| Chapter Nine: As Time Passes |
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| Disclaimer: Don’t own, don’t sue, you know the drill. |
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| Sirens wailed down the street, rushing past homes and shops. I lifted my eyes away from the papers I was grading for the Professor, my heart skipping a beat, my brow furrowing in worry. I listened intently as the sirens faded away, wondering if they were barreling towards V, fearing he had been found. I chastised myself for the hundredth time for worrying so, remembering it had been over a month since I had last seen V and by now he had probably forgotten all about me. Sighing, I turned my attention back to my papers, knowing I would be watching the news tonight, wondering if I would see his face, just like I did every night.
The police flew down the roads, pedestrians jumping out of the way as they took turns at dangerous speeds. They skidded to a halt in front of a church, paramedics already taking the steps up to the door two at a time. A figure crouched above in the shadows of a rooftop, a wind with the touch of spring ruffling his cape, watching the commotion with grim satisfaction. He waited to watch the paramedics come back out at a slower pace, a stretcher with a cloth covered man between them. The figure, satisfied that his deed was in fact done, melted away into the shadows, heading back home to the Shadow Gallery. *** I sat comfortably in an armchair, sipping my cup of tea in front of the telly, the opening chords of the evening news theme beginning to play. I waited anxiously as a pleasant looking woman came on the screen, beginning a piece about the Chancellor’s upcoming broadcast. I visibly relaxed in the chair, smiling a bit. If they had caught Codename V, it would have been the first piece of news for sure. He was safe for another day. I allowed my mind to wander a bit during the news, reminding myself I had to finish making up that test for Professor Thornton before the end of the week. I had to earn my keep somehow. My ears perked up as the news was winding down when the anchorwoman mentioned a woman had been killed in her home. I focused my attention to catch the last bit of the piece: “-ridge, a local coroner, was found dead in her home early this morning. Details are still coming in, but the police think the murderer gained entrance through a window. The authorities would like to remind citizens to lock their doors and windows tightly against potential thieves and intruders.” I frowned a bit at the pleasant looking woman. I’m not sure why the newsbyte piqued my interest, but something about it seemed familiar, almost. Oh well, no point worrying about it now. I clicked off the television, stood, stretched the tight muscles in my back, and made my way slowly to my bedroom. Deep below London and many blocks away, a grim smile formed beneath a grinning mask as the details of the good doctor’s death were smoothed over. Of course, they would never mention that she was found holding an extinct rose, or beside a diary explaining her and the country’s darkest secrets, or that her death was connected in any way to Codename V. The annoying woman smiled into the camera while announcing that coming up next was Daddy Dietrich’s show and that England prevails. A gloved hand clicked the telly off, muttering darkly, “England most certainly will prevail, but by the time I’m through, it will no longer be your England.” *** The evening sky was streaked with purples and pinks, the clouds still glowing in the receding golden light. It had been a perfect spring day, the warmth of summer in the air, the flowers in the window box blooming, the birds singing. Professor Thornton had left a couple of hours ago to go to an awards ceremony where he would be handing out honors to the soon-to-be graduates of the University. Before he had left, he had given me a tight hug and reminded me how much he appreciated all of my help with his research and grading, and how he couldn’t have done any of it on his own. He had given me a new book called All My Love and told me to enjoy the evening to myself and not to expect him until very late. I watched the sunset through a window on the top floor of his home, a couple of birds dancing on a wind I could only see. I was going insane. I had picked up the new book multiple times, and even though the first few pages were interesting, I couldn’t focus on it. No matter how many times I read the first line, the story just wouldn’t sink in. I paced back and forth in front of the window, the sun slowly setting away into darkness, wishing more then anything to be out there. I feared the rug would thin beneath my pacing feet. I couldn’t stop thinking of…him. Every day for months I watched the news in half dread, wondering if I would see his ever grinning façade. And every day, when the report of his capture again failed to come, I would feel overwhelming relief that he was safe another day. I couldn’t stop thinking of all of our time together, from New Year’s Eve when we danced on the rooftop, to all of the dinners we shared, to all of the movies we watched together. I fingered the beautiful diamond that rested right beneath my collarbone, wondering if he still thought of me, wondering if he still cared, wondering when I would stop wondering, wondering if I would ever stop loving him. It was when the soft moonbeams began to light the street that I made my decision. I looked at the clock on the wall and smiled gratefully. Thank God. A whole hour before curfew. I quickly made my way downstairs, grabbed a light sweater and hat from the back of the hall closet, and walked out the door, breathing in the fresh air for the first time since the night he left me. I didn’t know where I was going, but it didn’t matter. I was just glad to finally be going someplace. As I started down the road, I tucked my hair firmly underneath the cap. Couldn’t risk being exposed after so long. Who knows if they were still looking for me? I pushed my hands deep into the pockets of my sweater and kept my head down, enjoying the feel of the wind as it caressed my face. The scent of roses caught my notice and I looked around, seeing a little window box filled with small blooms. I carefully reached over and picked one, carrying it with me as I walked, my thoughts filled with blood red petals and a man in a mask. On the other side of the city, a man cloaked by night perched on the edge of a rooftop, his cloak moving softly in the wind. He had been sitting on rooftops every night for the past few months, searching. But as every night passed without even a whisper of where she could be, he began to give up hope. V sighed and stood, moving through the shadows without a real direction in mind. He had started in the most logical place, watching that professor Veronica had mentioned liking so much. He had watched his home, his office, his classes, everything for weeks, but he had never seen Veronica with him. V had