It is commonplace for humans—especially teenagers—to throw about the word “love.” We love a person for a moment, because they bought us something, did us a favor, or something else trivial of that sort. Many young girls mistake infatuation for love. But after two years spent traveling back and forth to Blancwood to see my Paris, I believed myself not to be one of those girls. My love was true.
Every day when I could spare a moment away from my sisters and their vile missions, I would take the public bus to the city’s outer limits, and meet Paris at some predetermined location. It grew increasingly harder for us to meet, as he was occupied with his honorable pursuits, and I with my petty thievery. At the time, I had yet to commit a murder, and was eternally grateful for that.
Paris often questioned where I went during the day, since I had dropped out of school, but I had become a quick thinker and a gifted liar, and was always able to muster up a satisfactory excuse. As the months passed I practically became immune to the guilt lying should have brought.
A year later, when we both had attained the age of nineteen, Paris and I encountered a young policeman on the streets of Blancwood, apparently on patrol. I immediately recognized the man as the officer that had spotted me during one of my earlier, sloppier heists, but by then there was no plausible way to veer out of his sight without looking odd. I cringed down beside Paris as the man passed us by. I remember hoping he was blind, or incredibly dimwitted, but I knew neither was so--he had given me the scar on my shoulder, grazed me with a tranquilizer dart at the Rubato National Bank. His senses were keen.
He tipped his hat in greeting to Paris. I prayed that was all the interaction that would occur. The policeman soon dashed my hopes, and began to speak to my boyfriend.
“Officer Valentia! Why it’s nice to see you, son!” he had said. He offered Paris a friendly handshake, which was promptly accepted.
“Mister Callahann! It has been ages! I didn’t know you had become a… police officer.” Paris choked on the words. His own politeness masked his contempt for the profession.
“And I only just heard you had become an officer in our military, boy!” he replied, smiling broadly. His eyes then wandered to me. There was a distinct change in his tone when he spoke again, but I believe Paris did not notice it. Perhaps it was all in my head. “I did not know you had a girlfriend though, Paris…”
Paris’ cheeks flushed. “Oh… C-Cadenza?” I felt him squeeze my hand gently as he smiled. “Yes… we have been dating for about three years now. She’s my gorgeous sunflower of Rubato,” he announced, sounding very proud.
“Is she from Blancwood?” Callahann asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked me over. I tried hard to contain a gulp—he obviously knew who I was.
“Oh no,” Paris had answered. “She’s from the city of Santa Mariela, about ten miles or so south of here.”
Paris didn’t realize it, but he was feeding the authorities information about a multiple time offender of the law. To him, it seemed he was only making conversation. I wanted to break out into a sprint at that very moment, but I was chained to that very spot, by Paris’ manners and Callahann’s “curiosity.”
“So is she nineteen, just like you are?” the policeman asked, eyes still locked upon me. His gaze could make a clergyman feel like a sinner.
“Yes, we’re both nineteen,” Paris replied, “We met back in secondary school. And while I now go to university and she does not, we still manage to spend time together.”
“…Good to hear,” Callahann had said. At that point he was making notes in a leather book-bound pad. “Looking at my schedule here… it looks like I’ve gotta be getting back to work now. Goodbye Officer Valentia and… Miss Cadenza. Have a nice day.”
“You too!” Paris called back. He turned to me and smiled. “That Callahann, what a nice guy, eh?”
“Yeah…” I had said, not even trying to feign enthusiasm.
That night when I returned home, I received my next assignment from my sister. I couldn’t believe my ears when she had told me my objective. The coincidence was too alarming.
“This policeman is trouble for you, and that means he’s trouble for all of us, Cadenza. He saw you during your heist at the Rubato National Bank, and now he’s learned more about you thanks to that boyfriend of yours.”
“Y-you saw that…? You were watching me…!”
“Of course, Cadenza, we have to keep an eye on you. Especially when you’re out of the city. You’re going to ruin everything.” She waved a scolding finger in my face.
I didn’t know whether to feel angry or guilty then. I just knew whatever emotion I was feeling was something I desperately wanted to fade fast. My stomach felt sick. But Vivace wouldn’t let up.
“Now prepare yourself and go back to Blancwood. It’s time for you to do away with Callahann, sister.”
By dawn of the next morning, I had committed my first unforgivable act. I knew then that I was tainted—marked for life.
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OoC: The chapters after this won't be posted so frequently. I was just feeling inspired today.
And thank you for all the positive feedback, Drewey!