. How to communicate his next thought? Loki pointed at her, then back at himself. He made hands like a book and stared at them for an appropriate amount of time before he looked back up at her. He hoped she got the message: You came to study me?
Oh, another gesture. Her. Him. Reading a book. Her reading him like a book? Oh, her comment about studying him. She'd referenced the time she went to study him in his other cell, but she supposed she should tell him the truth. He should know. "Yeah, I did. A few months ago."
Loki smiled at her. Good girl. He had known she would be a quick study.
Nancy turned to glance at the window behind her. Hadn't he known? He'd reacted. He responded to things she'd done and said. Hadn't he known she was there? But, she'd been right. It was a one-way. Her own confused self stared back at her. "I could've sworn…" With a shake of her head, she turned back around to face him. Perhaps she had imagined it after all. "Never mind."
She paused. Her next statement would be grave. But it needed to be said. And she desperately wanted to know how he'd react. "This is the last time you'll ever see me."
Loki shook his head slowly and lowered his hands to rest on his lap. Perhaps now she would give him a better insight into why she had come. What she had been thinking. Something.
Nancy frowned at his sudden lack of gestures. Perhaps what he wanted to say couldn't be said with gestures. Then, how could he say it? She glanced down and noticed her satchel sitting in her lap. Of course! Why hadn't she thought of it sooner? Without a moment's more hesitation, Nancy dove into her satchel and brought out a pen and her yellow notepad.
"This is not a weapon. Don't make it one." A twinge of fear, the slightest twinge, and Nancy handed over the items.
His chuckle came out as more of a snort. He should have thought of this ages ago. Of course she had writing utensils. And of course she had assumed he would turn it into a weapon. Even though he could, if he wanted, Loki had no intention of doing so. That would ruin his plans.
He scribbled quickly – hurriedly – in her native tongue on the paper offered, then handed it back so she could read it. He meant every word of it, and he hoped she knew that. He lowered his gaze to the page as she read:
I will be back for you.
Nancy sat as cold as ice as she read the words, a look of pure horror on her face. Even her blood froze in her veins. His words were a threat. A promise. She had no idea what he planned. But, underneath it all, there was a twinge of care. He'd be back… for her. He wanted her. Perhaps as much as she wanted him. …But, still. It was a threat. From the man who had nearly enslaved the world.
She swallowed hard and tried to speak, but her words only failed her. Struck to silence by the gravity of his words. With a breath to regain her composure, Nancy tried again. "Well, if you're going to be cryptic, I won't give you paper." It was all she could come up with. An attempt at a threat in response to his.
There had been nothing cryptic about it, but Loki let that slide. He shrugged at her again. And then he stared. She thought so much more than she said. He just knew it. Up there, in that beautiful head of hers, her thoughts ran rampant. And he wanted to know more. So, tell him she would. He motioned for her to go on with her explanation.
Another gesture. This one she remembered. It was the same gesture he'd used on Romanov, giving her the floor to explain herself. He wanted Nancy to explain why he'd never see her again.
"The only reason I'm here," her words trembled and wavered as she spoke, bespeaking her fear. As much as she tried to regain her composure, it was falling fast, "is because Thor let me in. The others don't know. This is a one-time thing."
Another twinge of fear rocked her heart as he handed back the paper.
Thor doesn't own me. You don't need his permission.
A small sigh of relief escaped her lips as Nancy read the words. At least he was finally being civil. "No, but Thor cares more than you realize. He's on your side. He hates what they're doing to you. That's why he let me in. The others won't allow that."
Of course the oaf had told her that. Just to win her over, no doubt. He yanked at the pen and paper and set to scribbling again. I'm told the Tesseract portal is almost ready. They will take me away soon. Do not think I will not return, for one can never make assumptions with one such as myself.
Good. Concise. He thought that got the message across. He shoved it back into her lap.
Nancy watched as he scrawled the note, nearly breaking her aluminum-cased pen in the process. He was furious. In an instant, the notepad was tossed into her lap in a rage. Something she'd said upset him.
"Loki, calm down." Her voice was soft and soothing, trying to bring him back to his senses. In an effort to calm him, she placed her hand over his, wrapping her fingers loosely around it. "I know you're angry. You have every right to be. You're right, they shouldn't be treating you like this. I don't agree with it, either. But, please, these are our last few moments together." Tears gathered in her eyes again and she tried to blink them away. She didn't want things to end like this. She knew there had to be more. He was angry, yes, but hurt, too. Maybe, at least, her words and touch could be a balm to him, "What if you don't come back? For whatever reason. No one can predict the future. The last thing you'll have seen of me is both of us upset. Please." A tear dripped down her cheek at the thought of losing him like this.
Loki's hand came up, almost involuntarily, and swiped away the tear that hung from her chin. She was much lovelier without the tears. He sighed. Fine. He would calm. But only because she asked so nicely. And... had... put her hand on his? He lowered his gaze to study it. That was not the touch of a woman wanting to calm a maniac. That was something much more... personal.
