"Wha-... That's-"
"Shhhh, it's our little secret," Josie came up to Meddy with a grin spreading, "wanna try it?"
Meddy couldn't believe her eyes, struggling to maintain her balance as she stumbled forward and picked it up. With the instrument nestled between her lap and her right arm she plucked a single string. The note resonated around the room. "Here, this' a C chord," Josie laced Meddy's fingers between the frets along its neck before strumming the chord. She watched as the strings vibrated over the sound box, their tones overlapping in perfect harmony.
"Wow..." was the only word she could make out sitting in awe of the instrument in front of her. She was still stumped how Josie managed to get her hands on such a rare find - and illegal property at that, but she guessed it was probably better not to ask, instead chose to focus on learning to play it. Just like that, playing random chords and fingering the likeness of 'Eternity' Josie and Meddy spent what must have been hours in the music room. They sat under the spotlight, and for that perfect lapse in time oblivious to the atrocity of the world outside, the notes of the guitar mingled and formed a perfect melody and right then everything seemed to align.
Meddy guessed they had already spent hours in the music room. It was hard to tell the time, but she imagined it was dark outside and she smiled bitterly not wanting to leave the beautiful evening behind. Buying some time she leaned on Josie's shoulder and sighed happily. "Thanks Josie, you absolutely made my day."
"Hey, you know this will aways be here right? Whenever you want some time with it, just call me."
Josie smiled. She was always aloof, but through it all she always seemed to know when Meddy or Kate was down and just how to remedy the situation. Once again she had been the one to pick Meddy up. Gabriel? Who was that? Whatever threat he posed Meddy would get to the bottom of it, after all, she wan't alone. Josie had taught her that.
"I wish this day could last forever." She said longingly.
"But time doesn't wait, does it?" Josie stared up at the ceiling, "You know I'm risking my ass taking this out for you, don't you think I deserve better than the long face?" Josie gave Meddy a poke on the side.
"Ahhgh, that tickles!" Meddy squealed as Josie continued to squeeze her sides, clearly amused as she continued to put Meddy though the agonising tickles.
"Gosh, I should've just done this from the start."
"Hey stop it!" Meddy managed. This time Josie complied. Getting up she told Meddy it was getting late and they should both start making their way home.
"Wouldn't want to miss mother's concoction of beef stew, you know," she winked.
-
Indeed light had fell and it was past evening. As she and Josie parted ways Meddy stopped for a moment to take in the night, contemplating her next move. Confronting a Companion would be difficult. They were made to be unletting stoic creatures so Meddy knew she couldn't just ask him in a straight manner. She had to come down on him, hard. How would she ween the truth out of him? Standing there she lost herself deep in thought.
A gust of wind blew past waking Meddy from her stupor. She mused with the idea of locking him in a torcher room without food or water, allowing herself a small smile at the thought. He would deserve it.
-
"Meddy! Where have you been? I've been worried sick! I almost thought-"
Pause. Meddy waited for her to continue.
"You know. Never mind, the important thing is that you're back," Mother said smally, giving her a tight hug.
"I'm sorry Mum."
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm great Mum," Meddy mumbled and quietly, she said, "and don't worry, I'll show Gabriel around town tomorrow, since it's Saturday." She didn’t wait for Mother’s reply, instead retired into her room, the sweet memories from the music room still lulling it’s tender melody in her head. After a good long shower Meddy lay face-down on her bed, giving her hair time to dry on its own. Then a thought ran through her mind - how could she being Gabriel around anyway, or at least without looking like a lunatic with a lock-down Companion? Those freaky eyes too. She would have to get rid of them. She hoped they wouldn't bump into anyone familiar tomorrow. More importantly, how would she reply if they asked who he was? Meddy still refused to acknowledge him as a family member, even of Mother did. She then decided to just pretend he was some house guest. He could be the son of one of Mother's friend coming here to study or something. Then no one would realise she was lying even if she proceeded to bring Gabriel straight home with her. Meddy gave herself a small smile. Whatever may happen, she intended put tomorrow to full use and weed the truth out of Gabriel when she got the chance. Then she could properly deal with him, maybe even find out more about Daddy's situation in the process.
-
Meddy rose early to the next morning. She drew in a deep breathe. The start of a new day. She threw her bag on her bed along with some other stuff - her wallet, some sweets, an umbrella, a good book, and a taser (the milder-but-still-deadly ones for self-defence). After packing her bag she got ready and changed then headed to the breakfast table.
"How was your sleep, miss sunshine?" Mother looked sprightly.
"Nhh, great. Where's he?" she replied, gesturing towards the guest room. Just then he emerged from the living room, carrying couple of boxes stacked up in his hands before loading them off in his room. Meddy decided against asking what they were and started on her cereal instead. As she picked on the last grains he was sitting at the table, waiting placidly in a corner.
