Speech = ``...´´
Thoughts = ...
Inner voices / something else = "... "
Writing = -...-
ºº
Though short, her life had been nothing but a series peculiar circumstances that had grown rather predictable as time went on, especially since the day her mother had tied her up and give her to those people. Locked up into that room, bereft of any human contact unless when the training started.
They wanted something of her, they wanted her to do something for them. Of that they had been awfully clear about it. But what they asked.., she could not do it. And so she had refused…, hoping that they would understand.
That had been her first mistake.
The hits, the spats, the touches…., they had been constant.
Pushing her, hurting her...teaching her.
Her waking hours had been spent in a myriad of chores and tasks, each one more harsh or disgusting than the last, only stopped if just barely by the cold and silent welcome of the nothingness of the night.., most of the time tainted with brief flashes and windows to what had transpired through her waking hours each and every time she closed her eyes.
That was her life now…
That was what it was going to be from that moment forward. A slow, steady see, do and repeat process. To listen, to obey... if only to state with some sort of generality to try to shed some light upon such existence.
The hours became into days, the days into weeks and the weeks into months. That was how things had gone, that was how they were supposed to go forever more…, period. So it wasn't much of a surprise to say that she had no idea what was going on before her when she realized that she was nowhere she remembered.
Black and colorless. This void, this hollowness that spread far and wide coveted everything her eyes could see with zeal…, if they were even open to begin with though.
She tried to move her neck, to get a good glimpse of her surroundings, but it was for naught, everything around her was a pit of darkness that she one could not see the end of it. No matter how hard one tried. A maelstrom of shadows that enveloped her very essence like the thinnest of silks while her body floated aimlessly through the endless dark.
Like a small leaf would when pushed aside by a gush of wind or a pebble sinking under the tides of the ocean.
Were these the last flashes of delirium of a sick, battered body? Or was it merely the precursor rooms of the afterlife? If it was the latter she was not very impressed, and if it was the prior...well, then it meant that she only had to wait just a little more.
``…. ´´
Wait…
She could see it, but her face started to crease, face flinching into a deep scowl.
She had to..wait? The mere idea almost brought her to tears, bitter laughter echoing inside her at the utter madness of having to wait even within her own delirium. She would only ceased in her amusement when she realized that she was actually unable to physically do such chore, her lips remained as still and put as corpse would, never moving an inch.
She could feel it, but she had no exact control of how to express it through her body. Like sleeping over one of her arms, only to wake up with a deep numbness over the entire limb.
She felt a small pang of dissatisfaction before such minor setback, even if this was the last remnants of her mind, tethering away with every passing second it seemed that some things were impossible for her to do, but such feelings were dashed away as fast as they came.
Far more mundane, though perhaps more interesting thoughts crossing her mind as that was the only thing it appeared she was free to do. To think and ponder.
She breathed in, or at least...thought she did.
How long had she been lost in this place..? Where was she..? Where was she going? Was there even an end to it? A destination? She did not know, it was more than probable that nobody did. Her memory, foggy at best did not help matters as she barely managed to catch glimpses of what had taken place prior to her arrival. Trying to hold onto them, desperately yet slipping through her fingers like cinders…
Cinders…? The word., it felt terribly familiar though she did not understood why though her chest started to heat up in the process..
What she knew was the numbness of her body was growing stronger, a shift of the stream around her pulling her away from her tranquil state before the sensation of free fall started to claim her body.
Slowly at first, before starting to gain some speed. And with it, she started to feel different sensations washing over her. Brushing and wrapping around her tightly..
She was tired…
Her lips started to twitch, trying to mutter out a thought yet they were unable to follow through her simple demand.
``W-?´´
A vague, barely distinguishable sound crawled through the dark almost like a whisper. One that went unheard of at first, mistaken by another simple back ground echo of her mind.
``W-k-up!
A frown started to form around her forehead. There it was that sound again, this time slightly higher, echoing through the endless dark before reaching her ears, making them twitch as a result, but ultimately choosing to ignore it rather than pay it any more heed. Such idea soon proved wrong as the echo only grew stronger.
"G-il, y-ave-"
Could no one leave her enjoy her eternal peace or what? Her eyes tried to open, fighting with great struggled against whatever force was keeping her body limp if only to move away from the sound. Yet the only thing she managed to do was barely move her finger tips.
It was so infuriating...
Her musings were interrupted by a pained gasp escaping from her lips, a deep searing pain erupting from her very being. She would have fallen to her knees if she could as she tried to give much needed relief to the pained zones of her body, especially her chest and throat which threatened to melt into a puddle of flesh goo and blood in a moments notice.
