Angel, part 3

Abby heard a knock at her door. She got out of bed and shouted, "Who is it?"

"It's me," mumbled a faint little voice. She heard Bessie sniff behind the other side of the door. Abby opened her door and let the girl in. Bess ran over to Abby's bed and got under the covers. Abby joined her, and they hugged. Bessie cried on her chest.

"Eh don' want him te die, Abby! Tell him nae te go!" she reached her arm over Abby's back and tried her best to pull her closer. She was so afraid of her father leaving her, her whole body was shaking.

"Shh…it's okay. I won't let that happen. I'm sorry you had to hear everything you did. Your father wants me to stay here and protect you, but they couldn't get to you if you stayed in the safe room he built for you. He doesn't want me to get hurt, but he doesn't know the first thing about I can help!"

"Eh don' want either o' ye te go! Eh cannae lose both o' ye!" Bessie cried harder. "Abby…eh think o' ye as meh Ma. Ye've always been ther fer meh, even if it's only been eh year."

"Oh, Bess, I think of you as a daughter." She held Bessie for a few moments and let her cry some more. She shushed her and sang to her, as she stroked her long black hair. "No matter what, I'm not allowing your father to die. I promise."

The two of them stayed like that for the rest of the night. They fell asleep in each other's arms peacefully.

The next morning, Abigail was up early, cooking oatmeal for everyone. She was still infuriated with Duff, but she had too much of a heart to leave him without breakfast. She poured a bowl for herself and Bessie, and left the rest in the pot for Duff and Kim. She figured Kim stayed in one of the guest rooms, and Duff was up all night planning. When he is frustrated with a task, he doesn't sleep.

"Can eh eat in meh room teday, Abby?" Bessie asked.

"Sure, honey. You have my permission." She felt bad for the poor girl, she didn't want to see her drip tears in her oatmeal.

Kim came in a few minutes later. The two women made eye contact, and Kim immediately looked down in shame. She saw the oatmeal in the pot and felt her stomach gurgle.

"Go ahead, take some." Abby mumbled.

"Thank you for making me some. The tea yesterday was great as well." Kim kept her voice low. She knew Abby didn't like her.

"Help yourself to some. The teas are in the canisters above your head, in the cabinet.

Kim didn't help herself just yet. She sighed, and turned around to face her.

"Look, I know you don't like me for asking Duff to do this…"

"No, you're not the one I'm mad at." Abby snapped. "Duff is the one I'm mad at. I'm not mad at you for asking for his help. I understand. I'm mad that Duff never told me about these drones, and for refusing to let me come along."

"He just wants to protect you."

"And I want to protect him! Kim, you don't understand the level of…"

Just then, Duff walked in. He looked tired and worn, like old leather.

"Stay up all night, huh Duff?" Abby snapped at him like a viper.

Duff sighed. He was too tired to argue. "Abby, please…"

"Forget it." She slammed her spoon down on the table and walked out of the kitchen, just like that. Her anger was much more than her hunger. She couldn't look at Duff anymore. She was afraid to miss him.

Duff moaned. He looked at Kim, who gave him a sympathetic look. She offered to make tea for two. He declined.

"Eh need coffee. Black."

He sat at the table and waited for his coffee. "You know there's oatmeal Abby made." Kim said.

Duff just grunted. Kindly, Kim poured him a bowl and set it in front of him. "She's a great cook, you know."

Duff grunted lower this time. He didn't touch the oatmeal. He needed coffee.

Kim sighed as she searched for the coffee grinds. Duff pointed to the right blend, weakly. She started brewing the pot, and Duff poked the oatmeal with his spoon.

"Aye, she is eh good cook." He mumbled to himself. He remembered when he was a kid and how he loved to learn cooking from his mother. Abby often cooked the same recipes his mother made, simply because she knew he loved it. Duff loved her for doing that.

