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Life, before I met you, was an absolute struggle.
I was not rich, nor was I poor in my early days. That is why, while growing up I hated the ability I was born with, "The Great Fitzgerald", able to enhance my physical strength depending on the amount of money I spent. The higher the value the stronger I get. It was a useless ability considering my status if I were, to be honest.
Despite my financial status, it did not stop me from going to a good university by sixteen, although I did drop out before I finished a year, for reasons I'd rather not go into detail (I hated the fact that I had to work as a measly janitor just to stay at university, I often got picked on by my peers).
I dated one other girl before you when I still attended university, we sincerely loved each other yet it wasn't meant to be, for she was rich and I was not even close to her status. Her father forced us to separate saying, "Poor boys shouldn't think of marrying rich girls".
Later on, my father took me to a town very far from mine to look for business opportunities after he had gotten fired from his job and that was what changed my life. This is because I met you.
Beautiful, beautiful Zelda Sayre.
Beautiful, beautiful, rich, Zelda.
At first, it was nothing but admiration, we met once and it blossomed into a great friendship. As time passed by, with both of us growing closer I wanted to be more than friends but I was too much of a coward to attempt a repeat of what happened with my first love. Yet I kept coming back, kept visiting because at first glance your father was far less hostile, admittedly. Or so I thought.
Apparently, your father never approved of me, only thought that you'd tire of me on your own, without his input. All because I wasn't rich.
"That boy can't even buy his own gun! Can't even use his ability even if his life depended on it!" I heard your father announce as I was about to visit you one day. I hid behind the bushes when I heard the acclamation.
"I suppose you are right, Father" I heard you say but was that… hesitation in your voice? ‘No it can’t be, I must have been hearing things,’ was what I thought.
It was as if I was slapped by reality, I can't achieve anything if I was anything less than rich. Since then I have hated the idea of being poor.
(As a child I have always been interested in guns, one in particular, but I can never buy it because it was too expensive. I tried working small manageable jobs for kids my age but I was never able to save enough.)
I left town with my father the next day (seeing as he never did find the business opportunities he proudly announced when we first came here) with the promise of becoming rich and earning your love.
We returned to our rented home in New York, my mother greeted us with a hug saying she's missed us, she suspiciously looks paler and thinner since the last time I saw her.
She died of sickness a month later, father followed soon afterward. I was eighteen when this happened.
For the next few weeks, I worked non-stop switching jobs faster than I can say 'old sport', never stopping (I eventually found a job as a cleaner for some rich person and his family), eager to earn as much as I can, but it was a futile effort, seeing as I had to support myself all on my own now. I didn’t even have enough time to grieve, furthermore, I wouldn't become rich at this rate, but I was driven. Driven by love, by grief, driven by the thought of getting away from this poorness that I had to live with all my life, looming over me heavily.
During these times I decided to learn more about my ability, how to control it, using the spare change I have lying around.
I ended up killing 4 people with it. I was working for a rich family as a cleaner around the property, I worked there for 2 whole years. They were not pleasant people, often mocked and mistreated all their servants, especially me. Killing them was no problem once my better judgment was clouded by anger.
It was their mistake they fired all their servants a week prior, including me, for some unknown reason (they were known to be rash in making decisions, eventually even their 'friends' stayed away, or so I've heard from the other servants) and it was to my favor they lived in the middle of nowhere. I was always known for getting what I want no matter what it takes. It didn’t help that their parting words to me stoked the fire of my already blazing hatred for this family, it seems as though I hate the rich as much as I hated being poor.
I cleaned everything, hid the evidence, and took everything in the house that had value and sold them. I never got caught. I went back to New York and was about to purchase the gun I had wanted since I was a child, with the words of your father all those years ago bouncing in my head but stopped myself. I know the money I had was more than a lot but it wouldn't last my whole life if I were to ceaselessly spend it. Instead of the gun, I bought books about business. Learned everything about the stock market and how to run my own business.
Before the end of the year, I had raised triple the amount I initially had because of investments. In the following year, I acquired small businesses and made them big. By the end of that year my popularity boomed, I was starting to get the acknowledgment of people who used to look down on people like me.
By 22 I caught the attention of big-time investors, the media, and even the families in high society (mostly the ladies, the men were… more jealous than awed). I had even managed to buy the company that manufactures the gun that had caught my interest all those years ago.
But this, all this, did not matter to me. I was thankful for the investors, yes, I was flattered by how both the media and the families in high society regarded me now, a bit proud too I might add (I guess it was at this time my ego had steadily started to rise). But once again I will say, this did not matter, because it never filled the longing I had for you. To see you, to hold you, to spend my every waking moment with you. A bit cliche, I know but it was all true.