moved on, searching the streets, and when that had turned up fruitless, he looked in the prisons, fearing she had been captured. But there was nothing, not hide nor hair of her anywhere. He told himself he should just give up. She had probably forgotten all about him, moving on and living a fulfilling life. For all he knew, she had left the city or even the country. She knew she was being searched for as his accomplice, so she might have left to stay safe. A part of him hoped that’s what she did, but another part felt crushing disappointment and loss that she might be gone forever. V looked around the rooftops and realized he was on the same rooftop he had been on months before when he had seen a beautiful woman drunkenly smart off to a Fingerman. V felt a pang in his chest at the memory. Who could have guessed that that brave woman would prove to be his greatest challenge ever faced? A heavy weight fell on V as he gazed into the alleyway that had been such a turning point in his life. Now she was gone, and it was all his fault. He had thrown her out instead of trusting her, blinded by his sense of betrayal. At that moment, a dark figure walked into the alley. Startled, V moved deeper into the shadows, wondering who would be wandering around so close to curfew. Whoever it was, they were probably up to no good. V smiled darkly under the mask as he leapt silently onto a fire escape that would take him to the ground. V watched as the figure walked slowly down the alleyway. It stopped suddenly, looking around as if confused about its surroundings. The shoulders slumped and V could hear the sigh from where he was standing. Whatever this stranger was looking for, it wasn’t found. The figure crouched to the ground and stayed there, silent and unmoving. Long minutes passed, neither of the dark figures moving. Just a night walker looking for something, he supposed. V was about to leave to continue his search elsewhere when he heard the figure whisper something. He leaned closer to hear better as it whispered again. “Oh, V…” He froze. Had he been seen? Surely not, no one had ever seen him before. He was very proud of his stealth and that a man could die by his hand before he even knew his life was in danger. But as he continued to watch, the figure stood, turned in the opposite direction, and headed out of the alley and away from him. He allowed his muscles to relax. He must have misheard. He was about to leave the ally when something caught his eye. There, where the dark figure had been kneeling, was a rose. Not one of his roses, it was smaller with a thinner bloom, but there was no denying the red against the grimy concrete. V stared at the rose for a moment that felt like forever, the implications of the symbol whirling in his head, before his head shot back to the figure that had almost made it to the street. It was then that he noticed the feminine figure he knew so well, and a lock of chocolate brown hair had escaped the confines of the hat. “Veronica…” I turned and looked back into the alley. The alley where we had first met. I hadn’t meant to end up here, but my feet had carried me here without my being aware. But now it sounded like my name was being whispered by the wind in his voice. I must be going insane and hearing things. I was already halfway turned around to leave when I realized the rose I had left was gone. I spun around and froze. My rose was being held in the hand of a dark figure who slowly moved out of the shadows. My eyes gradually shifted from the rose to leather clad hands, to a black covered muscled chest, to the mask I had been dreaming about since winter. “Oh, great,” I blurted out, “now I’m seeing things, too.” “If this is a dream, may I never wake again,” he breathed, moving fully into the dim light, his voice as amazing as I remember. I slowly moved toward him as he remained still, his head tilting slightly as he observed my cautious approach. Soon I was standing in front of him, a gentle wind lifting his cloak and causing my hair to dance around my face. Slowly, ever so slowly, he lifted a hand to push a lock of hair behind my ear and it caused me to shiver. My voice shook with suppressed emotion. “I was so worried about you.” His voice was equally as soft. “As I, you. Veronica, I owe you an apology. I should have known you would never – ” I shook my head. “No, it’s all right. I understand.” “Where have you been all of these months? I searched for you everywhere.” My heart swelled. He had been looking for me. “I stayed with Professor Thornton.” “But,” I could hear the frustration in his voice, “I watched your professor for weeks and I never saw you with him.” “Did you look inside the top story of his apartment?” “Well, no…” I couldn’t help but smile. “I haven’t left the house since…that night. This is the first night I’ve been outside.” “You’ve been locked up all of these months?” His voice was strained and I saw his hand unconsciously reach toward me. I wanted to reach out and hold it, but it fell back to his side before I could. His head tilted downwards. “I truly am sorry, Veronica.” I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter, V.” I bravely reached out a hand and took his leather clad one in mine, holding it tenderly. “I’m just glad you’re safe.” He looked down at our joined hands and back up to me. Quietly, almost disbelieving, he said, “You were really that worried about me after all I’ve done to you?” “Of course, V.” My other hand went up to my collarbone, unconsciously fingering the gift he had given me. “I love you.” I heard his breath catch and felt him stiffen in front of me. I stepped back quickly, dropping his hand, afraid I had spoken too rashly. “I know it seems fast, and I know it’s probably irrational. I don’t know when or how or why it happened, but it did. I haven’t stopped thinking about you in all of these months. I’ve watched the news every night hoping, praying you hadn’t been captured. You’re so amazing, so intelligent, so handsome, so…” I felt the tears welling up in my eyes as he remained silent. “I know you probably don’t feel the same, and I’m sor – ” With lightning reflexes, he reached for my hand and pulled, bringing me close to him, mere inches away from each other. My heart began to pound in my chest as he leaned his mask close to the side of my face, and for the first time I felt his warm breath caress my ear. Softly he whispered, “If that is the case, will you come home?” My breath hitched and I looked up at him in disbelief. I could feel him smiling at me through the mask and I let out a small sound of joy, throwing my arms around him without thinking. I felt solid arms wrap around my waist and I thrilled at his embrace, feeling safe and happy for the first time in months. I don’t know how long we stood in that alleyway, our arms wrapped around each other, the moonlight washing over us. I just know that for the first time in my life, I knew what heaven must be like. |
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