Twinkle's Story: Chapter 11

TWINKLE

I decided to head towards the center of fox territory where all the shops are located. The town square for fox territory, I suppose. I wipe away the last tears on my cheek from the argument Duke and I had previously. I take a deep breath and sigh. I feel guilty because I ripped out one of the hairs on Duke's head. Which has exposed something Duke is really focused and keen on hiding: scars; the truth. I just got so frustrated at him for a moment there. He declaring that he would've gladly destroyed my dj headset on the spot. I still miss not having my dj headset and listening to its amazing music. I almost love it as much as my heart locket, and I really, really love my heart locket. I don't know why I love it so much. Especially since I'm the only fox in all of Jamaa that has one- I think. I really don't know anymore. Duke has kept tons of secrets away from me; could there possibly be more to come.? Duke saying that made me so frustrated that I just had to do what I did. But what he said previously made me more angry at him- as well as terrified. I shudder. He said that he'll kill his monstrous mother. And I said, 'I bet you wouldn't have the guts to do it anyways!' Maybe me saying that and pulling out his odd-looking hair made him furious because he thought I was referring to him saying he'll kill his mother as well as destroying my dj headset. I should've thought that sentence out before I said it and done the hair scene. I frown thinking, it's too late now. I calm myself down, and I focus on heading into one of the shops to look around and whatever. To put my thoughts about the argument away; to relax from all the endless troublesome news I've heard recently.

I step off the bridge between the road the Tall Tower is (the direction I came from) towards the street that leads you to the foxes' town square. My ears perk up, confused. I am extremely confused right now. In this part of fox territory, there's always lots of chattering and commotion; stands and bargains. Other foxes. However, as I walked more into the center of the town square, I didn't hear a single peep except for the tap of my feet against the hard ground, and my own breaths. I look in all directions as I stand in the middle of the town square. All I see is the shadows of buildings and my shadow on the ground, and the sun striking a bright ray in the middle of the town square onto my back. It makes my fur feel like it's on fire, burning and burning away.  All I hear is silence; deadly, deadly silence. I suddenly become cautious and afraid. I gulp. Very, very afraid. I try to calm myself down again by taking slow, deep breaths. I can feel my heart rate go up, and my teeth chatter. Between shuddering breaths and shaking, I whisper out loud but only for myself. "Why are you so scared, Twinkle? It's just not a busy afternoon to go shopping. The stores are closed..." I think I'm still speaking out loud, yet now it feels like thoughts somebody's telling my brain; not my own thoughts. A faraway voice. I try calming down yet again, but now I feel sweaty. "... It's just another day. But why do I feel so petrified suddenly? Something really wrong is happening here...." My paws shake as the two voices speak and argue in my head: my own thoughts that I can control, and the thoughts that are sent to me from a mysterious force. "... No. Nothing's wrong. Everything is as it usually is. Just another day... day..." I hear the word, 'day' slowly fading away.  "... Do you really love him?" The mysterious voice asks me. My controlled mind says, "Love who?"  even though I know who it's referring to.  The voice rumbles. "Duke." I say, "Uh yeah I love Duke. So?" The voice says in its mysterious and faint voice, "Do you really love him? You don't know the real Duke; the truth. When the truth is spoken out, it will spread like a forest fire destroying everything in its wake. What he told you isn't the end of Duke's true life and self. You think he's just a handsome fox that suffered some... things. Haha- wrong. Looks can be quite deceiving. Deep, deep in the inside hidden from others, Duke is similar to his mother. The abusive mother, wife... murderer. Duke deep, deep down is a monster that is insane, and he'll do absolutely anything to get what he wants. Hurting others, killing others, himself... anything. How devastating of the news I must inform you with. You and Duke are pieces of a puzzle. Two puzzle pieces that match exactly. Duke, a flame.   
You, a drop of water that eventually turns out as an icicle. Duke is the fire. You, Twinkle, are the ice. You two are part of a prophecy so big you can't even imagine. Fire and ice together can make some pretty nice things, but beware. Even the strongest ice will melt to the powers of fire. You ever wonder how you're fur turned out to be ice blue? Normal cells would bring your fur color back to its original. But in your case, no. Dr. Fox lied to you and your parents. Not really, even he didn't really know. Ever wonder how you're the only one with a heart locket, Twinkle? The heart locket is there to trap in and seal your true self. Your powers. The icy powers. The colors of your icy powers have spread to your fur. Your parents gave it to you for a few reasons. To wear as a fashion accessory, to store memories, to keep your icy powers concealed in a heart locket. Now go into a store and look around, shop. Nothing to be afraid of, dear..."

