The Necronomicon

Chapter Forty Five

They were finally back — on the outskirts of the town. The river was behind them — and The Elders Headquarters in front of them. Half of it was demolished, walls crumbling. What was left of it looked dishevelled, like it had only partially been built — and by a young child who knew nothing about architecture. "Woah," Meredith said, and Alfred nodded disbelievingly. It was hard to take in. What was once such a magnificent building... now reduced to almost nothing.

"The library was left intact, at least — or at least that's what some of the rebels told me," Alfred responded, and together they stalked towards the building. "I've always wanted to take some books from the shelves."

"Then why don't you? Eleanor might be in here anyway." Meredith replied. Since two nights ago, she hadn't even looked him in the eyes. Why had she told him the truth about that stupid dream? Now he seemed to be walking on eggshells around her. As if one word from him might cut her in two — or at least her heart.

It was stupid; her heart was already cracked anyway. Stupid Frederick. She hadn't done anything to heal it; she was hurting — but she didn't know how to stop the pain. What could she even do?

The main hall was as bare as ever — Meredith led Alfred to the library door. He opened it, and they stumbled in. The shelves were longer than Meredith remembered, and the ceiling lower. Some of the bookshelves had been ransacked, and books lay all over the floor. Alfred ran his right hand over spine after spine after spine, enthralled. Meredith observed the shelf in front of her, scanning the titles.

There was no quick fix to heartbreak — she knew that. After all, Meredith had tried crying it all out (she'd just ended up with a puffy face), half-moving on to another man (but Alfred didn't feel the same) and even trying to read away her sorrow (A World for Women hadn't helped).

And in all honesty, she wondered whether she should give up on love. It just — it didn't ever work out for her. Clearly, there was nobody out there who could ever love her — she was undesirable. She threw a glance at Alfred — he was already staring at her.

Without thinking, she walked towards him, her pace quick, increased by her need, fuelled by the strange twang she felt in the pit of her stomach, her desperation. She approached him, and leaned close to him, pulling her hands into his hair. His eyes centred on hers, and she pushed their foreheads together, smiling into his mouth. Without warning, he made a small noise in his throat, and then kissed her squarely on her lips.

How she wished that could happen — but no. Meredith was still by the Romance section, dreaming about how Alfred would taste against her lips, and whether his lips would be soft on hers — while Alfred was unaware, still skimming the books.

What was wrong with her?

He looked up at her, and there was something in his eyes as he stared at her. "Meredith," He croaked, and she nodded mutely, wondering whether it was the time to walk over and slip a hand under his shirt. "I want all the books here, but we can't take them all."

"You can come here periodically," She responded. "Let's go."

He strolled over to her, and held open the door for her to walk through. As she passed him she could smell him — a mixture of herbs and the scent of old books.

They walked out of the building. Meredith wanted desperately to hold his hand as it swung by hers, but she resisted. Alfred didn't look at her, instead keeping his steely gaze trained on nothing but the shadows up ahead.

"Alfred, do you think we should go to my house?"

He didn't answer for a few moments, instead glancing around rapidly. "Yeah — I — um, sure."

Weird. Meredith shrugged it off, and led the way to her old home. It was a shorter walk than she remembered — once or twice she recollected walking it with Eleanor and complaining about the length the entire time. Now it didn't seem quite as far; it was a short and leisurely march.

Meredith walked on — but Alfred had stopped. "It's here, Meredith."

She spun around — but there was hardly anything there. Just some blackened out bricks and dust. "Don't be silly, my house was huge and —"

"It was torn apart by fire, remember Meredith? Somewhere in that debris..."

"The remains of my father's there." She looked at what used to be her house for a few moments. Is it still a home if it's destroyed? If you're there alone? Her father was dead. Eleanor wasn't here. She was alone — utterly and completely. Eleanor...

Where was she? Meredith wanted to find her so badly. She needed a hug and some kind words — Alfred's monotone and swivelling eyes weren't quite the same. "Eleanor could be further in town," Alfred offered, and Meredith bowed her head in agreement.

"Probably."

———

Audrey hadn't stopped walking in days — and she was beginning to suspect that she was hearing voices. For instance, was that Meredith's voice she heard? Or was she imagining it because of how much she wanted to see her, to know that she truly was alive, and deliver her to Eleanor.

Audrey just wanted to see Eleanor's face light up again. To see her eyes come alive with hope and love. She wanted nothing more than to see her smile. And Audrey knew that bringing Meredith to Eleanor would paint that beautiful beam back onto her perfect face.

She looked away from the ruins of the once dense housing — and forwards. As she did, her jaw dropped and her eyes bulged. She had not been wrong, for in front of her stood Meredith.

"How?" She breathed.

"Audrey!" Beside her, Alfred: he had turned around.

Meredith met Audrey's eyes as she spun around. "Audrey."

"Meredith. Eleanor's been waiting to talk to you for ages," Audrey replied, and Meredith nodded.

"Take me to her, please."

Audrey and Alfred embraced — and shortly afterwards Meredith slipped her arm through the woman's. "You knew I was alive?"

"We heard you were dead. Eleanor was distraught — so I went off to go and find you. I went to the rebel base camp to ask Frederick about your death, and I heard him say that you had been sighted. Alive."

"You've been living with Eleanor then?" Alfred asked, and when Audrey bowed her head, a look of seemingly mutual understanding burst between them.

Alfred grinned. He brushed a few stray strands of hair behind his ear, his feet pounding the pavement underneath. Meredith could focus on nothing but the thoughts going around her head in circles — namely, was she about to lay her eyes upon her stepmother once more?

She tried to keep from crying as Audrey led them forwards, closer to where her stepmother was. The anticipation devoured her; she could hardly breathe without it being ragged. Her veins seared with it — she could see Alfred beside her looking at her to make sure she was okay. "Meredith, you're breathing quite heavily." He announced, leaning closer to her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm just — I've missed Eleanor so much. She... she always helped me... and I didn't even realise it. I just thought she was holding me back, especially when she took my favourite dresses away from me or said no to a boy touring our house. She was just keeping me out of trouble, and I repaid her by being rude to her. I made her cry sometimes. I regret it, I really do. It's just — she made my life so, so, amazing. And without her, I started to flail. I began whatever I started with Frederick, and I barely survived without her guidance. She's been such a positive influence on my life, Audrey. I see that now. I see how much I need her."

Audrey smiled. "She's missed you too, Meredith. With all her heart. Trust me, I've been with her every step of the way. I know how much she cares for you — how much she needs you. You'll be together now."

Meredith smiled, nodding gently. "I can't wait."

They rounded a corner — and then Audrey looked at Meredith and before she spoke, Alfred knew exactly what she was going to say. "We're here."