The Black Envelope

Interlude: Evanescent

Interlude: Evanescent

Emilia sat on a bench in the park by her house, arms wrapped tight around herself. Her mind seemed to race and grow numb intermittently. She couldn't stop picturing the Messenger stepping into the room, her classmates' looks of relief as their names weren't called, the devastation on her parent's faces when they had picked her up from school. 

In her wildest dreams she could have never imagined that she would be picked to Subtracted. It was something every kid grew up with, a fact that spawned nightmares and dark thoughts. But it always seemed unreal. Something that happened to other people, but never to people she knew. Not her friends or her family. Certainly not herself.

But not anymore.

Emilia started shaking against the wind, imagining voices and low growls fabricated from the sounds of nature. The moon sat fat and high overhead, illuminating the park in front of her. It was empty for once in her life.

Fitting, she thought with a slightly crazed chuckle. 

Her friends and family hadn't wanted to let her go alone, but they all knew the rules. Anyone over the age of sixteen could not be escorted to their Subtraction. Otherwise, the Unnoticed might have more than one prey for the night. Representatives from the Messengers would collect the body and return it to the family. So Emilia had said her goodbyes and set out to the park alone. 

It was nearing midnight, her appointed time, and Emilia wasn't sure she was ready. She didn't think she could be, if it was even possible to be ready for a Subtraction, but she didn't really have a choice. 

The trees rustled behind her, and her heart picked up instinctively. There was a movement, and suddenly a man was stood in front of her. 

"Hello there."

She took a step back, eyes flicking quickly over the Unnoticed. He was much taller than her, very thin, and had thick black hair that curled at his temples and the back of his neck. He smiled, but the smile was more of a sneer, baring his teeth at her in a predatory gesture. 

Emilia swallowed as he matched her step, suddenly right in front of her again.

"You've been a good one. Usually children like you like to hide from us. Under my contract that means I have to make your death relatively painless."

He smiled and closed the distance between them, ignoring her slight squeak of surprise.

"Lucky you."