Tears started to swell up her eyes, quickly strickling down bruised cheeks into the dark beyond as she was unable to either control them or wipe them off her face, but nothing would compare with the skull cracking agony that was rampaging rent free at her own expense.
Perhaps it was just a byproduct of the pain, but for a moment she believed to sense the phalanx of her fingers had just moved.
``For g-ods s-ke! W-ke up!´´
The sound had returned once again, this time not as the ever growing whisper but a startling thunder with the voice of a woman. To make matters worse, the very world that had been constructed around her started to shake abruptly, sending her at random directions in a rather violent fashion while endless dark started to take a deep shade of crimson, yet none of that had caught her attention like what came next.
Large portions of the sky started to crack uncontrollably, before falling apart around her, giving place to bright beams of light that pierced the darkness the same way one would skewer a pig. Fast and painfully.
Through the commotion one of the fallen debris fell right over her head, but just as it was about to crush her on the spot everything turned white.
ºº
Violet eyes open up abruptly with far more strength that she thought they could muster, only to shut tightly as the light of day peering through the shutter-less windows blinded her. Only after she thought they could adapt to the different illumination that she dare pry them open.
A soft, yet metallic steady sound echoing in her skull with each intake of breath...
Beep...
The first thing she noticed was the strong sterile smell of medical equipment flaring down her nostrils, only second to the painful whiteness of the place that continued to assault her now pin size pupils.
She tried to look around, but the action was greatly hampered by a series of bandages warped around her neck. It was not the only thing that had been wrapped in with the white cloth, for her arms and chest were too covered tightly by it. Leaving no sight of what laid underneath. In fact, now that she realized, part of her face was also covered by them, though this ones left a little more loose for comforts sake.
Beep…
There were shadows around her, their bodies shrouded in darkness, or was it whiteness? She did not know, she could barely made out their frames as her eyes were misty with tears. They were holding her, placing a cool cloth over her forehead while tugging at something at her arms.
She blinked once, then twice...and before she knew they were gone. The soreness where they had touched and the humid touch of droplets of water sliding down her skin the only things remaining to tell her she had not imagined it.
In time she regained enough of her vision to realize that something was wrong.
She did not recognize the room, not at all. It did not look nowhere near the dark and small space of the attic, nor it held nothing of the rustic appearance of the mansion. In fact it could not have been more alien to her than the very things around her body.
What was this place? A delusion? Another mental projection? The idea was not without its merit, but if that was the case then why ch-
``The heavens must be on your side, little one. I thought that you would never wake up from eternities embrace…., the Lord must have sent an angel to watch over you´´
Her thoughts halted immediately as the gears inside her head crashed at the unexpected words. Her body went stiff on the spot while her breath hitched into an inaudible gasp through the air mask attached to her mouth as she realized that she was not completely alone in the room.
beep…beep…
The shadows..
The voice...
Now it made sense. How had she not notice it?
The voice was deep, almost as if stating a matter of fact but not without some sympathy or marble behind it. Its owner was not far away, only a painful neck twist to the right or as much as she could afford. She would not have to look far.
There, at her right stood an aged old man in silence, holding both of his hands together just below her bed perhaps holding a cane or in prayer. His stillness was such that for a moment she believed he was merely a well crafted statue.
beep…beep…
``In my age..this surprises are not good for ones own heart. I would beseech you try help little old me, if you can of course..´´
Taking a better look she realized that his skin was strange, polished yet tanned like old spent leather. Under the shadows of his she could see the several folds and wrinkles adorning his gentleman like features. Emerald eyes glinting as they stared at her, one of them behind the round surface of a monocle while the other gazed at her with some sort of kindness. Adding more confusion to her weary heart, one that was starting to throb more and more louder inside her chest.
He was a towering figure, dressed in pitch black clothes with only the silvery shade of his hair and well kept beard to act as contrast. His appearance was not all to dissimilar to the guests at the mansion much to her dread, yet a strange feeling of safety and calmness was protruding from his posture. Not hunger.
The memory made her shudder, her body twitching as the pain grew. Hot burning knifes carving into her flesh, digging deep. She did not want to remember, she did not want to see them again, so why was she still looking at him?
beep…beep…beep…
Why was she lost in those green eyes that glared silently at her? Why did she feel at the back of her head that nothing would come to happen to her in his presence….
It was wrong..!
It did not made sense..!
Wait, green eyes?
beep…beeeeeeeep….
