Near silence consumed the apartment as Angus sat beside of Gregg. The warm yellowish gentle glow of the tiny sparkle of a flame illuminated the fox's face. Tears shimmering in the light fell drop after drop Angus watched on in utter silence. Angus could hear the sound of Gregg's unsteady breathing something was wrong he didn't know what. But it had Angus' stomach in knots seeing Gregg so broken up so unexpectedly he didn't know if it was his fault or if it was dinner or maybe not going bowling or what.
"G-Gre--" "Angus..." Gregg suddenly spoke up cutting his boyfriend off as he turned staring directly into his lover's eyes as they widened. "Angus d-do you, remember... do you remember the time I almost killed your father..." Angus unexpectedly choked at hearing Gregg say that all of a sudden. Angus turned looking away as he nervously begun to twiddle his thumbs together a bead of sweat ran down the side of his cheek.
"I've been thinking about it a lot... I don't even know why, it just kinda popped into my head and I couldn't help but reminisce." Gregg spoke as he too turned away from Angus he couldn't bare to look at him. The two boys sat in silence for a few more moments they both just stared their eyes fixed on the dancing flame before them wax was piling up around the base of the candle as it slowly shrunk in height.
"I... I..." Angus spoke lowly before catching his breath with a quick inhale. "I... I remember when we first met... hehe... I was so scared as you towered above me with your fist raised even higher, in the middle of that crowded hallway with all of those other kids watching in enjoyment. I'd been at the school for nearly a month already back then and I had heard of you but this was the first time our paths crossed. To be honest I always wanted to ask you something but was too afraid to ever work up the courage to do so. I remember though that look in your eyes of anger and of pure rage as you glared at me I could feel you as if you were staring straight through my soul..." Angus spoke weakly as Gregg sat in silence listening while he gripped his knees tightly squeezing them his claws dug into his flesh drawing up blood.
"My dad had just finished beating me the night before that day, my body was battered, bruised and throbbing in pain... I'd slept in the bathroom in our basement the coolness of the tile floor felt good actually... my mom had locked me down their on this night. It hurt... ev-everything hurt for the longest time....." Angus muttered as Gregg's body shook with rage at hearing the other end of the story he gritted his teeth baring them sharply they glowed amidst the candle light. "I just, I just wanted to learn... and to get smarter, so in hopes that I could get away one day... So even though I was in pain, both mentally and psychically... I... I managed to continue, going to school. I honestly didn't know what to do or what I should do. I never... I never told anyone... I never told anyone, until you..." Angus finished with a brief sigh.
Angus raised a paw scratching the side of his head a bit anxiously as he suddenly chuckled softly Gregg's ears perked up hearing his boyfriends laughter surprised him though he did not turn. "You know... when we... when we went to the carnival after our first encounter, I was... I was scared, terrified half the time we were there and for loads of reasons, but the rest of the time... The rest of the time I was completely and totally happy, I had fun I felt free. I'd forgotten a little of my pain and of my family my life my everything... it was just me, just me and just you... I was... I... a-and I was happy....." Angus let out with a weak laugh his eyes closed leaking liquid pain dripping onto the leg's of his pants.
"I remember... all too clearly....." Gregg suddenly spoke up his voice heavy and shaking along with his breath. Angus turned to look at him but Gregg was looking away his face cloaked in shadow. "I remember... All day you were wearing nurse Betty's ridiculous sunglasses... I hadn't caught on that they were actually hers till lunchtime came round... and when I... when I took them off you... I dunno... I just... I just couldn't see straight anymore. Your smile was erased, it was gone... you lowered your head and cried on the table while everyone just listened their laughter quickly followed, their deafening laughter... I felt like I was going to be sick I could hardly keep control of myself seeing your face all swollen bruised and your eyes black and blue while everyone just pointed and laughed... I just... I-I... I... just..." Gregg repeated his tone growing even weaker with each passing second as leaned forward feeling like he was gonna puke.
