Clockwork [final]

Twelve

Derek shook his head and buried his face in his hands, struggling to grasp what he had just learned. “I can hardly remember that. All I recall is those big green eyes.”

“Guess we both saved each other in a way,” she said quietly.

He looked up at her. “But why would you ever want to kill yourself? I don’t understand.”

“As a boy who’s been lower than low, I’d expect you of all people to understand,” she scoffed, attempting to seem joking but not quite succeeding to cover up the way her eyes clouded over.

“No, I mean… you’re just, you’re so brilliant. You’re intelligent, pretty, gentle, kind-“

“I’ve heard this all before,” Adette interrupted quickly. Then, after a moment, she sighed, avoiding his eyes. “Has it ever occurred to you that maybe I just can’t believe all of that?”

There was silence. Not angry silence, or a sad silence, just silence. Derek opened his mouth to speak when the silence was suddenly shattered by a loud ring, making them both jump. Before he could blink, she had disappeared into the kitchen; all he saw was a blur of red hair as she vanished around the doorframe. He got to his feet and stumbled after her, a little dazed.

He found her in the kitchen, staring at the caller ID with wide eyes; it was the same wide-eyed look she had acquired when she saw Kevin that day at the carnival. He peered over her shoulder, but he already had a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach that he knew why. “CALLER ID UNKNOWN,” the screen blinked. Both of them, at that moment, knew exactly who it was, even before the phone went to voicemail.

“Hello Adette. Just calling to say, I’m always watching. I see you and him. Him and you. That prick that you “love” now. Well, he’ll pay. You’ll both pay. You’re mine, Adette. You can’t run forever. I’ll get you, I swear I will. Oh, and what a charming story about your lover boy in high school. Fiction is always the best, isn’t it?”

There was the rasping sound of heavy breathing before he hung up. Derek’s eyes wandered from the phone to Adette’s face. She was ghostly pale and shaking. He was uncertain for a moment as to how he should comfort her, but settled for taking her into his arms and slowly rubbing her back. She started to sob.

“Hey, hey,” he soothed desperately, “It’s okay. He won’t really get you. He’s just a lunatic.”

“I’m so scared, Derek,” she whimpered. Every inch of her shook so violently that she could hardly stand. She was vaguely self-conscious, feeling like she was being pathetic, but couldn’t find it in her to care.

He guided her through into the living room and settled her on the couch, brushing a strand of fiery red hair from her forehead. Her mind was flooded with flashbacks; all she could smell was the stench of alcohol, and all she could see was the anger in his eyes as he had loomed over her, his fist raised. “You’re mine,” she heard him snarl, “If I can’t have you then no one can.” Derek frowned worriedly, seeing the distant look on her face; she seemed to be staring straight through him. In an attempt to bring her back to reality, he gently brushed her cheek with his fingers and tilted her chin so she had to look at him in the eye.

“You’ve got nothing to worry about. Even if the damned police won’t help us, I’m still here to protect you, forever and always, okay?”

She snapped out of it and seemed to make a conscious effort to stop crying, her breathing shaky as she rubbed at her face. She gave him a watery smile, tears still clinging to her eyelashes.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you anymore, honestly.”

“Did you have a comfort robot before you had me?” he joked, earning him a small, wobbly laugh. She leaned forward, coiling her arms around his neck and kissing him softly. Her lips tasted of salt.