If Maalick hated one universal thing, it was being late.
He felt like the whole world was telling him that he couldn't get where he wanted to go.
The proof, it took him 30min to find a cab. Then, when he got in and took the highway, he was in a traffic jam. Which added another 1h30 to his itinerary until he finally arrived at the florist.
After paying the driver of course.
The name of the establishment 'Chez Fleure' was calligraphed in white.
Its facade was a varnished wood, giving it a slight shiny and classy look.
The windows showed the different flowers perfectly maintained. Going from the Camellia to the Red Rose, passing by the Cornflower.
They were in bouquets with a variety of vintage, modern or custom designs, by noticing the jasmine bouquet with Asian dragon designs.
He opened the door and a bell rang to let the staff know that a customer had entered.
But apparently no one was there. Except for Maalick and a woman cutting a banzai.
The young soldier waited a few seconds to see if she would speak to him. But the florist was too absorbed in her personal work to take care of her job.
To cut the silence that had already lasted too long, Maalick cleared his throat "Excuse me, I came to take an order".
The lady let out a little scream and fell off her stool.
Maalick went to her. He leaned over the counter to see if she was hurt.
After a few quick glances, he saw there was nothing serious about her.
The saleswoman stood up and put her hands on the counter and apologized for her behavior with a genuine smile "I'm sorry. We're not really used to customers coming for flowers these days."
Maalick avoided her eyes. Smiling people only made him remember bad memories.
But he noted in the corner of his mind the name of the saleswoman, written on her badge 'Anastasia'
"So do you have my order? I was supposed to pick it up 30 minutes ago, but I got stuck in traffic. I hope you didn't throw it away or something" he explained, as he was looking the time on his phone.
'Fuck, it's already past 3pm'
"Ho, don't worry. You were the only order of the day. I'll get it right away. Just wait a few minutes" she replied.
She went into the back room, leaving a smell of lemongrass in her wake.
While waiting, Maalick took the time to analyze the establishment, as usual.
It was a little game Margaret had created, to keep him focused on something, when he started to get bored.
He swept his eyes over the various objects, 'I guess Anastasia takes care of this place all by herself'
The shelves filled with flowerpots, bags of seeds and the various trees and flowers were all perfectly tidy and maintained.
Just before he could push his analysis, she had returned with her due.
A purple bouquet contrasting the white calligraphy Bible verse she was particularly fond of "Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, as God forgave you in Christ."
The flowers he chose were those of the eternal mourning and the flowers of death. The white carnation and the chrysanthemum.
She handed him the bouquet and Maalick took it with his trembling hands. Anastasia grabbed it with her soft, warm hands and handed him the bouquet.
A little embarrassed he said "Thank you" while scratching his neck.
"Oh, don't worry. I just hope you feel better after giving these flowers to your loved one" Anastasia said, slightly saddened as she looked at the flowers.
Maalick's next destination was clear now. He took out his wallet and paid for the flowers with two generous £20 bills.
He walked towards the exit door but Anastasia called out to him, "Excuse me, but you paid with two £20 bills. That's way too much"
With a wave of his hand, Maalick told her to keep the change, "I won't needing it anyway" and crossed the threshold.
***
In the empty streets of a small town, in the south of London, in the rain, wind and thunder. Maalick kept walking, holding the bouquet protectively with his hands, to lose any of their petals.
"Now let's go to the High Anima Cemetery."
He walked for about fifteen minutes towards his destination, during which the wind and the rain kept attacking him. Until he arrived at the open doors of the cemetery.
Without wasting any more time, he started to cross it by taking the middle path. Then at about 20 meters, he turned to the right and kept walking.
In his head, the name of Margaret always made this small effect. The one to bring him back to the past.
Maalick avoided her gaze. Smiling people only brought back bad memories for him.
But he noted in a corner of his mind the name of the saleswoman, written on her name tag 'Anastasia'
"So do you have my order? I was supposed to pick it up 30 minutes ago, but I got stuck in traffic. I hope you didn't throw it away or something" he explained, looking at the time on his phone.
'Damn it, it's already past 3pm'
"Ho, don't worry. You were the only order of the day. I'll get it right away. Just wait a few minutes" she replied.
She went into the back room, leaving a smell of lemongrass in her wake.
While waiting, Maalick took the time to analyze the establishment, as usual.
It was a little game Margaret had created to keep him focused on something, when he started to get bored.
He scanned the various objects with his eyes, 'I guess Anastasia runs this place all by herself'
The shelves were filled with flowerpots, seed bags and various trees and flowers, all perfectly organized and maintained.
Just before he could make his evaluation, she had returned with her due.
A purple bouquet contrasting the white calligraphy Bible verse that she was particularly fond of "Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, as God forgave you in Christ."
The flowers he chose were those of the eternal mourning and the flowers of death. The white carnation and the chrysanthemum.
She handed him the bouquet and Maalick took it with trembling hands. Anastasia grabbed it with her soft, warm hands and handed him the bouquet.
A little embarrassed he said "Thank you" while scratching his neck.
"Oh, don't worry. I just hope you feel better after giving these flowers to your loved one" Anastasia said, slightly saddened as she looked at the flowers.
Maalick's next destination was clear now. He took out his wallet and paid for the flowers, with two generous £20 bills.
He walked towards the exit door but Anastasia called out to him, "Excuse me, but you paid with two £20 bills. That's way too much"
With a wave of his hand, Maalick signaled to her to keep the change, "I won't be needing it anyway," and crossed the doorway.