Once Kim finally handed him his mug, he gulped it down like it was water. He got up, opened a cabinet, took out some whiskey, and poured a little in his coffee. Kim watched but didn't say anything. He put the bottle back, knowing Abby would yell at him more for seeing it out, and he didn't want Bessie to see it.

Duff laughed a little to himself as he sat back down. "Eh used te do tha' all te time. eh'd pour whisky in anythin' eh could think of."

Kim looked at him but remained silent. She didn't know what to say to something like that.

"Eh used te be an alcoholic before eh hired Abby. Eh drank meh life away fer years. Eh wus worse than meh Pa."

"…oh." Kim said. She was still speechless. Duff thought of when he would tell Abby these things. They would sit comfortably on the couch late at night and he would open up to her. She spoke out her opinion, sympathized with him, and defended him. He could tell her anything. Figures, the one thing he wasn't ready to say yet, was what the drones did to him that day.

After breakfast, Duff and Kim went back into the lab to discuss the plan for an hour or so. They would disguise as drones and spy around the island to find out where Ron was taken. They would take over the island's submarine, and escape with Ron. They could convince a drone somehow that they needed updated programming required by Ace, and instead reprogram the drone to help them with their plot somehow. The plan was dry, and there wasn't much to rely on, but it was a basic outline that could easily work, if they played the cards right.

"I think it's always best to leave a plan open, because you never know what might happen and interfere." Kim said. "Expect the unexpected on any mission."

Once they were ready, Duff told Kim to go outside and wait by the beach.

"Charlie will transport us, it's te safest way te be undetected. We'll travel underwater so tey cannae see us, an' eh 'ave eh special ray tha' can stun their radars so tey cannae find us underwater, but we'll still 'ave te work fast."

"Who's Charlie? Our ride? Does he own a submarine?"

"Err…nae exactly. Just wait outside an' eh'll meet ye in eh wee bit, lass."

"Ookay," Kim grabbed their bag, packed with devices that will help them, and headed towards the beach.

Duff took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He walked upstairs and knocked on Abby's door. He waited a moment—there was no answer. He knocked again.

"Abby? Ye in there?" again, he waited. There was no answer.

"Abby eh know yer in ther…" he waited, and waited.

"Look, ehm gonnae be leavin' now, an' eh want te say goodbye."

Slowly, the handle turned and the wood creaked as the door opened. Duff looked through the small slit and saw Abby looking at him with hopeless eyes. She opened the door wider, and fully looked at him. Duff looked inside and saw Bessie was in there too, sleeping.

"She okay?" Duff asked.

Abby quietly stepped outside and closed the door behind her. "She's tired. Not from a lack of sleep but…I just don't think she wants to be conscious, and think, if you can understand that."

"Ehm sorry, but tis is somethin' eh 'ave te do. Eh'll be back fer te two o' ye." Duff kissed her cheek, which made Abby blush. He then opened the door again, and walked into the room to say goodbye to his daughter.

"Bess?" he put a hand on her arm and shook her a little. She moaned from being woken up.

"Bess eh'm leavin' now." She got up when she heard this, fighting back tears.

"Daddy, please come back." Her eyes shimmered.

"Eh will, sweetie, eh promise eh will." He hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek. Bessie sniffed and continued to hold back tears. Before he walked away, she grabbed his hand and said,

"You're strong, Daddy. Don' ever forget tha'."

This little comment brought tears to his eyes, and he hugged her tightly once again.

"Oh, Bess, thank ye so much. Eh'll be home as soon as eh can."

Once Duff and Abby left the room, Bessie lay back in bed and began to sob again, muffling into Abby's pillow.

Duff and Abby stood in the hallway and just looked at each other.

"Abby,"

"No matter what you say," she interrupted. "I'm still against this, and I'm still angry at you, and if you do come back, I'll continue to be angry. Just…do me a favor and come back. You're too good of a man to lose your life to something so insignificant like this."

Duff didn't respond. He just looked into her mysterious blue eyes. They had a hint of hazel in them, and they sparkled like a golden sea. He could only say her beautiful name.

