Mae's eyes shot open wide at hearing the sudden piercing sound of a gunshot. She sat up trembling as her ears rung sweat covered her body her clothes were nearly soaked she panted. "A... a d-dream...?" She questioned as she slowly turned tossing her legs over the edge of her bed her feet dangled off nearly touching the floor. The sun was going to be sitting soon as the sky was a light yellowish orange transitioning to a purplish black as the stars begun to creep out far off on the distant horizon.
Mae scratched the back of her head as she hopped up instantly tripping not having any balance at all luckily she caught herself falling on her knees. "Ugh... my head...." Mae complained as a pounding sensation throbbed on her forehead. She crawled over toward her mirror taking a peek looking at her reflection. She was still a bit visibly tired with a bag or two under her eyes. Mae's eyes fixated on the bandages wrapped around her head her mom musta finally found the medical supply kit.
Carefully Mae tapped her center forehead she twinged a bit in pain. "Yup, yep, that still hurts...!" Mae deduced from the obvious pain as she reached over toward the edge of her bed for her shoes. Her bedroom door or rather the door to the attic was cracked open a bit as a calming and delicious aroma made its way inside. Mae's nose perked up it knew that smell it was a familiar one, her favorite. Footsteps could be heard coming from downstairs they neared Mae's room. Stan slowly pushed the door open seeing Mae sitting on the floor tying her shoes.
"Hey sweetie, are you feeling any better? You slept for a few hours, wish I had me a nap too." Stan wished followed by a light yawn. "Yea I do feel a little better actually, I'm still tired but I'm better now..." Mae replied as she slowly pushed herself up taking it slowly. "Oh well that's good I'm glad, you had me so worried honey!" Stan expressed his worry. "Well c'mom Mae, your mom is reheating the taco stuff it's smelling so good I might have to notch my belt a bit if I decide to eat any more!" Stan chuckled as he quickly turned to walk down stairs. Mae licked her lips and followed after her father whom was already on the first floor he must be really hungry. However Mae opted to go slow approaching the stairs ensuring she didn't fall she took it one step at a time.
Stan took a seat at the already set kitchen table as Candy placed some bowls of meat and diced tomatoes in the center of the table before sitting parallel to her husband. Stan looked at his wife with a more serious expression visible on his face than usual. "Are we going to tell her....?" He questioned his tone a bit hollow as he clinched his fists a bit ashamed and angry even. Candy merely sighed in response listening to the stairs creak and snap as Mae neared the second set of stairs.
"Not yet, I don't think it best, she's got too much on her mind right now this would just add unnecessary stress that she just really doesn't need." Candy spoke in a whispering like manner before slowly motioning her paws resting them on top of her husband's who were clinched tightly into fists shaking lightly. "You know... it's not your fault, right.... we knew the costs and that we wouldn't be able to handle it so please don't beat yourself up over this..." Candy consoled her husband trying to make him feel better but she knew it wouldn't matter he hated the situation they were in. He hated his job, this town, the world even...
"It's... it's j-just a h-house..." Candy uttered a bit coldly hoping she could sway her husband's feelings. Stan suddenly looked up flashing her an angry glare for a moment causing her to quickly pull her paws back. "J-just a house!" Stan choked out in disgust. "This is where we moved to after getting married, this is where we had our daughter, our miracle baby and after trying so many times we raised her here for so many years, this is w-where, where m-my father d-died, this house... this house is...." Stan slowly raised his paws covering his face sulking in bittersweet memories that overflowed within his mind as Candy sighed knowing she had spoken wrongly. "...I know darling. This is home, b-but I think it might be better if we move on... I think it would be better for Mae..." Candy uttered softly causing Stan to lower his head staring down at the table a look of utter defeat was visible in his eyes as they grew shrouded in shadows.
Candy bit her lower lip as she watched a few tears fall sliding down her husbands cheeks dripping onto the old battered dining table she knew he was so disappointed so ashamed of not being a good enough provider or a good husband or father for that matter. Candy slowly got up and stepped over toward him she cautiously wrapped her arms around his head as he wept lightly nearly inaudibly it was muffled by her sweater as he pressed his face against her bosom.
"I know... deer... it'll be alright, I know... I'm here....." His wife consoled him as she held him close swallowing heavily thinking back to all of the good times they had here. From seeing Mae crawling around in a diaper getting into mischief she almost hasn't changed. Having and hosting the scout troops here crowding the living room, all of the summers of fun pools in the backyard BBQ's with the neighbors. The earthquakes the floods over the years till finally losing Mae's grandfather just recently a few years ago.