I would've visited you but with my rising empire I was too busy, I often found myself buried deep into paperwork late into the night. I once went a straight month not even able to sleep on my own bed when I was too preoccupied with work. I couldn't stop now, not when I'm so close to proving the people who have ever looked down on me wrong, so close to being worthy of you.
It was spring when I finally saw you again.
Standing outside the front door of my newly acquired mansion. I stood in awe and shock, even after all these years, you still took my breath away. Dressed modestly in a white sundress printed with different flowers, a suitcase beside you.
You haven't even uttered a word yet but I couldn't hold myself back, I rushed towards you and scooped you in a hug, lifting you off the ground and spinning the both of us. The empty yard was filled with joyous laughter that day. Once I put you down, our foreheads rested against each other, eyes glistening with unshed tears of joy, and our faces were stretched in grins that reached our eyes. It was the happiest day of my life at the time (because like most of my happiest days, you were in it). I could never forget it.
I remember inviting you inside, and we talked late into the night. We got to know more about each other and what is currently happening in our lives. My eyes widened in disbelief when you told me of the fight you and your father had the day I had left, it made me feel guilty that you had left your childhood home but I also felt warm inside with the knowledge that you turned your back on your father and your inheritance because of the way he treated me long ago.
You told me about how you used your ability, "Save Me the Waltz", to earn a living, you told me how the paintings you created were able to tell the future, you also told me how you loved painting. I sat crossed-legged in front of your with a dumbfounded expression, if I remembered it right. You started to look self-conscious by my lack of reaction but let me tell you this now. The only thought crossing my mind as you recounted your life at the time was ‘Amazing’. You are an amazing woman Zelda, and that’s why I admire and love you so much.
You stayed over that night and the night after that, and the other following nights. spring turned to summer and we’ve become inseparable. You helped my businesses rise with all your little but meaningful advice, and I bought you everything you needed just so you can paint to your heart’s content.
On one of our vacations to the beach in the summer was when I proposed to you. I knelt on the sand in front of you holding out a diamond ring, telling you how I was the luckiest and happiest man in the world when I met you. When we got back to our hotel room that night we were both covered in sand because you had tackled me when I proposed to you, toppling us unto the sand, but it didn’t matter because you were happy. I will do everything I can to make you happy. I will do everything for you.
It was winter when we had our wedding, it wasn’t as grand as one would expect from a rich man but it was enough for me because it was enough for you. We had invited all our trusted and true friends (which wasn’t a lot) but you didn’t invite your family which came as a shock to me. We never did talk about that.
It was a month later when we found out you were pregnant with our first child. We were both anxious but excited. We had our doubts about being good parents but we reassured each other.
It was also at this time that I was approached by what appeared to be an elderly man dressed in fancy clothes with grey eyes and greying hair at a gala we were both attending, but despite his age, he carried himself with respect, power, and a certain type of gracefulness only one belonging to an old rich family could have.
He introduced himself as Herman Melville, we shook hands and I mentioned I recognized him being the owner of a large fishing company. His eyes widened and a smile danced across his lips, he chuckled deeply in a jolly kind of way. The three of us talked for a bit before you excused yourself to fetch some water, it was then that Mr. Melville’s aura drastically changed from friendly to serious.
There are only two instances that I had ever lied to you and haven’t told you the truth at some point (‘til now), the first was when I omitted the truth of me killing the family of four and stole their riches, and second was my conversation with Mr. Melville when you were finding yourself something to drink.
He told me he is part of a secret organization responsible for pulling the strings all around America. They called themselves the Guild. What perked my interest while listening to him was that it wasn’t just a regular secret organization filled with rich snobs, the members were all composed of powerful ability users. He told me he knew of my ability and wealth (that was the year I obtained several hotels under my name) and that it would greatly aid the Guild. I was tempted to join but I wasn’t easily bought, with everything I had been through to get to where I am today, I wouldn’t agree to just being a simple member. He told me that wasn’t the case and said I should give it a try, told me I was very capable of being the organization’s leader one day. I agreed but not without a bit of hesitation on my part and more convincing on his.
A few months later, you and I had finally found out we were having a baby girl, (although you did paint a portrait of the two of us with you carrying a pink bundle a few weeks before, I should have never doubted you).
