All Cloaked Up For You

Chapter 27 - Sophia

I don't have time for this. I'm next on Joe's wedding list. I need to get away from the wasteland. My day after meeting C.M. was horrible. I miss him but separating is for a better cause. To destress, I went to the public library hoping to see any clues of Madeline. The woman said that Madeline is a plant mom so I went straight to the plant section instead. Oh well you know it, there are too many books about plants and nature. 

How would I be able to narrow that whole book in the catalog plants to books that have information about Madeline? At first, I went from flipping pages through books one by one but I still see no Madeline Windsor anywhere. Then I realized I could have done the easy way by checking the circulation due card that easily in the book and then looking for her name. Sometimes I wish I was smart at some decision-making.

Maybe the library took some of the old books and replaced them with new ones so I couldn't find a Maddie. Which is smart because that makes my search for her books faster. I begin looking at the old books. There were some in the section. I came across one book. "Hydrangeas" was the only book in the section that had her name. I want to learn about her because she was about to get married to him and I'm next. Probably soon. 

I want to know what steps Madeline took to try to escape him. I don't think she tried to escape Joe. I just want to learn what it was like being created and ordered by Joe before he changed his mind and wanted to like Madeline. There was nothing in that book. The address of her house from that history book from the other day was my only clue about her. It was weird for her to leave her address as a bookmark on that book. 

I went back home devastated that I found nothing. The hurt and hatred towards Joe have been strong since he killed my dad. AND LIED ABOUT IT. Why was it my dad he decided to kill? Maybe my dad has a specific blood they need to make Madeline. Why do they only need a ritual to make me into Madeline 2.0? I realized I already have the body frame of Madeline since I was born so all I needed was the ritual to create my personality. 

I thought I was different, but turns out I was made just like Madeline. Made from my mom but, also made from a ritual. I hated that word. Created. I thought I was a born human. I am but, you know what I'm confused. I'm a born human with a created personality. It doesn't make sense. Madeline was all created. I'm half and half. So what am I? Not human? I hate that Joe is now questioning my own life. 

Then what was I made for? To spy? I didn't want to spy, I wanted to be a teacher or a high-end student who finished in a prestigious school and moved into the city away from all the stealing, the despair, and the riots that had appeared a lot on the wasteland. Joe is making that difficult for me. He wants me to get married and stay in the wasteland with him for the rest of my life. I didn't agree to this wedding in the first place. 

I went back home. I'm too cold now. The moment I opened the door my mom was back early. "Hi Mom, why are you back so early?" I asked. "Just stole a lot today, that's why I'm back early," she said. My mom stared daggers at me. My mom raised the letter in her hands. "You didn't tell me you will have a wedding with Joe Tumbleweed." my mom said. WILL? I HAVE A WEDDING. Oh no.  "Again, I don't want to marry him," I asserted.

"Zip it. He is a good man. He has money, you should marry him he will keep you safe," my greedy ass mom said. "You don't know shit," I proclaimed. "Then what is it that makes you don't want to marry him?" she said. "Joe is too old for me and I don't like him." I tried to say something to make my mom disapprove of the wedding but that backfired since she wanted money. "You are going to marry anyways," she ordered. I can't believe her. 

I sighed. "No. I will not marry him." I retorted. "Then what is going to make me stop this wedding?" she asked. I breathed in too much air. "Joe fucking killed my dad," I yelled. My mom's eyes widen. "That's why you don't know shit! You weren't even present to hear what I was going to say to you. Just like that night at the apartment in the city." I yelled. My mom sighed. "Is this all true?" my mom asked. I cross my arms. I look at her with a distraught face. 

"Yes it is all true, do you believe that cars in the wasteland killed him when they don't have many cars here?" I asked. My mom grew silent. "Whether you like it or not, Joe murdered Dad," I said. "Sophia look I-" she said. "Now you choose. Do you want your daughter to marry someone who killed your husband or let your daughter be safe from him?" I asked. I shook my head. "You don't even care. I know you," I said and stormed outside. 

My mom followed me. "Look Sophia, I didn't know all about this. I'm sorry I wasn't there to be for you. I thought this wedding of yours would benefit your life. I didn't know that Joe killed your dad." she said. "You know damn well Mom. You knew that I was probably forced to marry him. You knew he might rape me. YOU KNEW." I yelled back. She paused. "Now how is that going to benefit me? Just because he is rich and has a nice lifestyle?" I asked. She stood silent.

"There are things you haven't told me about Dad throughout my life," I said. She raised her breaths. "You never told me his name, you never told me how much you love him, and you told me what he was like. I want to learn that now." I reformed. My mom came closer and sat by my side on the couch. I know she feels guilty inside. "I know that dad's death to you back then was so depressing but that doesn't mean for your daughter to not know about him," I scoffed.

"Like he's my dad, mom. Yet the only thing I know about him is that he is smart and I look like him." My mom put her hand on my shoulder and I pushed it away from me. "Sophia, your dad is Bailey Reynolds. I miss your dad very much but I didn't want to say anything because I was more focused on you. I'm sorry I haven't talked to you much about him since you were born. Your dad was a nice and smart man." My mom sighed.

I listened closely. My mom sighed. "Your dad was so smart that he had worked as a guard for Joe. Your dad got promoted every time. Your dad was the commander for Wasteland," she said. My eyes widen. "You never told me this until now." I scoffed. "Sorry," Mom said. "If you worked for a Tumbleweed family member for a long time, your blood is theirs. You die for them," she said. I zoned out for a bit. 

What my mom said can help me realize why Dad was killed by Joe. "The higher rank in the military you are, the higher your blood is needed for battle. Because without a commander who would lead the army?" my mom said. I realized my dad has high blood due to the fact they needed it to create Madeline. I never expect to learn a lot from my mom. I decided to tell my mom why Joe Tumbleweed killed Dad. You guessed it, my mom didn't take the news well.