"Abigail…" he gazed so much he felt like he was going to fall into an infinite ocean.

"Yes…?"

Duff did nothing but hold her in a tight embrace. Abby was surprised at first, but held onto him like their bodies melted together, and they became one. Duff ran his hand along her back. He wanted to feel every single curve of hers. He wanted to memorize her head to toe, and dream of her day and night while he was gone.

Abby felt a little uncomfortable with the way he was holding her, but she knew why he was doing it. It was like she could read his mind sometimes, they were so close. She just wrapped her arms around his back and held on like they were flying, and if she let go of him, she would fall. She felt like their lives depended on each other. Duff left one hand around her waist, then another around her back.

After only a few moments like that, he couldn't hold back anymore. He had no thoughts that distracted or stopped him. His body was automatic. His actions were subconscious. He held Abby's soft, baby-like face with both hands, and kissed her passionately.

He melted. He blended into her body. He felt her warm, sweet, soft lips against his and it was his first vision of ecstasy. Surprisingly, Abby kissed him back in the same manner. She was releasing all her passion and anger and sadness through her lips and body, right onto him. He continued to hold her face, spellbound by the warmth and softness of her face and lips. Her breath was exhaled onto him and it was like a whiff of honey. It made him feel hot. He kissed her several more times, passionately, and didn't want to stop. He felt himself push her against the wall. He needed her. He needed to come home to her.

They continued to kiss for another minute or so, but it felt like forever. Then, both of them heard a scream. It came from outside.

Duff released his lips from hers to breathe. He moaned. "Looks like Charlie introduced himself te Kim."

He looked back at Abby, and her eyes were sad. "Don't go, Duff." She whispered. He was still holding her tight against his body.

"Eh don' want te…" he whispered back. Mesmerized by her, he couldn't help but kiss her again, deeply. He planted soft kisses along her jaw. Abby held onto him tighter. "Eh don' want te leave…" Duff said again. He couldn't seem to peel himself away from her, now that he felt like he was living one of his dreams.

"Eh promise eh'll come home. Eh'll be thinkin' o' ye all day an' all night. Yer meh motivation…ehm gonna come home, because eh want te be able te kiss ye again," he kissed her lips. "…an' again." He kissed her once more. "fer te rest o' meh life."

Abby sighed. She placed her hand on his jaw, and felt his beard. She ran her fingertips along it, tracing the outline of the hair. It made Duff tingle. He really didn't want to leave.

The two of them heard a roar, then another scream. Duff sighed, and tightened his grip on Abby. "Eh better go now…" he slowly released his hold on her. "…or eh might never go." He smiled a little at that last part. He was only partly joking, though.

Abby let him go and didn't say anything. He slowly walked backward, gazing into her eyes, then finally turned his back and walked downstairs and out the front door. Abby sighed again once he was gone, and touched her lips. She couldn't believe what just happened, and tears began to fill her eyes. She went back into her room and closed the door behind her. She got in bed and tried not to imagine Duff and Kim riding off and disappearing beyond the horizon.

Days later...

Abigail paced her room. It's been days, no phone call, no e-mail, no contact from Duff. How long did it take to find a boy on a small island? What if they had been taken hostage? Each passing day, Bessie grew more and more hopeless. Her spirit had sunk thousands of feet below the ground, but she wouldn't say anything. The poor girl would lay in bed all day as if she was dying herself. Abby tried to accompany her as much as she good, but Bessie, though she didn't say it, didn't want to think about it. She didn't want to be conscious so thoughts of her father in danger or pain could worm its way in. She tried sleeping as much as she could.

Abby knew Duff was in trouble. Her intuition was screaming, giving her headaches. She had broke into Duff's lab by hacking Hondscioh, the home computer system. She searched for hours, any information she could find on these drones. She obsessed herself with coming up with a plan as quick as possible. She found a map, a book on the language, and lists of inventions that the drones have created and use to their advantage. Everything technical about the island, but nothing that could save Duff.

