Catastrophic Bliss (On Hold)

Chapter 6

It was September. Esme hadn't gone to university and had consequently won the battle between her and her parents. But Esme wasn't at home either. Instead, she was stood halfway across London Bridge – or rather Catastrophic. Esme had begun to see them as separate people as they felt like different people to her. But Catastrophic couldn't think about that right now...she had bigger problems to deal with. Problems in the shape of Bliss.

"Where is she?" Bliss demanded. Catastrophic didn't answer. Instead she looked at the river below them. "Where.Is.She?" Bliss demanded again. Catastrophic turned her head to look at her once more.

"Where's who?" Catastrophic feigned ignorance. In actual fact, the 'she' that they were arguing about was a girl that Catastrophic had kidnapped two days ago and was keeping until the family gave her the information she wanted.

"You know who." Bliss spat.

"Remind me."

"You know exactly who I mean." Bliss crossed her arms. Catastrophic copied her. "If you won't tell me where she is, I'll just have to find her by myself."

"Good look with that." Catastrophic said, sarcasm dripping from her voice.

"I don't need luck."

"Everyone needs look."

"I'm a hero and, in case you haven't been around for a very long time, heroes tend to always win." Bliss uncrossed her arms.

"And in case you haven't been around for a very long time, you should know there's a very blurred line about heroes and villains. See, it's all about perspective."

"Well from where I'm standing, I'm the hero which means I'm going to win."

"But don't forget the wonderful line: 'wicked always wins'"

"Shame you're not wicked then." Bliss stepped back slowly, trying to make it unnoticeable.

"Oh? What makes you say that?"

"There are people doing worse things than you."

"Then I guess I'll have to change then, won't I?" Catastrophic let out a little laugh. "It's a good job I don't like myself then."

"You still haven't answered me." Bliss said, "Where is she?"

"You'll still not have your answer when your eighty."

"Then I'll just have to find her myself." And with that, Bliss took leaving Catastrophic alone on the bridge with only the sounds of traffic and running water as company.

Catastrophic caught up with Bliss ten minutes later as the sounds of their feet echoed around the buildings. They had passed numerous restaurants filled with people who hadn't given them a second glance as they'd sped past. Streetlights became spotlights as the pair wove in between the circles of light and the shadows that surrounded them. The only sound either of them could hear properly was the sound of their breath as it puffed out of them in short bursts and the sound of their heart pounding in their chest and ears.

Five minutes into the chase, Catastrophic had realised where Bliss was headed towards. This realisation had made her pick up the pace, trying her hardest to overtake the hero who was still too far in front for Catastrophic's liking.

It was a good job Catastrophic knew some shortcuts.

And it was unfortunate that Bliss knew them too.

Catastrophic reached their destination seconds after Bliss had skidded to a halt by the locked door. "You'll never get in." Catastrophic said, knowing how well this place was secured. They were stood outside a warehouse style building that looked deserted. Half the windows were either smashed or cracked and cobwebs lined the frames. The doors were painted with rust and the ground surrounding them was beginning to look a bit like a jungle. Catastrophic began to wonder how Bliss had known exactly where to go.