Nancy followed his gaze and glanced at their hands. She slowly and carefully moved her hand to finger the shackle on his wrist. "I'll wait for you." she whispered, gazing up into his eyes, "But, please, no destruction next time. I lost so many friends."
Yes, too many important friends. Friends that had been like family. If he was coming back, she wanted it to be for only one reason.
Such a request. Did she realize she had no leverage to demand such a thing from him? Calmly this time, Loki took the paper and pen from her lap and scrawled his message.
Why, pet, would you have me come back then?
There it was again. The term of endearment. The reason he'd let her live. Because he cared for her. She didn't know why, but she knew he did. And that meant everything to her. "You said it yourself. For me."
That does not frighten you? That you gained the attention of a madman? What do you think I would do with you?
There were about half-a-dozen things she could think of him doing to her. Things she wanted him to do. She glanced away and blushed, trying to push the thoughts from her mind.
"Of course it frightens me. I have no idea what you've planned. But, maybe that's the beauty of it. That I don't know. But I want to." She looked at him again, this time unafraid, "You're dark, and dangerous, and… mysterious. But, beneath it all, you're kind. I know you wouldn't hurt me."
Loki rolled his eyes. He simply had not given the right impression, had he? Did she not have the sense to fear him, as all the others did? He should never have wiped away her tears, that surely only solidified his weakness in her eyes. This woman confounded him beyond any reasonable parameters. He reached for the pad again.
Thor – dumb giant that he was – threw the door open and stepped in with a single announcement. "Lady Nancy, we must go. They have discovered us."
Nancy gasped and snatched the writing utensils away from Loki, standing as she did so. She leaned over him and whispered in his ear, "Hide your book or they'll take it." With one last look into his beautiful green eyes, she whispered, "Goodbye." Without thinking, Nancy kissed his forehead. A soft, sweet, caring kiss. A kiss to let him know just how she felt about him. That, despite how the others treated him, how the rest of the world treated him, she still cared. She would always care.
Reluctantly, she pulled away and dashed out the door, her jacket remaining on the floor of Loki's cell.
Thor hurriedly escorted her toward the elevator. In Nancy's hand, one sentence slowly scrawled itself in perfectly proportioned letters as they ran.
I do not share my playthings well.
Hurriedly, Nancy reached to tear the scrawled-on pages from her notebook. And then she saw it. His note. A small smile crossed her features as she read. She'd definitely have fun analyzing that sentence later. But, for now, she had to leave. As she stepped into the elevator, Nancy reached for her jacket. Oh, wait! Her jacket! She'd left it in Loki's cell!
Before the doors could close, Nancy was racing back down the hall. "I forgot my jacket!"
"You do not have the code!" Thor dashed after her.
"Then put it in." The others would discover them any moment. She was sure of it. But she needed her jacket. Even if she got thrown out for it. As she waited for Thor to punch in the code, she ripped the pages from her notebook and stuffed them in her bag.
Thor entered the code as quickly as his fumbling fingers would allow, and the door unlocked with a hiss of air.
Nancy burst back through the door and scooped her jacket into her arms. As she turned to leave, she stopped momentarily. She'd never have this chance again, so she might as well take it. With a grin, Nancy leaned over Loki again and whispered, "Neither do I." She let her eyes meet his with a playful flash, and then she was out the door again. As soon as the door slammed shut behind her, she heard the ding of the elevator. They were here.
"Guard the door." she commanded Thor, rushing around to the window. In an instant, her jacket was over the back of a nearby chair and her notepad was in her hands, a page of old notes standing in place for the new. She stood there, innocently, as if nothing had happened. She could do this. She could pull this off. Everything depended on this moment. She could do this.
The elevator doors opened to reveal one fairly distracted Tony Stark. He stepped out, clearly on a mission, and then stopped short. His surprise might have been genuine, or faked. He was too good an actor to tell. "McAllister! Hey, when did you get here?"
Nancy turned to look at him, genuine surprise on her face. When did Stark get there? He was supposed to have been in the hospital. "Oh, about half an hour ago. Thor let me come down. I called and said I was stopping by. Did they not tell you?"
Tony narrowed his eyes. She had really tried that? He knew a lie when he heard one. "No. They didn't. Thor usually tells me when you show up."
"Strange." Nancy pulled out her cell phone, pulled up her call log, and showed it to him, nearly shoving it in his face. "I talked to the receptionist downstairs about two hours ago."
"Felicia? Oh, please. Always have her put you through to Pepper. Felicia disregards everything. Still doesn't answer why the big guy didn't tell me. Anyone?"