His lips parted ways, giving her a shy smile before he spoke again. The words however... were lost to her for she could no longer hear him, too lost in her inner turmoil to even nod a fake acknowledgment of what had been said.
Not because of the myriad of thoughts whirling about, but because of the horrifying realization she had come across.
This was not a mental projection from a dying brain, this was not heavens way to welcome tourists with a hired guide, and she was definitely not dreaming about it, that feeling gripping her guts with intensity all too real to be nothing but another illusion. It could only man one thing.
She had been denied her last wish.
The bandages could not hide away her disappointment, nor put a stop to her hands closing into tight fists, uncaring of the way her body cried out by the sudden action. Teeth grinding against one another to the point that she could feel the bitter taste of her blood.
An action that did not go unnoticed by her visitor as he leaned towards her, cocking his head to the left for a moment, studying some sort of screen that was hanging from a wall before glaring back at her, a thoughtful glint on his eyes.
``Something wrong, dear?´´
She should have remained silent, she should have lowered her gaze down just like they had taught her to when "they" spoke to her. Just like she was meant to do.
But this time she could not help but puff at the question in anger, the fear and dread peeling away as something else stirred up inside. Caution be dammed as she tried to lean forward and rip out the tubes pressed deeply against her skin, failing in that endeavor for two reasons.
One she could barely achieve managed to stand up, two..the gentleman pushed her carefully against the mattress with a speed far faster than his age would imply. He had tried to lower her softly, but the whole process was agonizing either way...
If looks could kill she would have already butchered the visitor a dozen times over, but if he noticed he did not seem troubled at all.
Was he blind..?
She decided not to dwell to much about it as another thing rose to her attention. A deep scowl warping around her lips.
[Is there something wrong? Oh yes...there was plenty wrong with this…. ]
Her emotions must have reflected on her face rather strongly for he started to hang his head lower, shielding his eyes from her glare.
``Ah...I see, my apologies, its clear that you are in deep pain. The painkillers should have at least left you completely numb, but sadly your body is...awfully resistant to such substances´´
He halted, his hands clenching a little tile as he drew in another breath, almost as if he found difficulty to proceed. She bit her lip..
`` For all that is worth I am sorry…., a child like you should not have been forced to endure that´´
Sorry...?
He was sorry..?
The words rang hollow to her ears, yet tears started to slid down her eyes into the cloth of the bandages. Her vision was growing hazy as glitches of white and red started dancing around her, forcing her to repeatedly shut her eyes over and over with the vain hope the they would vanish from her corneas. Still, she carefully observed him. Searching for any trace of deception on his composure, his tone, anything at all. Or in this case, tried.., as her tired eyelids started dropping.
She should not have bothered, for there was none, none that she managed to notice at first glance that is.
He seemed as genuine as he was pretending to be, and yet she could not avoid smelling the stink out of it, her own senses of self preservation slowly kicking in, leaving her with nothing but the anxiousness to know when the other shoe would drop.
Old wounds aching, reminders of a not so far away past as her thoughts started to linger far too long over certain memories. He may have spared her…, but that meant nothing to her. Everyone lies, especially when they wanted something in return.
The fact that she had nothing to offer but that "thing" only added to the conundrum, how many times a supposed kind gesture had been twisted into something ugly and cruel? How many times she had fallen for the same trick?
Too many.
The old man shook his head, clearly taking notice of something though she could not tell.
``Easy, easy there lad…there is no need to panic. You are safe´´
"Lies.."
``I know is too much to ask for, but I need you to believe me..I cant help you, if you don't help me. It goes both ways..´´
She closed her eyes.
He sighed.
``I wanted to get things done as fast as I could, but if you are in pain perhaps you would consider have a higher dose and we could continue this chat later on.
[What?]
``Yes, there is no need to press for answers if you feel...indisposed. I wanted you to have a familiar face when you woke up, but perhaps coming here was a mistake´´
He said apologetically, his expression pained before he slowly started rising from his seat.
If it was meant to make feel better, it clearly failed. Her teeth started grinding against one another, not stopping even when she started to sense the bitter taste of blood gushing out from her gums, leaving a faint scarlet shade over her broken lips as she silenced a guttural shriek from storming his way out her lips.
Confused and overwhelmed as the myriad of thoughts did nothing more but leave her battered mind nothing more but a steaming battlefield were chaos reign supreme it could explain why she cocked her head towards the stranger once more and tried to speak out with the first thing that came to her mind.
``Yo-u are.. w-weird….´´
The words came out painfully slow, their very own weight dragging them down, giving her a reminisce of the taste of ashes through the burnt out embers still stuck on what was left of her throat.
