#plotplotplot

sevika finds herself in front of your home too often now. she did this. she ruined it. she ain’t got no right to miss you how she does.

she can’t face you, so she watches from afar. she doesn’t want you to get hurt, tangled in her mess. she watches you at work. in the saloon across the street while you tend the tailor shop across the way, eyes unmoving from you.

she got involved in a violent business and you watched it unfold. you watched her shoot a man and you couldn’t handle it. not then…but now?

maybe you think of her…yeah. you think of her all the time now. she’s known in town, you hear her name here and there, hear stories. she’s got a price on her head now, i’ve heard. i could use that money…no. fuck, you’re not turning her in. you can’t.

another night and sevika sits on your doorstep. she can only get so close. she doesn’t sleep much anymore…

she’s staring off, smoking a cigarette when the door opens behind her.

“sevika.”

her head shoots around, you’ve never seen that much emotion from her, frankly.

“i was just leavin’” her eyes are cold again when she stands up, like she never showed emotion.

“h-hold on…whatchu doin out here anyway? it’s cold”

“keepin’ you safe”

“you…are you stayin’ somewhere…” would it be too forward to invite her in to sleep? would it be smart? fuck no. she’s a killer.

“inn east o’ town. near the saloon”

“mm.” you nod “well uh..”

“‘night.” she cuts you off, pushing you away before you’re even their. she wants you, sure. but she can’t have you. she won’t. she won’t let herself

“g’night, vika.” she’s already walking off, asking her dead cigarette before lighting another

you’re eyes scan the barren road before watching her walking with a confidence her stoicism complimented. what was she feeling?

you started checking your doorstep, hoping she’d end up back around. it was a little pathetic, standing in your doorway in the cold evenings, waiting to maybe catch her

sevika couldn’t bring herself back around to you, she got too close. what if she hurt you? not again, she’d never let herself live it down. she only allowed herself passing glances, walking in or out of the saloon, no more staring.

you took liberties into your own hands, taking yourself to the inn she said she stayed

“there a sevika ‘round here, hon?” you ask the younger girl, owners daughter.

“not right now…i think she left ‘round dusk. i can leave a message?”

“how about a key to her bed?”

you can see her hesitate. a good kid, she was. “i’ll take the fall for ya, keep your old man off you” you offer a confident smile that betrays how to really feel, but it seems to work.

“fine. better yet, don’t get caught, ‘right?”

“got it, darlin. keep up the good work, you’ll own this place in no time”

you take the keys and race upstairs, your boots thudding harshly on the wood. you find her room and let yourself in, shutting it behind you

ashtrays on damn bear every surface, made bed, overly tidy room. yup. definitely hers. you take a chance to look through the drawers. few clothes, pocket knife, books, belts. predictable.

you’re flickering through a beat paperback from the bedside when the door opens. the reaches for her pistol but recognizes you

“the hell you doin in here?”

“darla gave me a key.”

“you ain’t got no right—“

“where have you been? since…you were hangin ‘round my porch?”

she grits her teeth like she wants to be mad at you. frankly, she’s shocked you went out of your way. you were never quite the chaser.

“work.”

the guilt hits you from encroaching on her space when you see the exhaustion, the apprehension she hides well

“killin’?”

“yeah. killin’. did you need something?”

did you? what exactly were your plans coming here? taking her back? scolding her? fucking her?

“just checkin’ in. i reckon i should go”

you brush past her, wishing she’d stop you

“stay safe

i walk down the stairs leaving the key back on the counter

“darla, hon?”

“hm?”

“she ever bring any company in? lady company, i mean”

“um…no. never. she doesn’t even speak to most of the other residents.”

“you’ll let me know if she does?”