Criminality

Chapter Two: Machine Guns and Bodyguards

Sitting at her desk, Melody stared at the blank page; she was so close. So very close. What was making it so impossible to get there?

Nearly seven years before, Kanin had come for her; he’d taken her away from a life of restrictions and given her the ability to create almost anything she desired. He’d given her the ability to do almost anything she wanted.

The one catch was Fae Stanevich, her boss; it was always ‘my way, or the highway’ with her. Melody wouldn’t forget the day they’d first met; the two had, somehow, managed to get off on the wrong foot. It’d stayed between them since.

“Thatcher, you know the rules, yes?”

“Yes, but what am I to do here? Surely you don’t expect me to handle weapons, do you?”

“You’re still young – you’re not even ten years old, yet – but you’re expected to work hard, no matter what you do. You will be trained with as many weapons as possible so you are ready for any eventuality, though it’s unlikely you’ll ever need such training,” Fae had said stiffly. “You seem to enjoy making things explode, so you’ll be placed on a pyrotechnics course, as well as a course for living sciences, which, no doubt will become your forte. Great things are expected of you, Thatcher. If you fail to live up to these expectations, you should anticipate your own life being cut short. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Ma’am...”

Melody looked around the room, her neck rigid from the hours she’d spent trying to find something that would keep her employed – and alive – for another few days, at least; various diagrams of both human and animal anatomy covered the wall before her. The wall to her right was lined with shelves packed full with books, and the left was home to her bed, a side table, and several large boards some cork, and covered in pins and post-it notes, while others were whiteboards, scribblings n permanent marker filling their space. “My Task...my Task...” she whispered, spinning her chair around, expecting to see only the door, and found herself facing her guardian. “Good morning, Kanin.”

“Melody,” the man nodded politely.

“Why so grim?”

Kanin shook his head in dismay and walked to the bed, sitting on its edge less than gracefully. “You do know that you’re running out of time—”

She sighed, “Yes...I’m well aware of the fact...”

“—and I know that you’re only sixteen years old, but proving yourself is vital if you plan to stay useful to anyone here, especially Fae... I know it’s a—”

“Shut up, Kanin...” Melody had spun herself back to face her desk, and was scrawling all over the once blank piece of paper. “Actually...leave...” Her voice was dangerously threatening, which caused Kanin’s eyes to widen in shock, but he knew better than to linger when Melody had an idea; it had nearly cost him his head the last time. Melody couldn’t work when other people were around and bothering her, so she’d lost the string of inspiration she’d had, and, as a result, become far more than furious with him.

A handgun resided in her left-hand drawer, so she could protect herself when in dire need, and she had, very nearly, scattered gunpowder throughout Kanin’s brain, killing him in the process. Luckily for him, however, Melody’s complete rage was diverted to the sudden intruder into the bedroom, who had received the bullet that was initially meant for Kanin.

As she scrawled all over the paper, Melody sank deep into her subconscious thoughts, acting upon impulse, rather than thought.

Kanin backed out of the room slowly, closing the door as quietly as he could.