He did not respond right away, in fact he stood silent as those emerald eyes gazed at her direction. Then, without another word he slumped down once again into the position he had just left. His back pressed firmly against the back of his chair, leaning forward before going backwards. Humming a few words that she could not hear.
All in all it appeared as if he had not actually heard her.
Such thoughts would soon be proven wrong when he started to laugh. At first timidly, but it did not take long before it grew in magnitude.
``Is there... something, funny?´´
She croaked the question weakly at him, a vein popping at her forehead but lacking the strength to do anything else.
``No, no...not at all my dear, is just that you caught me by surprise that is all´´
She could only rose an eyebrow at that.
He immediately understood.
``Right, it seems that I once again lost sight of what was going on, again, my apologies´´
``…´´
``See, I was expecting many things, like you asking who am I or where are you? Instead you decided to go out og your way to say...that? Curious inst it?´´
``W-why?´´
``Why what?´´
He asked softly, leaning towards her to hear her better, she would never admit it but she was grateful for it.
Not like she was gonna admit it.
``W-why would I do th-aat?´´
A perplexed look dawned on his features before he shook his head, had she asked a strange question? She hoped not.
``I don't know, is just….logical...´´
[Logical…? ]
The word sounded alien to her, not one that she had heard before though she did not felt it was been said as an insult. That did not meant she appreciated it. Grown ups and their abhorrent use of special words. Why couldn't she said it sounded right?
``It so-ounds over com-pplicat-ted….´´
``Are you sure you are not the one who is, pardon my phrasing…, weird, little girl….?´´
She could not help but snort with indignation crawling from her heart, it would be short lived however, as her throat clogged onto itself in the blink of an eye by a fit of coughing.
It burn, it would always burned her...
``Careful...you inhaled enough smoke to paint a two stories house in black, is a surprise you are even alive at this point. Don't forced it, for your sake if nothing...´´
She stood still for a second, waving her objections before she carefully slumped back against the mattress of the bed, the rusted springs of the bed creaking by the motion. She really would have wanted to rebuke the stranger about who really was forcing who to talk, but decided not to. It would probably be a waste of time and breath.
Tears threatened to fall the corner of her eyes as the taste of ashes and burn flesh started to overcome her senses, the room briefly disappearing in bright flashes of white and black. Her body, stiff at the feeling of ethereal hands dragging her towards the silhouette of that man made hellhole tumbling down all around her.
``The fire...´´
Two words, two miserable words and yet her throat feels as if an entire trail had bust its way out. She hated it, she hated this feeling of weakness...of utter ineptitude to do even the most simple of things.
Was this why had she been spared? For this….?
He nods, never wavering under her gaze.
``It was terrible…., nothing survived the accident, such a tragic end for those that could not escape from the structure in time... ´´
[Accident? That was not accident….]
She thought with confusion, though it was not like she knew what one was meant to look, but the image of that mans bashed head appeared in her thoughts.
A frown warped around the old mans eyes, a though full expression settling in, but if there was something troubling him he did not seem worried to share it, she did not mind, she had better things to look after, like how to stop that blasted machine.
Beep...
Perhaps he no longer had anything else to say, that too would make her day. But the sudden look in his eyes would derail such thoughts.
``You know what? I think I know how to deal with this situation….´´
She saw him fumbling in his search for something below her bed, the sound of tape and boxes been open not with not much patience or care.
``Lets see…, it should be right...over... Aha!´´
With a triumphant expression the man turned around, his gloved hands now carrying a large, though plain looking object between them. She could not quell the thought fast enough of how was that suppose to help them?
``With this you no longer have to worry about spilling your guts through your throat, trust me...it will be a rather more pleasure experience for both of us´´
"Just stay silent, trust me...it will be more pleasurable for both of us..."
At the sound of that word a cold shiver began to run down her spine as the light in the room dimmed slightly, whispering echoes trailing down her quivering lips as her body started to tremble uncontrollably. The acrid smell of cheap cologne, their crude mannerism, their wicked grins...
They were there, all around her. Why could they not leave her alone!?
"Shhsss, it will only hurt for a second…., you will soon enjoy it"
One by one, the ghastly forms of the guests started warping around her, their bodies. Hands stretched out in the air, in some sort of attempt to get a grip of her. She tried to ran away, but her body refused to follow through, remaining pathetically still as she witnessed the way they slowly approached.
The last thing she saw were the sickly pale white shade their eyes had turn before she closed her eyes. Wait for the strike to come….
But it would never come.
