Chapter 4 The Madalenes

She stared down at her wrist remembering how the demon had held it digging it's claws into her flesh. But she thought that all happened in her dream, How come she was bruised physically?

"Say something will you? How did you end up hurting yourself this badly and isn't the doctor suppose to have treated it?" Fred asked examining the bruise.

"I'll call on the doctor now. This have to be treated." He said and made to stand up but was stopped by Gabriella.

"No it's fine, it has already healed. It doesn't hurt anymore. It's just a scar now." She was some how saying the truth because she really doesn't feel any pain."

"But this still looks very fresh to me. Are you sure you don't want it treated?" He asked giving her a skeptical look.

"I'm sure, see?" She said pulling her arm from his and waving it in the air just to prove to him that she wasn't lying.

"How did you get injured in the first place and why am I just noticing it?" He asked Wondering what might have given her such injury.

"Well....." Sighed in relief as the opening of the door interrupted her speech. She was really grateful for the interruption because she couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation. A nurse entered holding a tray containing the materials needed to inject Gabriella. Upon seeing the nurse, Fred stood up to excuse himself as he made for the exit.

"Fred?" She called as he stopped on his track and turned to her.

"My mother should be kept oblivious of what had happened. She'll worry over nothing if it get to her knowledge." She said as he nodded.

"As you wish." He replied and gave her a little smile before he finally left.

Gabriella was discharged later that afternoon and Fred took her home. He spent some time with her before he finally decided to leave. During does times, Gabby tried her best in hiding her wrist to avoid his earlier question. When he had gone, she was left alone to deal with her thoughts again. Who were those youth on that bus? She had noticed that all her dreams had been contacted by one thing. The demon. Why was it tormenting her and what business had she with it? Everything was getting too much and was badly affecting her badly. She knew she needed to do something about it but confused on what to do.

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Coming out of Gabriella's home, Fred's mobile phone began to ring. On seeing the caller ID, he cursed under his breath. It had totally escaped his mind. He was suppose to go to the airport and pickup his elder sister who was returning from China but he was too busy looking after Gabby that he had forgot. He quickly haled a cab which took him home. He rushed to his room, picked the car key on the shelf and hurried to his father's parked carmery at the garage as he entered and drove away in full speed.

Getting to the airport, he sighted his sister sitting at the waiting area with her luggage beside her.

"Emilia." He called getting to where she was .

"Gosh! Like seriously? After being apart for a full whole year this is how you welcome me? Making me sit here for hours?" She scoffed and flip her blonde hair backwards as he rolled his eyes. She'll never change. Always the exaggerating type.

"I'm sorry ok? I was busy with something that I forgot." He explained grabbing one of her two travel bags.

"Oh great! What an awesome brother I've got. What will you be doing that will warrant you to forget your sister at the airport?"

" I've already apologized ok? Stop making it a big deal." He said as they got to the car.

" Let me guess. You were with Gabriella again weren't you?" She asked with a smirk as he sighed frustratedly and closed the trunk of the car.

"You see, I knew it! she's the only reason that can make you even forget your own self." She said with a mischievous grin. If there was one thing Fred didn't miss about his sister it was her noise. She just talk too much for a girl.

"How about mom and dad? When will they also return?" Asked purposely changing the topic as they both entered the car.

"Well, they should be back by next week and I can't wait to tell you all my experiences in China." She giggled excitedly like a kid and Fred shook his head. He still finds it hard to believe that this lady was his elder sister.

"And I can't wait to hear it all either." He answered sarcastically and ignited the engine.

********

".......and I can literally kick your ass with Kung Fu." She finished her story and noticed that Fred was not paying attention to her and she frowned. Instead he was focused on his phone.

"Fred?" She called but he didn't bulge. The next thing she did was to snatch the phone from his grip.

"Hey!" He opposed with a raised brow.

" So all this time I was busy talking you were busy starring at Gabby's picture? Unbelievable!" She exclaimed with an amused laughter as he sighed and rubbed his temple.

" I wasn't starring at it ok? My phone storage is filled up so I was creating space." He said collecting back his phone.

" Tell that to the dogs and they just might believe it. When will you tell her already or I should give you some tips?" She said with a wink.

"Tell who what?"

" Stop pretending ok? You and I know you have feelings for her"

"I've told you countless times already. Gabby is just my very good friend. Take it or your free to think whatever you like. I'm out of here." He stood up and headed for the stairs.

" Just keep lying to yourself." She screamed after him as he shook his head. Was he actually lying to himself?

*********

Gabriella's mom returned to meet dinner already served as she was more than glad. It was like Gabby actually knows she was really stressed out. Her body was aching all over that she had bought some drugs on her way coming. She quickly rushed to her room and had a cool bath before joining her daughter at the dinning.

"How was school today honey?" She asked stuffing her mouth with pasta.

"Great." Gabriella lied facing her food.

"Oh! I forgot my drugs on my bed can you help me get them honey?" She said as Gabby nodded standing up to do as she was told. Getting to her mother's room, she picked the drugs and was about to leave when her eyes caught something under the bed. She wanted to ignore it but her curiosity won't let her. She bent over and picked it. It was a book. It looked really old that the inscription on the cover had worn out. She opened the book and most of the content had also worn out but from the look of things, it was a diary. She wanted to close it and return it but a phrase caught her attention.

".......and on the 15th of May 1804, we the madalenes fled EMERALD city." She quickly covered the diary and took it with her out of the room. She stopped by her room and dropped the book there before returning to the dinning.

"Here mother." She gave her the drugs as they resumed eating.

What are madalenes? She thought as she couldn't wait to read the book.

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Somewhere in a remote village in the land of Greece, seven women in black robes were seated in circular manner in a small hut. They all had their eyes closed and their hands intersected.

"She's of age" the middle one said with her eyes shut.

"We must find her before the FALCONS do. They are already tracking her." Another said.

"I see LOS ANGELES." The middle one said again still in the same position.

"Should we go there?" Another asked.

"No. She'll come to us." The middle one replied as suddenly a boy barge in on them panting hard.

"Madalenes.... There are here....the FALCONS....there are here in the village and they already killed two fisher men." The boy said with heavy pants like he had ran a marathon. On hearing this news, the women opened their eyes all at once as their iris reflected the same emerald green color.