~~~~~
The Bat & the Cat
Chapter 8: It’s All Over But the Crying
~~~~~
July 30, 2013
The Genevieve Residence
“All along the western front
People line up to receive
She got the power in her paw
To shock you like you won’t believe
Saw her in the amazon
With the voltage running through her skin
Standing there with nothing on
She gonna teach me how to swim
I said ooh girl
Shock me like an electric eel
Baby girl
You turn me on with your electric feel
I said ooh girl
Shock me like an electric eel
Baby girl
Turn me on with your electric feel
All along the eastern shore
Put your circuits in the sea
This is what the world is for
Making electricity
You can feel it in your mind
Oh you can do it all the time
Plug it in and change the world
You are my electric girl
Said ooh girl
Shock me like an electric eel
Baby girl
Turn me on with your electric feel
I said ooh girl
Shock me like an electric eel
Baby girl
Turn me on with your electric feel
Do what you feel now
Electric feel now
Do what you feel now
Electric feel now
Do what you feel now
Electric feel now
Do what you feel now
Electric feel now
Do what you feel now
Electric feel now”
The garage was filled with the sounds of a pair of small paws clapping enthusiastically. The four band members looked out towards the driveway to see a small kangaroo mouse looking at them excitedly, practically bouncing on her footpaws. Her eyes darted around the garage as she praised the group, “You guys are good. I had to see what it was when I heard you from across the street, it’s awesome.”
“You! You’re that girl that tried to taze me, and then punched me in the stomach!” Vivy said, sounding rather agitated. “What the fuck was that about?”
The small mouse stopped bouncing as she looked at the giraffe girl. She grabbed her tail as it started to twitch and she took a step back as she stammered, “I… I’m sorry. I… I got scared. I mean, you are kinda scary looking… to me.”
Megan laughed softly at the smaller girl and walked out to greet her. “Don’t worry about Vivy. She’s actually a sweet girl under all that bad language. What’s your name?” She knelt down in front of the newcomer, who couldn’t be more than three feet tall.
“I… I guess she can’t be too bad if she just returned nearly two thousand dollars’ worth of photography equipment,” the rodent girl said. Taking a deep breath and letting it out, she looked at the bat and held out her paw. “I’m Cecily, we just moved in across the street. Pleased to meet you,” she said as if reciting a practiced line as her eyes suddenly darted between Megan and the other teens.
“I’m Megan. You already met Vivy, our drummer. This is her place. Over there, that’s Jack, our guitarist, and that’s my girlfriend, Ross, on keyboard,” the bat explained, going around the garage to each member of the band in turn. “And congratulations, I think you’re our first fan!”
“Is… is it a new band?” She asked, visibly relaxing as she did.
“Pretty much,” the bat said with a slight shrug of her shoulders. “We’ve just been together for a little over two months now.”
“We didn’t even have a name for the band until three days ago,” Ross added.
“That’s when we moved in,” Cecily said as her ear twitched. She glanced over her shoulder before she added, “I’m really sorry I freaked out on you the other day, and you guys sound really good, but I need to go before they get worried and come looking me.” She started to turn but then looked back at the group and asked, “Would it be okay if I listened to you practice… sometimes?”
“Sure!” Ross said as she walked out into the driveway and sat down on the hood of her Civic. “It’d be good to have feedback on how we sound, and once we start writing our own original songs, input on the lyrics would be helpful, too.”
Cecily smiled as she took a few steps backward down the driveway. “That’d be neat, and I can maybe take some pictures also.” Her ear twitched again as she added, “But I really need to go, Daisy is at Defcon Five after the other day. It was nice to meet you.” Then she turned and bounced quickly down the drive and across the street to the dilapidated mansion that had sat empty for several years.
“Cute kid,” Megan said as she straightened back up and went back to her bass. “Hard to believe she’s fifteen. She’s so tiny!”
“So hey, before we start back up again, how was your date?” Jack said as he grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator.
“It went great!” Vivy said, a huge smile spreading across her muzzle. “She’s so fucking sweet and sexy! We ate dinner at Cavallo’s, and talked up until they closed the place down and kicked us out on our asses.”
“Yeah?” he asked, before inevitably going where his male mind was bound to lead him. “Did you get lucky?”
Vivy laughed and threw one of her drumsticks at her friend. “Fucking perv! Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you. But no, she’s been through a lot lately, so I’m going to take things slow with her.” She paused for a moment, that same dreamy smile returning. “But I think that when she’s ready, we could have something special.”
