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WaitingAlone

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        It had been two torturous days since the episode in the study. The house seemed as if the dead inhabited it and neither Maria nor Malachi dared look at eachother for fear of what they might see looking back. Hate? Sorrow? Guilt? Forgiveness even?        

        Should he even dare hope for forgiveness? Malachi's thoughts wandered as he sauntered into the kitchen. Maria was sitting on a stool, leaning against the island. He only glanced at her as this was not unusual to see her here in the mornings. However, when he did look over to her again, he noticed the duffel bag at her feet. Masking his shock, he asked her in a subdued voice. "Going Somewhere?"

       Maria stared down at the counter, remaining silent for a few long moments. To Malachi, those moments said everything. Finally, Maria replied in a thin voice. "Don't stop me." Raising her head, Malachi could see the tears rolling down her face. He had to stop himself from pulling her into his arms. 

       His hopes of concealing his emotions were thrown from the window when the first words he spoke came out cracked and shakey. "I won't...but"

       Before this became any harder for Maria, she cut him off. "Please, don't say anything. I only have one thing to ask before I go." She wished she could stay, but she knew it was impossible. At least she would know this one thing before she went. "That night by the lake when we first met, before you knew my name, what were you going to do?"

       Malachi did not hesiate, he knew his response would hurt her, but it was for the best. "I was going to kill you."

      Maria felt herself stiffen as she inhaled sharpley. She slid silently off the stool and bent down to retrieve her bag. Turning, she stood at the door, her back to him. She felt tears silently stream down her face. "Goodbye Malachi." She whispered, before slowly walking out the door and into the dim morning. Not looking back, she strode down the long drive and out onto the road.

     "Goodbye Maria." He muttered to the empty room. The stone walls suddenly seemed so cold and hollow. Not wanting to dwell on the pain of losing his only friend, he grabbed a rag and moved onto his morning chores.

     Walking through his home he looked upon the faces of his ancestors. Portraits that had hung on these walls since the beginning of time. All faced he recognized from his childhood. From his great-grandfather, to his uncles, to his grandfather. Finally he reached the last picture on the wall. One he had not looked upon for many years. His Father.

     He stopped under the portrait. His father's broad grin looked down upon him. He looked so warm in this picture and yet he had killed so many people to survive. "What am I saying?" Malachi questioned himself aloud. "I kill people to survive! I am just like him!" He collapsed to his knees and let out an inhuman scream. Tears rolled down his face and he looked up to see his father still grinning at him. Malachi lunged at the picture and tore it off the wall. Within seconds he shredded it and stood there, the remnants of the frame in his hands. "I will never be like him." He spoke aloud again, hoping that it would never happen. Drained, Malachi sauntered to his bedroom and collapsed upon the bed.

       Meanwhile, Maria walked along the streets, thinking of what she was leaving behind. Malachi was the only person she had ever felt safe with and now she was leaving him. "But he said he was going to kill me, and hadn't it been so awkward before in the study?" She tried to make herself feel better by lying. However, deep down inside her she knew the real reason she was running. She was scared. Maria had finally found someone with a link to her past, but now she was afraid of what truth her past may hold.

      She shuddered as a cold wind rushed at her, breaking her from her train of thought. Ducking into a small behind a large building, Maria narrowly avoided the first drops of rain as the sudden storm began.

      The alcove didn't protect her for long. The wind changed direction and the rain began to hit her. She was pelted with moisture and soaked through within seconds. How long would this storm last? She thought to herself.

       Maria shivered violently as another gust of wind struck her. She had no idea how long she had been there, but since the storm had begun it had gotten much worse. Thunder roared and lightning slashed through the sky. The wind shook the shutters above her and trees almost doubled over from its force. Maria's body was chilled to the core and she couldn't move at all. She was on the verge of passing out when a shadow passed across her blurred vision. "Help me." She murmered from between her blue lips. She saw the shadow hesitate at the sound of her voice.

      "Shh," The stranger whispered to her. "Everything will be okay."

       The voice seemed disembodied as her vision went vertigo. She felt herself become weightless as strong arms lifted her up out of the alcove. As the stranger began walking, Maria pulled herself closer to their warm torso.

        As the minutes passed, Maria drifted in and out of conciousness. In the few moments she was lucid enought to think, she cursed herself for leaving Malachi and getting into this pridicament. Following that thought, she blacked out completely.

      The man who had rescued her carried Maria to his villa home. He passed by the stairs and took her into a guest room instead of the dungeon. He placed her icy body on the soft covers and left her.  He sent one of his servants to tend to her. He needed information and it would do him no good if he died.                        

Hey, Sorry it took so long for me to post. Writer's block really sucks. I want at least 10 rates before I do the next one. Thanks to all my readers.