Meanwhile just at the end of the hall, Mae sat on the final step staring at the front door listening as her vision grew distorted and hazy. "Daddy... I know... I know this is all my fault....." Mae thought punishing herself as she held a paw over her mouth trying not to make a sound as tears of her own escaped her ducts falling dripping onto the floor in front of her. "Damnit!" Mae screamed inside of her head. She knew not only a week after coming home from college the troubles her family where having but she didn't think this day would ever come especially not this soon.
~knock, knock~
A knock suddenly sounded at the front door. No one moved at first, Candy turned her head looking down the hallway. Mae quickly wiped her eyes with her sleeve trying to cloak the fact that she had been crying. Candy barely noticed an elbow peeking into view within a moment later Mae had jumped up and approached the front door. Candy merely closed her eyes knowing her sneaky daughter had overheard them and their little conversation.
Mae slowly reached for the door knob and turned it as the doorbell now rang repeatedly quite annoyingly actually. "I'm coming, I'm here calm down sheesh!" Mae complained expressing her annoyance of the loud and crackly doorbell sounding off. She pulled the door open it suddenly pushed back against her quickly as a fierce gust of wind blew into the house nearly knocking her back. Mae cautiously stepped out from behind the door a look of surprise fell upon her face as she stared at Selma in a rain coat standing on their porch.
"Uhh hey Selmers, what are you doing here?" Mae questioned a perplexed look on her face as Selma wasn't normally one to visit but it wasn't as if she didn't know her though. "Hello Mae! Yea when you ran into that pole earlier today you uhh dropped your phone, so I figured I'd run it over for you sorry to say it's cracked tho!" Selma explained happily as she held out Mae's cellphone in her paw. Mae eyed it before quickly checking her back pockets. "Oh dang I'm getting awful! Thanks so much Selmers seriously I had know idea that I left it..." Mae admitted sheepishly as she grabbed her phone from Selma who gave her a soft smile.
"I'm so glad that you seem to be doing better now, you kinda had me worried when you ran away screaming plus the blood freaked me out a little bit too." Selma spoke as a breeze past through threatening to take off with her coat she gripped it tightly. "Anyway a storm isa coming so I'ma head home now, take care Mae!" She finished before turning and racing down the front steps of their porch. "Thanks again Selmers, be careful on your way home!" Mae yelled out thoughtfully before she turned stepping back inside quickly closing the door behind her.
Mae stood at the front door a bit relieved to have her phone back even though she had no idea that it was missing. Mae's parents slowly walked down the hallway toward her. Stan came into view standing behind his wife a redness was visible underneath his eyes as he gulped heavily.
"Mae..." Stan called out weakly his voice a bit shaky.
Mae stared at her parents a solemn expression on her face. "I know..."
"You know...!" Candy inquired as she raised a brow before crossing her arms.
"I know, I know that it is all my fault that we're losing the house..." Mae uttered remaining perfectly solemn as she turned away from her parents not able to look at them. Both Stan and Candy's eyes widened at hearing her say that they both turned to look at one another for a brief moment. Mae stared at the front door she gripped her phone tightly in one hand, the broken glass of the screen punctured her paw, yet she didn't care she had to feel something.
"Mae..." Stan called out once more his tone weaker it almost sounded as if he was pouting. He knew it was his fault he hated that his daughter was blaming herself it left a pit a mile wide in his gut as he choked. Candy suddenly in a burst of speed dashed over behind her daughter she grabbed her shoulders turning her around abruptly.
"Mae... Mae this isn't your fault... it's not..." Mae's eyes widened at hearing her mother's words as she stared at her face. Candy turned her head looking over her shoulder toward her husband who fell to his knees as thunder suddenly crackled snapping loudly outside. "It isn't your fault either honey, so please don't do this to yourself..." Candy spoke strongly with conviction in her words as her strength slowly drained from her eyes. Stan stared at his wife's face seeing her cry for the second time today was becoming too much for him.
Mae suddenly reached out hugging her mother from the side. Stan a moment later had wobbled over on his knees he joined in on the hug. All three of them now on the floor they held each other tightly.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry you guys... if I hadn't gone to college you'd never be in this situation... and what do I do I squander it like a stupid idiot....." Mae screamed out transitioning into light pouting. "No Mae... it's my fault for wanting you to go to college, I practically forced you when it wasn't even something you wanted to do..." Candy admitted weakly as she joined in on her daughters pity party.
