Chapter Text
She struggled with her weapon. “I could still kill you” she sneared. Maggy just laughed.
“And how would you go about that, little girl?” The girl stumbled to her feet, a belligerent scowl on her face and managed to tear off the bonds on her wrists.
“I would wait. I would hide and I would watch you until I knew all your weak points, then I would set a trap.”
“Hmm. I think you’re just spitting game to distract me while you figure out how to run.” The girl froze. “Good instincts though.” Panicking, she charged the woman, slashing the machete with crazed, desperate focus. She managed to land a nick on Maggy’s arm before the weapon was easily knocked out of her hands. The girl did not cease. She punched and kicked, each blow blocked effortlessly. Soon she was thrown to the ground, and when she tried to scramble back into the forest she found a very strong hand had grabbed her hair.
“Someone’s taught you some things, haven’t they? They taught you to talk and to run and to fight”
“I taught myself how to fight”
“Then you did a damn poor job. Look, I know you think you’re tough because of what you’ve been through, but you are still very young. Child, where are your parents.” The girl struggled silently in her grasp until a slap was delivered to the back of her head. “You can answer my questions or I can rip off your scalp, do you understand kid?” she nodded, ‘Good. Now. Do you know where your parents are?”
“Dead.”
“How long?”
“...at least a year ago”
“How did they die?”
Her captive tensed and inhaled, “Father’s head was beaten in with a sledgehammer, and, and’ she paused.
“And?”
The girl breathed in and out, “They cut off mother’s head with a saw,” her tone completely indifferent. Magdalene’s grip had softened slightly, as did her expression. She was troubled.
“Child, how many people have you seen die?”
“...twelve.” The response was quiet, like she was afraid to say it too loud
“Were two of them your parents?”
“Yes.”
“Did you kill any of them?”
The girl paused. “Two.” She did not sound sure.
Maggy shook her. “Come on girl, don’t lie to me, you didn’t about all those deaths.” She remained silent. “Child killing someone does not make you brave or strong” said Maggy, but her captive was breathing shallowly and
shaking her head.
“It’s not that’ she whispered, then in a very small voice, she muttered “Three”. Interesting. There was one she regretted.
“And how old are you?”
“I’m almost nine”
“My, my that is a lot for almost nine years isn’t it. Now even if that was just a story, it’s a story that deserves a reward, so how about you come into the house for some food?” The girl, who had relaxed somewhat, tensed again. “What you think I’m going to hurt you? If I meant you any will ill at all it would be over and done with by now. Child I am a mercenary, not a stealth operative.” The girl squirmed a bit, scanning for a way out, then apparently gave up.
“Okay. I’m hungry anyway. Could you let go of me now?”
Maggy chuckled “I suppose so” then instantly regretted her decision. The girl had retrieved her blade, and aimed for the woman’s thighs. Maggy was impressed. She was trying to immobilize. “Fine, child, go your way. But come back by sundown and there will be a hot meal waiting for you.” The girl startled slightly, then darted back into the woods. Maggy returned to her house and began preparing vegetables for the root cellar. Once her task was completed, she descended to the dirt-floored sub-basement and organized the jars. Coming back to the ground floor, she sensed someone following. She halted her pace and scanned the room, deciding to let the girl expose herself on her own time. Finally as she entered the library, she felt the rusted edge of a machete at her back.
“So. Tell me. Why did you choose now?” No response. “Tell me right now or get out of my house before I destroy you.”
“Because I found the key and it doesn’t have any windows. I was going to lock you in there then make an explosive. I didn’t know how long you were going to be down there so I didn’t have time beforehand”
Maggy sighed. “You don’t seem to be leaving, so could we come to a truce for the evening? No murder attempts until tomorrow, okay?” The girl made a noise of disapproval. “Do I have to tie you up and feed you like an infant? Because that seems to be what you’re asking me to do. Now I’m going to give you one last chance to leave this place and never return, or you can calm down and help make us some dinner. Sweetheart I promise I won’t hurt you.”
The young girl lowered her weapon and let Maggy turn to look at her. She looked desperate and defeated, but mostly very tired. With her eyes to the ground, she dropped her weapon and stomped her bare feet in a number of frustrated circles around the hall muttering angrily, her eyes and face reddening. Then she rushed at Maggy and threw a few half-hearted punches at her stomach before she was unable to restrain the tears. She grabbed onto a the woman’s shirt and pressed her face into it. Maggy put her arms around the eight-year-old.
“That’s it. It’s okay.” she said gently. The girl stopped for a moment and sniffled, then let out a sound that was very sad and very young. It was the cry of a child who had seen her parents killed in front of her, one who was fighting her instinct to run but desperately wanted what the strong arms promised. Safety. Protection. And, as the woman held her tighter and stroked her hair even as her nose dripped, the possibility of love crossed her mind, and it scared her as much as anything. Then the woman picked her up and Genine felt helpless to retaliate, so she simply clung to the adult and continued crying. They sat on a couch and Magdalene rocked her until she was calm. “You okay now?” Genine shook her head. “I know. You saw some things and had to grow up very fast and learn to survive alone. Now all those things you pushed out of your mind are coming back all at once. But don’t be afraid. Not of me at least.” Knowing she was pushing her luck, she placed a kiss on the top of the girl’s head, instantly regretting it, though not for the emotional backlash. The girl was filthy. “Now let’s get you into a nice hot bath and then fix us some dinner. How does that sound?” The girl nodded, still sniffling. “I’m going to get up now, sweetheart.” As they walked to the bathroom Genine had the sickening desire to hold her hand. She felt so young in the big solid house of this strong intelligent woman. For the first time since her parents’ death she felt safe.
