Thank goodness it didn't rain last night, I thought as I pull myself up from lying against my black cherry tree. My sanctuary. It is always so peaceful here for me that I find myself easily slipping into and getting lost in the written word of my novels. An escape from the world in motion around me; I would gladly trade places with Elizabeth Bennet – just one day would be enough.
To be surrounded by friends and family, finding love in the most unexpected of places. Taking part in the rituals of the olden days: Dances, the silken gowns sweeping across the tile floors in unison. Blushing young women catching the eyes of the male bystanders, dazzling them into engagement. Ah me...
If only life was so.
"Danella!" a warm voice calls my eyes over, seeing a silver haired young man strolling towards me. His gleaming smile lights up his emerald eyes as he surveys my ruffled appearance. Nothing less can be expected from sleeping outside against a tree.
"Riku," I subtly bow my head to him with a kind smile that does not reach my eyes. My instinct keeps me distant from this young man, "good morning to you."
"And to you," he said as he reaches up to my hair, I have to fight back the urge to jerk away as he does so. A twig falls from my golden locks as Riku drops his leather gloved hand. "another night under the cherry tree I see."
Oh, so that's why he did it. My cheeks warm to the touch.
"That's me." I shrug. I sleep out here almost every night. Not on purpose of course. His expression visually softens as he gazes into my eyes. He believes I work too much. To the contrary; I believe I do not work enough.
"I still wish you would consider my offer," his starlight hair streams out with the light morning breeze, "there is always the guess room in my abode for you to accompany. I could support you; you wouldn't need to work another day."
I shake my head, denying his offer once again. "Riku, I appreciate your support, but it wouldn't feel right of me to do so. I manage well as I am now. I prefer to work for my living. It may not be much, but it keeps bread on the table."
"But your parents made-"
"I know." I cut him off sharply, "I know...they made the arrangement with your family that you and I were to be married, but, it wasn't in the agreement that I had to accept your help or hospitality in the mean time."
I still find it hard to believe that my parents have betrothed me to another. Let alone without telling me. They must have settled it before they...died. I was seventeen then - they could have told me. Instead, I had to hear it from Riku himself as he met me at the hospital that dreadful day I lost my family.
I do not want to get married now. Especially to someone I hardly know. However, according to the law of the land, I am now of legal age. Nineteen, I'm now considered a woman. An engaged woman nonetheless.
"Danella, I know how you feel. But sooner or later, you are going to have to come to terms with the fact that you and I will be married." without the excuse of twigs in my hair, Riku slips his fingers into my wavy locks, making my stomach twist, my gaze fall to the ground as he whispers in my ear, "Come spring time, you shall be dressed in white, walking down a flower-sprinkled aisle to join me in holy matrimony."
I feel my calm snap. I don't want that! my heart screams in my chest, tears threatening to spill over my cheeks. Biting my lip, I pull myself together enough to look him in the eyes, brown-gold burning in determination. "That is if, by then, I have not found another, remember. Someone for whom I love."
Riku's eyes flash dangerously, I know very well he hates that condition of the contract. Should I find someone by the first spring of my nineteenth year, our engagement will be terminated. I will be free to love and wed another. He had tried to negotiate with his parents to change it. But it had all been in vain, the contract was signed. And my parents are dead...there is nothing that could be done about it.
"Yes, I remember. And yet you remain loveless. The months roll by quickly; before you know it, you will be out of time and it will be our wedding day."
And with that, he turns sharply and walks off.
Pride and Prejudice, for which has had my nails digging into its spine, finds itself plummeting to the grassy earth as my body falls numb. My knees give out from under me. I am running out of time.
Three month. Three months in which I have to find someone, and fall in love.
Such things only happen in fairy tales, my thoughts drip with hopelessness.
Above my head, a single nightingale sang alone in the black cherry tree.
"Excuse me, miss, we're ready to place our orders." a kindly old man calls me over with a wave of a hand as I rush over to his table. A dainty old woman hangs by his arm, love written all over her face as she gazes upon her husband with adoring blue eyes.
"Of course," I smile sweetly at them, "what would you like this evening, sir?"
A smile can make all the difference in a customer's mind. A smile can make them feel welcome, while anything less would make them feel like an inconvenience. The bar buzzes with conversation, laughter and happiness. The Fountain is a popular place for people to gather, whether alone or in a party, you can always count on having a good time.
I am happy. I am a part of this business - that I am a part of brightening up another's day.
Plus the uniform is not that bad either. A sleeveless crimson jacket for which hugs the waist, with low buttons. A buttonless floral white, short sleeved, dress shirt. A black tie resting around the collar. A knee-high pleated black skirt.
"Danny!" a sing-song voice comes from behind the counter. Catherine, the bartender and owner of the joint, stands there chewing on her pencil as she waves me over. I giggle as I finish writing down the last of the orders and rush over to her. She only ever calls me 'Danny' when she wants something from me. Last time it was lip-gloss.