"I just screamed... you ran and I followed..... you sat underneath the leaky old water fountain hiding in the shadow sobbing by yourself. My heart was breaking in two..." Gregg spat disgusted as he choked his lungs grew tight Angus merely swallowed heavily while clinching a fist angrily. "I couldn't speak... I didn't know what to say..... I didn't know what to do... so I stepped closer, I noticed your body jump and shake with each step I took... I was almost too scared to approach you, b-but I did... I stood before the fountain with you underneath... and... and I... I leaned over... and I took a drink..." Gregg uttered with a chuckle ashamed of himself Angus quickly joined in on the laughter as he raised a paw to rub his eyes.
"I remember... you took a drink which surprised me a little and then the fountain suddenly peed on me. The water was cool on my face it felt so nice, b-but it had startled me I quickly crawled out from under it." Angus added as he shuffled closer toward Gregg who felt him bump against his leg he turned to see Angus smiling right at him the bear's face illuminated by the fading candle light. "I still couldn't see straight all of that anger swelling up inside of me made my mouth dry plus with the screaming it wasn't that surprising." Gregg joked lightly as he reached out grabbing his boyfriend's paw squeezing it tightly feeling the softness of his fur and his plush paw pads were so cushy and inviting.
Angus stood in awe staring his swollen eyes blinking repeatedly at Gregg who was leaning over taking a big drink of water it splashed getting all over the fox's face and even on his jacket. Angus' chin crinkled tightly as water dripped down the wrinkles in his chin. "Why...!" Angus mustering the strength to speak while raising his voice a little. "Why do you bully people...!" Angus questioned as Gregg's ears perked up the fox stood straight wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his jacket before turning and looking directly at Angus.
Angus stared at Gregg who glared back at him with a scowl of disgust though it wasn't meant for the innocent bear. "W-why... why... why..... WHY!!!" Angus screamed before falling down onto his knees. A door cracked open a few yards away as an eyeball peeped out in curiosity. The thud of his knees hitting the floor soon followed after by the faint sound of sobbing filled Gregg's ears he merely stood standing above him once again. They were in the same hallway with the same lockers where they had first met by chance purely by accident bumping into one another.
Gregg slowly raised a tightly clinched fist he stared down to his trembling hand opening it up and spreading his fingers. The sound of crying grew louder or maybe it was just louder to Gregg, Angus had fallen further down on the floor he buried his head into his crossed arms trying to be as quiet as possible he just wanted to vanish and disappear. A tall crocodile women stepped out of one of the rooms she had a long white coat on and sported some round spectacles. She stared at the two boys spectating silently neither had noticed her yet.
Within an instant and with only silence Gregg turned away from the boy crying on the floor in the middle of the hallway. Gregg breathed heavily composing himself for what he was about to do as he slowly stepped down the hallway making his way for the front entrance. The women stepped toward Angus she knelt down beside of him placing a hand on his back patting him softly. She looked up glare from the sun shining in through a nearby window caused her lens to light up as she watched Gregg disappear into the distance the swinging doors of the front entrance creaked loudly an impression of a fist was embedded into the metal of the door marking this moment forever.
Angus raised his head up seeing the mark on the door as it swayed with the wind he glanced over his shoulder seeing a welcoming smile as it offered him a hand up. "Come with me! I'll get you an ice pack, you should rest in my office for the day alright Angus..." Nurse Betty spoke the croc sounded genuinely concerned as she helped the young boy up and into her office. "Th-than-k you!" Angus mumbled lightly.
Meanwhile Gregg stood outside of Angus' house seeing the cracks running through the concrete that led up to the front of the house. The porch had a screen around it which had a few holes that bugs made their way inside through so it defeated the purpose of itself. The windows were shut with the blinds down a rather large tree was visible in the front yard directly to left of the house. A fierce gust of wind breezed by as Gregg sluggishly raised a ski mask over his face. His fangs borne tightly gritted together glowed in the sunlight as he slipped the mask on. Tears ran down the sides of the fox's face soaking into the soft material of the mask as he cloaked his pain in darkness.