“Good for you!” Megan said as she walked up behind Ross and wrapped her arms around the lioness’s waist. “I hope it all works out for you both. It sounds like you really like her.”
“Yeah,” the young giraffe said, “but enough about that. It’s too soon to get all excited and shit. What about you two? Are you all set for your trip?”
“Almost,” Ross replied. “I have a little packing to do tonight. Megs has been ready for a few days now.”
“Sounds like someone’s a bit eager!” Jack said.
“Of course I am,” Megan grinned. “I’ve never had anyone that loved me and treated me right like Ross does. I’m lucky to have her.”
“Nah, she’s just ready to get her paws on, or in, some pussy,” Vivy joked with a grin.
The bat just smiled and said, “Of course there’s that, but no, Heather’s had me working down at the Dragon the past few nights, so really, I had to get it done early. I think I’ve about had it with otaku for the week.”
“Watch it, Babe, those are my people you’re talking about,” Ross joked.
“What are otaku?” the drummer asked, looking confused.
“Anime fanboys,” the reptilian teen grunted.
“Hey, don’t get me wrong, I appreciate Heather giving me the job, especially considering I know nothing about anime or tabletop role-playing,” their lead singer explained, “but seriously, I’d rather be working at Guitar Center with Viv. The guys that come into my store tend to stare at me, and it gets kinda… awkward.”
“That’s just because you’re so fucking cute,” Vivy responded. “I bet sales have doubled since they hired you. I’m right, ain’t I?” When her friend blushed, the teen giraffe had her answer. “Holy shit, I’m right! Ha! Told you!”
“Hate to break up the teasing, but what do you say? Do we have time for a few more before we call it a night?” Jack asked.
“I’m up for it. How about some Kings of Leon?” Megan suggested as she walked back to her mic stand and bass.
“Fuck yes!” Vivy exclaimed, rushing back to her seat behind the drum set.
“Sex on Fire?” Ross pleaded.
“You bet your sexy ass,” Megan winked at her girlfriend as she slipped the bass guitar over her shoulder.
-----
“I’m so excited for our trip!” the bat said excitedly as she helped her girlfriend pack her suitcase. She held up the checkered magenta, white, and blue bikini she had picked out for Ross while they were in North Carolina. “But I think I’m looking forward to seeing you in this the most!”
“You would,” her girlfriend said with a slight giggle, snatching the barely-there strips of cloth away and folding them nicely just as Megan’s phone starting ringing.
“Ugh. I swear to God, if that’s Heather asking me if I can work the shop during our time away, she can kiss my ass,” the bat herm groaned. “Can you get that for me, Babe? I have my paws a little full at the moment.”
“Hello?” Ross said cheerfully as she answered the call, and then a moment later, growled, “Shut the fuck up, Kristin, don’t ever refer to her as anything ever again. I’m not interested anything you have to say.”
Megan froze in her tracks at the mention of her ex-lover’s name, an expression of dread and fear forming on her face. She thought she had finally freed herself from the cold, domineering ferret girl. She was happy and in love, and about to go on her first real vacation ever with the love of her life. Everything was perfect. Or so she had believed. “Ross, hang up the phone. Please.”
“Don’t worry, Babe. I can handle this,” the tundra lioness said, giving her a reassuring smile. She rolled her eyes as Kristin rattled off Megan’s deepest, darkest secrets.
The young bat felt sick to her stomach. Kristin may be a manipulative bitch, but she wasn’t a liar. Ross was going to call the ferret’s bluff, and everything was going to come crashing down around her.
“That’s bullshit!” Ross said. “She would have told me.” Another several seconds ticked by while the teen bat nervously wrung her paws together before her girlfriend shouted, “SHUT THE FUCK UP!” The white lioness hit the ‘end’ button on Megan’s phone and threw it at the bat, striking her in the membrane of one of her wings as she shielded herself.
“What did she say?” Megan asked nervously.
Ross’s expression was pained, tears visibly welling up in her eyes as she fought to hold them back. “She said you have a kid. One that you don’t even know about, but if I asked you, you wouldn’t even be able to deny. She says she even has a DNA test to prove it.”
The words hit the young hermaphrodite like a ton of bricks. Her past had managed to catch up with her, in the worst possible way and at the worst possible time. She dropped onto the bed, sitting there dumbstruck as she struggled to find the words to say.
“Megan,” Ross sniffled, “Tell me she’s lying. Tell me she’s wrong… please.”
