Chapter XLVII:

The Civil War only lasted for four years. That was long enough for Maddie and me to get close together. This wasn’t supposed to happen. But it did. I wished that it hadn’t. I haven’t been trying to keep her away. That just made things worse. That first night was a mistake. Circumstances forced my hand. It’s almost like the universe is playing a cruel joke on me. The conditions made it just right. I’m mad I didn’t catch it in time.

Maybe then, I could’ve stopped it.

For now, I didn’t see it. She and Phillip sat on my bed, eating. I noticed that she looked quite young for her age. If I hadn’t known any better, I would’ve thought that she was a teenager.

“Where is your family?” I asked. “Your parents, I mean.” Maddie paused over her meat.

“Dead,” she said.

“Oh,” I said. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Yeah,” Maddie mumbled. She finished off the chicken in her hands.

“I lost my family too,” I said. She looked up at me. I didn’t know why I said this. I never even opened up to Elizabeth about my past.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Maddie said. She leaned against my side. I didn’t know how to respond at first. She looked like she was going to sleep on me. I gently shook her on the shoulder.

“Hey. Hey,” I whispered. Maddie lazily looked up at me.

“Hm?” she asked. She could barely keep her eyes open. I didn’t like where this was heading. Phillip was already asleep beside her. I decided to try and let her sleep on my bed. I started to slip away from her.

I froze when I felt a cold breath on my shoulder. I didn’t have to look behind me to know who it was. She started whispering in my ear.

“Don’t get too attached. She’s going to die soon too.”

I closed my eyes and breathed heavily. I wasn’t going to let her get into my head again. I had just found peace tonight. I wasn’t going to let her take that from me.

“You already know how this is going to turn out. She’ll be like Elizabeth. Her little siblings are going to die too.”

I slid my body out from under Maddie. She gently flopped down onto the bed. Phillip fell beside her as well. I couldn’t help but smile. I walked over and pulled a blanket over them.

“Good night,” I whispered. I walked over to the corner of the room. The rain poured harder outside. It looked like it was going to be a long night with this storm. I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes. It didn’t take me long to fall asleep. This would have to do for now.

In the morning, I was going to see Maddie and Phillip off. Maybe then, I could get them away from their fate. I knew that wasn’t to work but I still had to try for their sake.

I had that dream again that night.