Gregg slowly approached the house in broad day light he held a baseball bat in one hand and a metal lighter in the other. Gregg raised the lighter flicking the switch igniting it as he lit up the tip of bat that was soaked in oil it instantly caught a bright raging flame. Gregg dropped the lighter into his pocket and spun the bat twirling in his hand as he swung with all of his might at the door he grunted out loud transitioning to mad screaming as he went to town with fierce strike after strike against the front door made only of weak wood it didn't amount to much against Gregg's rage.
Gregg breathed heavily as he stepped inside the house through a haze of smoke and scorched wood chips falling from the broken door frame. Inside the house it smelled strongly of alcohol the floor was sticky and it creaked with each step Gregg took each one felt familiar. Gregg found his way through the dark as the light of sun could not reach this sickening place he went through the kitchen seeing a bevy of empty liquor bottles filled the countertops. There were pictures of Angus as a kid and baby smiling happy as can be they were magnetically attached to the fridge Gregg took notice to them out of the corner of his eyes. Gregg continued to twirl the flaming bat sending embers twirling around himself they stained his coat burning it a little though he did not care, not even in the slightest.
Gregg made his way down the hallway a tension built up deeper and deeper within him he stood in front of a staticky TV set seeing a man lying passed out on the couch. Gregg's eyes slowly widened his pupils shook underneath the mask he gasped lightly to the sight before him. The man on the couch in Gregg's eyes it appeared to him as his own father. "W-we are the same... b-but not, but we are.... he's me and I am him....." Gregg whispered to himself as he lowered the bat his eyes fell to the floor before closing shut. Gregg sighed heavily as his fist gripped the bat tightly he stood there for a few moments listening to the tv static smelling the booze feeling the darkness of this hole, of this life.
"Wh-who... who... who a-are yyou?!" The man suddenly spoke up stuttering heavily. Gregg opened his eyes raising his head staring daggers at the man before him, the man cowered behind his shaking arms across the table between them. Gregg appeared to be the devil incarnate as the masked fox glared at him his gaze piercing the fat old bear's soul. "I'm...." Within an instant Gregg bolted forward stepped up on top of the coffee table knocking cans off into the floor as Gregg raised the flaming baseball bat overhead high into the air. "Your..." Gregg swung with all of his strength using every fiber of his being and all of his energy sent the bat crashing down through the air as flames and ashes dispersed off of it. "Worst NIGHTMARE!!!!!!" Gregg screamed as he repeatedly struck the man with the bat slamming it into his chest and arms as he desperately tried to block the hits.
Gregg continued for several minutes as he vented his rage a line of blood ran down from the top of the bat making it a bit slippery as it covered the fox's hands. Gregg finally came to a halt his body grew heavy as he just breathed while he lowered the bat that was now bent and half brunt up the tip was fading into ashes. The bear fell off of the couch landing in the floor in front of Gregg as he stood towering above him panting intensively like a wild animal. Gregg fell back sitting on the table as it creaked under him it made him worry that he'd fall through. The man was blacking out in the floor his breathing was shallow as he groaned in immense pain.
Gregg sighed heavily before chuckling softly it quickly transitioned to loud laughter. "That was for you Angus...!" Gregg thought to himself as he glanced down seeing the bear in the floor toppled over in pain. Gregg turned sliding on his butt and hopped off of the table and proceeded to leave when suddenly he heard the sound of crinkling paper behind him. Gregg from the edge of the hallway he turned seeing a bent up piece of paper in the floor it had wrinkles on if from where Gregg was sitting on it. Gregg suddenly growing curious stepped closer to inspect it he picked it up and unfolded the paper his eyes widened in realization as he read.
"Oh makes sense I guess... who'd wanna stay with a disgusting pig like you!" Gregg spat angrily as he crumbled up the paper tossing it in a trash bin landing a perfect shot. "You better change... you damn bastard, you hear me, or I'll be back for your ass, you got that!" Gregg warned the man in crippling pain on the floor who merely moaned out in response Gregg quickly proceeded away into the kitchen he made a call and left the phone off the hook. Gregg dashed out of the back door deciding to make a more stealthily escape he felt so much better as he hopped the fence in the backyard.
