noirsealed part 7

It was clear - abundantly clear - that Paloma cared for Cucali. Cucali couldn't stand it, especially as she begun to notice the little things about the doll.

Girl collected dove statues. When Cucali asked, she'd just smiled.

"When Noah released the dove, it had a duty to all the life on Earth to find land. And it helped everyone, even though it must have been hard. I admire that."

What a stupid motivation to like something, Cucali thought.

She noticed that Paloma sung, too, even when she was just doing things around the house. When Cucali asked about that, she'd smiled again.

"I like to sing. Does it bother you?"

"You're not bad for a small-time girl, I guess." Cucali hadn't said that she thought Paloma could do much more than nights at a bar, not that day.

With each little idiosyncrasy she discovered, she found herself a little more attracted to the doll. But in the end - in the bitter naked truth - that was another lie.

Because she'd felt an attraction ever since Paloma first gave a shit about her.

And Cucali responded to that attraction with aggression.

One day, it came to a head as Cucali whirled on Paloma, drawing her gun and pointing it at her head.

"I'm not goin' back with you today, so just go home before I decide to fire."

"What are you-"

"I'm sick of it!" Cucali snarled. "Sick've your attempts to help me, sick of everything! Turn around, doll. Walk away."

"But, I thought..."

"I don't give a damn." Cucali gestured with her gun. "Off you go."

"Cucali!"

Cucali aimed her gun towards the sky and fired off a shot. Paloma's eyes widened, and she skittered off.

Good riddance.