Visitor

Fredric drew a relieved breath as she left him alone in the apartment, he found the isolation to be a bit serene. Perhaps it was something that he had gotten used to earlier in his life and never knew he would miss. Though it had its own set of depressing problems.

He cleaned himself up, dressed and started packing a bag for their trip, the idea of running away was still distant and part of him just wanted to ignore the warnings. But the threat was clear and the fact that he was a millionaire, albeit only in theory.

Fredric slouched down on the sofa once he thought himself done with finding the belongings he wished to bring, turned out to be more than he thought. To pack his life in a bag or two seemed inadequate, but he knew he could not bring it all.

He made a priority system: a bag of basic clothes and necessities, then followed by a bag of niceties; nicer clothes, some pictures of his family and heirlooms. He thought of making a third bag but dismissed it. But he sat there taking a good look at the items he would not bring, he was looking at a wooden carved figure of a dog his dad had made him when he was little when the door bell rang.

Rising from the sofa, putting the figure away on the table Fredric went to the door wondering, Madeline would not ring the bell and they still had time to prepare for whatever threat was posed on them for a few days.

As he opened the door his anxiety level rose by a magnitude, it was the same messenger from before. With his dark shades and clean black and white suit and tie.

“Fredric Bakerson, I am here to deliver a message as you yet have not fulfilled the last request.” he said with a clear but not too loud voice, this was clearly some one who did enjoy hearing himself though. “I’m to elaborate on the result that inaction will bring, your apartment contract will be terminated and the police will vacate you if you remain.”

“What?! You can’t terminate the contract, I have to get at least a 3 months notice!” Fredric blurted out with some relief.

The man held a up a hand in the air to demand for silence. “You will find that an inspector has deemed the structure unsound, more specifically around your apartment, in due course in order to avoid a collapse you have to leave the premise all according to your contract. If...” he wanted to continue but was interrupted by a loud thud echoing in the hallway followed by the distinct opening and closing of the main door.

The man turned to check the hallway, evidently annoyed by being interrupted but since no one came and the silence remained he turned back to Fredric.

“If…” He tried again but now he turned to the sound of quick footsteps in the hallway only to see a fist moments before it hit his face, flinging the shades to shatter on the concrete floor, revealing a look of surprise before a right hook knocked him out cold in the hallway.

Madeline stood over him breathing heavily, evidently worked herself up, she had clearly gotten some new clothes at the store, a large white T-shirt and some softpants, maybe a size to small but the clothes were loose by design and fit her nicely. She quickly turned to the stunned Fredric with a worried voice.

“Are you okay?!” she asked hurrying over for a hug without waiting for an answer.

“Yes… I’m.. FINE.” He got out as he pushed his face away from her soft bosom. “He was just a messenger, the same from before. Came to tell me that their threat was that they were going to evict me if I did not comply.” he said looking up at her as she let him loose from the embrace to speak.

Before he got the chance to ask her about why she would floor the guy she embraced him tightly again and muffled any chances of being verbal while stroking his hair affectionately.

“We need to go now, I brought what we need, I dropped it outside when I hurried in.” she said almost whispering with relief, he could hear her heart was still racing.