Gregg and Angus sat in the dark leaning against one another the candle reduced to a mere puddle of steaming hot wax the brunt up wick lied on the top layer of wax the edge of the wick glowed a faint shade of red from just being on fire. Angus placed a paw on his hubby's knee Gregg rested a paw on top of his as he turned looking toward him. Angus gave Gregg a soft welcoming smile moonlight shined in through the window illuminating his face. "I can't believe you did that for me..." Angus spoke suddenly followed with a chuckle he blushed feeling his little bug's soft paw upon his own. "Hehe well what can I say... I just had to break in and see those cute baby photos of yours!" Gregg joked giddily as Angus suddenly bumped him with his elbow causing him to chuckle loudly.
---
Elsewhere it was getting rather late.
~beep... beep... beep... beep... beep... beep~
Mae's eyes suddenly shot open glowing amidst the darkness. A ringing filled her ears she quickly furled them back trying to block it out alas it did not help as she blinked her eyes rapidly before squeezing them shut. Within a moment the ringing ceased replaced with a stampede of footsteps surrounding her coming from all directions. Mae opened her eyes once more only to find herself alone standing in the center of a stage. The spotlight shining brightly from on high down onto her she looked above raising a paw blocking the bright light.
Mae took in her surroundings a look of utter confusion dawned upon her face as she came to the conclusion that she was in the ol pickaxe. "Wh-what the.... how... how did I get here..." Mae questioned to herself as she began stepping toward the edge of the stage to hop down and have a better look around, though something unexpected and strange began to happen. Mae's eyes broadened in surprise she found that the edge of the stage was stretching on endlessly moving away from her she quickly transitioned to sprinting trying to reach it though her situation appeared pointless.
After a good minute of running Mae came to a halt panting heavily she leaned forward resting her paws on her knees. "Uhh... wh-what is up with this place.....!" Mae spat in disgust as she regained her breath. Suddenly a throbbing headache sent Mae crashing down to her knees she fell forward catching herself with her paws as a wave of pain swept over the entirety of her body. "Ahhhh..... wh-what is this... why do I... feel this way..... what, what was I doing.... I can't remember..." Mae rambled confused as sweat dripped down from her face.
~beep... beep... beep...~
Mae could suddenly hear a strange beeping she quickly jumped up as her headache dissipated along with the faint beeps. Mae stood still as the room suddenly felt like it was spinning around her while a rushing sensation spawned in her forehead. Several brief flashes of Mae tumbling down the stairs began revealing themselves to her. Mae falling from telephone wires nearly fifteen feet up in the air repeated in various locations. Mae getting aggressive with a baseball bat on many occasions. Mae slamming into a car door and just recently a telephone pole. Mae getting into fist and knife fights with many strangers and Gregg in several instances. Finally an image of Bea pulling the trigger of a loaded gun aimed at her head flashed through Mae's mind causing a pit to open in her stomach. The painful feeling of shards of broken glass raining down into her back and a bullet ripping through the skin of her arm suddenly all felt too surreal as everything came flooding back.
~beep, beep, beeeeep~
Everything all of her memories overwhelmed Mae as she suddenly dropped falling on her butt breathing heavily. "...O-oh... I... I remember now.... I...-" Mae's voice faded her body began to tremble as she looked around seeing fire unexpectedly rising up all around her panic slowly overtook Mae. Mae sat in the middle of the ol pickaxe as it burned down around her the wooden flooring creaked and gave out under the pressure. Debris from the ceiling fell while burning to ashes before even hitting the ground flaming embers spiraled around Mae as she looked around seeing the chaos unfurling. "Wh-what... what is this.... I don't remember this.... this is a nightmare....!" Mae choked out coughing heavily wishing she would just wake up already. A forceful gust of hot air slammed into Mae as she raised her arms like a shield covering her face the heat burned through her clothes as she roared out in pain along with the raging flames.
