Vincent and Jamie and Catarina: When Freshiedency Reaches Its End

Six Days of Separation: Day 1

Read the books, watched the shows... just kidding!

Jamie was nowhere near to getting better. The symptoms worsened in a span of just hours. Her fever temperatures reached a shocking 50 degrees, her six leg joints were all aching, her skin turned the ghostliest pale, and her breath was very short. Around this time, she began to vomit, take repeated grueling trips to the bathroom and back, and lay more eggs than usual --- even the law of breeder nature had pained her royal insect backside muscles greatly.

That day, her father had brought her to the hospital while Vincent was asleep. He awoke two hours later, oblivious to what happened until he found a note on Jamie's side of the bed. He then rubbed his eyes and yawned, and then he opened the note and began to read:

Dearest Vincent,

It's gotten worse, so Papa had to come. With all the remaining strength I had, I wrote this letter for you. Right now, as you read this letter, I am on my way to the hospital right now. But do not worry about me, I will be fine. Stay strong always, my little Vince. ;*

From your favorite breeder,
Jamie :)

P.S. I'll try to text back often.

He folded the letter up, and he began to cry.

...

At around half past 10, he decided to go to the Presidential Palace to see if he could get some work done, like reading a few bills that are needed to be passed or vetoed, or attending to special meetings, or planning a last state visit to the Philippines back on Earth, which was two light years away (He had visited every country on the planet, including his home country Sweden --- that was his best time, seeing Stockholm and all).

As he entered the halls of the building that stood for millennia and underwent much renovations, he suddenly felt different. He was no longer a very cheerful young man seeing the vivid colors of the decorated hallways, the marble white columns and ceilings, and the scarlet carpets across the chestnut brown floor. He now felt that the colors looked a bit drab to him. When the bodyguards and maidservants inside greeted him, he smiled a little, concealing the pain he was feeling.

As he entered the office, he noticed Catarina, in a secretary uniform, dangling in front of him and holding the clipboard steady as she dangled.

"Sup?" she greeted him.

"Hey Cat," Vincent replied in a lugubrious tone. He pushed her aside gently as he went to his chair and she swung again. He saw a picture of him and Jamie above the doorway, smiling their broadest and showing 64 pearly whites at the camera.

Cat then stopped herself from swinging, turned upright as only a spider could, and then jumped to the ground. "Why the long face? You must be thinking of Jamie, no?" she asked him.

"Well," Vincent said as he took a deep breath, "Way too much. I just hope the doctors will cure her."

"They will, Vincent," Cat replied, skittering near him, "but as for now, I will attend to whatever needs you have. Is that alright?"

The president of Mandala shrugged his shoulders, which the red widow drider took for an unsure yes. Both of them immediately set to work.

...

Cat did prove herself to be a great substitute secretary to Vincent, and he was impressed. The President had gotten most of his work done, making revisions to all the bills his officials had sent him. Cat, on the other hand, happily received guests, including Philomella, who visited regularly.

By the end of the day, Vincent and Catarina packed up and left the building. Vincent hailed a taxi to get him home instead of the usual limo, and as he approached the door, he said to the drider, "You can go back home if you like."

"No," she replied, "Best I keep you company while Jamie's in the hospital."

"Suit yourself, then," Vincent said as he gestured for Catarina to hop inside the taxi. Then, they sped off.

...

By the time they had gone inside the building, Vincent was totally tired and sleepy, so he headed up the stairs to his room, but midway...

"Going back to your room?" Catarina asked him, stretching her scarlet legs.

"I'm awfully tired, Catarina," Vincent replied, "I need to think of my last State of Mandala Address, but I need to sleep first."

"Then go ahead," Cat replied, "Go to sleep."

Taking that into account, Vincent disappeared inside his room.

...

Meanwhile, Catarina was smiling and clasping her hands. Well, Catarina, you sexy thing. You know how to lead a powerful fly right into your trap. she thought. Then Catarina brought out her phone from her jacket, called a number, and waited.

A few seconds later, there came a "Hello?"

"Sukram," she replied, "how are things going at the hospital?"

"Oh, my patient, Jamie, has just fallen asleep," Sukram replied on the other end, "She's such an easy and heavy sleeper, no?"

"And so is her lover," Catarina replied

"You're at his pad?" Sukram asked.

"Yes, but I wouldn't kill him now."

"So, what should I do?"

"Do as you will still do as a doctor. Now is not the time."

"Agreed. We're all ready if you call us."

"I know you are, and besides I have lots of connections to different criminals and mercenaries aside from you."

"But still, you are Catarina, the Red Widow. Most notorious assassin Mandala has ever seen."

"You complement me too much!! Anyway, I have to go," Catarina concluded.

"And so do I," Sukram the doctor replied on the other end, and then they both hung up.