All Cloaked Up For You

Chapter 29 - Sophia

Snow was falling on the city side. In the wasteland, the land was so toxic to the fact snow melts into a crisp. I know I forgave C.M. but, I'm still a bit mad. Also, I miss him too. I know the day of marriage will be soon. I sat on my porch waiting and waiting knowing Joe Tumbleweed might send his stupid guards to his house and force me to stay there forever. My mom stopped stealing at that moment. I never saw her change until the night when I had a good talk with her. 

Yesterday, I received a letter from Joe. It addresses his pain of C.M. My mom cried when I was taken away yesterday. I cried a tear too but I know my end will be near. I was pushed through the door and Joe ordered me to stand. Mayor's Tumbleweed was tearing up with anger. I never saw the malicious side of him. He slapped me with full force. "I know you were cheating with me with that same dude!" he fumed. "What dude?" I retorted. My face stings.

"Don't act dumb with me. You went with that stupid cloaked man haven't you?" he stormed. I opened my mouth to get a say in this. "You don't have to even explain yourself, you don't find me attractive and you want to marry off to that cloak man, don't you? Just like Madeline?" he exploded. "NO. I didn't want to marry him. He is just a friend." I explained. He looks at me with torture. "You are lying. Tell me the truth or I will kill off your mom," he said. 

"You don't believe me do you?" I faked. I'm faking a tone to make him seem like he is stupid. I just don't want him to kill off my mom. She has changed. She stayed with me for a long time before she would see me for the last time. "If you don't believe me, you should have known how much I was waiting for the marriage," I commented. I guess I will keep up with this fake act so he can stop thinking about killing my mom. 

"Oh?" he asked. He walks closer to me. "You wanted me?" he taunted. I closed my eyes and suck in a breath. This is where hell starts. "I know you killed my dad but I will forgive this once. I want you." I wanted to kill myself after saying those words to Joe. Without my liking, he grabbed my waist and nibbed on my neck. "Baby." he groaned. I pushed him back softly. "Not now, we just now started dating. Save it for marriage." I groused. 

"Oh so you are that type of girl," he grumbled. He fixed his vest. I guessed I had messed up his fun. I think setting boundaries before we are married will save me some time before I would be groped by this man. I went to the couch in his living room and sat down on it. I'm telling you I am scared. I never expected to stay in his house for more than 3 hours but I guess that was about to happen. I might be here forever. 

"You haven't seen your room yet," he said. His eyes flashed and he grabbed my hands and walked up the stairs. I rolled my eyes. Hey, I know that Joe Tumbleweed isn't bad-looking himself, I just don't like him. Go ahead if you feel like you can change him. I don't need him. If you like young male teachers who are lanky and have some toned muscles with a nice jawline that is clean-shaven, please help me and show Joe some love. Save me. 

He opens the door. "Ladies first," he said. I only like it when C.M. does that to me. I gazed around the room. It wasn't too bad. It was pretty spacious but there were no books. It was like he only cared about Madeline. Not me. You know who would care about me? Yeah, Cloak Man. "You know what those shelves are missing?" I asked. He looks at me and grazes at my body. "What my dear," he responds. "The book I had at home," I said. 

Books that C.M. gave my the only things that can get me closer to C.M. Just because those were his books. "You don't know how much those books are dear to me," I said. "I'll get it right away." He walked out of the room. I just sighed. I don't mind how he looks especially if I were going to be 32 like him, I would marry him. The problem is I'm 16, and he killed my mom. The only guy my age I am slightly interested in is Cloak Man. 

I examined the room and I saw plants popping everywhere on the floor in one corner of the room. It was near a big window. I groaned. It reminds me of how Madeline likes plants and I don't like it. I realized Joe was still a big old lover of Madeline. I'm not dumb. The plants are what Madeline likes. I don't like plants for heck's sake. I rather tore the plants and made paper out of them for the use of books. This got on my nerves. 

I plopped on my bed. I guessed Joe was in the mood and put up Christmas songs. Joe came back to the room. "Babe, your books will take t-minus 20 minutes," he said as he peeked his head through the door. I turned my head to the door. "Alright," I said. I don't feel safe even when Joe is trying to make this a pleasant experience for me. He walked away and I closed the door. I slumped back on the bed. I released a shaky breath. 

My heart tightened in my chest. I close my eyes for a few moments. I was transferred into a trance. Joe put on some Christmas songs. I wrapped through the tune as my eyes were closed. I imagined C.M. dancing to the tunes in my head. It will be Christmas soon, and I'm stuck here with Mayor Tumbleweed but the person I am missing the most is C.M. holding me close. I imagined him hugging me close while the tune brushed through my senses. 

I guess he would have a holly day when I don't. I logged firewood into the fireplace. I know I look like I live in luxury but it doesn't feel great yet. I just miss his books. Speaking of books, I haven't read books in a while after noticing the news of my dad. Also is archery. I know archery is probably waiting for me in the woods. Too sad. I'm confined in luxury, but the luxury I want is in the city, with C.M. showing me new things. 

That last time I saw C.M. it was his last embrace. A hug. I look down at the ground as I look at the white fluffy rug. I ran up to Joe. "Joe, I forgot you to get me one more thing," I said. He scrunched his nose and then looked at me. "Oh, what it is?" he asked. "I want my copper rug I left at home," I said. "Why a rug? you got a soft one in your room?" he asked. "I thought you loved me." I guilt-tripped him turned my back on him and walked back to my new room. 

"Babe, I'm sorry. I'll call the guards right away." He rasped. I turned around and ran towards him and hugged him. Again, I don't particularly like him but if I want him to not suspect things as much from me, I have to act lovey-dovey. He wraps his arms around me and I close my eyes. I imagined Joe as C.M. My illusions of C.M. came through. Joe flashed away from my eyes and I saw C.M. I was so tempted to kiss C.M. but I knew I was illusioned. It might be Joe.