~beeeep... beeeeeeep..... beeep... beep.~
"You ever heard the old folks tale of the monster, a heartless beast that resides in a hole?" "No! Sounds interesting!" "The monster isn't so important as it is those who are the keepers of this monster that are more interesting..." "Keepers?" "Hehe yes cupcake... the keepers of the monster, they actually are worse than the monster itself...." "How so..." "Because sweetie, the monster just wants to be left all to its lonesome it doesn't care one way or another what happens really. But you see there are these, these guys... these bad guys they want to use it's power, to destroy the world..." "Lonesome..... was the monster lonely...?" "Wh-what... oh I did say that didn't I... hehehe..." "What's so funny grandpa?!" "Hehe..." "Nothing sweetie... nothing...." "Grandpa... d-do you ever get lonely...?" "W-what... no, never, not so long as I have my little baby girl!" "Ahhhhh! Hehehehe.... papa stahp! ...t-that tickles! Hehehe!!!!!"
Mae sluggishly lowered her arms dropping them to her sides as the roaring flames died down around her until nothing but darkness remained. She didn't understand why, maybe it was the smoke or maybe the humidity but she was crying her heart suddenly felt weak. Mae closed her eyes as a brief image of her grandfather smiling happily filled her mind hearing his voice echoing from the past was gut clinching. Mae gulped swallowing harshly feeling nothing but sadness now that he was gone from her life she suddenly thought of her towering over her grandfather's tombstone. "I... I miss you grandad!" Mae mumbled weakly into the darkness.
~beep... beep...~
"C'mon Grandpa finish the story, finish the story!" "Alright, alright... so the keepers they, they wanted to use the monster's power to destroy the world. They would go on to kill many, wars were waged, the death-toll was immense." "Dang... what assholes!" "Mae! Watch your mouth young'n, your mom will have my behind if she hears you repeat your papi's words!" "Oh, hehe sorry papa!" "Anyway, to the keepers of the beast they believed that they were fixing the world and making it a better place by casting out the weak and those that could not survive or did not belong." "That's awful!" "Yes, it was....." "Grandpa, do I... d-do I belong...?" "...Wh-what... of course you do cupcake... you belong here with your mommy and daddy..." "A-and you, right grandpa?" "Yes me as well, I dunno what I'd do without you princess!" "You may continue!" "Hehe! Alright, well at first the monster did not care he just wanted to be left alone. Though after a while, after a pretty long while of nothing but endless torture and having his energy siphoned away from him the monster grew weak. So the keepers decided to feed the beast in hopes to make him stronger so intern they would become stronger..." "Feed him... w-what did he eat?" "People!" "W-what eww gross! I thought you meant like pizza or something!" "Nope. The keepers they would toss innocents into the hole, the monster would feast on them harvesting their souls for its own energy. As he devoured them alive he also devoured their emotions stripping them from their melting flesh. "Emotions...?" "Yes sweetie emotions... and they were like poison to the beast who once did not care for a single thing!" "Not a single thing... well I dunno what I'd do without my tindy!" "Your... tindy?" "Yea! See he's a robot space horse that can fly, oh an-and he shoots lasers... he's my friend, he helps me sleep at night... he protects me!" "He protects you...." "Get on with the story grandpa!" "O-oh right hehe well lets see where was I..." "Something about eating people's sadness or something... doesn't sound too tasty tho..." "Ah yes, believe me it isn't sweetie. So the monster, it would be forced to eat and as it devoured these helpless innocents they cried out for god, they cried out for the mercy, to a uncaring god. The monster absorbed their emotions and he too began crying out for mercy the more his keepers forced down his gullet the more sadness it brought him. The monster he had begun to see the travesty of his existence through the eyes of those he consumed he only brought pain."
