Split

Chapter 11: The Moderator

Mr Wheeler was in a raincoat sitting at a bus stop seemingly waiting for someone. It was already nightfall and the sky was pouring rain heavily accompanied by thunder and lightning. He was shivering and couldn't stop himself from checking his watch every now and again. A dark figure appeared seated next to him in a white, wintery coat with the letter M at it's left side. All he did was give a sigh of relief.

"Took you long enough," he said, still shivering.

"Good on you to pick a place I'd get wet. This doesn't just happen, you know?" the figure spoke up in a feminine voice.

Mr. Wheeler's voice grew angrier. "Why'd you kill her? She was my wife!" He said frustratingly. The dark figure removed her ice white Hood to reveal her dark brown hair, blue, calming eyes and delicate features one could only characterise as those of none other than Lisa Mendes.

"Miriam was a liability. Plus, you didn't even love her," Lisa argued.

"She was my best friend, Lisa. I get that you're the Moderator and all but–" Lisa cut him off with a death stare – one like the one she gave him on the day she killed Mrs. Wheeler.

"I have what you want – you can live a new life in California. You can be you. Maybe even find a boyfriend," she chuckled and handed him a flight ticket and a package of money.

"Thank you but what about Pheobe?" He asked.

"She isn't here right now, Cole. You don't have to act like a father," she replied. He took the ticket and the money and stood up.

"We should've rejected your offer. Who in there right minds allows themselves to do the bidding of a 12 year old?" He grunted. A bus began to approach them and stopped where he was. "Goodbye," he added and got onto the bus. Lisa simply waved at him and smiled.

2009
In white room sat at the dinning table a little girl with illusive brown hair put into pigtails. She was in a white princess dress wearing a tiny tiara. The table had tiny scrapping on it and appeared quite old. She had one picture of a sophisticated woman with blonde hair and lipstick that was as red as blood gently held at her fingertips.

"Fieré," the little girl whispered and let out her index finger. A small flame stood stationary above her finger as though it were a candle. She smiled and brought her finger closer to the picture. A flame grew at its corner and began to spread out to the rest of the picture. The girl watched in awe and admiration but got removed from her gaze by the opening of the door.

"Elisabeth?" a feminine voice called out. Lisa quickly stepped on the picture to remove the fire. By the time it was gone, the woman in the picture appeared into the room as Lisa sat expectantly of her arrival, smiling.

"Hello, Aunty Cecile. What's wrong?" she asked. Cecile smiled and walked over to her. She lowered herself to the child's height.

"Well, my little poodle-puff, I got your teddy back from the rude neighbours but it didn't come back in one piece," Cecile pouted and handed her a small bright blue teddy bear with a pink bow tie. It's right eye had seemingly been pulled off. Lisa received it and began to gently pet it.

"It's okay, Larry," she smiled at him, "We all have scars." Cecile gave her a disapproving stare and sighed. She smiled once more.

"Anyway, get your knives. It's time for practice," she said.

"Why can't I just use magic in combat?" Lisa pouted.

"There are times when you can't use magic so aunty says use knives," she replied and opened the door to Lisa.

"I'm 6, Cecile. Am I supposed to play with knives?" Lisa asked and got an eye roll from her aunt. Lisa left, still not quite happy as the teddy bear remained in the room, it's eyes momentarily having a small red coloured streak of light.