During these few months, Herman (as he insisted I call him), the current Guild leader, and I were busy improving the organization and making it more efficient. One day the leader called me into his office to talk about something private, as he said. I found myself standing rigid with anticipation as he revealed to me his plans of leaving the Guild, but he couldn’t do that without someone to take his place. What he said caught me by surprise, he told me he knew of my past, he knew of what I did to get to where I am now, and about the four people I killed. My posture changed from rigid to defensive, anyone should be wary around the Guild leader, his ability was not to make fun of. So I was surprised that he asked me to be the one to step up once he left, he spoke about my ambition, my passion, and determination. He told me that he knows I will go to great lengths just so this organization could thrive.
Not even a month after that, he stepped down and I became the new leader of the Guild, most had their doubts and wariness but as time passed I showed them I was worthy of the position I received and they started respecting and treating me as their leader, it felt great! What’s greater is that I get to come home to you every single day as we both wait for our baby girl to arrive.
When the day finally came, I wasn’t there, the most important day in our lives and I wasn’t there for you, it will forever be one of my greatest regrets. I was gone for a month-long business trip and while you were in labor I was on a plane ride home. The moment the plane landed I hopped into the awaiting car and told them to take me to the hospital that my assistant had told me where you were.
Once I got there the nurse stopped me, looking quite shocked that I was there, confirming if I was family after I told her your name, we sorted things out and she led me to where you and our newborn baby were resting. It might have been an odd sight for everyone, a known millionaire looking disheveled and exhausted but all ounces of exhaustion drained away from me when I saw you, tired and unkempt but happily cooing at our newborn baby girl.
I calmly strode into the room and closed the door behind me, I placed my suitcase at the foot of your bed and sat on the empty plastic chair beside your bed. Just as I was about to open my mouth to apologize, you looked at me with a soft tired smile on your lips and shook your head, you adjusted the baby and rested your now free hand behind my head, I could still remember how you gently nudged me to you and we shared a short but sweet kiss. brought tears of joy to my eyes. As you pulled away you handed me the baby and told me you named her Frances Scott Fitzgerald, after the greatest man you have ever known, you told me you wanted to call her Scottie as her nickname. Your words
That night we both rested peacefully together with the new addition to our family and when the day finally came that you and Scottie were allowed to leave the hospital I had immediately called the driver to come to pick us up. From that day on, I tried to make more time for our family, we spent our weekends enjoying ourselves (compared to when Scottie wasn’t born yet where I normally spend my weekends in the Guild’s affairs under the excuse of going golfing with friends or something similar, I have never told you about my affiliation with the organization), the both of us did our best to raise Scottie together.
As time went on we got to experience all of her firsts; her first words, her first steps, even the first time she manipulated me to get me to buy her a toy set she saw on TV, she was 4 at the time, you later made fun of me because of how easily I gave in, I pretended to be upset but in reality, I was hiding a small smile, (I simply couldn’t resist the look she had given me, I bet she will be a great businesswoman when she grows up, the perfect heir to my empire).
We kept her homeschooled, we hired the best tutors, everything was perfect. You were happy, Scottie was too, and that is the only thing that ever mattered. When she turned 7 I started to return to the Guild opting to spend a few hours a week just to make sure no one stepped out of line. Herman and I also started recruiting newer, younger members.
The first who joined didn’t need much convincing, he introduced himself as Nathaniel Hawthorne. His ability was quite beneficial to the Guild, especially when the need for combat came. He called it “The Scarlet Letter”, it enabled him to convert his blood into holy words and control it. The next person we attempted to recruit was a farmer with a big family up north, John Steinbeck, with the ability called “The Grapes of Wrath”. After impatiently hearing us out, he refused. As I was about to snap at his arrogance, Herman held me back with a hand on my shoulder, faced Steinbeck, and told him to rethink his decision, handing him a piece of paper with both our personal contact information written on it. I scowled as we took our leave.
The following week, as we were heading to the next person we were to recruit, we met what appeared to be a teen or young adult along the way, talking to two floating small humanoid...beings. As we approached him we asked for his name and what those floating things were. His name was Mark Twain and told us of the two beings as his ability called “Huckleberry Finn & Tom Sawyer”. He explained that with his ability he can shoot with absolute accuracy by attaching Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer to the bullets he is shooting, he can also perform long-distance surveillance because the two beings were telepathically linked. We asked him what he’s doing wandering around in the middle of the day and if he’s got work. He told us he never liked plain work so he just went on adventures for himself, when we told him of the Guild he was more than eager to join and we accepted him.