~beep~
"That poor monster he never wanted any of this... all he had ever known was the void and now suffering replaced his lonely nothingness..." "Well life is cruel sweetie, you'll unfortunately learn that when you're a little further along in life, besides life is only cruel to those who do not cherish it!" "B-but those bad guys, they are the ones doing all this bad stuff, how come they're getting away with it?!" "I'm getting to it cupcake hold on. Finally the monster decided enough was enough and struck back against his keepers he devoured them all in a fit of rage and in doing so became evil incarnate..." "Whaaaat!?" "He could feel what his captors felt which was devastation decay death they were pure darkness..."
~beep... beeeeep....~
"Ohh... makes sense I guess..." "And with all of these new emotions of rage and sadness overwhelming the beast it spawned bloodshed and destruction so the monster trembled and shook itself apart it cast out all of its power at once destroying everything around itself wanting nothing more than to die." "It wanted to die...?" "Yes sweetie, it did." "That's so sad....." "How so?" "Cuz, it's not the monster's fault all that bad stuff happened, it's the other guys's..." "Well you see they took advantage of the beast who at first did not care at all. In doing nothing he doomed everything and everyone." "B-but he cried tho..." "Yes the beast cried and wanted nothing more than to die..." "...Grandpa... Did he...-"
~beep...~
Mae's eyes shot open she suddenly found herself surrounded encircled by seven figures their bodies cloaked in shifting shadows. The only visible and prominently distinguishable feature was their eyes they glowed brightly shining a hue of red that of blood. Mae breathed heavily as she turned looking around herself seeing no way to escape as they all suddenly stepped forward drawing closer toward the frightened cat. Mae fell back onto her butt as the ominous strangers drew nearer with each passing second. "Wh-what are you... what... what do you want?" Mae called out desperately to no response she looked up seeing a blindingly bright light shining down from on high followed with the faint echo of a piercing beeping.
~beepbeepbeepbeepbeep~
"Did he grandpa... d-did he die...?" "Who's to say sweetie... what do you think happened...?" "I... I hope he survived if he gained emotions from eating those sad people then he should get a chance to truly live and then maybe he wouldn't have to be so alone. So he can live for himself and even for them!" "So he can live for them huh? Hehe!" "Wh-what's so funny?" "Nothing nothing, welp cupcake that's it for tonight I think you better get to sleep!" "Awwww..... come on just one more stwory pleeeeease...!"
Mae suddenly slowly opened her eyes her vision blurry it cleared after a moment or two and with a few blinks. She stared up at the ceiling the room she was in was dark she could just barely make out a ceiling fan spinning above. A yellow flashing light shined glaring on the maple wood of the blades of the fan it pulsed as the fan spun round. Her mouth was dry her body ached as she tempt to raise an arm only to find her body was completely numb she could still feel it though she just couldn't move. Mae stared down her chest seeing she was wearing a hospital gown she was in a hospital bed with an IV in her arm. "I... I... B... Mo..." Mae managed slightly opening her mouth to peep out her voice weak completely inaudible. She couldn't move or speak yet she was awake at the same time if it wasn't cause of drugs or the absent pain that she surprisingly wasn't feeling then it could only be one thing. "I'm paralyzed no..." Mae thought to herself as a bead of sweat ran down her face.
Mae's eyes finally adjusted fully to the dark her eyes broadened a bit wider seeing a figure resting its head on her bedside. "B...e..." Mae tried with all of her might to speak out once more relieved to see the croc resting her head by her left paw she was so happy to see her here. Mae finally noticed both of her parents sleeping at the foot of her bed. They slept while sitting up on a twin sofa their heads leaning on one another like pillows. A tear swelled up in Mae's eyes at the sight of her mother and father and of Bea. Mae attempt to wiggle her toes and fingers she quickly grew excited feeling them react yet she still could not fully move her body it was quite frustrating.
