I watch as Madeleine turns the corner into the dark cellblock. Pissed off enough she doesn't even care I have our only source of light. Asides from the odd demand she gave about how he knew her name of all things, and then yelled at me for wanting to get approval first before letting the journalist out. This is the angriest I've seen her so far tonight since meeting.
What the hell was that about? "You go look for her then," she said with strong acidity. Like she wanted to smack me or strangle me for simply suggesting we go find Ada. Then she said she'd go look for Claire and I foolishly realized that it must've sounded like I was ignoring looking for her just to go find Ada.
Ada... I don't know how I feel about her yet. She's definitely closed off to the both of us on everything. Any other time I would understand, but not in the middle of a zombie infested city with other monsters like the one we fought in that underground. She claims she's F.B.I., and I'd like to believe that too after the last hour of hell Madeleine and I have been through in this basement alone.
Giving Ben's body one last glance. "Madeleine!" I shout and chase after her to see she's at the end of the cell block.
She looks over her shoulder, "What?"
Reaching her and ignoring the growls in the cells behind us. I grab a shoulder to make her look at me, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she mumbles, the word bounces around in my head. Nothing. Her reaction isn't nothing, she seemed to be getting better. More accepting of my contact and attempts at communication until...
"Do you have a problem with Ada?" I demand, and I'd be lying if the widening of her eyes as if caught off by the question isn't somehow endearing. It's best to not beat around the bush though. We're not in a place for this kind of stuff, not that I ever want to be here again after the four long years of high school. Or after what I went through with Grace just to get here...
She shrugs my hand off and takes a step back, "No." I'm unable to read her to resolve if she's telling the truth or lying. Shaking her head, "We need to find Claire, she's probably gone now with how long we've taken," she interrupts my scrutinizing. Just like that she turns around again to leave through the door. I want to let her go, let her get over whatever's made her angry by herself, but then that gloved hand comes back to mind and I tag along. I didn't see the face behind it, just the hand and arm, but if both were strong enough to move through brick like it was water. It's safer we stay together.
"Hey," I grab her wrist this time and she twirls around with wide eyes again that would match mine if I didn't keep a serious and nonchalant face. I comprehend just how close we are then for the first time since that unknown area when a faint floral scent reaches my nose I hadn't caught before. Maybe because she's still soaked to the bone and it's close to being masked by her sweat. It's coming from her, her shampoo maybe? God, she smells...
Breaking the train of thought right there. I let go of her wrist instantly. Backing up a good foot, I can't notice those kinds of things. I shouldn't be after just breaking up with Grace, and for Christ's sake, there are zombies walking around.
The fact alone that Madeleine's reaction to the Chief dodging getting arrested in college for sexual assault tells me something happened that should make me sick for thinking that way about her. He did something to her. It's clear, considering even Ben asked, "Did he..." and when I touched her shoulder. She pushed it away. Hard. Harder than any other time she's pushed me, with a look on her face like back on the road that it wasn't me she was seeing. But someone else.
"'Sorry," I mumble, and she crosses her arms, far from angry. She appears more confused than anything, but from what, I don't know. "I'm sorry for grabbing you like that," I apologize, ignoring, how my brain won't stop picking up whatever perfume clings to her. Focusing on the awkwardness grabbing her wrist caused. I don't mean to hurt her or make her uncomfortable whenever I put a hand on her. Whether in an intimate manner, to calm, or to help with something, touching is a habit I had with Grace. A habit that's hard to shake, and seems like it's going to get me in trouble with Madeleine.
YOU ARE READING
The 0714 Files: File #1 Inferno (Remake 2)
Horror"I think you're going to learn a lot of things about this city and the people that you won't want to." Madeleine Sówka has spent the last twelve years of her life believing she knows what monsters look like. They are the people who hide in the backg...