***
In the empty streets of a small town in the south of London, under the rain, the wind and the thunder. Maalick kept walking, protecting the bouquet with his hands, to not to lose any of the petals.
"Now let's go to High Anima Cemetery"
He walked for about fifteen minutes towards his destination, during which the climatic elements did not cease to assault him. Until he arrived at the open doors of the cemetery.
Without wasting any more time, he started to cross it, taking the middle path. Then, after about 20 meters, he turned to the right and continued walking.
In his head, Margaret's name always had this little effect. It took him back to the past.
He remembered her funeral. Being a nun, she had the right to a free Christian burial from the church. Tearful speeches about faith, ascension and mourning from her colleagues and countless prayers for her and Maalick.
'What a bunch of bullshit'
Then he arrived at her granite grave. Her picture was in a glass, embedded in the stone at the top right. Her name was written with the dates of her birth and death.
There were lots of bouquets that dated back to at least 1:01 p.m., giving a floral look to her resting place.
'Margaret Theresa Gamble. 1961 - 2015. A beautiful soul gone far too soon.
She was a caucasian woman, with brown eyes like his. A smile hung on her lips, so pure, so innocent and filled with boundless kindness.
The rain became softer when he looked at the picture.
He placed the bouquet among so many others and started to talk with her, as if she was still alive "Let's go straight to the point. It's been six years now since you died. I know I haven't been back since the funeral, but I couldn't come back. Not after what I saw in New York"
Only the wind and the sound of falling leaves answered him in the cold, empty cemetery.
"I wanted to come one last time before I go. I brought you a bouquet of flowers as a farewell, even though I know you hate depressive goodbyes worthy of bad movies" he said trying to be funny.
The young soldier became again the little boy who was adopted for a moment, in front of this tall lady, dressed in religious clothes.
His only hope, his light, his star was gone from the sky.
The memories he had repressed were coming back to the surface. He was on the verge of tears. Margaret would surely have said, "Cry and move on" while giving him her unique smile.
The SAS agent let his tears flow and all his emotions with it "You dedicated a part of your life to God and how he rewards you ?! By killing you by the hand of Happy Face! He lets him alive while he has killed countless innocent people!"
The wind blew once again.
Then before he could let out all his grief and anger. A group of young people in tracksuits with a speaker were kicking one of the tombstones with their feet.
"They're completely drunk" he remarked, as he saw one of the youths walking unsteadily and another holding a bottle of liquor.
Maalick approached the group to ask them to leave. But they were totally under the influence of the drink.One of them walked up to him, a big burly guy speaking with difficulty "What do y-you... want bastard?"
His breath reeked of alcohol. Maalick tried to hold back to avoid causing a scene, in this place of peace.
The youg one looked at him like an insect that he could crush at any moment. He provoked him by saying, "Don't fuck with us, man. You should go see your mom. Oh... but I'm an idiot, she's probably in that shitty... graveyard" he said with a burp.
His two friends laughed in the background and the biggest of the bunch continued to talk "Well then..."
But before he could finish his sentence, Maalick put down his bag and punched him in the face.
He stumbled and took a few steps back "What the..."
The special forces soldier didn't give him the time to reply. He swept him off with his leg and stood over his unarmed victim. Maalick threw a series of heavy punches, again, again and again.
While he was being beaten up, his friends retreated like cowards and ran away, seeing him in such a rage.
The soldier pulled him up by his collar and said grimly, "Don't you ever come back here again. Do you understand?"
His victim's face was bloody, his nose was completely broken and he had lost several teeth under his blows.
The big guy didn't answer him. So Maalick slapped him to get an answer "I said is that understood?"
With a voice choked with blood, he answered "Y-Yes... Sir"
The mourner let him go and left him lying in a crimson puddle mixed with rain.
Maalick picked up his bag and walked back to Margaret's grave to say a final goodbye. He hid his bloody hands, as if she could see him from up there.
"I hope we meet again" he said bitterly.
The soldier walked to the exit doors, called another cab and headed for his old apartment in London.
The young man paid the driver, opened the door to his building and walked up the stairs. He heard the same marital arguments of his neighbors on the 4th floor, to find himself in front of the door of his apartment.
He remembered the day he had last seen that old piece of wood "It's been what? Since I got 18 years old that I've not been inside'
He took his key from his jeans pocket and put it in the lock.
Maalick's house was rather modest.
As he entered, he noticed that nothing had changed. His metal dining table, his one chair and his small kitchen had not gathered dust.
He placed his blood-soaked, rain-soaked gym bag on the table. Then he took out Margaret's gold chain and put it on it too.
The orphan then went to his room and saw his work there.
A corkboard with photos, written documents and names of everyone connected to Happy Face. From the carriers to the suppliers to those who finance him.
All of this was linked with different colored threads, like in a thriller movie with his target on top.
Maalick picked up a military knife next to a photo of him and Margaret. It was from when she was alive, just before her trip to New York.
Her smile reminded him of her sweetness and extreme kindness that HP had taken away from her.
Unable to keep his calm, he threw his knife with full force into the picture of his mask made of the skins of his victims. Right in the middle of this fucking morbid smiley.
Then he approached the picture "I swear to you that when I will find you and, no matter if it costs me my life. I will put a bullet in your head, like the sick dog that you are"
Just as soon as he said those words, he found himself transported to a room full of people he didn't know, in front of a being that was not human at all.
"Well hello everyone. I am the Designer"