"Come with me," she gestured for Gabriel to follow her into her room. She pulled out her drawer and called out her makeup. Hearing Gabriel trailing behind her she told him to close the door. First thing first, extracted a pair of dark brown contacts for him to put on and threw it in his direction. "Here, wear it." He put them on without question. She proceeded to take his hand and smathered a combination of concealer and even some nude blush about his wrist. After twisting it about and examining her work, she smiled, satisfied. At least now he looked like a functioning and legit human being.
"So I'll grab my bag and we can get moving!" she said with false enthusiasm. It was better than the bitterness that was starting to onset.
Once him and Meddy were out of the house she turned on her heels and headed straight out without giving him so much as a glance. They visited the viewing galleries - where people can get their retail therapy in the weekends. There were food stalls too. She headed to one and ordered a cookies and cream flavoured ice cream. Josie always teased that cookies and cream ice creams were for kids, but after years of browsing the ice cream flavour pallet Meddy always gravitated back to that flavour. She hadn't bother offering him one because Companions could just suck on their food pills. "Now we're left with the park and the church," she mumbled, striking one location off her mental list. The town wasn't much, just a bunch of mavericks to entertain people when they had nothing better to do. After walking past the church, they were strolling in the park. This is it.
Meddy slipped the taser out from her bag then swung it out suddenly, advancing aggressively at Gabriel. His expression didn't let up a hint of surprise, but instead he held both hands in the air and backed up against a tree. Just what she was going for. "Now I want the truth from you, or I don't what I'll do with you after you pass out form my taser. Got that?" Meddy snarled in a dangerously quiet voice. He nodded. "Good. Now why are you here?! What are your intentions and did something happen with my father," she demanded. He just stared at her blankly. It took every fiber in her to stop herself from boiling over and sticking the taser in his guts. "Well?!"
"Madeline. Your father sent me here to protect you. I promised him I would protect you and Mrs. Watson. I used to work under him in his lab, he made me, as his personal assistant. Your father hadn't left me with anyway to contact him, and I have no idea what is going on his end, only that I have to protect my master's family. Please, calm down. I have no ill intentions in coming here," was the only excuse he could give. The anger bubbling in her threatened to come up her throat. How could he possibly bring her father in his lie? She didn't care for all the protests her Mother made about the taser being an inhumane weapon. She forced it straight into his chest and allowed a smile to snake up her face. Except, the smile never made its way up her face. Two seconds passed and Gabriel was still standing there, as if the buzzing sound of the taser mean it wasn't live or something. He was frowning and giving her a funny look, like she should have known a taser wouldn't work on a Companion.
Meddy slowly lowered the taser from his chest. Needless to say she was mortified, and tears of frustration started flowing from her eyes, blaming her for her own helplessness. She felt her cheeks burning as she dropped her gaze, unsure of what to do. He took the taser from her hands and discharged it. Meddy flinched at his touch and in her rage her fist flew out at him and connected with his jaw - if a taser wouldn't work then she would beat the crap out of him. She threw her other fist at him, and another one. Even after about five of her furious blows Gabriel was still standing, but he had taken them all. By three more blows Meddy was exhausted fell to her knees, watching the blood streaming down her knuckles. She guessed she had dislocated one or two of them. When she saw him bending down and reaching for her hands, she snatched them away and snarled, hurling her fist for another punch. He easily caught it with one hand, and his other hand suddenly reached down between her ribs. All she could remember was a sharp pain in her diaphragm and the wind knocked out of her breath, before she blacked out.
"I wish this day could last forever." She said longingly.
"But time doesn't wait, does it?" Josie stared up at the ceiling, "You know I'm risking my ass taking this out for you, don't you think I deserve better than the long face?" Josie gave Meddy a poke on the side.
"Ahhgh, that tickles!" Meddy squealed as Josie continued to squeeze her sides, clearly amused as she continued to put Meddy though the agonising tickles.
"Gosh, I should've just done this from the start."
"Hey stop it!" Meddy managed. This time Josie complied. Getting up she told Meddy it was getting late and they should both start making their way home.
"Wouldn't want to miss mother's concoction of beef stew, you know," she winked.
-
Indeed light had fell and it was past evening. As she and Josie parted ways Meddy stopped for a moment to take in the night, contemplating her next move. Confronting a Companion would be difficult. They were made to be unletting stoic creatures so Meddy knew she couldn't just ask him in a straight manner. She had to come down on him, hard. How would she ween the truth out of him? Standing there she lost herself deep in thought.
A gust of wind blew past waking Meddy from her stupor. She mused with the idea of locking him in a torcher room without food or water, allowing herself a small smile at the thought. He would deserve it.
-
"Meddy! Where have you been? I've been worried sick! I almost thought-"
Pause. Meddy waited for her to continue.
"You know. Never mind, the important thing is that you're back," Mother said smally, giving her a tight hug.
"I'm sorry Mum."