~beep... beep... beep... beep...~
A faint but slightly annoying beeping suddenly became audible to Mae meaning she just noticed it as she sluggishly turned her head which took her very all just to do so. Mae glanced to her left seeing a few monitors that were keeping track of her blood pressure and heart rate as well as oxygen and temperature levels. Mae noticed the iv bag dropping her fluids her sight remained firmly fixed onto it as a thought surfaced up from within her subconscious.
Mae recalled a dream, or rather it was more like a nightmare she had earlier of a situation just like this only this time she wasn't alone thankfully and one other thing was different. Mae's eyes focused on the falling drops a bead of sweat slid gliding down her face with each dripping drop. "It's not that same Mae... that was... that was just a dream... it's all in your head... calm down Mae!" Mae thought trying to reassure herself as she sighed softly and after another minute of intense staring she looked away from the drip bag.
A light shined through a crack in the door into her room it grew wider as the light increased in luminosity nearly blinding Mae. A nurse quietly stepped inside slowly holding a clip board and a syringe of liquid. Mae suddenly grew panicked to see her, her heart rate and blood pressure reacted as they spiked higher. The beeping suddenly increased with Mae's anxiety and with the strange women's presence it stirred everyone awake.
Stan slowly opened his eyes seeing a nurse coming in. "H-hello, sorry d-did I walk you up?" The nurse questioned softly at noticing Stan sitting up in doing so Candy woke up she stretched popping her arms while yawning loudly. The nurse used a dimmer switch that was on the wall to her left turning the lights on they emitted a soft blue glow. Mae calmed a bit at seeing everyone stirring and especially now that the lights were on.
Mae had sluggishly and weakly turned her head back she stared down her chest and bed seeing her parents waking up they hadn't noticed she was awake yet. "Mo-m... d-ad...!" Mae had managed to call out alerting everyone that she was finally conscious her voice still unsteady. Candy instantly shot up out of the sofa and bolted to her baby's side grabbing her free paw and held it tightly. "Mae, baby, my baby how... how do you feel!" Candy deeply concerned questioned rather quickly. Bea suddenly got rustled awake at feeling the bed shake when Candy practically half way jumped into it. Bea glanced up blinking repeatedly clearing the sleep from her eyes she saw Mae awake at last she felt so much relief.
"Li...ke.... sh...it...." Mae replied timidly to her mother who merely chuckled as she leaned forward hugging her daughter who moaned out a little in pain at feeling her squeeze her arms around her. "M...om tha...t hur...ts..." Mae complained speaking out lowly. Bea suddenly joined in on the hug surprising both Mae and her mother. "Same as always right Mae!" Bea uttered causing Mae to chuckle softly her eyes suddenly squinted it hurt to laugh for some reason.
The nurse slowly stepped over as she flicked a finger against the syringe an air bubble as well as a little fluid shot out of the top of the needle she then injected the needle into the top of the bag. "Th-there you go Margaret this'll make you feel oodles better sweetie!" The nurse assured with a friendly chuckle as she glanced over the vital monitors. "Hmm yes you are showing signs of a good recovery your vitals are up from a few hours ago!" She continued while dotting some stuff down on her clipboard. Stan sighed heavily at hearing that he was so worried he could hardly sleep soundly at all.
Candy and Bea broke the hug and just stared at Mae who's whiskers merely bounced up and down. "Uhh why are they staring at me jeez..." Mae thought to herself as her cheeks suddenly blushed lightly. Mae slowly turned her head looking beside of Bea over toward the nurse who gave her a friendly and welcoming smile. "F...oooo...ooooo...d!" Mae moaned out as her stomach instantly followed suit grumbling loudly. The nurse chuckled as she put down her clipboard. "I can pop down to the kitchen real quick for you what would you like?"
"Ba... bay.... baycon!" Mae yelled out hungrily in reply! Candy and Bea glanced at one another before back to Mae who's stomach grumbled once more. The nurse chuckled as she nodded in agreement. "Alright I'll have someone whip you up some breakfast food I'll tell em plenty of bacon!" She explained before waving and walking away closing the door shut behind her. "Oh right you never had dinner, actually now that I think about it we didn't have breakfast either cause we went to church Mae you must be starved I'm so sorry sweetie!" Candy spoke motherly to her daughter while she gently rubbed her tummy that threatened to eat her paw as an appetizer.