Stan swallowed trying to compose himself he had to be a man, he felt that he had to be strong but seeing his two precious babies so upset like this was breaking him slowly but surely. "N-no..." He suddenly blurted out. "Listen to me, it's my fault that I couldn't provide for the two of you... I'm the one to blame if only... if only I..." Stan couldn't even muster the strength to finish his sentence.
~silence and rainfall~
The three of them sobbed together in each other's embrace for a minute or so longer. Mae was the first to break free from their hug as she fell back sitting on her tush. "Mom... Dad..." she spoke as thunder continued rumbling in the background. Stan and Candy broke from there hug as well, they held onto one another's paw needing their unified strength. "What is it sweetie." Stan asked finally managing to compose himself. Mae placed her paw that was still holding her phone over her heart resting it on her chest she sighed breathing for a second.
"I... I think...." Mae mumbled out before stopping to sigh once more she looked up the stairs for a moment as her eyes broadened at the surprising sight. She blinked her eyes rapidly in sheer wonder at the ghostly sight of her grandfather standing leaning against the wall at the top of the stairs. Mae's eyes watered heavily at the sight seeing a wide smile on her grandpas face. Both Stan and Candy spectated in curiosity as they watched Mae's facial expression transition from sadness to happiness real quick. Stan turned looking over his shoulder he glanced upstairs seeing nothing but darkness he wondered what his daughter was seeing. "What is it Mae?" Candy asked sincerely as she placed a gentle paw onto her daughters knee.
Mae sluggishly raised a paw wiping her eyes clear. "Mom, dad... I think we should move... We've got a lot of memories here sure, some good and some bad... but this town it sucks ya know..." Mae spoke with a chuckle her resolve returning to her. Both Stan and Candy chuckled for moment hearing their daughter and the confidence in her voice. "I kno if I hadn't gone to college we wouldn't be in so much debt, it's not your fault mom I actually wanted to go at first but after a while I just didn't fit in anymore something changed either the world or I did, I just couldn't hang there any longer." Mae revealed as she paused for a breath before looking directly at her father the sight of his moistened cheeks caused her chest to knot up. "Da... dad... none of this is your fault, I'm sure I speak for mom as well that we don't blame you. The world sucks and life is hard. But you know we still have each other so it doesn't matter where we live as long as we're together....." Mae spoke a bit cheesily.
Silence fell upon the family of three for a moment. Stan chuckled softly breaking it as he pulled his daughter closer. "Ha, as long as we're together huh?" He spoke while holding his daughter in one arm. Candy moved closer toward them. "Even if we're living in a box on the street, we'll always be together we will always be family nothing will change that." She added rubbing her eyes a little they were still a bit moist. Meanwhile the ghost of Mae's grandfather faded away watching his family as they remained strong even through the hard times as the Borowski's have always done.
---
Elsewhere in an apartment kitchen in Bright Harbor. Gregg adorned with his very own cute little foxy apron stood on a stool putting away the glass ware as Angus dried the dishes. "See I can help too, I want to help you, w-when I'm able..." Gregg spoke cheerily wanting nothing more than to be useful and to help his boyfriend whom did a lot for him probably more than Gregg would ever know. "Hehe well alright then, but I still don't think I can trust you in the kitchen for like actually cooking and stuff... remember the homemade pizza incident in our apartment in Possum Springs!" Angus spoke recalling back to the time a small house fire broke out because Gregg wasn't sure of the correct setting on the stove and the frozen pizza spontaneously combusted after ten minutes. Angus was most furious because it said it clearly on the box heat the oven to 350 degrees.
"Hehe oh yea..." Gregg chuckled as he stepped down off of the stool, he had to use one to reach the very top shelves in the cabinets just to put away the dishes. When Angus wasn't leaning or bending he was at least a good foot or more taller than Gregg. Gregg hated his shortness however his boyfriend didn't mind at all. Angus found it adorable and grew fond of the situations they'd find themselves in. He enjoyed getting things for Gregg when he could not reach and seeing his expression was all the more worth it. He also enjoyed the few times someone would block Gregg's view in a movie theater, Gregg would sit on Angus' lap and he'd peer between his ears to watch. Angus also loved watching his boyfriend stand on his tip toes and he'd still have to bend his back a little leaning down just to kiss him.