Abby went upstairs to search in Duff's room. She passed by the spot, right down the hall, where they kissed. She tried to shake the thought out of her head, but it haunted her the past few days. Why exactly did he kiss her? Did he have feelings for her, or was it because he was going to miss her? 'Well obviously you don't kiss someone like that just because you're going to miss them.' She thought. Duff had been acting strange towards her the past few months. Was this what he didn't tell her? That he had feelings? Was he in love? 'No, he made it distinctly clear that it was impossible for him to love. I did tell him it was possible, but it just seems unlikely that I'm the one he just so happens to fall in love with.'

No matter how hard she tried to argue with herself, it just seemed pretty clear of how Duff felt. His actions, after thinking about them, spoke for itself. What Duff didn't know, though, was Abby's past. She had a hard time being okay with his love for her. She cared about him, and up until now she didn't think of him romantically. But kissing him was magical, and wonderful. She enjoyed it, and it hurt her to admit that.

Abby continued to search Duff's room in hopes of not only finding something useful, but to distract her thoughts. Under his mattress she found a little black book. She opened it and was surprised to find that Duff had a diary. She sat down and began to read some recent entries.

"I watched Abby cook today. She is so graceful and often reminds me of my mother and sister. I think that's why I am so drawn to her. She treats me the same way they did, and no woman had ever shown me that kind of resemblance. She cooked the same recipe my Ma used to make when I was a kid tonight. It used to be my favorite dish, and I missed it. I was never able to cook it the right way like her, but Abby was able to follow it perfectly. She brings back such fond memories. She puts life and spirit in everything she does. Not to mention she is beautiful, like an angel…"

Abby froze. She skipped a few pages and found another entry.

"I feel embarrassed to say I had another daydream again about her. I took a bath upstairs and imagined her in the tub with me. We were surrounded by bubbles, the water was hot, and I washed her naked body. We kissed and made love. These daydreams have become so infatuated in my mind, I feel like every thought that comes to mind has to do with Abby, and I feel humiliated around her because of it. I can't look at her without wanting to kiss her. Everything I see turns sexual through my eyes. Some mornings she will wear sweatpants and a tank top that hugs her curves, and there will be a little slit of skin in between the hem of her shirt and the top of her pants, and I want nothing more than to touch her there."

"My goodness…" she flipped page after page, day after day, and all entries had to do with her. Weeks, even months past before she could find one where she wasn't the subject. Even then, she found nothing regarding the drones.

Abby put the diary back in its spot, and continued to search. Duff had a large bookshelf that covered the wall behind his bed, and she took out each one and flipped through. Eventually, after what felt like another hour, she discovered another set of small notebooks, dated years ago. Abby tried to think of when Duff created this project, and decided to start reading the journal entries around that time. She had to look through a few books to find the date she was looking for, but eventually she found it, and she was right on target. The diary was full of entries regarding the drones. A few of them stood out to her.

"I plan to program the drones so they cannot feel like humans can. They have no nerves, but I don't want them to have feelings in the mind. Feelings can control humanity, and make one do stupid things because of love, or hate, or fear, etc. I mistakenly allowed Griffin to have feeling, but soon realized the error. It could be catastrophic to the race. Griffin learned of feelings, for I taught him early on, and frankly I'm afraid of taking them away, because he might feel anger and try to attack me or defend himself. Also, in a way, he acts more like a human because of it, and it's been nice to feel like I have a friend. So, mainly for my own personal feelings, I'll allow him to keep them. But future drones will not have that privilege. Clearly I make a decision solely based on feeling, proof that the growth of this new race, which I will control, cannot afford this human fault. I value Griffin as my fake human friend, but I know I'll have to watch over him, in case he becomes corrupted. I hope my feelings don't get me into trouble."

Abby read another that stood out to her.

