Chapter 150 - Bloodshed, Tears & Cuteness

After a month mainly consisting of lots of crying, being consoled, sobbing uncontrollably and hiding from everyone else, Madeline kneeled down, placing a flower before her friend's resting place. 

Well, technically, it wasn't her resting place. Indiana didn't simply leave her body. She had turned into a feral, and she had to have been terminated. 

Who did it? Madeline never tried guessing who. Imagining it was horrifying enough. 

Having to bear with the fact that she could've prevented her friend's death had haunted her enough, Madeline tried her best not to think how Indiana was… 

Taking a seat on the dirt surrounding Indiana's grave, Madeline inhaled, acting like Indiana was sitting across from her, smiling as she waited for her to speak. 

"I hope you're in a better place," Madeline began. 

Bit by bit, she had been healing. That one month had taken forever to pass by, and she still wouldn't ever cope with the fact that her friend was no more. That month, she had gone through denial, anger, bargaining and depression.

Now? She had to learn to accept it. As much as she didn't want to. 

Crying wouldn't bring Indiana back. If Indiana were watching, she'd be dejected to see her friends so affected by her absence. She wouldn't have wanted this - something Xavier had told Madeline already many, many times. 

Indiana wouldn't have wanted them to grieve over her for so long. They hadn't known each other long either, she would've wanted them to continue on and be happy. 

If Indiana were here… What would she have told Madeline? Especially if she knew that she and Xavier were now aware of their feelings for each other. She would've insisted Madeline go out and have fun. Go on a date with him to get to know him as more than just a friend now that feelings had been established between the two of them.

Who knew what would happen next?

Madeline exhaled, knowing there was still much to be done. Rosalynn had disappeared without a trace, Briar stayed locked in her room, refusing to exit unless it was for the few times she came out to eat - mostly because she was forced to. She and Briar hadn't talked much over the month. 

They needed to process things. They still did And as much as Madeline wanted a friend to have during all this, Briar seemed to think otherwise. All she wanted to be was alone, isolated in her room, with no one to talk to. She needed time to process the loss of her friend. 

The very first friend she had made in Eudora, in fact.

Yeah, Madeline was her friend for years, Indiana had been her friend for a couple of weeks. 

But, that didn't change the impact it had on Briar. 

Adrian tried not to pester her unless it was to get her to eat. And sometimes, Madeline had to visit her to feed her. 

Madeline had decided that it was enough grieving, and that it was time to figure out what had actually happened. 

'It's no time to think about that, I'm with Indiana,' Madeline said, peering at Indiana's resting place. 

Despite knowing Indiana wasn't there, and that she had been killed and had died as nothing but greyish goo, Madeline chose to look at the bright side. She pretended like Indiana was listening to her as she updated her on everything that had happened. 

Madeline's heart fluttered as she began, "Briar says she's alright and that she'll be able to talk about it soon. Dad's trying to be there for me as much as possible, and… Xavier asked me out on a date today." 

Yes, she knew. It was rude to speak about her and Xavier. And it was strange for Xavier to have asked her out on a date whilst she was still grieving. But Madeline had agreed. 

Not to mention, Indiana would have hated it if Madeline had visited her grave telling her she missed her, and that she wished she would come back. She would've despised hearing those words coming out of Madeline's mouth and asked her for something else more interesting than that. Say, the latest gossip in Eudora or something of that sort. 

There was no need for Madeline to mention something Indiana definitely knew. 

A leaf dropped from a nearby tree. 

"I shouldn't be telling you this, but I figured you wouldn't want to hear me telling you how I've been doing, and how much I miss you and wished you were here. I just hope you're doing alright," Madeline admitted, looking up at the sky for a bit. 

Perhaps it was because she felt like she was being watched, or because the fact that she would be going on her very first date had set in. 

Xavier had been there for her the entire time. And he hadn't forced her to go on a date or anything, he had simply suggested it to her since she had said she was done sulking and sobbing. Then, Madeline agreed. 

Spending months grieving wouldn't have worked out. She'd only burden those that were still around with it. And she felt like it was time she did something about it. 

She added, "And, we're going to find out who did this to you, Indiana. I promise."

Now, what was Madeline talking about when she said they'd discover who was behind this?

Well, it would only be appropriate to explain by rewinding to the moment everyone gathered in Xavier's office, reeling from Indiana's death. Xavier had summed up what happened, telling Adrian everything.

Xavier had explained that he was certain this was no accident. It was set up. If it had been one feral, sure. 

Two? That was out of the ordinary, but that wasn't as uncommon.

But a whole hoard of ferals that were stronger than usual in the woods? 

Xavier had come to the conclusion that someone had set them up. Someone who knew that they were going on that walk, which could have been anyone at Eudora. 

Madeline managed a small smile, knowing Indiana would rather have her smile than be broken any day. 

"I'll see you next time Indiana," Madeline said, imagining Indiana sitting across from her. 

Perhaps that really was the case, and a ghost version of Indiana was sitting across from her, elated she was alright. 

For a moment, Madeline could've sworn she heard someone whispering something to her. She shook it off, bidding Indiana a goodbye. 

She had promised not to make things sentimental and break down during her visit. She would be strong. 

And now she had something to look forward to and stress over, her first date. Sure, Xavier had said she could bail or drop out last minute if she felt like it… But no. She refused to. 

Madeline refused to throw this away all because she was grieving. Indiana would have never wanted her to grieve, and by doing this, she was fulfilling what probably would have been Indiana's last request to her before she passed. 

"Hey," Xavier greeted her, taking his eyes off of the book he had just been reading.

"Hey there," Madeline responded. 

"Work going well?" She asked. 

"You could say that, I'll be done soon."

"Wow, you impress me more and more by the day," Madeline said, walking over to his desk. 

Placing her head on his shoulder, she asked him, "You didn't give me any hints on what to wear for the date."

Xavier squinted his eyes, inhaling sharply. 

Thankfully, Madeline didn't know what his original answer was. Xavier's smirk turned into a small frown real quick. 

"If I gave you a hint, that would ruin the surprise. And anything you choose to wear would look lovely," Xavier said like it was nothing. 

Madeline blinked, "Even if it means I show up to the date in clothing that's irrelevant to the actual date?"

Xavier nodded. 

"Please?" Madeline asked hopefully. She bargained, "One hint. Just one. That's all."

"One hint?" Xavier considered. 

"One hint," Madeline confirmed. 

"Fine," he gave in. He said next, "Casual. That's all I'm saying."

Madeline furrowed her brows, "Hmm, alright."

"I'm excited," she admitted, her heart doing a flip. 

"You and me both," Xavier said to her, trying not to blush in front of her. 

She was literally there with him. He couldn't give in to how adorable she was being that easily. 

Madeline decided it was best if she left.

"Alright, I've got to prepare and talk to someone. I'll see you later tonight," Madeline said, winking at Xavier before she left, closing the door behind her and leaving Xavier stunned. 

He banged his head against the desk, "How is she so adorable?"

And while they were preoccupied with other matters, they were rendered blind to what a certain someone had in store for them for their next chapter. Someone who sought nothing but the blood of those who had wronged him. 

But that's not to be told during this chapter, and instead at the next…