Shyly, she open them up, a look of surprise warping on her features once she realized the change in the scenery. They had vanished as fast as they had appeared, the shroud of darkness dissipating and giving way to the world returning to those boring shades of white and gray of the medical room. It took her a moment to realize that someone was holding her arm.
``Its okay, there is no need to feel afraid, you are safe now´´
The words were soft, soothing in nature just like those of a mother trying to quell the night frights of their child. Placating the sheer terror still palpable in her eyes as she felt the slow yet steady humming from his lips.
She could feel cold drops of sweat falling down her forehead, leaving a faint sticky trail on their wake. She tried to move her arms to wipe it away, but quickly found she could not, a peculiar warm sensation spreading over her right right arm holding it tightly. Her eyes, slowly trailed off to find what was responsible for it.
She should not have been surprised…, but she was for he was grabbing her.
His gloved fingers were grasping her.
The act should had repulse her, it should have made the bile rise through her throat and spill out into the mattress, but she did not..in fact it felt peaceful. Which left her at odds, her mind trying to come to terms with the possible reasons behind such anomaly. No man could do that, they just couldn't, her body reacted before she could even rationalize it as their touch becoming bitter and toxic with only gracing her skin. Bu she did not.
Green eyes..
It could only mean one thing. It didn't make sense, but it was the last thing she got.
`` And about the notebook...you can keep it, really….there is no need to give it much thought. Of the two of us it should be easy to see who actually needs it´´
His words finally brought her out from her stupor, if he had notice he did not say anything about it. She merely glare at the offered object with apprehension, the glitching around its surface dimming a bit as her eyes managed to get a better glance of it, allowing her to realize that it was merely a medium size green notebook. Larger than those old dusty tomes from the library….but far more thinner.
He wanted her to use it? The way he was looking at her seemed to reinforce such idea, also the fact he was hanging that pencil over her head was kind of a give a way though. Still...write instead of speak? Should she applaud his efforts or be annoyed by them?
She was feeling weaker with each passing second….
She shook her head internally, knowing full well that it would have been too much of a task to do so physically. What else could she lose? She weakly extended her arms forward, grasping softly both tools, but just as she pressed the tip of the pencil against the white polished sheet it slipped through her worn out fingers onto the floor below.
Beep..
It seemed that she was wrong, she could still lose her sanity….
``Its ok…., take your time´´ Muttered the old man as he gave her back the pencil, and apologetic smile on his lips, she ignore him, focusing entirely on leaving even the smallest of traces on the paper. Fighting down the feeling of dull pain from the extenuated muscle fiber from her wrists. It would not take long before she was finished and then turn around the notebook for him to notice.
-Who are you?-
``Well, my name is Pytior Ranswell.., but you can call me Pete if you would like. A retired business man that found your body in a grave state of hypothermia in the snowy fields´´
-You lie-
``Excuse me..? I don't think I understand´´
He asked, not at all undeterred by her glare nor her previous statement.
She ignored the question, rather deciding to focus on rewording her previous question, this time in capital letters so that he understood that she was serious about it.
-Who Are You?-
``I..said that already, little girl´´
She merely pointed once more at the words, hitting the sheet of paper.., vehemently.
-Who Are You?-
``I don't think I follow, what do you mean? Perhaps I can help you with whatever is troubling you´´
-Stop...-
He tried to speak up, but she almost shoved the book into his chest. Almost been the key word since she the only-thing she managed to do was almost fall over, only stopped from doing so by a pair of strong arms.
He looked at her bemused.
-I saw you, you were not who you appear now to be-
It was a leap of logic, she knew that...but how could she explain what she had felt? He had touched, he had! That had not been an imagination, or delirium. It. Was. Real.
So.., so it had to be that right? Right..? There was no change whatsoever in his expression, or at least...that was what she thought.
``If you know, whatever you think you know... could you indulge my curiosity on how you got to such...idea? Please, it would keep me awake at night and I am sixty five, I get up four times to piss as it is´´
This was a test…
He was testing her.
Well, in that care such request was a simple one enough as she pressed down once again the pencil. Leaving way for the blue like ink to spread through the blank space for the message she was trying to convey. A look of mild consternation flaring out through both eyes of the fake old man when they landed on it.
It was not much, and perhaps she had merely imagined, but that was all the confirmation she needed. Her fingers pointing at the last words written.
-Green eyes-
…
…
``There are many people with green eyes, surely you don't believe that is enough?´´
-You said you brought me here-
``I did...´´
-Why?-
He stood still for a moment. His happy countenance slowly faltering as something else was brought up.