"Paranologia is forming nicely. The drones are very strict and specific about the right humans populating their communities. The people they chose were perfect; I'd call them hippies based on how they based their society around spirituality and their own made-up religion. I've heard rumors that they believe I wasn't the creator, and that I'm a drone just like the rest of the Triad. They believe it was a female, and somehow I think they knew Carol took part in the island's metamorphosis, and that she is the female they picture. I caught a glimpse at a mosaic the inhabitants made, mounted on one of the shops. It was of a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. Though it looked more like Number Four than anything, the mosaic woman's gaze reminded me of my late sister, and I think it was their portrayal of the true Creator. She was adorned in a shimmering purple dress, and a crown of emerald and amethyst. I felt bad for those who believed Carol was the true creator, because she wasn't. The people just choose not to worship me. Ace has corrupted my image…"

It was strange to read about how Griffin had human feelings, and that there were people that lived on the island, and how they worshiped a female 'creator' like their God. She found more passages on how they thought she was still alive, just hiding somewhere and watching over the island. It gave Abby an idea. She would pose as this woman, and try to focus on Griffin. Hopefully she can seduce him somehow, and distract him enough to get to his 'off' switch. Then she can find Duff and reprogram him. The plan was worth a shot. She had to save Duff, she just knew he was in trouble. She felt it. And if Duff died, her mission would have failed.

There was a big secret Abby had kept from Duff and Bessie. There was a reason why she kept her life a mystery. She lived a life, but she lost it, and now she works for a special group. They told her they wanted her to take the job offer to be Bessie's nanny, but it wasn't because they wanted to keep an eye on Duff, because he was a bad man. It was nothing like that.

Abby knew he would find out her secret if she saved him. But there was no other option. She couldn't trust that he would come home without her help.

Later that night, she packed a small bag with all the old jewels she could find in Duff's family heirlooms. She found some nice pieces with emeralds and amethysts, like in the diary entry she read. She also found a purple dress along with the heirlooms, though it wasn't shiny, and quite old. It was elegant, however, and would fit nicely for the part of the 'Creator'. Besides the outfit, she took some maps and language books from Duff's lab, along with a device that would open a hole in the force field that surrounded the island. She would quickly fly over the dome, and then dive right in. Abby wasn't afraid of being detected.

It was a thunderous night. Rain poured down like daggers. She had told Bessie that she would be going to help Duff. Though the girl was scared, she understood. Bessie always knew there was something special about Abby, and she never knew what it was until that night.

Abby left the young girl in the safe room, and told her to stay there until she came back with Duff. The safe room was an unbreakable metal room, deep underground, with no access but those permitted, which was Duff, and now Abby. Duff put her into the computer system as one of the 'keys' to the room. Just by the press of a few buttons, Bessie had access to a bed, a small kitchen, a bathroom, and endless entertainment. It was one of Duff's best inventions.

Once Abby took her bag, she opened up her window. She felt the cold rain splash onto her as it came down, and the thunder rumbled in the background. Flashes of lightning lit up the black sky.

She got up on the ledge of the window and stood on it. She had to bend her knees and crouch down, and peeked her head out the window, and felt her hair and face get wet.

Abby then heard a scream. She turned her head and saw Bessie standing in her doorway. The girl ran over and tried to pull her back inside.

"He'll be back! If ye cannae save him, he said he'll take care o' himself an' he promised he'll be back! Ye 'ave te 'ave hope, Abby! Don't kill yerself, he'll be back, he'll be back! Don' leave meh without eh Ma an' eh Pa! Eh love ye Abby, don' die!"

"Oh, honey…" Abby got off the window ledge and stepped back inside. "No, no, you've got it all wrong." Bessie was crying, and she hugged her to calm her down. "I wasn't trying to commit suicide."

Bessie sniffed and looked up to her with teary eyes. "Then whut were ye doin' about te fall out te window?"

Abby sighed. She knelt down and made eye contact. "Bessie…" she whispered. "Can you keep a secret?" the thunder rumbled in echo to her voice. The girl looked at her and said nothing. Her eyes reflected fear and doubt. But Abby didn't need an answer from her. She trusted that girl with all her soul.