"Hey Angus you wanna go bowling...?" Gregg asked suddenly, knowing Angus enjoyed it a lot he even had his own ball stuffed deep in the closet. Gregg actually enjoyed it too of course he loved going on weekends most when they had those crazy disco UV lights on he'd always dress in yellow so he would glow he'd bowl in his socks too made it easier to slide into a throw. Angus looked up from his dishes an excited look on his face. "Yea, I'd love too...." Angus giddily spoke a bit too quickly before thinking as he suddenly recalled to checking his bank balance this morning realizing they didn't have the money to waste on bowling.
"Uhh.... b-but I d-dunno... Gregg... m-maybe it'd be safer if we stay home, you remember what they said on the news, right?!" Angus spoke inquiring with fast thinking as he wiped sweat off of his brow proud of his craftiness. "Wut, what'd they say on the news...?" Gregg ignorantly questioned a bit confused as he picked his nose leisurely Angus merely faced palmed. "How do you not know, you were staring at the tv when the news was on!" Angus replied a pulsing red mark visible on his forehead from the face palm. "Oh I was... I-I wasn't paying attention... hehe!" Gregg chuckled as he scratched the back of his head.
"They said there was gonna be a tsunami or a mini one at least, the bowling ally is only like five minutes from the beach so I'd rather not go... it'd be too dangerous plus I'm pretty sure they're closed cuase of the storm anyway. We should be fine here at home though since we're on the third floor and we're about thirty minutes from the beach twenty if traffic is good..." Angus explained in a protective tone. A lightbulb suddenly appeared glowing above Gregg's head as he stepped over toward Angus. "I got it hey, why don't we go to the beach we've never been and we have been living here for over two months now." Gregg requested cheerfully causing steam to shoot out of Angus' ears sounding like a tea pot.
"Did you not hear a thing I just sa-" "-Hey, hey calm down. I know, I meant like another day different from today I wasn't serious." Gregg suddenly spoke out interrupting Angus. "B-but I do think it'd be nice to go to the beach together. I don't think I've ever been to a beach or seen the ocean up close!" Gregg continued as he raised a paw scratching the side of his left cheek. Angus calmed himself a little with a soft sigh. "Yea, it'd probably be nice I've never been either..." "Plus it's free so that's great, I won't have to disappoint Gregg!" Angus thought reassuringly to himself.
"So it's decided then, after the shitty weather stops being so shitty we'll go to the beach...." Gregg cheered happily as he hugged Angus who grinned at hearing his hubby's giddiness. "...and have beach sex...!" Gregg suddenly continued while bouncing his eyebrows seductively up and down at Angus who merely sighed. "No..." "Ocean Sex?" Angus stopped for a moment thinking intensively. "Jellyfish... sharks... fish in general touching me while I'm naked." Angus now a bit disturbed thought to himself while a chill crawled up his back. "NO!!!!" Angus yelled out causing Gregg to pout with a frown. "Boooo-"
~beeeep, beeeeeep, beeep~
The doorbell suddenly buzzed aloud halting the boys riveting conversation. Angus and Gregg looked at one another for a moment. "Uhh when are we expecting Mae and Bea again?" Angus questioned as he raised a brow realizing it was Sunday so it couldn't be the mail man plus they hadn't ordered anything recently and it was getting fairly late that and the mail doesn't run on Sunday's. "They probably won't be up for another day or two, Mae didn't really give me an exact date. But I'm pretty sure she isn't here now, I'll go see who it is!" Gregg replied innocently ignorant of the recent spike in crimes he walked through the living room toward the front door. Angus on the other hand was fully aware as he put down his dish cloth and reached for a skillet tightening his grip around the handle he slowly followed behind Gregg.
Gregg stopped at the door and glared at Angus. "W-what are you doing?" He asked as he stared at Angus who looked ready to fight but it was rather difficult to take him seriously while he was still wearing his teddy bear apron. "What if it's a murder or rapist or... or something!" Angus replied as he test swung his sturdy iron skillet nearly hitting Gregg in the face who ducted just in time. "Watch it with that thing Betty Crocker. Relax, there's no murders and rapist outside our doors!" Gregg spoke as turned peeping through the peephole.