``What does it matter?´´
-How did you know I was there…?-
``Luck, mere happenstance..?´´
-Why do you care..?-
He remained silent once more.
``I see…, I guess that there are other things as well too?´´
She merely nodded, it was a lie...though one that he did not need to know, or perhaps already did but did not care enough to call her out. She had been expecting many things.., to be hit, to be yell at, to be ignored. She did not know, and yet she waited with abated breath as she saw him raise one of his hands.
She flinched, almost looking away from what would be an imminent strike. Only stopped when she realized that those fingers remained stuck as they graved the underside of his chin with great care, before ripping it away.
[Wait..wha!?]
Her eyes widened as they now could peer through what a few seconds prior had remained obscured to her gaze, the tanned skin folds of the once gentleman had left way for a soft white polished skin, a golden mane fell all over her shoulders like a cascade of starlight over the velvet fabric of the suit. Her face was fair and sculpted into almost near perfection, crimson lips that hid away a playful tongue, eyes that fluttered with practiced empathy...
With the tug of a finger she saw the way the her appearance started to shrink to the point the suit started to hug her hourglass form rather tightly. She tried to swallow, but she barely managed to do draw another breath.
Was that...an angel?
Yes, there was no doubt about it...it was her, it had always been her. Emerald ice cold eyes meeting a pair of amused amethyst ones. Like a lion staring down at the feeble body of a small puppy.
``I suppose it was too much to hope that you would not be lucid enough to recall such events, but how did you realize it was me? I doubt you are some sort of esper...´´
She also spoke with a different voice too…, soft and collected, as if nothing could surprise her.
``You see, its not polite to leave someone hanging when they are asking you questions...my little snowflake´´
It took her a moment to realize that she had been lost in thought. She tried to shake her head, but found it hard to when her eyes remained almost drawn to look at hers...
-You.. just don't feel like them...-
The woman's nose wriggled in disgust when she read the words, distant emotions flaring through her eyes though it was so fast that it could have been her imagination as she rapidly pulled back in, resting one of her longs over the other while she folded her arms below her chest.
Her suit was the same as the one she had to have been wearing back then, but this one did not share the smell of death the other one had.
Actually, it smelled like roses…, fresh and pure. With a little hint of ice in the air.
``I see…., I will take that as a compliment then´´
The two of them merely remained silent for a while after that.
The blonde woman leaft a tired sigh escape through her lips as she rub the back of her head, a dispassionate look as her eyes land on the broken remnants of her mascara that was now laying on the floor.
``Now I think all of this was a waste of time…., guess that I should have not tried to be such a kind hearten man then´´
Perhaps, it was true that her attempt to stay in character had been the thing that had ultimately shed light over who she really was. But she was good, that mask had looked so real...she would give her that.
But right now that was not what mattered. There was a question that had lingered for a while now, and she needed to know.
Slowly, she picked up the pen and set up to write again.
-Whats your name?-
A look of amusement once again flared up from the cold, stylish apathy in her beautiful face. Slender fingers playing and toying with the loose strands of plated gold that fell over her shoulders.
``Cant tell you yet, sweetheart. I don't even know yours...´´
Fair enough, though it seemed the two of them would still have to refer to one another as stranger and child, nothing new of her routine, they had given her names...but she doubted those were the ones she was asking her of. She decided to press on something else.
-Why did you do it?-
She stopped tugged a lose strand of hair with one of her fingers, a strange look in the depths of those cat like eyes. As if considering whether it was worth the effort or not before she hummed to herself a melody that she did not recognize.
The woman then leaned against the chair, as if striking a pose, remaining like that for an entire minute. Chewing her lips before they were warped into a smile, practiced, fake before placing one of her delicate fingers over those plump red lips.
``I cant say darling..´´
She cocked her head to the side, puzzled. That did not deter the stranger as she slowly stood up from her seat and approached her. Her golden mane looming above her as she leaned to whisper something at the back of her neck.
``A secret makes a woman, woman….´´
She merely blinked, the beeping sounds of the machine filling the eerie silence between them until she slowly moved the pencil with whatever strength she had left, placing the notebook over the woman's lap before she fell against the mattress.
-So the gender doesn't matter?-
For the first time since they met, a genuine smile warps shyly around the older woman's lips, a strange glint in her eyes as she regards the little girl before her with renew interest.
``You really are something else….my dear snowflake´´
ºº
It was late at night when the plane took off from the runway, its massive metal frame breaking through the thick clouds that had started swarming the skies hours prior until not even the brightest of stars could peer through them.