She came to her senses slightly when the woman returned to the bathroom after commanding her to undress and leaving. She came bearing several supplies, a towel, washcloth, a bottle and bar of soap, shampoo and conditioner, a hair brush and a bath brush. Genine’s feeling of safety became a pool of dread in her stomach. “No darling you are just filthy and children of your age group are not known for their ability to wash themselves.” She had wrapped herself in a slightly damp towel that was already on the rack and waited awkwardly for Maggy to draw the bath. Some flowery smelling salt was added and Genine soon saw steam rising from the tub. “Get in” she said once the water covered the bottom. It was very hot and she flinched. Maggy chuckled. “Now I know your weakness.” Genine glared at her and looked away. She just laughed again. “Come now are you really going to reject my hospitality as you sit naked in my bathtub?” The girl looked down and shook her head. “That’s what I thought. Here, rub this on your arms and legs.” She was handed the washcloth that now had a lather of soap. Magdalene noted that the water had already acquired a brown tinge and brought the brush to her back. Even without her clothes there was a thick film of dirt that clung to her skin and was not eager to be removed. Altogether removing the majority of the grime took about forty minutes, at which point the water was lukewarm and milky brown. Maggy sighed. “Flip the drain and get out” The girl did as she was told and made motions to put her clothes back on before her arm was caught. “Not so fast. One, you are not putting those clothes back until they are washed. Two, we are not done here. I just needed to drain the water.”
“Okay, but I’m hungry. Can we eat first?” The thought seemed so banal after the past year.
“Well we can’t have dinner yet, but I could make you a snack. How does that sound?” The girl nodded. “Come along. Put on the bathrobe and follow me.”
Genine nearly tripped on the garment several times before reaching the kitchen. “Sit.” She was presented with an apple and a slice of bread with butter that she devoured with as much grace she could muster. The fruit and bread were fresh and better than anything she’d eaten for months.
“Satisfied?” Maggy asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. Let’s get you back into the bath then”
“Okay.”
They returned and finished their task, scrubbing out every inch of her thoroughly. Then she was made to lay her head back under the water, briefly giving the girl a halo of dirt. Maggy grimaced and ran her hands through Genine’s hair until they met a knot and the girl let out a cry. “Just try to get as much out as you can then we’ll wash your hair.” She nodded and did as she was told. Once the woman was satisfied, she led the girl back up and massaged the shampoo into her scalp.
“I can do that ma’am” she murmured sheepishly.
“Shh darling, just let me take care of you.” In the girl’s world, this is a statement she knows shouldn’t be trusted, but the hands on her head are gentle and she is so tired, so she closes her eyes and relaxes into them, trying to enjoy the moment. “Good girl” she hears, and it breaks something within her. She smiles, for the first time since the tragedy.
Soon she is clean, skin scrubbed raw and fresh. Magdalene brings a clean set of clothes that are much too big for her, but she is told they are hers now, and that makes her so happy. (make note of how the happiness unnerves her) The clothes are jerry-rigged so she isn’t swimming in them, and they return to the kitchen.
While she is cutting and peeling vegetables, Maggy removes a chicken from the industrial refrigerator and prepares it with oil and rosemary and garlic. The girl is relieved of her task and is set to making a salad, learning the contents of the refrigerator in the process. She feels bad, knowing it won’t be as good as the woman is used to, and that scares her. She already has a sense of obligation to this woman and that is bad. She knows if she doesn’t leave soon she may not leave at all, but in that moment, surrounded on all sides by an appearance of comfort and security, she thinks it might not be so bad.
Soon the dinner is ready, and she clambers up onto the counter to fetch drinking glasses. The woman pours her a cup of milk and herself a glass of beer. The food is delicious, and she gobbles down everything on her plate in less than ten minutes. Without even having to ask, her plate is refilled. This time she goes slower, trying to pace her shrunken, atrophied stomach. As she chews, Maggy says “Stay here the night. There are terrible things out in that forest.”
She freezes and hesitates, her instincts showing through, but nods her head. “If you stay here with me I could train you. Make you a real fighter.”
Genine is troubled. This woman is too powerful to be harmless, but she has been so very kind. And she wants to be able to defend herself so bad, to not be a helpless little girl any longer.
“I know you’re scared. And you are right, you shouldn’t trust me. But you won’t survive much longer without training and I think you know.” She does.
“Take your time child. But know that I can make you strong. More than that I can make you whole.” It is frighteningly believable and they continue with their meal in silence.
Hours later Maggy is in bed when she hears small footsteps approaching and soon sees the shadow of the girl’s blade. “Still trying to kill me are we?” The machete clatters to the floor. In a very small voice, the girl answers “No. I. I was scared ma’am.” She turns away from the bed, covers her face and mumbles “Can I sleep with you tonight?” She is so perfectly innocent and terrified and broken that it fills Magdalene with an affection she thought she’d lost. “I suppose it can’t be helped” she said, and lifted up the covers for the girl to scramble under. Genine tries to just lay there and sleep, but she is struck by more of the fear and anxiety that she has had to suppress for so long and it makes her cuddle up to the big strong lion of a woman. An arm wraps around her, and the fear abates. A hand runs through her clean hair, and she hears the woman hum what might be a lullaby. Surrendering to the exhaustion that has been haunting her since she fled Chateau Alpha, she falls into a deep sleep. The woman kisses her clean hair and does the same.