Mascara Tears [ON HOLD]

4. The Girl And His Promise

Ace

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Ace hesitated before entering the old factory building. Broken glass cracked under his worn boots’ soles and together with the creaking of hanging metal signs swaying in the night’s wind, they made an almost coherent melody, one of death and decay and the inevitability of life. Pigeons joined in the chorus as soon as he was inside, cooing and fluttering about from within the hollow ceiling. It was a good sign, one that signalled that no one had entered the building recently, not through this entrance anyways.

It was also a bad sign, as it meant that Mel had not been moving around that much. Ace had a moment of panic as he imagined Malo’s crew abducting her. They did know of his hideout after all. He took a deep breath before turning into a small passage, climbing a few rusted iron stairs and opening the door at the end of them.

Rust crumbled and metal pieces fell as the old metallic door scraped against its rotting hinges.

‘Took you long enough.’ Mel had her back turned to him. ‘Did you go visit the suburban girl?’

She was standing on a plastic crate and looking out a barred window.

The old factory was situated atop a hill overlooking the small suburb and city beyond, allowing for a pretty decent view of city lights speckled like jewels on the ground below. It was the sort of spot where a snobby rich man would put his mansion, open or all to see and lofty enough to carry his ego. Ace did not particularly like rich people, a hatred he’d grown to have because of his father.

The spot had seemed perfect. Its obvious exposure and defencelessness had led him to believe that no one looking for him would think to look there. But his thinking had been flawed as they’d found him anyways.

He sighed and continued staring at Mel who had yet to turn away from the window. He didn’t bother answering her question as he knew it was born of jealousy and ridicule. Instead he just stared at her urban hair which fell in frenzy dishevelled tangles given a surreal glow by the showers of moonlight that fell upon her. She’d grown a little thinner in the past few weeks, but not thin enough. Ace could still see the appeal in how she still carried weight in all the right places. Less food would solve that.

Mel finally turned to face him. She smiled a sweet smile and carefully climbed off the crate. Ace noticed her slight flinch as she stepped onto the ground and he almost ran to her support. He stilled himself and allowed her to clumsily edge towards her sheets.

Her stomach wound must not have healed completely yet. He thought. Maybe the fast could come later.

He walked over and joined her. They sat on stolen bed sheets and blankets with their backs against the wall, paint peeling off at the slightest of their touch.

Ace reached out his hand and held her chin. He studied her face for a moment, her pained eyes and her scarred cheek. A scar he’d put there himself.

‘I’ll need to cut your hair.’ He told her.

‘Am I starting to look too pretty again?’ She asked mockingly.

Ace ignored her comment and reddening cheeks. He lifted her shirt and prodded at the horizontal cut under hear navel. It was slowly healing but from her winching he could tell it was still far from it even though it had scabbed pretty well. Maybe he’d cut too deep…

‘Did you eat today?’ He asked.

‘You said not to eat too much…’ She mumbled.

‘Well, now you should.’ He allowed her shirt to fall back into place. ‘I’ll get more food tomorrow, you need to heal faster.’

He let go of her and went to stand but she caught his arm and pulled him back down. Before he could ask what was wrong like she knew he would, she kissed him. She held him firmly in place and despite her wound’s protest she kissed him. After only but a moment he broke away. She realised he was also holding her now, his rough hands supporting her back. Though she knew he was probably only holding her to prevent her from doing further damage to herself, his now affectionate touch was reassuring.

‘What was that for?’

At the question she drew away and went back to resting against the wall.

‘Nothing, you were just being too serious again.’ She said.

He allowed himself to settle beside her again, annoyed at himself for letting her words mellow him. He knew he shouldn’t seat and comfort her, but he did. He shouldn’t have let her kiss him either, but he had. She rested her head on his chest and wrapped his arm around herself. He sat there, feeling her faint heart beating against his, regretting his own fragility.

He had to be stronger, harder. He’d told himself that he would when he let her in. At first he’d tried, and like Malo had done to him he’d cut a mark onto her cheek. It was a mark to keep traffickers and organ harvesters away. A sign that showed she’d already been harvested. After a few run inns with harvesters though he’d decided to also put a cut on her stomach for those who didn’t buy into the mark. Plenty of street people had caught on and were putting fake scars on their cheeks to ward of predators.

Ace could have convinced her to actually sell her organs, but he had chosen not to, deciding that the money was not worth the risk to her life. Malo on the other hand would not have been so kind. Like she’d sold his, she’d have had the girl cut up and thrown her in with the prostitutes when she’d finished with her. She was certainly more than pretty enough.

Ace let out another sigh. He had to be hard on this girl, had to toughen her up if she would presume to survive the streets. This affectionate behaviour would not help. Despite himself though, he found he was running his hand gently through her hair.

‘You are being awfully nice today.’ She said. ‘What happened?’

‘I’m going to be working with Malo’s gang again.’

Mel’s head jerked up as and she withdrew from him.

‘But-’

‘She’s found you Mel.’ He interjected. ‘I… I can’t protect you.’

She was silent for a moment, thoughtful. Then she rested her head back on his chest.

‘I’m sorry…’ She whispered.

‘Don’t be.’ He resumed caressing her head. ‘I’ll get us out of here one way or another… I promise.’

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