"What's up?" I asked as I lean onto the polished bench, arching one eyebrow with a slight smirk.
Catherine puts on her best puppy-pout, and bats her eyelashes as she speaks, "Can you do me a huge favour, Dan-dan? I gotta chance to finally catch up with my boyfriend"-her fifth one this month-"but the catch is that in order for that to happen, I gotta leave here, like, now..."
"And you want me to close up for you?" I know the answer even before the question leaves my lips.
"Yeeees. Can you? Oh please, can you?" she reaches over and grasps my hands. I laugh helplessly - there is no need to beg.
"Of course. You go off and have fun. I'll finish off here and lock up for yah."
She squeals. It is so high pitched, I bet it hurts the dogs that are running around outside the bar. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" she leaps over and kisses my cheek before she dashes out the staff door.
Oy vay, I shake my head hopelessly as I smile at her eagerness. To be in love. It seems so wonderful...
Cleaned tables; check. Chairs on tables; check. Swept floors; check. Doors locked...
Click. Check.
"Phew, what a night." I said, heaving my bag onto my sleeve, filled to the brim with my uniform, I turn for home. But I am stopped by three figures in the night. The musky smell of alcohol hanging in the air around them. They are drunk.
"Hey there, beautiful," one of the men, tripping over his own feet, said as he eyes me up. I shiver, feeling sick with fear as I searchd frantically for a way around them. There are none. The back entrance to The Fountain is in a dark narrow alley. Too narrow for me to get around them without being within their reach.
Grizzly hair, muddy clothes, these men's appearances scream dangerous. Hugging my bag closer to my front, I am forced backwards as I try to get as far away from them as I can.
"Why so scared, baby?" another one speaks up, his chuckle churning my stomach, "we just want to hang out...maybe get to know each other..."
Tears stain my cheeks as my back meets the coarse brick wall. Nowhere to go. I am helpless, defenceless, as a colossus hand covers my shoulder. I twist my face away as I feel the warmth of his breath brush against my skin.
Too close. Go away...please, sobs rock my frame. Struggling feebly, I swing my closed fist round to connect with his face. All that does is make him angry.
He grips my wrist so hard it feels like it might snap, blood circulation cutting off, making my fingers prickle. Pinning it up against the wall his other hand runs along my cheek as his companions laugh. Squeezing my eyes tightly shut, I try to convince myself it is all just a bad dream. I will wake up soon and find myself lying on a dining table in The Fountain. With one last chance, one last try, I suck in all my strength and let it out in a scream:
"Somebody help me!"
"Shut up, you little bitch!" my head is smacked back, hard, against the wall. Lights dance in front of my eyes, pain shooting down my spine. "Now, let's ha-"
A horrible gurgling sounds off from behind the man holding me. He turns to see his companions watching us, wide-eyed. Dark liquid frothing from their gaping mouths, their bodies quake as if cold air is seeping into their very bones.
Shaking away my tears, I gasp in horror as I look down to each of their torsos. Piercing through each of their chests, through the very centre, is a dark twisted claw. Stained in blood, crimson dripped from their palms. Like a knife through butter, filling my ears with the slurching of their innards, the claws are ripped back out of sight. Shaking stills as does the foaming at their mouths as they collapse face-first into the dirt. I squeal in fear of what stands behind them. A whole mob of drunken men could not hope to summon the fear in me I now hold.
Heartless. A whole flock of them, eyes burning, limbs twitching. Gasping, the man seems to have sobered up by the mere sight of them as he releases me and franticly dashes around for the alley opening. He does not get very far before he is absorbed by the darkness. Chest heaving, I grapple around for something to fend off the Heartless with as they turn their glowing gazes onto me. I throw scattered stones, no more than the size of my palm. Leftover trash. There is nothing more to use. Nothing more to do.
It is hopeless. But why should I be fighting back? Each step they take closer to me, is a step closer to joining my family. Roxas. Mother. Father. I will be with them soon. A content sigh slips through my lips as the bug-like Heartless draw closer and closer.
Finish me off...there's nothing here worth fighting for anymore.
Light flashes across my line of my vision. Startled, I leap back, hitting the wall once again as the Heartless are knocked back. Someone or...something is leaping about, fighting off the Heartless. Disappearing into vapour, one by one, they are destroyed. The phantom light of the moon can only cast so little light upon the scene before me. It must be playing tricks on me because the very thing that is skidding about, supposedly saving my life, looks human. And yet, it does not hold any weapons. That is impossible. No human alive could destroy a Heartless in one swipe.
The slashing and shushing sounds finally die down as the last Heartless is defeated. Heart racing, I clutch a fist to my chest, staring wide-eyed as my "saviour" pulls himself up straight. Seeing only his back, upright, he would stand about a full head higher than me. I see black tresses of hair spiked around his head.
Fear is gone. All that is left is calm. No more death. No more Heartless. No more...
Darkness drags me down into unconsciousness.
______________________________
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