Quickly turning darker and colder as the minutes went on until the humid winds became nothing but a full blown storm. The rain hammering its way in against her small window before they slid away into the vast beyond of the night silently.
It would not be long before the first turbulence began to shake the structure, rocking it back and forth like it was made out of paperclips. With the deep howling of the wind it almost felt that the rotors would be ripped out from the very wings as they continued their simple task keep afloat the massive hunk of steel in the air.
She did not mind though, in fact, she would go as far to say that she felt rather relaxed. Though perhaps she was alone in that sentiment...
Paying the entire mess merely a side glance she ducked back towards the newspaper she was holding between her hands, its content no more important than a clean toothpick in a public bath, yet far more interesting than the brief lightning spots coursing through the air.
A thunderous roar always not far behind their stellar counterpart.
She ignored the way people screamed around her, some even going as far to start praying to whatever gods they believed. If they knew the probability of an accident in the air they would probably felt a bit of shame for the spectacle they were protagonists of.
Another shriek echoed through the passengers cabin as another brush of wind turn off momentarily the lights of the plane, prompting the air masks to fall from their positions and started hanging around her. She would not have wait long before hearing the voices of the stewardesses trying their best to calm the passengers down as well as advising them to prepare in case for the worst.
They would have better luck talking to a wall if things continue to develop as they seem. She shook her head, it was pointless to have that against them, rational thinking wasn't the only thing that drove human action after all.
A certain detail that she was not exempt off she thought with a small pang of bitterness. Specifically at the events that had left her here in the first place.
She had known that the first plane to Japan would be going through a tempest in the making through the pacific, it was not the most practical choice she had made, but not one she regretted on the slightest, even when she knew that it was far from ideal to use public transportation after a job.
The dangers that it implied to play with politics were a little higher than common murder, but nothing that she didn't know about. Still she should have known better though it wasn't pride that had forced her hand.
A certain someone started warping around the corners of her mind, those sapphire eyes shining brightly even under the cover of the night and that golden mane that seemed to glow on its own.
The ghost of a grimace started forming around the edges of her lips while her grasp over the newspaper started to tighten ever so slightly. It did not matter, not really... she had pulled it through regardless of the inconveniences, even if that meant slipping through active controls through the airport.
Had it been a pain? It surely have been even though nothing had gone wrong…
Was it worth it? Indeed it was.
All to avoid her….
This time the emotions in her heart managed to rapture through the stoic mask of apathy that she had prided herself for so long as she found herself starting to grind her teeth against one another.
She really hated when she was right. Rational thinking wasn't the only thing that drove human action. She wanted to laugh, to sneer at the mere thought that she was running away only because of her, but she had no other words to describe her outlandish change of mind and following escape.
Because It was her
The words hanged above her head for a moment, her purple eyes glinting with a silent promise before her expression finally shifted back to a cold mask of indifference. She closed her eyes, a sight of resignation escaping through her lips as her mind went back to the very point this mess had taken place, how simple things had been prior to it.
Just a day after her deed was done the message arrive at her spare flip phone. She had used a different phone not registered in the data banks to slip the blocked entry's and locate her. It was too late when she realized what she had done when she clicked that cursed bottom.
She was coming to meet her…
Vermouth was coming to meet her. She did not say when or how, only where she wished for the reunion to occur. Arthouse, the proud yet elegant the hotel of her choosing since she had set foot on the states for the job.
Why..? The woman had refused to share anything of use through the box. Just the same thing, that there was something that she wanted to speak with her, that she needed to speak with her. A private matter.
Only stating that once she was there she would explain.
….
….
The gall of that woman.
She did not know whether Vermouth had put much thought about her plan or if it had been just another whim on the moment like she used to do from time to time, what she knew was that she was grateful that she had thought convenient to warn her in advance before latching herself towards the nearest plane to America to catch her to talk.
Whatever she wanted to..talk about.
She refused. After all, hadn't she told her to never trust a witch..? She would not commit the same mistake, not again.
Whatever games or whims she wanted to accomplish….then she was free to do so alone, no need to involve her. Perhaps she was hoping that she would make use of her reasoning and wait the heat to go down before moving away, enough time to allow her to cross the world
A pang of shame crossed her mind as she felt her heart ache a bit..., but it would not last. She had not been any different than the rest.
She could not avoid her eyes from glaring at the small of a notebook coming out from her bag. No longer it bored the bright colors it had back then, its surface worn out by the passing of time and the use it had been subjected it through out the years by both she and her mentor. It had been a faithful tool, it had been the first present she ever had...even if she had shown her true colors in the end, the symbol it represent would not fade away.