The mysterious voice fades away entirely this time. Some things the voice said were very shocking and wondrous to me. Does Duke know of the prophecy? That he's the fire, and I'm the ice? Endless questions bubble in my head. I tremble at what it said. 'When the truth is spoken out, it will spread like a forest fire destroying everything in its wake', 'Fire and ice together can make some pretty nice things', 'Even the strongest ice will melt to the powers of fire'... More questions. I shake my head. Should I even listen to this strange voice? Something tells me I have to. I enter the closest store I find (a clothing store) and just sit by the door. The door closed behind me. I silently wait by the door for a while. I'm no longer in the mood to look around and shop. The eerie feeling that's in the back of my mind. Later on, I hear noises outside. I don't know who- or what. I infer that must mean that the town square is no longer empty; that foxes have finally came back to walk around the foxes' town square. I open the door and peer out. Poisonous gas fills the air. Huffs and puffs are heard, but I'm not sure from where. I try to hold my breath. I try to shut the door again, but I'm too slow. The dark clumps in the thick, purple and black poisonous gas rush toward me. They pull me by the ears out of the store. I stand in the middle of the dark purple and gray clouds that appeared in the town square. I try to escape, but it hurts- a lot. I breathe in the poison; I suddenly begin suffocating.  Bright blue bolts are produced by these things. It hurts badly when they hit me. I slip and fall to the ground. More clumps rush toward me. All I see is endless darkness. Then I see the pale, white, empty eye from among the blackness.  A look full of cold hatred. I gasp, astonished. Phantoms! But what are phantoms doing in this part of Jamaa? They've never been seen in this part of Jamaa before. I shudder and shake as another phantom bolt hits me, in the middle of my back. A sad thought comes to mind. Duke isn't here this time; nobody is. Nobody's going to save me this time around. Then I close my eyes, my mind blank.

DUKE

I decided to start looking for Twinkle towards the road leading up to her house. Something is wrong, and I know it. I just don't know what it is. I continue walking up the road when a red car pulls up. It's Twinkle's family's car. The car stops speeding down the otherwise abandoned road, and pulls up at the edge of the road, right where I'm walking. I shrug and continue walking. I see Twinkle's dad lean out of his driver's seat, the windows rolled down, talking loudly to me.

 Who else? Then I see Twinkle's mom next to him. I know she is nice and all; a good mother. But what really bothers me is she has a slight resemblance to my own mother. Just a bit. It makes me cautious, so I try my best to avoid her. "Hey you! Duke, right?" Twinkle's father begins. "Do you still really love Twinkle?" I sigh. We both had quite an argument, but I still love Twinkle. Of course I do. Why wouldn't I? "Uh. Yeah?" I say, questioningly. "Okay, that's enough for me. Now come into the car. We're following that ambulance." He points a claw at an ambulance that just rode over a hill and into the distance. "Twinkle's in there. It's an emergency, and we're (Twinkle's mother and father) both very scared. It would be nice of you to join us."

 Twinkle's mom opens the car door and takes my paw, helping me get inside. I get comfortable and sit down. Being comfortable as in sitting as close to the window as possible; away from Twinkle's mother. Twinkle's father (the driver) immediately starts driving down the road again. A determined look in his eyes. Twinkle's mother turns toward me. She observes me up and down, and says, "You do know you don't have to be squished up by the window like that." I reply back quickly and quietly, "I like how I am. Anything wrong with that?" I frown at her. "Uh... nothing, Duke." Her eyes are wide-eyed now. I push myself as far as I can from her, the car door and window pressing into my side. "What's wrong, Duke? You okay?" I grit my teeth and say, "I'm fine. It's just that well... you look a slight bit like my mother. My mom and I don't have quite a good relationship. And no, I just can't fix it. It's way more complicated than that. Actually, I'm quite terrified of her actually." I hang my head down; I can't even look at her. "Oh. Don't you worry, Duke. I'm not her, I'll be okay with you. I promise." I sigh still a bit reluctant as I push myself more towards the center of the car. For a bit, we're all completely silent. The only sound is the car engine rumbling among the rough roads. Twinkle? In an ambulance to a hospital? What in the world happened? Is she okay? Will she be alright? What happened? A bad feeling comes to mind. Somehow, everyone is trying to break me. I stare ahead, determined just like Twinkle's dad. But I won't let them break me, and I'll do whatever it takes. The car goes over a bump in the road, and then it continues speeding down the lonely road.