Firetide

5- The Terrorist

The pic at the top/right (depending what reading mode you have) is the Ferrari :)
I thought it was pretty obvious but my mum says I should write this- I AM IN NO WAY PROMOTING, ENCOURAGING OR SUPPORTING ACTS OF TERRORISM.

Cessa takes a deep breath, attempting to calm her nerves and raging heartbeat.
"You can do this Cessandra," she mutters.
"Pull yourself together." She runs through her cunning and carefully formulated plan again in her head.
Step 1: Find a car that's spacious and practical.
Step 2: Unlock it.
Step 3: Work out how to actually drive a car.
Step 4: Drive the car.

In case you are confused, that was sarcasm, unfortunately Cessa's plan is neither cunning nor carefully formulated. She ponders her options in the little time she has left, glancing up and down the street packed with shops of all kinds, when an idea strikes.

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"PUT YOUR HANDS ABOVE YOUR HEADS!" The young woman roars, brandishing her gun and waving it around threateningly. Marcy freezes and Lewis drops his jam sandwich on the new cream carpet.
"W-who are you?" Lewis stutters. His question seems to stop the woman in her tracks.
"Um... erm, I'm a terrorist, obviously!" She snaps.

"Just, d-do as she says" The babysitter instructs, an elderly woman with faded auburn hair. Her voice is trembling. She'd never forgive herself if anything happens to the children on her watch.
"The car keys" she snaps and the babysitter gulps, what would Mr and Mrs Simmons do if they got home later to find their car gone?
"THE. CAR. KEYS" the terrorist yells and presses her gun to Marcy's temple, a small, chubby girl with pigtails. Melody thinks the young woman doesn't look like a killer. But you can never be sure. Her hands shake violently as she places the keys into the gun wielders outstretched palm, blubbing now, fat tears rolling down her face. Then the young woman advances toward her, her face unreadable and does the last thing Melody expect her to do.
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Cessa comforts the elderly woman as she sobs. She feels terrible for doing this, she never intended anyone to get upset, just to scare them with the toy gun so she Benny and Dan would have a car. Cessa thinks this is possibly the worst thing she's ever done in her life and she couldn't be any more ashamed if she tried.

The elderly woman is slender with clear blue eyes and elegant shoulder-length hair, a gorgeous shade of faded red, yet surprisingly vibrant for a woman of her age. She has the sort of appearance that gives the impression that she was once exceedingly beautiful.
"I am terribly sorry for scaring you like that, I should never have done it. It was a stupid idea, what's your name?"
"...Melody" she whispers in reply. "Melody Peters, Please, don't hurt the children, do anything you like with me but you just leave them alone?" Melody begs. Cessa shakes her head, ashamed at what's she'd done.
"I would never do that, and these children are lucky to have such a brave and kind grandmother." Cessa replies, Melody studies her face and she knows that she is telling the truth.
"No, not me, all my family are dead and gone, years ago, 'cept my granddaughter, and I haven't seen her since she was a babe." Melody looks rather ashamed.
"Mine are all dead too, all except my brother, his name's Benjamin" Cessa's eyes soften.
"I had a brother. John his name was, died in the war."
"I would say I'm sorry but I know that how ever many times people say that, it never gets better."
"I couldn't've said it better myself"

Three hours later at Melody's kitchen table.

"Yes, his name's Daniel."
"Ooooh." Melody says, winding a soft strand of faded auburn hair round her finger. "Cessa and Daniel sitting in a tree K.I.S.S.I.N.G" Melody laughs, a twinkle in her soft blue eyes. Blood rushes to Cessa's cheeks but she giggles too, Melody's laughter is infectious.
'Its not like that, we're just friends"
"Tut-tut, that's what they all say. You're in denial dear..." Melody teases. Suddenly Cessa's face falls.

"What about the car?" Cessa groans. Earlier she'd given the keys back to melody and apologised fervently for scaring her and the kids with the toy gun she bought.
"Oh, that old thing?" Melody grins wickedly and tosses her hair. "Wait till you see my car."

Cessa was expecting a little car, something sensible, perhaps something vintage like a Mini Cooper. That's why her jaw dropped when Melody opened her garage door to reveal a top of the range, shiny red Ferrari.
"My pride and joy." Melody sings. "I'm not allowed to drive it really, the doctors say, dodgy eye y'know. Melody explained. "S'against the law." Her voice got louder and louder as she exclaimed crossly. "But some times I just say F**K the law."
To say Cessa was surprised would be an understatement.

"Of course you'd know all about breaking the law wouldn't you, breaking into homes and scaring sweet old ladies." She cackles.
"You... weren't scared?" Cessa asks incredulously.
"Darlin', me?" Melody bursts into peals of laughter. "Of course I wasn't scared. I'm a brilliant actress. I was waiting till you had your guard down to grab the gun, elbow you in the gut, aim a punch to the throat, jugular vein, when you bent back I would trip you up then hold the gun to your head until you gave me the key back and got out of that house!"

Melody hadn't realised she had been demonstrating as she spoke. Cessa was staring, mouth open, She couldn't help it, she was astonished at Melody's extraordinarily graceful movements and posture, more agile and swift than anyone she'd ever seen.
"I do tai chi," Mel confirms with a comforting pat on the shoulder, as if that justifies it. Cessa shakes her head incredulously. Melody Peters is a mystery that she doubts will ever be solved.

"So you'll really lend me the car then?" Cessa asks hopefully.
"No, of course not" Melody scoffs, and her hopes are dashed in an instant. "I have one condition" Melody continues. Cessa narrows her eyes, however, her spirits rise a little. Melody's blue eyes glitter and she grins devilishly. "I'm driving." A slow smile spreads across Cessa's face.
"You're... Coming with us?"
"If you'll have me." Melody replies.
"Well then... Melody Peters welcome aboard."

Authors Note
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, was the driver who you were expecting? ;) Melody's character is courtesy of my grandma. If you're unsure, this chapter is set whilst Dan and Benny are still in the supermarket.
Also, I have 307 reads and 19 votes! Whilst this may seem a trivial amount to more popular writers, I simply cannot express how grateful I am to the people that have read, voted, commented and followed. :)
Don't forget to vote and comment if you liked it!
Mia x
Next Chapter is...
The Fugitives!