Gregg gasped loudly taking Angus by surprised his ears trembled in fear a bit as he looked to Gregg awaiting a response. "Wh-what is it?" He asked while hiding behind his pan it shook in his paws. "It's just Ms Mutbomb...!" Gregg spoke with disgust in his tone as he rubbed his face down before reaching for the knob. Angus suddenly grabbed his paw stopping him in his tracks. "She could be a rapist!" Gregg suddenly burst out into laughter his tail wagged in time with his many repeated exhales. "You're not wrong!" He replied a bit giggly with a chuckle as he caught his breath.
"Hello Ms MutBomb!" Gregg spoke a bit dead inside as he stared at the elderly mouse holding a Tupperware bowl of cookies in her mitts. Gregg's eyes suddenly grew wide at the sight of them the tub it was chok full of them he licked his lips. "We don't won't no Girl Scout cookies!" Gregg spoke with an upturned nose as he resisted the urge to kick her ass and take the cookies slamming the door in her face.
"Hello boys...!" The elderly mouse spoke as she sighed. "I baked you young'n's some cookies my treat for what you did for me earlier!" Gregg's face suddenly grew bright red as he dropped his head staring at her shoes paralyzed seems Angus wasn't the only one who got embarrassed easily. Ms Mutbomb snickered a bit sinisterly at his expression. "Relax Greggory it ain't nothing to be ashamed of!" Gregg's body grew hollow as his soul began departing lifting up and flying away. Angus reached up swiftly grabbing his soul shoving it into his body before reaching out taking the tub of cookies. She looked over toward Angus who lifted the lid sniffing the aroma they actually smelled pretty darn amazing almost like peanut butter chocolate fudge.
"Good for you Angus..." she spoke with a devilish smile as she leaned over and pat Gregg on the shoulder who instantly shrieked. "LLeave!!!!!" Gregg yelled aloud his voice crackling before slamming the door in her face. She could be heard snickering from behind the door as she wobbled away back to her apartment. "Enjoy the cookies boys and be sure to stay safe a storm isa coming." She spoke a bit motherly actually sounding concerned as she stepped into her apartment.
"These... are... delicious!" Angus mumbled through a stuffed gullet as his cheeks expanded out widely cookie crumbs littered his white apron. Gregg stood still fuming a bit his face as red as lava as he panted heavily. "YA DAMN PERV!!!!!!" Gregg shouted while waving his arms in the air. Angus continued munching on the cookies as he picked one up and popped it into his boyfriend's mouth taking him. By surprise. Moments later Gregg moaned happily enjoying the unexpectedly delightful taste. "Hmm.... wow.... actually.... these aren't.... half bad....!" He spoke between chews. "That ol' windbag... is alright..... damn perv!" He muffled out as he stuffed another cookie in his mouth the taste of peanut fudge mixed well with the thick and chewy chocolate chunks it was heavenly.
---
Back to Possum Springs rain had begun pouring down heavily onto the little town. In the Borowski house the sound of the rain hitting against the roof's tiling was actually quite soothing. Mae stood up off of the floor she sighed heavily before smiling a small smile seeing her mom and dad knowing they were still there for her was comforting.
Mae eased her grip on her phone before slowly raising it up the phone detected that Mae was looking at it from the sheer movement alone the screen even though it was cracking apart lit up. Mae's eyes widened seeing an image of Bea with a glowing cigarette in her mouth flashing on her screen with a big 7 in a bubble above it.
Mae's phone battery only had 3% left as the screen dimmed threatening to shut off. Mae with slight hesitation tapped on Bea and the messages popped up one by one as a pit began forming in my Mae's stomach growing wider with each message she read. Candy and Stan both looked up at their daughter who began sweating and her breathing became uneasy as an unsettling tension descended over the room.
"Mae..."
"...You there Mae...?"
"Please Mae, I... don't know... I... can't I..."
"...Mae."
"Help me...."
"I'm sorry Mae... I just..."
".....Goodbye..."
Lightning flashed brightly causing a brief hazy fog of brightness to fill the darkened hallway the light poured in through the window above the front door. Thunder snapped crackling ever so loudly piercing everyone's ears breaking the tension outright. Mae's body trembled as she clutched her phone tightly quickly she began navigating to call Bea as fast as her fingers would allow.
