After leaving the store Claudia continued her walk but now with her spirit lifted into a good mood.
She couldn't go back to the Evans mansion today since the birthday party would occupy everyone's time and she didn't want to bother anyone. And she should use this time to relax a bit to process this loss and empty her mind of those worries.
Yet her mind was still restless. She missed this cute, black haired girl's company. How great it would be to have her back in her embrace and cuddle with her, feeling this warmth in her arms.
She took out her phone scrolling down her contacts, stopping by Sasha's name. She frowned lightly seeing his name saved on her phone.
Some years ago Sasha came to her forcing his nummber on her. His pretext was about always being in reach for emergencies, but the truth was in Claudia's mind, that Sasha is a big pervert when it comes to Emilié.
He calls sometimes to inquire about Emilié's well being and how she was doing. That is the reason why he knew Emilié was fond of rabbits, cause Claudia informed him and not because he was an attentive father.
Claudia at first thought it was a nice thing to do of Sasha to enquire about his daughter while he is working, but soon Claudia realized that that was the only thing he did for Emilié.
He was almost never home to interact with his family. When he was, he spent time with Emilié, but not so much to build up a tight bond with her.
He only used the information he got from Claudia to sneak up to Emilié and catch her favour. There was nothing fatherly about this.
Emilié was suffering under everyone's dismissive demeanour and Sasha knew that.
Claudia reported him this many times but every time it was dismissed by him or he evaded it like a plague, keeping himself out of those family problems.
His attitude to the problem really irked Claudia but he was her employer. What could she do? Scold him blue and green, until he changes his passive stance over Emilié?!
Yes, as if!
She would be fired, jobless and no one would want to employ a person who was shunned by the Evans.
Rumors would go around and make her life miserable, like that one couple who did uncalled things in Emilié's room, while she was in there.
They were shunned by every employer and were forced to leave the COUNTRY!! Yes! That was one hell of a sex they had! They had to pay a huge sum for that, including their financial and social life just for some fun.
And on the other hand, Emilié... she, she would be oppressed in that house and her psyche would be completely damaged by time.
But this wasn't the time to think about this right now, she wants to call Sasha to ask about her little angel to feel better.
♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️
The phone was ringing for a sec, Claudia didn't want to stand in the middle of the sidewalk and block the passerby's way. So she went to the side, near the street and leaned on a lamppost.
'click'
Sasha <Hello?>
Claudia <Hello Sasha, it's me Claudia.>
Sasha <Yeah, what a surprise! Never thought you will be the one to call me. So what's up, how can I help you?>
Claudia <The thing is...> Claudia hesitated a little.
She didn't want to sound pushy and show that she is too invested in Emilié's life.
That would give some wrong impressions to her employer and would make them think some unneeded stuff, that might lead to a cancellation of her contract.
She couldn't count that out, since the whole family was strange.
<I..I called to ask how Emilié is. Today is her birthday so I wanted to congratulate her> She treaded carefuly.
Sasha <...Emilié? Yeah, wait a second, I will give her to you.> Against her worry, Sasha didn't think much about it. For him it was just Emilié's personal nanny wanting to wishing her happy birthday.
Claudia heard the phone changing hands and wished Emilié a happy birthday. <Happy Birthday Emilié>
'tap' 'tap' 'tap 'tap' ,bombarded Emilié Claudia, showing how happy she was, getting a phone call from her.
Claudia immediately distanced the phone from her ear to avoid bursting her eardrum. <Ok, ok, I understand you are excited to hear from me.> She said with a laugh.
<Oww my poor ears. If I had known, I would have distanced myself earlier from the phone, but well, it's good to know I am missed over there.>
She heard Emilié giggle at her complain, which lured another chuckle out of Claudia, lifting Claudia's mood by a lot. <Haha, hearing you giggle so cute I want to rush over immediately and give you a firm hug, but that has to wait until tomorrow. 'sigh' I really miss you.>
Again a barrage of 'tap' sounds attacked Claudia's ears.
'tap' 'tap' 'tap 'tap'
<Oww, oww, Emilié calm down. As I said I will be back tomorrow and I got a nice gift for you, so look forward to it.>
'tap' 'tap' 'tap 'tap'
Emilié again tapped on the table.
Claudia thought Emilié wished to know what the gift was and denied her request. Since a child's heart is always curious about surprises and the unknown. <Nope, I am not going to tell you what it is; then it wouldn't be a surprise anymore, you have to wait but.. I assure you, you will love it.> She said with a confident tone.
<Emilié, I have to go now, I wish you a happy birthday. See you.> Came the soothing voice from her.
'click'
And so Claudia endet the phone call.
♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️
Ending the phone call, Claudia was hyped up with happy thoughts. Her loss of her mother was completely left behind for a second.
Precisely this was the distraction she needed.
She pushed herself of the lamppost with a smile slithering up her pretty face and walked up the street to call out a taxi.
She heard the engine of a vehicle getting louder, but did not care about it. It was normal for cars to speed up a bit.
She looked down on the pink gift box that was carefully wrapped and the joyous smile on her face did not recede. It even become more distinct, showing her pearly teeth.
She couldn't wait meeting Emilié tomorrow.
Then the motor sound brushed right next to her, a strong pain assaulted her head. She crashed down the street and painted the white snow red with her blood.
The gift box was flung away in front of her. It looked like it was in a reachable distance.
Claudia lost too much blood and her body grew cold.
And don't know if lucky or not, but the pain was so immense her brain went in shock, disallowing it to comprehend the pain her body was in and what just know played through.
It was a hit and run.
A motorcycle hit her with a bat on the head, causing this helpless situation.
The people around her screamed and cried out of shock.
"Kyaaaa!!"
"HELP! Call an ambulance!!"
came the voices all over the place.
But Claudia was mute to the sounds, her eyes was only fixated on the gift box in front of her.
She tried to grab it, but the reachable seeming distance, was a distance she would never be able to overcome.
Her hand fell, her gaze was fuzzy and the last words that slipped her mouth was 'her name', until everything shut off into darkness.
"Emilié..."
A day, a soul was lost. A day, a soul was gained.
Probably someone is gonna kill me babble:
Merry xmas, well I probably ruined someone's Christmas. Man, I'm devious. But raise your pitchforks and torches, I await you guys in front of my doorstep.
And please do go check up on the new tags I updated. They're literally the biggest spoiler on my novel.
I hope I got you guys good, I planned this for months muhahaha, but cried too when I came up with it : P