Mae glanced over to Bea who jumped slightly at seeing her staring. "B..e...a!" Mae stuttered out causing Bea to turn looking directly at her. "I'm... sorry... about... your... dad..." Mae finished her tone growing weaker from the starvation and blood loss and dehydration and possible muscle damage. "I'm so sorry!" Mae repeated. Stan suddenly stood up in a fury at hearing that. "Wh-what Bea... y-your father, he... he isn't...?" He questioned his tone becoming low. Candy raised a paw covering her mouth. Bea merely nodded silently. Mae somehow despite everything used her remaining strength to raise her left paw up to gently caress her friend's scaly cheek.
Bea slowly raised her right hand resting it against Mae's soft paw feeling the softness of her fur and of her silkily smooth paw pads pressing against her scales. Bea sniffled as she stared down to Mae who frowned seeing tears welling up within the croc's eyes. The sound of a loud siren sweeping past quite speedily outside could be heard as well as the creaking of the sofa that Stan was in as he stood up. He approached Bea from behind Stan hugged her trying to offer her his comfort he liked her dad he knew him he drank with him or well he used to. Stan knew this might happen one day but he honestly didn't know it'd be this soon he wished he could've done something he knew the pain of losing a father but not like this.
Candy stood up and walked around the bed she too joined in on the hug feeling so hopeless. Bea suddenly broke out into light sobs she'd been holding this in since they'd got to the hospital. Bea didn't tell anyone what had happened, she didn't know how to, she didn't want to say it, she didn't want to admit it to anyone. Mae breathed heavily sighing hearing her friend crying and feeling the warm moist tears run down onto her paw soaking into her fur. "It's... it's... okay... Bea...." Mae uttered weakly as the edges of her mouth curved up forming into a small smile. "You st-still got me.... you... you still got us...." Mae spoke ringing loud and true her words far reaching into the darkness that Bea was dwelling within.
Bea opened her eyes seeing Candy and Stan both hugging her tightly and a beautiful smile glowing on Mae's face. "I... I..." Bea muttered weekly nearly inaudibly as she quickly squeezed her eyes tightly shut. Her throat grew tight she couldn't speak she didn't want too instead she just enjoyed this moment feeling the warm touch of family holding her close once again was so relieving.
~knock, knock, knock~
A knock sounded at the door before it cracked open slowly in popped a young man carrying a tray topped full with yummy looking food. Mae noticed him walking in her eyes immediately fixed onto the tray seeing the mile high mound of bacon made her mouth dribble in delight. "Who's hungry! I know I am this stuff smells awesome!" The man adorned in an apron with heavy grease stains littering it spoke up as everyone turned to see him approach the bed. He slowly sat the tray down in front of a pull out table in front of Mae. "You... are my... savior!" She mumbled as her dribble formed a waterfall of saliva as the scent of freshly fried bacon finally reached her nostrils that danced to the aroma.
Stan, Candy and Bea all stared admiring the massive pile of food before them they all grew tempted as they reached out stealing a piece of bacon one each. "HEY....! Getyerown!" Mae yelped suddenly causing the cook to chuckle as he turned to leave. "Well, bon a'pâté!" He uttered as he closed the door behind him. Bea reached for another piece of bacon causing steam to rise from Mae's ears. Though the cat's expression changed rather quick when Bea began motioning the bacon toward her mouth. "Emmhmmm!!!" Mae moaned out while chewing on the scrumptious morsel savoring the sensation, because if she ate this entire pile well let's just say it's a good thing she was already in a hospital.
Honestly, I still love this story but I’ve quickly come to realize that I’ve retconned some of these events. Take for example the flashbacks of Gregg and Angus I’ve given them more detail in TiBH I loved exploring their past. This chapter marks where I took a break long ago, the next chapter and those that follow will really rev up.
