Origins

Maddie-- part 1

I walked the streets quickly. Better get back to my apartment before night falls. The creeps and criminals came out at night. I nearly got hit by a car in my haste, but I still made it home in time. Terra, my roommate, greeted me with a not-so-warm-or-happy "hey."

I go into my room and lie on my bed. Posters cling to the walls and the paint is pretty rough. If I can get a new apartment sometime, or a car, that would be great. Unfortunately, I can't afford one right now with my job. I'm a waitress at Starbucks.

My brother used to share the apartment with me and Terra and paid a third of the rent but he moved in with his girlfriend and left me. My parents kicked my brother out when he was 17. I just barely got thrown out last year. I'm eighteen now and have to work for a living. My tragic sob story is that my parents didn't care about me or my brother at all. My brother went through a dark period when he was 15, when I was 12, and got into drugs and that made my parents very unhappy. They didn't want to have to deal with it so they told him he had to get out when he turned 17. They didn't want to deal with me any longer than him even though I have never done anything to disappoint them.

I had to get a job when I was 14 just to buy necessities because they never would.

Right now, I get minimum wage and no benefits. On the bright side, I'm sort of off the grid. I've jokingly considered robbing a bank before. My friend group isn't very extensive and they all just do stuff without me. I can hardly consider Terra a friend, but when I need anything, she's usually got it.

I change out of my uniform and into comfy pajamas. Terra knocks on my door.

"Maddie?"

"Huh?"

"You have a package on the doorstep." Awesome!

"Ok, thanks Terra."

"Uh huh."

I walk through the kitchen and to the door. I pick up my package and bring it to the table. I grab a knife and tear through the tape and inside is the new book I ordered.

I pull it out of the box and flip through the unread pages.

This will keep me busy until my next shift, which is an overnight tomorrow.

I lay down and take a sip of the hot chocolate I had made. I scan the first page and get engulfed in the world.

After a few hours, I decide that I should probably get to sleep since I have a long shift tomorrow.

I let sleep take me and my dreams comfort me. When I wake up, I reluctantly let them fade into a faint memory.

I read a bit more in my book and get dressed into my waitress uniform.

I grab my bag and walk out the door.

I need to stop off at the store to get something for lunch and dinner later tonight to have on my break.

Once I arrive, I walk in the doors and roam the isles for anything that looks appetizing and inexpensive. I stop in the snack isle. My gaze lands on the fudge striped cookies. They look so yummy. I'll get them and some food from the nearby pizza place.

I buy the cookies and some perfume because I'm almost out and place them in my bag. My feet carry me to Starbucks to begin my shift.

"Hey Jamie." I greet my boss.

"Hey, you overnighting?"

I nod and she smirks. The TV flashes a warning. I focus my attention on it and listen.
"There has been a criminal escape from jail. He is extremely dangerous and is mentally ill. His name is William Price. Age: 23 Height: 6 ft 7 in Haircolor: brown Eyecolor: green"

I look at the picture. He has an attractive face but mixed with cruelty. I get a bit of a chill, and shake it off and get to work.

I walk to a table and take an order. The hours drag on as I serve people.

"Maddie?" I hear Jamie call me.

"Yeah?"

"You can take your break now. Get some food." I nod at this and take my apron off.

I grab my bag and head outside to the pizza place. The boy at the register hands me my pizza and I eat it with enjoyment.

After I finish, I walk back to work. It's about a block so I am not worried about being late.

I hear a loud crash and turn instinctively. In one of the alleyways I see a dark shape. Spooked, I jog back to Starbucks to finish my shift.

I am so creeped out by the alleyway that I can't stop thinking about it and mess up a good amount of orders.

Jamie comes to me.

"What's up Maddie?" She asks me, concerned.

"Um, I saw something during my break, I'm sorry. I should just forget about it."

"Yeah, that would be good." She agrees and sends me back to work.

After another hour of messing up more orders, Jamie comes to me again.

"I think you should just go home Maddie. It would probably do you some good."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, get some sleep."

"Ok, thanks Jamie." I grab my stuff and start walking home. I usually cut through an alleyway to get home quicker, but I decide against it.

I hear another crash and then eerie silence. I get a bad feeling and turn around. Behind me is a man, who is tall and handsome. I turn and run as fast as my legs will carry me and am tripped.

"Well hello beautiful." The man's deep voice reverberates through my skull.