THE MATCH GIRL 黒執事

Prologue

It was like any other night, it was like those snowy nights that everyone warms themselves with expensive sweaters, those breezy nights that will make any women hair flow alongside the wind or their hats would flow away, those silent nights when nobody says anything when a murder is taking place right in front of their eyes as a young girl cried but her cries went unnoticed. Ever since that night, that December night, little miss [Name] has hated the said month. It was like a plague that burned her soul, she was young when she lost her parents, she was seven years old, a scared child in the winter with nobody to take care of her. She grew up in the streets like a stray cat, or at least that's what noble folks call the poor people. Being the daughter of parents from [Country] made it difficult for the young lad since her parents were immigrants, including her. If anyone were to investigate her parent's case, they would leave it just as it is, the only way to make it seem like they did a job would be making up a lie.

"Ah yes, that case was solved when we saw the body temperature. Deepest condolence to the family members and their child," what kind of bullcrap is that? Body Temperature? Did they see the wounds on her father's lower abdomen? Or her mother's throat being slit? What was all that blood then? Body temperature my ass.

[Name] never spoke too much when she was a child and now, she speaks less, it may because of the difference of the language barrier but overall she understood, she just pretends she doesn't, which works in most cases. Now at the age of twelve, she started to sell matches for the people walking past her tiny house, a house that's a box, a carton box to be exact, and it never went well. The only person that bought her matches was a young man with long grey hair, however, today he didn't appear, she didn't see him which sadden her and for that matter, she was stealing again. May God forgives her but she was hungry for crying out loud, and of course, this piece of garbage has to slap her cold yet boney hand away from the warm bread she was reaching for at the stand.

"I got it first you street rat," incredible, she has a new nickname, the fat old man with bald head said as he raised an eye-brow, a chuckle was heard from his mouth, it emitted an awful smell, similar to a pile of trash near a dead body, not only that but as he grinned down at the young girl, she saw how dirty his teeth were, they were similar to the color of mustard, she cringes at the man walking away.

Nobles.

[Name] honestly despise them with a burning passion, with narrowed [e/c] orbs, she crossed her arms and pouted, once again, she failed to get something to eat. Not only that but she was getting cold, especially with the type of clothes she had, a poorly brown dress that was made out of burlap sack that reached her knees, and that was it, she didn't have a coat to warm her up, nor did she had shoes to warm her toes. She notices dirt on her nails, and dry blood after steeping in a pile of broken glass once she woke up. The fact that it was starting to snow, worsen her mood, [Name] bit her tongue, not giving up, she grabbed three boxes of matches in her pocket and began to reach for people that may want some.

The air began to turn into ice as little snowflakes fall from the dark blue sky that was filled with stars, those stars were freely shining ever so brightly along with the full moon that illuminated the midnight street. [Name] has long given up on selling matches as well as eating, in the meantime, she just sits and waits till morning comes, that early in the morning she can go behind those restaurants that leave food that nobles didn't finish eating. Her belly rumbled at the thought of food, she frowns, she was really hungry...

"Why hello there," a voice was heard, to which she raised her head to look at the person. Her [e/c] eyes narrowed as she saw a noble in front of her. She tried to step back, but the wall was right behind her so no escape, left and right were the carbon box wings, which makes it impossible to look at anything else that's not his face.

"Are you hungry little one?" his voice, she didn't like it, it was too familiar, it sounded like it was her father speaking to her. She nods her head, ready to laugh at, but that never came, instead, warm bread was offered right in front of her face. She stared at the male who kindly smiled at her, she was staring at him, specifically at his beauty mark that was under his left eye, she tried to speak but no words left her lips, her eyes widened as the male crouched down to her level, he reached for her head to which she closed her eyes and raised her arms in a defensive manner. He didn't hit her, he didn't hurt her, he just put his hand on her head, dusting the snow that was beginning to form on her head, she was shaking, not only from the cold but from fear.

"It's okay, I won't hurt you," those words soon calm her down as she began to eat the bread he gave her, she froze, her eyes were watering, that was the first time someone nice has offered her food, she began to shake, the male's eyes smile sadly at the girl as he took his coat off, wrapping it around her.

"A pretty young little lady like yourself needs to be warmed up in this time of the year."

'Why is he so nice to me?'

She stares at the kind man as little tears fall from her cheeks, he smiled at her and ever so gently wiped them off. His blue orbs were looking only at her, they held so much kindness and warmth that it made her feel welcomed in a nice wooden house in the middle of the forest. His coat was black, yet very warm, the insides of the said coat were fluffy.

"Vincent, dear where are you?" a soft yet cherry voice has heard along with two other voices that cried 'papa!'. The said male smiled at [Name] one last time and kiss her knuckles before standing up.

"Take care little one. I hope to see each other again," with a wave of his hand he started to walk away towards the voices that called him. She watched him as he picked up a child that resembles him as his lady hold by the hand his other child, she crooked her head to the side as the boy that was holding his mother's hand stare at her, curiosity filled his big doe blue orbs as he watches her eat the bread the man called 'Vincent' offered her. The eye connection was soon cut off when they began to walk away leaving the busy town.

[Name] stayed there, in the same place, not moving anywhere, her breathing started to slow down, she was calm and relaxed for some odd reason. Nobles... weren't that bad, not all of them. As the people were closing their shops, restaurants, and turning off the lights, everyone went to sleep. She stayed wide awake as she stares at the full moon above her, clouds passed over the moon, preventing the light to shine more on the cold and dark streets. [Name]'s eyes were closing, she then pull the wings of the box to close herself inside if the said box. It was getting cold, the coat the nice man gave her helped her warm herself, she pulls out a box of matches, the last one, and turn one on, warming her hands, but the wind was too strong so it blew it off even with the carton box closed, she smiled as she hugged the oversize coat and ever so slowly fell asleep.

Not long after that, a very known male walked over the box and crouched down in front of it, a sad frown was present on his lips as he opened it he saw the girl sleeping soundly, his long grey hair reach the floor as his long black nails brush her hair that was covering her cold face. He notices the coat and smiled, grabbing the young girl in his arms, he pulled her closer towards him, he looked left and right and began to walk away.

"I won't let you go, my little match girl..."