me and the devil - kai parker

31

The town Caleb Brooks lived in was a mere hour's drive from where Kai had left her. Madelene walked—no, she ran—along the desolate road for what felt like hours, her feet pounding the pavement, her breath ragged in her chest. The horizon seemed endless, the world around her quiet and uncaring, until, at last, headlights appeared in the distance, piercing through the twilight gloom. For the first time in hours, hope flickered within her.

A group of college girls, laughing and chatting, pulled over as soon as they saw her. Their car, a beat-up sedan filled with the scent of strawberry air freshener and the remnants of fast food, was a stark contrast to the tension that had gripped Madelene for so long. They welcomed her inside with easy smiles and warm, curious eyes. The radio blared catchy pop songs, and the girls chattered about their recent exams, the challenges of their courses, and plans for the weekend. Their laughter was light, their worries so small and insignificant.

Madelene listened in silence, jealousy knotting in her stomach like a lead weight. This could have been her life—should have been. She could have been like them, carefree and full of promise. But that life had never been hers to claim. From the moment she was born into the coven, see was cursed. 

She forced herself to think of Charlotte Parker. Charlotte, who had once been just like these girls—until Kai had murdered her. The familiar pang of guilt struck Madelene like a blow to the chest, almost making her physically ill. Her mind churned with the weight of it, but she kept her face blank, unwilling to let the girls see the torment inside her.

They dropped her off near the square in the center of town. The square was picturesque, almost storybook-like, with cobblestone streets lined with quaint shops and flower boxes overflowing with colorful blooms. The warm glow of streetlights began to flicker on as the evening settled in, casting a golden hue over the scene. It was the kind of place that invited people to linger, to breathe in the simple pleasures of life. The girls pointed her toward a nearby hostel known for catering to hikers and travelers, their cheerful voices wishing her the best of luck as they drove off, leaving her alone once again.

Madelene watched them disappear around the corner, their laughter fading into the night. She stood there for a moment, taking in the vibrant scene before her, so different from the dark, winding road she had just traveled. 

The first thing she did the next morning was look for her father's home. Her memory proved to be faulty as she scanned the houses, they looked almost identical, with white picket fences and colorful flowers in the garden. It had been weeks, and she had no idea of how to approach this. Maybe deep down she didn't even want to know where her father lived. He deserved peace, but the selfish side of her couldn't leave without seeing him, even just once.

She half hoped she would see him walking down the street with his wife, smiling and happy. She walked through the neighborhood every single day, waiting and hoping, not yet ready for the next move. But she got nothing so far. 

unknown: Madelene, this is getting fucking exhausting, answer the phone! 

unknown: This is Damon, by the way. 

Madelene read the message with a scrunched nose as she tried to type in a response, but her fingers were too big for the small screen keyboard and she grew annoyed with it way too fast. The technology of the twenty-first century was too weird and different, not her favorite.

She continued walking, her pace slow as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. Every few steps, her eyes would catch on something foreign—self-checkout machines, digital price tags, people speaking into thin air, their voices carrying conversations through what seemed to be cordless headphones.

Finally, she gave up, shoving the phone into her pocket as she walked through the supermarket's candy aisle, humming a soft melody. Her fingers brushed through the hundreds of plastic, colorful packages until she landed on the sour watermelon gummies.