When Margaret Mitchell, with the ability “Gone With the Wind”, was recruited it was only me this time, it appeared that something came up on Herman’s schedule that day. The day I decided to visit her family estate was near the end of the year, her family was rich and respected, but I had been hearing rumors that they were buried in debt and have been trying so hard to hide it from the public to avoid shame. It was to my surprise when she willingly agreed the moment I finished explaining everything. There was no hesitation in her voice, and when I asked why, what she told me confirmed the rumors I’ve been hearing about, her family was buried in debt and she knew that working for the Guild can lift them out of it. After I had given her the details of the organization, I shook her hand and left. While on the car ride home I received a call from Herman saying that John Steinbeck would be joining the Guild so long as we supported his family, I agreed. After dropping the call I let out a dry chuckle. That Steinbeck boy reminded me of myself when I was young and poor, hating the rich and doing everything to achieve what we want. We may never get along but it will be enjoyable working with him, I had thought.
When I got home that day, I was greeted by Scottie running full speed towards me, when I got close enough I scooped her up into my arms and spun her around. Her giggles filled the room and you came slowly down the stairs smiling warmly at us.
It continued on like this for a long time, us being happy and content as a family but I should’ve known better.
I should’ve known that this happiness would never last. Tragedy struck, leaving us grieving for what was most treasured now gone. Dead. Never to smile that bright smile that used to liven our days, never to laugh that contagious laugh. Nothing would ever be the same again.
We were supposed to send her for schooling abroad. The same school you went to when you were her age, as you've told me. I regret sending her with a nanny, I should've been there, my power could've easily shielded us from the fall, but I had to send a nanny because I was 'busy'. What kind of father was I, couldn’t make time for his daughter when she needed him most.
We all grieved her, even the staff, it was all different. You had created your own world, where she never died, you believed she was alive and studying abroad. It broke my heart seeing you that way, I tried taking you to multiple therapists but none of it worked. In the end, the staff and I just decided to play along in your fanta-
The woman's eyes widened as she kept reading but a sudden knocking sounded on the door of the study had startled her.
“Come in” came a soft voice from the woman behind the desk, hiding a small tattered notebook under the table.
“Mrs. Fitzgerald, Lord Francis is on the phone wanting to speak with you” The woman shook herself out of her stupor and stretched out her arm to the maid who was holding the phone.
“Give it to me” as she received the phone she dismissed the maid and immediately greeted her husband, and told him about her day when he had asked. She debated on whether telling him about the notebook she had accidentally stumbled upon but she decided against it. The conversation went on until Francis had told her he needed to finish some business. With those words she glanced sidewards at a painting she had created just after Francis had left, hanging on the wall of the study.
It showed two figures on top of a flying whale and a lone figure falling through the air, strangely resembling Francis. She brought the phone down onto the table and continued reading the contents of the journal.
As the days went by, you only grew worse. I couldn’t handle it and decided to busy myself with work, the guild, and looking for possible ways to bring back people from the dead, in the world we live in with abilities being real, there must be some way or someone that can bring the dead back to life, it took me a few weeks before I stumbled upon an old report about a book, which was last seen in Yokohama, Japan, wherein whatever you write in it will come true, the report ended there, there wasn’t much detail.
It was at that time I had decided to do everything in my power to obtain that book and bring our daughter back to life, to help you heal and for our family to be complete once more. The following day I left early, told Herman about my new discovery and we both set off to recruit a few more members. As much as I am sure I am strong enough, I had to admit I needed the extra help if I were to ever be successful in my goal.
An orphan girl named Lucy Maud Montgomery was the first that we had recruited, with the ability “Anne of the Abyssal Red”, apparently she had been abused in the orphanage she had been staying at, it made my blood boil and I was sure to send my lawyers after that orphanage, she had been grateful we had given her a family. The next person whom we recruited was a shy young male with a pet raccoon named Edgar Allan Poe, his ability was called “ Black Cat in the Rue Morgue”. He was suspicious and hesitant but when he heard we were heading to Yokohama, he immediately agreed, something about taking revenge on a certain detective.
Louisa May Alcott was next to join, coming from a well-off family, she was awfully shy but she had a useful ability, “Little Women” she didn’t go into detail about it, but she told me she could become the Guild’s strategist. When I ask her why she wanted to join, she told me she wanted to have a purpose. I asked her to prove her ability’s usefulness and she agreed. After an hour of waiting she had given me several plans to increase the Guild’s income with the step-by-step procedure. Being knowledgeable to the business myself, I thought her plans were good, what one plan lacks, the others have. It was just a matter of choosing which course of action to take. Herman had agreed to recruit her.