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm great Mum," Meddy mumbled and quietly, she said, "and don't worry, I'll show Gabriel around town tomorrow, since it's Saturday." She didn’t wait for Mother’s reply, instead retired into her room, the sweet memories from the music room still lulling it’s tender melody in her head. After a good long shower Meddy lay face-down on her bed, giving her hair time to dry on its own. Then a thought ran through her mind - how could she being Gabriel around anyway, or at least without looking like a lunatic with a lock-down Companion? Those freaky eyes too. She would have to get rid of them. She hoped they wouldn't bump into anyone familiar tomorrow. More importantly, how would she reply if they asked who he was? Meddy still refused to acknowledge him as a family member, even of Mother did. She then decided to just pretend he was some house guest. He could be the son of one of Mother's friend coming here to study or something. Then no one would realise she was lying even if she proceeded to bring Gabriel straight home with her. Meddy gave herself a small smile. Whatever may happen, she intended put tomorrow to full use and weed the truth out of Gabriel when she got the chance. Then she could properly deal with him, maybe even find out more about Daddy's situation in the process.
-
Meddy rose early to the next morning. She drew in a deep breathe. The start of a new day. She threw her bag on her bed along with some other stuff - her wallet, some sweets, an umbrella, a good book, and a taser (the milder-but-still-deadly ones for self-defence). After packing her bag she got ready and changed then headed to the breakfast table.
"How was your sleep, miss sunshine?" Mother looked sprightly.
"Nhh, great. Where's he?" she replied, gesturing towards the guest room. Just then he emerged from the living room, carrying couple of boxes stacked up in his hands before loading them off in his room. Meddy decided against asking what they were and started on her cereal instead. As she picked on the last grains he was sitting at the table, waiting placidly in a corner.
"Come with me," she gestured for Gabriel to follow her into her room. She pulled out her drawer and called out her makeup. Hearing Gabriel trailing behind her she told him to close the door. First thing first, extracted a pair of dark brown contacts for him to put on and threw it in his direction. "Here, wear it." He put them on without question. She proceeded to take his hand and smathered a combination of concealer and even some nude blush about his wrist. After twisting it about and examining her work, she smiled, satisfied. At least now he looked like a functioning and legit human being.
"So I'll grab my bag and we can get moving!" she said with false enthusiasm. It was better than the bitterness that was starting to onset.
Once him and Meddy were out of the house she turned on her heels and headed straight out without giving him so much as a glance. They visited the viewing galleries - where people can get their retail therapy in the weekends. There were food stalls too. She headed to one and ordered a cookies and cream flavoured ice cream. Josie always teased that cookies and cream ice creams were for kids, but after years of browsing the ice cream flavour pallet Meddy always gravitated back to that flavour. She hadn't bother offering him one because Companions could just suck on their food pills. "Now we're left with the park and the church," she mumbled, striking one location off her mental list. The town wasn't much, just a bunch of mavericks to entertain people when they had nothing better to do. After walking past the church, they were strolling in the park. This is it.
Meddy slipped the taser out from her bag then swung it out suddenly, advancing aggressively at Gabriel. His expression didn't let up a hint of surprise, but instead he held both hands in the air and backed up against a tree. Just what she was going for. "Now I want the truth from you, or I don't what I'll do with you after you pass out form my taser. Got that?" Meddy snarled in a dangerously quiet voice. He nodded. "Good. Now why are you here?! What are your intentions and did something happen with my father," she demanded. He just stared at her blankly. It took every fiber in her to stop herself from boiling over and sticking the taser in his guts. "Well?!"
"Madeline. Your father sent me here to protect you. I promised him I would protect you and Mrs. Watson. I used to work under him in his lab, he made me, as his personal assistant. Your father hadn't left me with anyway to contact him, and I have no idea what is going on his end, only that I have to protect my master's family. Please, calm down. I have no ill intentions in coming here," was the only excuse he could give. The anger bubbling in her threatened to come up her throat. How could he possibly bring her father in his lie? She didn't care for all the protests her Mother made about the taser being an inhumane weapon. She forced it straight into his chest and allowed a smile to snake up her face. Except, the smile never made its way up her face. Two seconds passed and Gabriel was still standing there, as if the buzzing sound of the taser mean it wasn't live or something. He was frowning and giving her a funny look, like she should have known a taser wouldn't work on a Companion.
Meddy slowly lowered the taser from his chest. Needless to say she was mortified, and tears of frustration started flowing from her eyes, blaming her for her own helplessness. She felt her cheeks burning as she dropped her gaze, unsure of what to do. He took the taser from her hands and discharged it. Meddy flinched at his touch and in her rage her fist flew out at him and connected with his jaw - if a taser wouldn't work then she would beat the crap out of him. She threw her other fist at him, and another one. Even after about five of her furious blows Gabriel was still standing, but he had taken them all. By three more blows Meddy was exhausted fell to her knees, watching the blood streaming down her knuckles. She guessed she had dislocated one or two of them. When she saw him bending down and reaching for her hands, she snatched them away and snarled, hurling her fist for another punch. He easily caught it with one hand, and his other hand suddenly reached down between her ribs. All she could remember was a sharp pain in her diaphragm and the wind knocked out of her breath, before she blacked out.
No comments:
Post a Comment