Several seconds ticked by as the bat stared at the floor of her girlfriend’s bedroom. Her mind was reeling, and she was finding it difficult to think. Finally, she spoke, barely above a whisper. “While I was with Kristin… I let her do pretty much anything she wanted with me… With my mom drinking all the time, and my dad abandoning us, hers was the only love I knew… She had other… pets, she called us… and she would blindfold us, for the purpose of anonymity… I guess she didn’t want us talking to each other behind her back… Anyway, I have no idea how many girls or women I slept with for her amusement… And never with a condom… She had me tested regularly, so I know I’m clean, but…”
When she looked back up, she could see the anger and sadness on her girlfriend’s face, her white-furred cheeks streaked with tears. “How could you? You know about how my father abandoned me, my sisters, and my mom…”
Ross’s reaction hurt her more than any insult she could have ever heard. “I know, Ross… I’m sorry,” Megan pleaded, dropping onto her knees on the floor in front of the tundra lioness. “My own dad did, too. I just… I didn’t know...”
“And that makes it okay?” Ross screamed. Megan stumbled backwards onto her butt, staring up at her girlfriend as she continued to yell at her. “Fuck, Megan, you could have a son, or a daughter! Why the fuck aren’t you freaked out about this?”
“I’m sorry, Ross!” Megan cried, her soft voice cracking from the sobs that were racking her body. “I was young and stupid and naive and I just didn’t know any better! We can figure this out… Please -”
Ross’s expression changed into a snarl, a dangerous growl emanated from the Tundra Lion’s throat. “Get out,” was all the angry lioness could say.
“Wha- what?” the winged herm asked, stunned.
“Get out; get the fuck out of my life!” Ross cried in a fury, pulling the frightened bat up to her footpaws and pushing her towards the door. She grabbed Megan’s things and shoved them at her.
“N-no, you can’t, Ross! Please don’t do this, I love you!” Megan screamed at the closing door, falling to her knees as tears ran freely from her eyes, her whole body shaking from the sorrow.
Ross hid her face behind the other side of the door. There was a long pause before she responded, and every nerve in Megan’s body was wrought with anguish. Ross’s voice was cold and empty, her earlier anger replaced by a horrible calmness. “I’m sorry Megan... it’s over.”
Unable to contain her tears, the teen herm scrambled to her feet and rushed from her ex-girlfriend’s room. As she dashed down the steps, she collided with Xavier. “Is everything alright?” the older cheetah started to ask, but she just ignored him as she reached the front door, her paws fighting with the doorknob as she struggled to get it open.
“Megan, dear, what’s the matter?” Alice said as she emerged from the kitchen, wiping her paws on a dish towel. The giant fruit bat didn’t acknowledge her presence as she struggled with the door, finally realizing the deadbolt was in place. Turning the latch, she swung the door open and rushed outside, not bothering to pull it closed behind her. Once out in the sunlight, she spread her pierced wings and ran towards the bus stop as quickly as she could, desperate to leave the Rikkers household far behind.
-----
“Aaaarrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!”
The angry cry of frustration echoed down the staircase and into the foyer. Xavier and Alice Rikkers exchanged concerned glances and walked towards their niece’s bedroom. As they reached the top of the steps, the sound of shattering glass reached their keen feline ears. The male cheetah stood to the side of the doorway while his wife knocked on the door.
“Ross, Honey? Are things okay?” her aunt asked.
A moment later, the teen girl opened her door. Her pretty features were marked by streaks of tears. “We broke up,” Ross said, sounding completely devastated. “She… I… and I…” Her words just tapered off as she broke down sobbing, throwing her arms around the older tundra lioness’s waist and let her emotions pour out.
“Shhhhh,” Alice cooed softly, stroking her claw’s through her niece’s hair. “Everything will be fine.”
“I loved her... so I had to... let her go do... what she... needed to,” the teen girl managed to choke out through her tears.
“What’s going on?” Jordan asked, rushing down the hallway to investigate. As she drew near, the pre-teen girl stopping dead in her tracks. “Ross, uhm… Your paw.”
“What?” Xavier asked, arching his head around to see what his daughter was referring to. “Ross, we need to get you to the hospital. That looks pretty bad.”
Sniffling, the teen lioness pulled her arms from around her aunt and looked. Her entire paw was covered in blood, the snow-white fur stained red. Shards of glass stuck out from the backs of her fingers. “I punched my mirror…” she sighed, picking the sharp little shards out of her flesh.