I told you of my plans to visit Yokohama, but under the guise of it being a business trip, you smiled gently and nodded, you asked me to be safe and come back home in one piece, your voice had broken at the end of your sentence. I swore that I will come back to you and bring our daughter back too. I won’t rest until I bring her back.
About two days before I leave for Yokohama was when I found Howard Phillips Lovecraft, as he’d like to call himself. I was taking a walk in the woods behind our home at night to think. When I saw him crouched in front of the river nearby. Since there was nothing nearby aside from our house and miles of woodland I readied my ability. Even as I approached him quietly he still heard me coming, judging from the way he turned his head to the trees I was hiding in.
I was surprised when he called my name and told me to come forward. Hesitantly but with my head held high, ability still active, I approached his now standing, but slouched form. I asked him what he was doing here in the middle of the night, his answer surprised me. He told me he wanted to sleep, I sensed there was something more to that. Thinking of your safety, Zelda, I demanded answers from him, mostly circling the idea of why he was here and what is his business, and all his responses were similar, he was tired and he wanted to sleep, he said the humans near his home had become unruly, the way he said ‘humans’ was a bit off as if he doesn’t consider himself as one. My patience grew thin and I decided to just get rid of this nuisance here and there, I threw a punch and I was astounded to find my fist being stopped by mossy-green tendrils in the place where his forearm was before. He stared at me with those dead eyes of his and a chill ran up my spine. It was at that moment my suspicions had arisen, he wasn’t human, and this probably wasn’t an ability.
It was later confirmed by him when he finally freed my hand. He told me he was a Cthulhu, a monster from the depths of the ocean, considered a god for some. He also said he normally appeared in this form instead of his true form to avoid the judgment of humans, he called his ‘ability’ “The Great Old Ones”. I struck him a deal, saying that if he helped me achieve my goals, I’ll help him drive away the pesky humans (probably poor) messing around his home. He agreed and I couldn’t feel any more ready to take ‘the book’ from Yokohama.
Just as Zelda was closing the journal a solemn look adorning her face, a small piece of paper fell off from one of the pages. She picked it up and began to read.
Zelda, my love... I’m leaving for Yokohama today with the Guild. I wrote all this as a way to tell you things I can never bring myself to say out loud. You may have found this journal that I had written throughout the years, the moment I had left or you may not have found it at all but what I want you to know if you are reading this; I love you and I would do anything for you, even if it costs me all my fortune, all my pride, and even if it cost me my life. I would forever want to see you happy, and for this reason alone, I will not stop looking for a way to bring our daughter back. I will do anything to see that genuine smile, to see the worry drain away from your eyes. Zelda, you are my everything, I could never have wished for a better life than the one I have with you. I have many regrets in life but none ever concerning you. I hope you still love me all the same after you have read this.
With Love,
Francis F.
Tears were now falling freely from the eyes of the woman sitting by the large bay windows of the study as she finished reading the words written on the piece of paper, she placed it on the journal which now rested on her lap, as she tried feebly wiping the tears that kept falling from her eyes.
She felt awful for never realizing the struggle her husband had to go through from the day he was born to the day they... lost their daughter. He was always there for her but she was rarely there for him. Now he was halfway across the world trying to search for a way to bring their daughter back, all because she couldn’t accept Scottie’s death. Her tearful gaze slowly moved toward the painting of the falling figure, a heavy feeling of dread settling on her chest.
She reached for the phone on the table and immediately dialed Francis’ number, all the while staring wide-eyed at the painting on the wall. The feeling in her chest only grew heavier as the call went immediately to voicemail, she kept trying but it was the same result. Her hands were shaking, she called one of the maids.
“Is something the matter Ma’am?” A maid had rushed in when she heard the frantic shout of Zelda.
“Contact all of Francis’ associates now! Melville, Montgomery, Steinbeck, anybody! I need to know if he’s alright, I can’t lose him too!” the maid had stood there astonished, when Zelda had noticed the motionless maid she raised her voice, louder than it had ever been in months, “Now!” the maid hurried off to make the calls, leaving a panicked and gasping Zelda behind. Tears had fallen more freely now, she didn’t even try to stop it. As she stared at the painting she whispered, glancing down at their wedding ring before returning her gaze to the painting.
“Please, please save him. Whoever is listening, save my husband.” As she said those words, the ring on her finger had started to disappear.
A thousand miles away, the wedding ring of a man rapidly falling to the ocean a few thousand feet high had also disappeared. A glow of power immediately encompassed him.
END