Beyond Our Fate

Chapter 13

"Excuse me?" I asked quietly. This seemed like a matter that shouldn't be discussed with a new person like me.

"You have to realize that this isn't as crazy as you think." she replied.

"HOW COULD SOMETHING LIKE THAT BE OKAY!" I shouted, all worry of being overheard gone

"Be quiet!" Snapped Amalie

"Tell me what's going on!"

"I've told you all I can for now" replied Amalie, getting up to go.

"Stop, please" I begged. Amalie was at the door and turned the knob.

"I've told you enough." She replied, as if the matter was already closed, "Everyone needs incentive, and I've found yours. You will study hard for two years in university and get an education. Then you will work for a year for me. If you pass both of those tests, I will put you in a job that allows me to tell you these things. Until then..." and with those words she left.

The rush of emotions I felt was like nothing I had felt before. First, anger that she had tricked me, and next anger that I had been so naive. Then the tears at what she had told me about my old home came. Was there really trouble, or had she made it seem worst as my "incentive". The next emotion was utter hopelessness that I would ever get to be the person I wanted myself to be. And that she had lured me into becoming.

Sleep did not come easily. A walk, I decided, would be the best cure for my insomnia. I got out of the soft, warm bed, and carefully walked across the room, so the floor wouldn't squeak. The light in the hall outside my room was on, and peaking under my door, which was curious at this time of night, but would be convenient for walking down the stairs to the gardens a block away. I threw on a blue university hoodie over my grey pyjama top and bottoms.

"Better look the part," I whispered to myself disgustedly. Part of my anger at Amalie was because I wanted to feel free in this place, and her incentives felt "dome like", the exact thing I wanted to get away from. With my hair in a messy bun, I decided to go.

I opened the door, as quietly as possible, as to not wake my neighbours with the creaks and footsteps. As I was heading to the gardens from the apartment, I heard a creak from behind me.

"Hello?" I called out into the dark. There was no reply. I continued, and entered the gate to the garden, using the hall light, a block away as a guide.

Suddenly, the light from the outside hallway of the apartment shut off, leaving me with just the garden "fairy lights" to guide me. They offered limited light. Frightened, I wanted to head back to the apartment, and my room, but I didn't want to go near the apartment hallway. Someone had to have been following me

"Whomever you are, show yourself, this isn't funny!" I half whispered, looking around.

"Oh it's quite funny Fedora." said a deep unknown male voice.

"Who are you!" I exclaimed, frightened even more now

"You don't know me. But I know you." Oh yes, I know you very well. And I know someone else too, whom you would be anxious to meet."

The voice was getting closer to me now. I could tell it was walking in my exact route from the apartment

"Please, stop. What do you want from me! Who are you! Just tell me!" I desperately called out. The garden was close to the apartments, but far enough away that nobody would hear me or be able to help me.

Suddenly I felt breath on the back of my neck. I turned and there he was. Masked, and he wore dark clothing so I could barley make out his figure. I could tell he was about a foot taller though, and very strong. My heart skipped a beat and I tried to scream, but a giant hand covered my mouth. He pulled me in tight, my back to his body.

"No no no sweetheart. No screaming allowed. I'm going to give you the privilege of letting you in on a secret. Want to hear it?"

I let out a muffled cry in response, tears streaming down my face out of fear, the pressure from his hand cutting my lip into my bottom teeth.

"Good, cause I'm going to tell you anyway. You know that little conversation with Amalie you had earlier? I overheard a few words and am here to tell you this. If you get close to Amalie, I mean working for her, doing jobs for her, etcetera, I will personally kill you." He whispered menacingly, but with a tone of voice that showed he enjoyed this. "Do you understand me?" He asked with a shake.

I nodded in reply, numbness taking over my body.

"Good, cause if we meet again, it will be worse. Next time, I won't kill you, I always offer one chance, but I may bring chloroform, and darling you don't want to know what happens to people on their first chance."

With that he gave me a shove, and ran away. I lay there spralled on the ground, panting, as he left, wondering what I had gotten into, and what the hell chloroform was.