With her thoughts finally at rest she managed to pull away from the notebooks influence, back towards what she had been reading before. A gleam appeared on her eyes as she turned the pages of the newspaper, a certain subject grabbing her attention, especially the picture of a certain man she had seem not that long ago.
She was thankful that no one was around to notice the subject of her new found amusement as she eyed with hunger the massive headlines printed that almost filled the entire sheet of the section.
-"A US senator is murdered during his birthday speech before his guests!-
``Oh...so they are already making it public?´´
It was not strange, the outlets were always working and fighting between each other to get the exclusive to write the news as fast as they could. What it was peculiar was that they had done so when there was literally no time for them to make a proper outlet of what they wanted to talk about.
Which meant, that this.., which she was holding was just hot words and a waste of paper. Something that was confirmed as she peered through the pages. Much to her chagrin.
The media had seem fit not to share much of the disturbing elements of the event, riddled with fancy words and exaggerations left and right. Writing for the sake of writing, they had not even added images of what had been left behind once the bullet popped the pigs head like a balloon.
The wind had redirected the bullet upwards, not that it had changed the end result anyways..
At least there were disparaging theories of who could have been behind to supplement where the outlet failed on. A love quarrel gone wrong, a politic rival…,some idiot even said that he had not been shot with a gun but with a cannon.
She tossed the newspaper to the sit next to her before she started leaning against her seat. Gods.., how people could be so stupid so many times….
Firing a canon..? Really? That was the best they could come up with? Well, perhaps knowing the common iq of the common folk it should not have surprised her as much as it did. At least they had not said his head exploded with confetti.
Though perhaps she spoke to soon...
``I am surrounded by idiots….´´
She muttered to herself, if nothing else.
``Did you said something miss?´´
Spoke out a voice breaking her out of her musings, young, almost shaking out of breath. With a quick side glance she realized that the owner of that voice was none other than one of the air hostess, short raven black hair falling around her shoulder. Slim built, barely any muscle...just looks.
Not a threat she assessed before even deigning to respond to query at hand..
``No, nothing at all...´´
She replied absentminded, not looking back at the girl that was now standing right behind her as she focused on the clock in her right arm. She did not wait for an answer, nor she wanted it. Another turbulence shook the plane, stopping whatever the girl was gonna say as she tried to hold onto dear life to the closest thing she could grasp on.
While the entire flight was going on through another wave of screams and cries she pulled out a blindfold and placed it over her eyes. It would be bad if she were to arrive tired at her destination.
It was gonna be a long flight….
``I-I see….´´
Replied the brunette, clearly not buying her response but not willing to say it out loud with the way her voice wavered at the end. Or perhaps it had to do with the way she was barely holding onto her balance.
She waited a second, then another but noted that the woman had yet to move away. Why was she still standing, what was she waiting for? One of her hands slowly moved towards the hidden holster in her jackets inner pockets. She stopped before her fingers graced the edge of the handle.
No..
There was no need for this. She was not one of them..
``Is there a problem?´´
She questioned dryly and deadpan. Seemingly catching the girl by surprise if the sudden gasp and the shift of her feet were anything to talk about.
She also could feel the girls face starting to crease with curiosity and wonder.
``No, nothing just…curious, I have never seem someone as pale as you miss.´´
Well, that was a given...
`` Are you feeling ill? Should I fetch you some medicine? Do you need help´´
The thought of why she was bothering her in the first place did come across, but was quickly tossed aside.
Sometimes, well intentional people were just that, a nuisance.
``That wont be necessary….´´
``Are you sure? I mean, that skin tone can not be natural-´´
Even though her eyes were blindfolded and could not technically see her, she still cocked her head in her direction.
Her lips that had been stiff with a simple nameless expression twisting into a scowl.
``Did I stutter?´´
She replied with all due haste, shutting off whatever the girl was going to come out next, she heard her take a step back as if visible striken by the scathing tone of her voice, or perhaps it was because poor balance when another turbulance shook the entire structure.
She did not know, nor she cared.
``N-no you did not´´
``Good, then there must be no problem with my appearance, now go….I have no need of your presence any longer´´
She waved her left arm to the sides to reinforce the message that she was not needed nor desired. This time it seemed that she got the memo as she heard her take a few steps back.
``I see, still if you need anything at all don't mind to ask, miss….´´
``I don't think I will´´
``Why?´´
Why indeed, she could name a few dozen reasons, but only one left her lips, much to her bemusement and the annoyance of the girl.
``Because I said so..´´
