On his way to the shop, he took the time to give morning greetings in return to those who stopped him. In the middle of a conversation with an elder man, a voice came in clear right beside Francis's ear.
"What you see is exactly what you're going to get."
Everything else seemed to fade away when that was said, but as soon as the voice was gone, everything came back. Francis looked behind him and around to locate who's voice it was. It certainly wasn't from anyone who already lived within the town. He should know.
He could have sworn he saw someone disappear into the crowd that looked like himself from the back. But then again, it was probably just the heat playing tricks on his eyes.
Nodding off the elder man, Francis walked the rest of the way to the shop. Not close to being late despite how much time he took getting there. "Good morning!" He said to the owner and his wife as Francis walked inside.
"Good morning, Francis," The owner's wife replied with a smile. "Fair weather today, oui?"
Francis nodded, taking his place to help behind the counter. "Oui! It seems like everyone in town is out today to enjoy it."
"Better for business, though, my boy. Even with this heat," The owner said, leaving the counter in the hands of Francis. "Who knows?" He continued, making his way to the back of the shop and looking back with a teasing grin. "Perhaps we'll see a show today."
The sun was high in the sky when the mid-day came around. Around the time of noon was what it was, but just a bit earlier.
"You can go and have the rest of the day off now, boy," the shop owner said, patting the shoulder of his blonde worker. "Merci for your hard work today."
Francis smiled and let the shop owner take his place, bowing slightly in thanks. "Merci to you as well. This meeting I will be attending means a lot to me."
As Francis left the store, the feeling of déjà vu spread throughout him again. Odd. At the same time, he also saw a glimpse of someone that looked exactly like him again. Except this man had paler blonde hair and a less cleanly shaven chin unlike Francis's. With the man disappearing again quickly, Francis was sure it was just a trick of the heat.
Maria was waiting in the center of town for the one who called for her. She wondered if her brothers knew of her meeting. Even if they did, she was pleased they were out elsewhere for the day. She didn't to be running into them while she was with her own brother's close friend.
Her cold exterior gained her questioning looks or avoidance all together. But there was something about her brother's friend. Something about Francis that made her lower the wall she always kept up.
A breeze passed by her, making her silver hair lift off her shoulders sightly. If only so many people weren't around to block most of the wind from her. Then she would be able to enjoy the cool flow for just a bit longer.
"Maria!" A familiar voice from behind called out to her. The silverette looked up and back towards the one who called her name.
"Francis," Maria started. She could already feel her cheeks heating up. "It's nice to see you this morning."
After more of a greeting and short conversation, Francis and Maria went off for a walk. The streets were crowded, slowing down the pace of the two, but neither complained or cared. They were lost in a short replied conversation and enjoying the company of each other. Even if one of them didn't seem to show it.
Reaching a less crowded spot in town, the two stopped and decided to rest. They talked for a moment more before the meow of a black cat interrupted them.
"A stray?" Francis questioned, as he watched Maria bend down to pick up the cat.
"It seems like it," At that moment, a scene flashed before his eyes. His dream.
In a panic, Francis quickly pulled Maria back to standing straight before her hand could even brush against the cat. Her face turning towards his in an instant. Everything happened quickly, but Maria saw a look of worry in the frenchman's face. After looking around, she realized why.
Accusing eyes like hawks watched the two very carefully. With Maria's preference for cats, she almost forgot about what was an issue during this time in the century.
"J-ja..." Maria started, catching her thoughts. "It must be a stray. I don't see a collar on him."
Francis nodded in agreement, taking Maria's hand in his. "Oui. Ah. Shall we start to head back now, cher?"
A blush formed over her face when her hand was taken by the Frenchman. Taking her a moment, she managed a nod. Once his answer was given, the two started back towards the shop Francis worked at.
When they arrived, they noticed the town's sheriff walking out of the shop and looking around. Once the man found what he spotted, he approached the two.
"Bonjour, Monsieur. How can I help you?" Francis asked, stepping in front of Maria.
The sheriff inspected the two closely, locking his eyes on Maria in the end. "I'm looking for her," he said at last.
"Quoi?" Francis exclaimed, Maria also giving a hint of surprise.
"Me?" She asked herself, being replied to with a stern nod.
"If you don't mind me asking," the blonde started slowly. "Why do you need her? Mademoiselle Maria has been with me this entire time."
"Yes. Well. I can see that, Monsieur. But we received reports last night of a young silver haired woman causing quite a bit of trouble last night. And your friend matches exactly who we've been searching for." The sheriff said. A smirk began to slowly creep into formation.
"Quoi?!" Francis exclaimed again in more astonishment. He looked at Maria, slightly disappointed but still hopeful that she was innocent.
Maria stuttered before she could finally find her words. "Wh-wh-what?! I don't know who you're searching for or what happened but whoever it is, it wasn't me." Francis sighed in relief hearing the truth in her voice.
"That's what they all say."
The chanting and jeering didn't come this time around. Everything was quiet. Francis was held back by other sheriffs, now too tired to even move after trying to protest and fight. With the sheriffs not seeing him causing more problems any time soon, they released him and joined the crowd.
Francis fell to his knees without the support. He was seriously worn out. A black eye helped tell a quick story of how he tried to protest using his fists when things got rougher. In the end he found out that it was just a stupid thing to have done.
Maria put up a good fight for herself, but couldn't keep herself from being taken in anyway. Hands tied behind her back, footsteps almost echoed as they walked passed the crowd towards the wrong fate.
The chairman was standing in his respective spot on stage. Beside him, a tall guillotine that shined. But when it did shine they way it did, it gave off an eerie vibe. One that you did not want to be under when it was easily seen.
Maria was escorted onto the stage, but her place on that stage rested under the blade.
Francis was still sitting where he was left. It was almost like all this strength simply exited is body. But once he heard the chairman's speech begin, he was on his feet and running towards the stage in just a moment. He had to stop this false accusation in time. "Mon dieu... Let me get there before."
While he was running, he paid no mind to the people he pushed passed. But there was that one man he saw, one who looked exactly like him, who Francis couldn't help but stare at as he ran.
The man smirked, lifting a cigarette to his lips. "It's no use," he said. Francis lost view of the man when another townsperson walked in front of him.
The Frenchman reached the stage just as the speech ended. But as he feared, he was too late. Again. Maria's neck rested below the blade of the guillotine. She didn't bother to look up, her gaze was glued to the wooden stage beneath her as she raged to herself in silence.
The blade was released.
"MARIA, NON."
Francis watched the blade fall, eyes wide and wanting to scream more but can't find his voice.
Maria's head shot up to her called name and met with Francis's eyes. It was only a brief moment before the world turned to black.
Francis awoke the morning of August 14 gasping for air. A dream? Nightmare? Even so. Why did he see a smirk upon Maria'a face before he woke up.