~bbrrrrinng, bbbbrrrriiinnnng, bbbrrrriiiinnn-~
The ringing ceased as the phone screen unexpectedly faded to black and shut off before the call could connect. Mae stared at her reflection cracking in the blackness of her broken screen. Mae's face instantly tightened scrunching in pure rage as she on impulse threw her useless phone as hard as she could on the floor. It exploded into pieces as bits flew at her legs leaving scratches and scrapes on her jeans and some even hitting her parents who shielded their faces it was quite a shock to them it happened so suddenly.
Within an instant after the phone crashed against the hard wood floor Mae spun turning on her heel and sprinted outside into the pouring rain. Both Stan and Candy slowly pushed themselves up to try and give chase by the time they'd made their way outside Mae was already vanishing from sight. Stan watched his daughter disappear into the distance a look of worry clear as day on his face. Candy turned glancing back into the house seeing Mae's destroyed phone lying on the floor shattered into pieces that sparked.
Mae's heart was racing... she may have been a sturdy girl and a bit more round for her age than most but that wasn't gonna stop her. She breathed heavily as she ran as fast as she could manage without tripping on the slick sidewalks. All she could hear was the loud pouring rain crushing descending onto her it was chillingly cold while the wind bared down fiercely upon her threatening to push her back though she did not waver. She continued running steadfast clinching her firsts tightly in anger, confusion and worry was all she could feel.
"Run girl, run..." a staticky low toned voice suddenly called out seemingly from mere inches behind Mae as her ears jumped up in surprise to the sound. Mae did nothing else to react at first she was thinking only of Bea she soon noticed a trash can to her right as she was running up hill she stepped over toward it still maintaining her speed. She bounced up off of it as time seemed to slow for her as she twisted twirling in mid air looking behind her.
The rain fell slower as Mae had seemingly stopped breathing holding her breath to maintain her focus as she glared down the hill that she had just sprinted up. Her eyes narrowed seeing six shadowy figures residing in the darkness just beyond the reach of the warm glow of a street light a few yards away from the mysterious group. Mae gulped trying to swallow her fear she tried with all of her might to make out the figures trying to ascertain some detail as to who they were but alas the more she focused on them the more distorted in shadow they became.
One thing did stand out to Mae it was blatantly obvious that they weren't human. Six pairs of glowing red eyes peered back at Mae from the shadows. Time slowly begun to speed up for Mae as the rain resumed it's normal speed of descent. Quickly the rather agile feline continued rotating in mid air as she stuck the landing sliding along the pavement now facing the direction of which was her intent. The six figures began fading away their eyes still fixed upon Mae.
"She is the one...." a reverberated deep voiced man called out.
"She is..." another man added.
"She's just like you... ay Jacob?" Inquired a spritely female followed with a slightly sinister giggle.
"No she isn't, she isn't even aware of it yet..." the staticky low toned man replied coldly.
"You're wrong, I think she's more aware of it than you were at her age..." another man called out with a chuckle following his words. "She can see us after all, and even outside of her dreams no less..." he continued.
"A leviathan resonates strongly from within her. I can see it in her eyes..." the final voice spoke out deeply his words echoing infinitely.
Mae for a moment stood just breathing outside of Bea's apartment building, what looked like a chair was broken spread out into multiple pieces in front of the building. Some shattered glass was there as well it cracked splintering loudly with each step she had taken closer. Mae looked up as rain continued dousing her she focused on Bea's window beside of the creepy statue. Her window it was busted wide open bits of glass was still reflecting some light making it easily noticeable.
"Bea...."
Mae quickly ran toward the front door to the building turning the knob she pushed it open darting for the elevator. Mae stood in front of it pacing in place she slammed her paw over the call button pressing it repeatedly several times. She quickly grew in patient not before long she turned seeing the door to the stairwell she shot over toward it pushing the bar causing it to open.
Her footsteps echoed throughout the well as she climbed the steps her breathing grew heavier she had begun to regret the decision of getting out of bed this morning. "Oh jeez I hate stairs, or at least a large quantity of them..." Mae huffed and puffed heavily beginning to feel her sprint through town in the rain as a strange weakness suddenly over came her before she finally reached Bea's floor.
Mae still dripping wet from being outside in this hellish weather she took a breath for a moment once reaching the top. "Damnit!" She huffed. "I'm... coming... Bea!" Mae puffed lowly as she began rushing down the hall quickly nearing Bea's door it's a good thing there wasn't many their. Mae without thinking leapt at the door raising a leg to kick it off of its hinges.