“I… I feel kinda… dizzy…” Jordan said, leaning against the wall and slumping to the floor.
“Elena!” Xavier shouted. “We’re taking Ross to the E.R.! Jordan fainted in the hallway! Get her into her bed, and get her a damp washcloth and a cold glass of water. We’ll be back in a little bit!”
The oldest Rikkers girl emerged from the family room in the basement with her best friend, Midori, just as her parents reached the bottom of the steps with Ross. “Oh, wow! Yeah, just go, I’ll ask about it later.”
“Jordan’s laying on the hallway floor. She passed out at all the blood,” Alice explained. “Get her to her room and comfortable, with a cool, damp washcloth and a glass of water. Midori can spend the night, if she wants, and I’ll extend your bedtime so we can check in on things. If Jordan wakes up, you can all have sundaes, but not later than midnight. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” she said. “I’ll grab my phone charger so it doesn’t die. Midori, do you feel like staying the night?”
-----
“I wondered how long it would take for you to call me,” came a familiar, yet unwelcome voice on the other line that filled Megan with fear, doubt, and anger.
“Who is she?” the bat asked flatly, trying her best to mask her emotions from the ferret she had once called ‘Mistress.’
“Ah-ah,” Kristin said, her voice almost sing-song. She was enjoying playing this little game, and it scared the young bat tremendously. Kristin McDaniel only played when she believed she would win, and Megan knew this better than anyone. “If you want to know that, you need to do something for me, first.”
“What?” she asked, dreading the answer she knew was coming.
“Come back to me, my sweet Pet. I miss you,” the ferret answered. “None of my other Pets are quite as willing or eager to please me as you were.”
“No,” Megan said coldly. “Never again. I’m not the same girl I was back then, and I never will be. Not for you, or anyone else.” She felt a sense of resignation wash over her. She knew she was essentially killing any chance she would ever have of getting the answers she wanted out of the ferret, and killing any chances she had of Ross taking her back. At the same time, though, if she returned to her former Mistress, she may not ever get away again.
“Check your email, Megan,” Kristin commanded, and Megan did as she was asked. There was a message there, waiting for her, and she opened it. Attached were a couple of pictures, one of which was a birth certificate for a baby boy born at the University of New Hampshire - Marblecliff Medical Center. The father was listed as unknown, and the mother’s information and birth date had been blacked out. The next image was a copy of the DNA Test results; the species information for the mother had again been blacked out, but the father was listed as being a hermaphroditic giant fruit bat. “Not very many giant fruit bats around here, are there? And only five percent or so of the population are herms. That narrows it down quite a bit, doesn’t it?”
“My answer is still ‘no,’” she said with a sigh.
“Suit yourself. You know how to find me when you change your mind. By the way, how’s Ross holding up?” Megan swore she could hear the glee and laughter in Kristin’s voice.
“Fuck off,” she said, ending the call and walking to her bed. She didn’t even take off her heavy boots as she crawled under the covers, burying herself away from the world. She meekly fumbled for her iPod. Music was her salvation, her medicine, her sanity. When all else failed, even love, she had music to comfort and reassure her. She wasn’t alone. Other people hurt, and they endured and wrote music about it. She was going to use this pain to drive her career.
She thumbed through her selection until she found the song she wanted. Garbage always struck a chord with her on such a personal level, and this song seemed especially appropriate for her current mood. She slipped the earbuds in and pressed ‘Play,’ closing her eyes and weakly singing along as she cried.
“Everything you think you know baby
Is wrong
And everything you think you had baby
Is gone
Certain things turn ugly when you think too hard
And nagging little thoughts change into things you can’t turn off
Everything you think you know baby
Is wrong
It’s all over but the crying
Fade to black I’m sick of trying
Took too much and now I’m done
It’s all over but the crying
Do you really think I’m made of stone baby?
C’mon!
That we only love the things we own?
Baby you’re wrong
Certain things just happen when you make no plans
And love can really tear you up and it can break you down
Everything you think you know baby
Is wrong
It’s all over but the crying
Fade to black I’m sick of trying
Took too much and now I’m done
It’s all over but the crying
Baby we’re done
If I could I would
I’d change everything
Cause I can’t forget you though you don’t believe me
Now I can’t walk back
I can’t leave behind
Where does it go all the light that we had?
Everything you think you know baby
Is wrong
And everything you think you had baby
Is gone
Baby we’re done...”
