Night Angel

Alliances, Shalliances.

Dearest and Most Honourable Mr. And Mrs. Bradshaw.

We are terribly sorry for what you must be going through today. Do know that we love you and we will always be grateful to all you did for us.

It was in dire times that we made this decision. The decision to escape town, and to return to our family. You must be thinking that we do not have much of them. Well, someone met us a few weeks ago while you weren't home and gave us very reliable information about our whereabouts, until we came to the conclusion that we must at least give this a try.

"Harriet! Come down right now!"

With the speed of a Gecko, I hid the letter in a hatch between the mattress and the bed and rushed downstairs.

The view I got now was quite unique. All of the girls were seated, some standing and dabbing away tears by the handkercheif. My heart dropped for a moment when I realized the twins might have left other copies of their letter for them.

Releif washed over when one wail tore through my ear, "My Mama misses me. Oh Mama! I miss you too. Terribly."

Letters from Family. What a releif.

My eyes swept across the room, catching the Golden Trio.

If it was possible, it seemed like the letter they read addressed doodles sketched by toddlers.

Or as if there was nothing written on it, the mirror to the blank reflections etched on their faces.

Yesterday I knew what I was doing. Now I had to be very sure. Because one thing was for certain.

I wasn't there enemy. Yet.

And in a place like this, where after checking the table there was no mail addressed to me, I had to make allies.

But from the corner, peeking from behind the fruit basket, I caught another letter. It was already open, something I would have rather disregarded it had there not been a foreign stamp on the outside.

Hope ignited inside me. Maybe Da...

I read the name, and my jester dropped. It was from someone else. Though I did caught a line scrawled neatly just at the edge before I tucked it back.

Hope to see your Apple Pie before you.

I turned around and targetted Mable, who was staring out the window, her letter gone. With firm steps, I walked over. Not before making  sure that her tape recorder and radio weren't around.

I sat opposite to her. She didn't spare one look, instead just shifted so she was an inch or two away. Her eyes were molten black, contrasting her otherwise pale skin. She looked more or less like a doll with her golden locks burning under the sun.

They almost burned as much as I ego.

I cleared my throat, "Hello."

She kept staring.

"Howdy dee do, queen bee boo?"

She arched one pale eyebrow and shifted her chin.

"So you've decided?"

"About what?" Play dumb, play dumb...

"Don't play dumb with me, Harriet. You're not an ostrich with your head in a burrow." She more or less declared, as if some sort of doubt still patched her mind.

Well, I never hated birds before so I decided to brush it off.  But I had to keep steering, until our allegiance took the right path.

"Are we, or are we not together in this Harriet?"

I inclined my head, "You mean friends, right?"

The thick obsidian in her eyes froze, "There are no friends. Don't you dare insult me with that word."

I was caught off-gaurd, "But, wasn't that the whole purpose-"

"Look and listen carefully Harriet." She moved closer, grabbing my hands. I flinched as if I was touching hot melting lava, but she didn't let go.

"Where we are, we make acquaintances, Okay? There's Barbara and than there is Sylvia, and they are more or less better for us than you. Because we don't go around here spreading love and warmth. Its plain trust. Trust. Friendship is for children who have no idea how cruel the world is. And if you know any better, which I know you do, you will understand what I mean."

Someone call a nurse. I think my jaw needs some hard lifting.

"Than I will give you something that will ascertain the trust. Cement it unbreakable. But tell me Mable, what is that I get from this treaty with you?"

A slow smile took over her lips, showing off her brilliant teeth.

"Why, a ticket back to the Manor house."

I rammed back, almost falling off the sill. My heart thumped unevenly, the acquisition too strong to even think of.

"Manor? W-what are you talking about?"

Her smile stayed in place and in that moment she striked me as a dangerous beauty. Worse, she knew that.

"There are things I can do. Things I am not proud of, but I can. And I will. If you behave."

What was with her? Was she actually cuckoo in her brains?, "But I don't want to go back."

Moreover, I don't trust you enough.

She looked a tad bit taken aback,"You don't?"

I gave her a tiny shake of my head.

"But," She continued increduously, "Everybody wants to go back..."

I smiled a little, "I am not the desperate kind, though."

I realised too late how offending that would have sounded, right after the cold posture was back up.

"I see."

"But," I hurried at her pursued lips, "I would exchange that for a favor."

At her questioning look I continued , "It wouldn't be much. Probably less than what you offered. I will tell you later, when the time comes."

We stared at each other for a few seconds, calculating and opposing. Than with a blink of an eye, the calmest look ever dawned over her face. And just like that, from the glare of the lively sun, her face and mine loomed under the spans of two dark shadows, the intensity of black in her eyes focused on me more than ever.

"Abby, What are you doing?"

She watched me with that simple  twitch of her lips as I looked at Ruth and Iris, both glaring daggers at me. Suddenly, I didn't feel quite so confident.

I hated feeling that.

"Oh nothing, just amending some broken  threads," She drawled, looking at me with superiority.

"Ruth and Iris, welcome Harriet."

She stood up and took her place at front, the trio complete once more. Than just before she turned, Mable let her smile fell, and I caught one look at the true thinkings she kept burried deep.

"This is going to be fun."

Later that night, while everybody was asleep, I took out the letter and studied it under a candle.

Of course, we will return to meet you after we reunite with our siblings, but till then we'll ask you not to share this with anyone please.

The reputation of our family is at stake. We would never ever want their names to be covered in mud, especially after we're a part of them.

That's all we have to say, an apology and a heartfelt thank you. We'll miss you, and we'll miss the girls, especially Sylvia. She is the sweetest friend we ever made.

Yours earnestly,

The twins, Edith and Alice.

P.S, Don't miss us. You'll hear from us soon.

Fervently, I prayed they would.