Pepper was out of the hospital, too? Oh, no. She should've done more research. Nancy shrugged like nothing was wrong and jerked a thumb in Thor's direction. "I gave him Pop-tarts. In the spirit of our 'Midgardian tradition of Christmas'." She grinned for emphasis and friendly welcoming. Because that's who she was, a friend. A friendly agent. Yep. Totally trustworthy. Friends. "I think it distracted him."
"O-kay..." He still didn't believe her, but as far as excuses went, it was a good one. He had seen the big guy around Pop-tarts. "Say your goodbyes or whatever. Twenty-one days and he's out of here."
Nancy's smile faded and she turned to glance to the one-way mirror. She studied Loki one last time, taking in everything about him, in case she never got to see him again. Twenty-one days. So soon. Too soon.
"I'll have to tell the Council he's leaving." She forced herself to turn back towards Stark and shrugged like nothing was wrong. Like she wasn't dying inside. "Oh, well. I got what information I could." In an effort to calm his distrusting mood, Nancy forced another smile and reached for her jacket.
Tony shoved his hands in his pockets, completely relaxed. "I'll walk you out. You staying down here, big guy?"
Thor nodded once, solemnly.
"Well, okay, then." Tony turned for the elevator, waiting for Nancy to precede him.
Nancy swallowed and walked to the elevator, shrugging her jacket on as she went. His gestures and emotions were all she needed to know that she was unwelcome here. Perhaps he hadn't found out. Perhaps he still didn't know she had faked every document to get here. Maybe he is just in a bad mood from dealing with his recovery. Yeah, that could explain it. He was just recovering was all.
In an effort to lighten the thickening mood, and show her friendship to her one friend in the place, Nancy called back to Thor, "Don't eat the whole box in one day." She glanced over her shoulder and gave him a small smile. It'd be the last time she'd see him, too.
The doors dinged open again – prompt, weren't they? – and Tony escorted her into the elevator. He waited for the doors to close before he commented on her command. "You know he'll eat all of them within an hour, right?"
"Probably."
"He's probably forcing one onto Loco right now."
Nancy bristled at the jab. The ridiculing name. The Spanish term for a state of mental disorder, made all the worse for its resemblance to Loki's actual name. And then there was that mental picture. That Thor – Loki's only brother and the only person in this hell-hole who actually cared anything about him – would do something so crude. Oh, she could've turned and slapped Stark right then. She gripped her satchel strap tightly in an effort to restrain herself.
Okay, usually that nickname at least earned him a laugh. But nothing. Awk-ward! Tony kept his gaze straight forward. She'd talk if she wanted to.
The elevator ride back up was far longer than she remembered. Nancy could feel her anger rising and knew she must say something, lest she really turn and slap that smug smirk off his pompous face. "Why did you muzzle him?"
"So he can't get out." Tony rolled his eyes melodramatically. "And do you know how utterly annoying he can be? I swear, a million words a minute!"
Nancy flexed her fingers subtly around the fabric. Just one hit. She could do it. She could. It would catch him off guard completely. But, would she really risk hitting a man twice her size? A man with a thousand times her strength? No. She couldn't risk it. So, instead, she'd use the only weapon she did have, her words.
"Well, your little contraption made it very difficult for me to do my work. Do you have any idea how many muscles there are in the structure of the lip? Even the smallest movement is vital. If you ever want to read someone's mind, Mr. Stark, you only need to read their face." And, just for emphasis, she turned stoic. Have fun reading that, jerk.
"Good to know." The elevator reached the main floor, and Tony decided now was the best time to drop his secret ammunition on her. "So sorry to hinder your unauthorized observation."
"I told you," Nancy rolled her eyes and stepped out of the elevator. One more moment in there and she would have slapped him. "I called ahead. And Thor escorted me down there himself. I thought you had approved it." Ya know, from his hospital bed. Where he was supposed to be. "My mistake."
"Yeah, about that. I hacked S.H.I.E.L.D.'s database. You aren't supposed to be here, but I allowed it anyway. Merry Christmas." The doors slid slowly closed.
A sound similar to a squeak rose from the back of Nancy's throat. Her wide eyes never left the closed doors. He'd known. He'd known all along. And he allowed it. He'd known of her secret fetish with the villain. All along. And he allowed it. Nancy willed her gaping mouth to close. Willed herself to regain her composure. People were staring.
With a few blinks to snap her out of it, she turned on her heel and strode out the doors, back into the cold. As much as she tried to keep what little dignity she had left, she was failing. Miserably. She was on a deep, dark decline and she knew it. Apparently, so did everyone else.
With fumbling hands and a quivering lip, Nancy managed to unlock her car door. She slipped in behind the wheel and stared out at the city skyline in front of her. Where everyone, everyone,was far better off than she was. They all went on with their lives, in the aftermath of the battle, as if nothing had ever happened. As if hope and peace and joy were as tangible as the forever-blinking Christmas lights. They knew not of the travesties that played upon her heart. The fantasies that raced through her mind of loving and being loved by a madman.
A piercing scream escaped her lips.