A moment later Mae found herself wallowing on the floor with her foot and leg throbbing in pain sadly she wasn't that badass. She quickly bounced up with a limp breathing for a second composing herself, before she charged at the door once more slamming against it with her shoulder. Mae did this repeatedly putting the full weight of her body into it determined to get through this obstacle blocking her path.
One of Bea's neighbors suddenly came outside of their apartment holding a bat in both hands to investigate the loud thrashing, he looked a bit skimpy and trembled as he peered into the darkened hallway. He suddenly jumped back at seeing a pair of bright glowing red eyes piercing through the night staring at him as Mae had turned to look in his direction. The vigilant neighbor suddenly dropped his bat out of fear and with a shriek he dashed inside his house slamming the door shut behind him.
Mae picked up the bat narrowing her vision staring at it for a brief moment before she twirled it around in one hand. "Yes this'll do..." She uttered lovely while tightening both paws around it gripping the bat as she with all of her strength swung knocking the door knob off with one go. The door suddenly creaked ominously sliding back and opening for Mae revealing the darkness filed apartment within.
Mae dashed inside quickly looking around she noticed the tv was on it was only displaying static though. It smelled strongly of alcohol in their Mae finally took notice of a large pile of empty cans and bottles littering the coffee table. Mae's footstep splashed a bit she looked down to see a drying puddle of beer and a tipped over can lying on the carpet. Mae quickly ran down the hallway toward Bea's room her heart pounding out of her chest as she could see the messages reappearing in the back of her mind she feared the worst.
Mae grabbed the knob turning it pushing the door open as it squeaked she stood silently in the hallway gazing into the room. Some storm clouds must have shifted outside because a gap was forming letting moonlight shine through. Rays of moonlight pierced the shadows of the darkened room glaring on the carpet a dark familiar silhouette was visible across the waves of luminous light. "Bea..." Mae called out her voice sounding hollow but with a bit of hope as she slowly stepped closer into the room. Suddenly Mae could make it out as she moved closer seeing the shiny metal reflecting straight lines of light from within the darkness.
Bea sat on the bed shaking holding a 45 against her forehead. Mae's eyes grew wide as her heart skipped a beat, quite a few beats actually. "B-B... B-Bea...." Mae called out once again her voice now trembling as was her body she tried to move even closer toward her friend the floor creaking underneath the carpet as she crept nearer while extending out a paw. "Bea... pl-please... I... I'm here... I'm here now... s-so please... d-don't do this!" Mae pleaded with all of her heart as she suddenly jumped forward.
Bea was squinting her eyes they were tightly shut ignoring Mae's call she motioned her index finger placing it against the trigger. Glowing tears illuminated by the moonlight ran down the croc's face her shaking came to a sudden halt as a loud bang and flash followed by a piercing ringing filled the room.
~ppphhhhaammmmth, diiiinnnng, chicchsh~
Thunder cracked like a whip as the room lit up brightly from a bright flash of lightning. Instantaneously within the spam of a single gunshot at the velocity of 853 foot per second Mae had jumped on top of Bea knocking the gun out of her hand. The bullet fired out of the barrel flying up ricocheting off of the light fixture on the ceiling fan above destroying it in the process it flew straight back down toward the bed. The ejected shell casing shot out of the side of the gun as it cycled hitting Mae on the side of the cheek it was hot it singed her fur and stung as she pinned Bea down. Shattered glass and a few broken fan blades rained down from the ceiling onto the two girls in bed the bullet hitting it exploded the fan.
Bea merely looked up at her friend blinking her eyes rapidly surprised that she was even still alive as tears continued to flow down the sides of her face. Bea's eyes broadened a bit as droplets of water fell onto her face she opened her mouth to speak but found her voice was absent. Mae was still trembling from the speed of her own movements and the sheer shock of the situation as a whole. Her emotions spiraled out of control a bit as she suddenly begun pouting loudly before hugging Bea tightly squeezing her arms around her back not wanting to let go too afraid to do so for fear of losing her forever.
Bea's face cringed tightly as she hugged Mae returning the gesture, she buried her snout into Mae's shoulder as she cried loudly into it though it was muffled by her shirt and fur. A steady stream of blood began running down Mae's arm pooling into the bed as a gash in her shirt was visible where the bullet had grazed her. Mae hadn't realized it yet she was too taken in by the sheer intensity of the situation her body felt so exhausted as she as well as Bea bellowed out loudly. The two of them seemingly in desperate need of some emotional relief remained in one another's embrace if not but for a moment longer.
