Redrum: Origins

Epilogue

Disclaimer: I do not own Redrum. Redrum is a game developed by Anarchy Enterprises. I only own the OC characters.

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Sunlight filtered lazily through the blinds as she blinked open her eyes. She slowly sat up in the small poster bed of the guest room, stretching her arms above her head. Finally, a night with no jarring nightmares.

Maddie slipped out of bed and made her way downstairs, still in her undergarments, a white tanktop and black yoga pants. The scent of bacon and waffles permeated from the open kitchen. Rubbing her eyes, she was greeted by the sight of Ravenwood at the stove, sifting a pan of oil and bacon. A griddle plugged into the wall was the source of the waffles.

The detective looked up from his handiwork to flash Maddie a light smile, something that she would have never associated with someone like him. With a sigh, she sunk into one of the chairs at the breakfast nook, leaning back. "You didn't have to do this for me, you know," she said. "I was perfectly fine in the hotel."

"It would bother me if you were there all by yourself," Ravenwood replied. "Besides, you looked like you didn't want to be alone." He slid the bacon and waffles onto two separate plates, placing one in front of the young brunette. Slowly, she grabbed the fork and dug in, chewing thoughtfully.

It was true, what he said. The idea of what could have happened, what did happen, weighed heavily on her mind. She couldn't get rid of the nagging fear that Fraud would someday, somehow, appear again to lock her away, submitting her to all manner of torments. By the end of it all, she couldn't refuse Ravenwood's offer to stay at his house.

"By the way," the detective said, rummaging through the mail. He slapped a new issue of the Daily Dread in the table in the space between them. "Some good news, for once." Maddie skimmed over the front page, eyes widening slightly at what she saw. The front-page cover detailed Sigmund Fraud's trial and conviction, being deemed mentally incompetent and condemned to a psychiatric facility. She couldn't help but snort at the irony. "Good riddance," she muttered, staring reproachfully at a picture of Fraud being carted off in a straitjacket.

Ravenwood was silent, scrutinizing her. There were still so many layers to the girl in front of him that she refused to show. He cleared his throat. "I wanted to say that I'm sorry." Maddie's gaze snapped to him, slightly shocked. "If I knew how dangerous this was, I wouldn't have forced you into that position."

Maddie shook her head vigorously. "No, this isn't your fault." She looked down at her hands. "I wanted to do it. I was just cocky and arrogant."

"Nevertheless," the detective continued, "this all could have ended much worse. And I would have been the one who was responsible."

Maddie didn't know what to say to that, instead choosing to continue her breakfast. The apology did not make things awkward in any means. She was just grateful to Ravenwood for all that he had done for her. She needed to figure out how to repay him one day. Not getting him killed would be a start.

By the time she was dressed, the doorbell rang. Like an excited toddler, she bounded down the stairs to greet their new arrivals. On the doorstep stood Rose and a woman who looked like an older version of her.

"Maddie!" Rose cheered jovially, launching herself into the older girl's arms, giggling. "Woah there, munchkin," Maddie said, returning the embrace. "It's only been a day."

"I know," Rose said, pulling back to reveal a huge smile on her face. "I just missed you is all." The young brunette couldn't help but blush at that. However, the moment ended when Ravenwood came up behind her and Rose rushed to meet him. He gathered her up in her arms, swinging her around.

Maddie stared fondly at the display when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned her head to see the woman, happiness shining in her eyes. "Thank you," she said.

Maddie was taken aback by that. "Who me?" she asked, confused. Rose was the spitting image of this woman, so she guessed that this was her mother. The woman smiled at her. "Harry told me what you did."

She was referring to Ravenwood. Maddie felt as though she should use that as another tool to make fun of him. Instead, she blushed, rubbing at the back of her head. "Oh, it was nothing," she blurted, heavily embarrassed.

Rose's mother removed her hand and went back to observing Ravenwood's and her daughter's antics. "I know everything about what you went through to save her. I had failed her as a mother. I could never be more grateful."

Maddie crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. "C'mon, at least give yourself some credit," she said. "You were right."

The woman's head snapped back to her, staring. Maddie turned to glance at her again. "She really is a special girl." Rose's mother smiled fondly at that. "Isn't she?" she replied. "I know she'll do great things someday."

A memory resurfaced at that statement. A memory of a woman with blue eyes and short, curly blonde hair. She shoved it away as soon as it came. This wasn't her family. She forced a smile, hiding the twinge of inner turmoil. "Yeah," she said.

They were interrupted by Rose calling out their names. Together, they both joined her and Ravenwood in the den, the latter flat on his stomach with his niece straddled on his back. "Come play horse with me!" she exclaimed. Rose's mother giggled. "I don't know, Rose," she said. "I think your uncle is too old to have two people on his back."

"Ha ha, very funny," he replied. "At least I'm in better shape." He rose to his hands and knees, Rose squealing as he did so. He was steady and strong, not even wavering for a second. Maddie instantly had an idea. "Oh, really?" she inquired, rubbing her chin with her hand in a show of contemplation. "I suppose we'll just have to test that, won't we?"

Before he could protest, Maddie took a flying leap and landed squarely on his back behind Rose, sending him crashing back to the floor. Air rushed out of his lungs as the weight bore down on him. Everyone minus Ravenwood laughed out loud. Maddie couldn't help but notice how Rose's face lit up when she laughed.

Maybe this wasn't her family. Maybe she would never find just one. Maybe she would find several. And for the moment, that was good enough for her.

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Author's Note: And we have reached the end of part 1. Short and sweet, just how I like it. I haven't begun writing part two yet because I've had other projects going on. Once I've written some of it, I'll announce when the first chapter is uploaded.

You're all beautiful.

Praise Is appreciated and constructive criticism is encouraged.

See you next time!

-The_Mayflower