Forever or Never

Forever or Never: 06

Mercy had all but ran home, by the time she did arrive home it was pelting it down with rain; it was dark, foggy, and seemed all the more drearier because of the turn in weather. What was a grey, bleak day, had now turned into a bleak, dark night.

She stood looking up at her front door, already on the small steps that led up to the door itself were covered in little puddles. Yet she could not find it within herself to walk up those stone steps and into the house.

Even though it'd be warm, welcoming, cosy and quite rightly everything she needed right now.

Hearing a cough, she looked to the side. "Matilda." The small grubby girl peered around the parting alley between Mercy's house and the neighbouring house. "Oh hey, hey now." Mercy walked briskly forwards and put her hands on the girl's shoulders. Kneeling slowly down, she looked up at the cold wet girl. She looked so unwell, pale, withdrawn. It was to be expected, considering she lived on the streets. Matilda stopped coughing, a horrid rattling noise coming from her chest, and looked to Mercy with wide dark eyes. "You can't stay out here. If you do..." Mercy didn't even want to finish that sentence. This weather would surely kill the girl off. "Come with me," standing up straight she held onto the girl's hand and marched forwards. Mercy knew full well that she was using Matilda as a distraction.

A distraction from nosy, overbearing parents. And especially a distraction from that annoying man.

"Where are we goin'?" Matilda asked shortly while looking up through the rain to Mercy.

"I'm taking you to the hospital."

"What? No!" Matilda flailed about and tried pulling her hand free from Mercy's. "I can't go there!"

"Listen to me," Mercy knelt down to be on her level again. "You are alone out here. You are alone, and you are unwell. This weather will make you worse. If you do not pass tonight, then you will within a week because of the cold that is now settling in. I am sorry, Matilda, to be so blunt. But I don't wish to see you die at such a young age." The girl must have been roughly ten, if not a little older. Though it was hard to tell considering living rough had stunted her growth.

"Can't I stay with you?"

"If my father found you, he'd throw you out. Regardless of you being unwell. I am sorry, Matilda, but you can't. But, if we go to hospital, I will stay with you for as long as I can." Mercy smiled and stood, even she gave a shudder, the rain was well and truly settling into her. She was more than certain that she'd get ill too.

----

Seeing as how he had the day to himself again, Igor couldn't help but find himself walking through the double doors of the hospital. He instantly looked to the bed where Lorelei still remained sleeping. He sighed and moved over only to look down at her sleeping form for a few seconds before looking up and about himself. Turning with a frown he moved over to another bed, looking from the small girl, to the sleeping form resting their head on the bed, Igor couldn't help but reach out and gently shake the figure by the shoulders.

Mercy straightened up and looked bleakly around. Igor took a step back and looked at her worriedly. She didn't look at all well. She looked like she belonged in here along with the other patients. "Igor?" With a frown she rubbed her eyes with the heel of her hand. "What are you doing here?" She asked before realising where she was, she glanced over at the sleeping female who he briefly glanced at, before looking at the girl sleeping in front of her. "Ridiculous question to ask, sorry." She apologised and held onto the small hand. "I vowed somewhat to never step foot in here unless I needed to, you know?"

"Who is she?"

"Truthfully, I don't know. I know her name and that's about it." Mercy stood slowly, on unstable legs. Igor placed a hand to her shoulder to steady her. "Thank you," she smiled and swept her tangled ruffled hair out of her face. The weather was so rough last night she couldn't do anything about the fiery rain soaked locks. "She's Matilda, and she has a habit of loitering near my home. I give her food, when I can. Last night...she seemed so unwell, I didn't know what else to do...I couldn't leave her outside." She placed a hand on her forehead and rubbed it tentatively.