ChicoMandarina

  I'm sorry.

  [colpse]

  Chapter 7

  The bell echoed through the school, signaling the end of another day of csses.

  Aven gnced at his phone, the cute flowery wallpaper matching its bright pink case.

  Not a single message from mom. She hadn't even read the ones he’d sneaked during css.

  He sighed, pocketing his phone and making his way back through the ample school hallways.

  “Hey Avy!” He turned back, smiling amicably and waving at his friend as he rushed to his side, no doubt ready to gossip about something that happened in his css.

  “Hey Zappy!” Aven welcomed him as they started walking side by side.

  Zappy pouted, feigning offense, “Why do you keep calling me that!? Why can’t I have a cute nickname like ‘Bunny’ or ‘Teddy’?” The blonde boy compined with indignation that didn’t reach his eyes.

  Aven smirked, he always enjoyed the reactions on the faces of those he named. “Nuh uh! You’re Zappy! You can never stay put and always get in trouble for that, so… Zappy!” He giggled at his own pun.

  Zappy only rolled his eyes.

  “Well, whatever. You won't believe what Timmy said to Mary on the pyground!... ” Zappy brushed the nickname topic aside as he unloaded all the new school gossip on Aven’s on their way to the exit.

  Aven smiled as he absorbed all the juicy details, his nodding only interrupted to procim surprised ‘Really!?’ and ‘No way!’ as they walked.

  When they reached the school doors, both of their guardians awaited them patiently.

  They said their goodbyes and promised to continue gossiping through the day on the phone, after finishing homework, of course.

  Aven grabbed his guardian’s huge hand as she walked him towards the big bck car awaiting them in front of the school. “So, young master, how was school today? Did you have fun?” She asked.

  “Yup! Zappy was telling me about all the test events! You won't believe it, Snowy!” He bent his legs, letting all of his body weight hang from his arm as his guardian rocked him pyfully, giggling all the while.

  His guardian pyed along, smiling at him on their way to the car, “Snowy? I thought I was ‘Icy cuddler’ yesterday.” She casually commented as she opened the car’s door.

  “No no! You’re Icy Cuddler when we’re home, when we’re moving from school you’re Snowy!” He expined, as if it was the most logical thing in the world. “When we go to the movies you’re Miss Frosty! And when you’re tucking me to sleep you’re… ” Aven blushed slightly, fully aware of how childish the nickname sounded.

  “Mama Bear…”

  The woman, for her part, beamed at him, her chest bursting with love.

  Now fully seated in the car, Snowy made sure he was wearing his seat-belt before clicking her own. “Ohh, I see… ” The tall por bear woman pyed along. Nodding at their chauffeur to start driving.

  The driver looked through the mirror to Aven, smiling. “Hello there young master! Do I get any cute nicknames too?” The boar woman asked in her deep, raspy voice.

  Aven pced a finger on his chin, pondering the question for a moment before nodding enthusiastically. “Yup! You’re Miss. Growly!”

  Snowy stifled a ugh behind her big fluffy hand.

  “Oh, come on!” Miss. Growly compined, shaking her head. “Can’t I get something cooler? Like, I don’t know, ‘Shadow Driver!’ or ‘Machine Knight!’?”

  Aven gasped, horrified. “Absolutely not! Those are awful! And not cute at all… You’re Miss. Growly!”

  The driver rolled her eyes, resigning herself to her new official nickname. “As you say, young master…” No doubt all the other girls would start calling her that as soon as Snowy spread the word.

  Aven rejoiced at the idea.

  The city seemed to zoom past them as they got further and further away from its center.

  Mommy had mentioned that they needed to live so far away for ‘business reasons’, whatever that meant. But Aven had already grown accustomed to it. Besides, traveling with Snowy always made him feel safe, and he could talk with her without the risk of his mom eavesdropping.

  He still resented how he tried to organize a surprise birthday party for his mom, only for her to always be two steps ahead. Nothing escaped her inside their home.

  Here though, they could talk freely!

  “Hey Snowy…”

  The por bear woman raised her eyes from whatever it was she was checking on her phone. “Yes dear?”

  “Can… Can I ask you a question?”

  She turned the phone screen off, pcing the device on her p, “Of course sweetie! What do you wanna know?”

  Snowy always stopped calling him ‘Young Master’ whenever they were no longer in public, her mom’s girls notwithstanding. And he was really thankful for that.

  “Well…” He fidgeted nervously, trying to find the right words to ask his question. “Is… is mom angry with me?”

  Snowy eyes widened, surprise painted all over her face. “Oh my sweet boy… what makes you think that?” she asked as she pulled him to a side hug.

  Aven’s face nded on the side of her ample bust, warm and comfortable. He closed his eyes and breathed.

  Snowy smelled of cinnamon and apples, of freshly washed clothes straight from the sun and hot chocote.

  She smelled like home.

  “I don't know…” He expined, “I’ve been texting her all day and she hasn’t even read the messages…”

  Snowy kissed him on the top of his head, ruffling his hair and making him giggle. “Aven, dear, your mother loves you more than anything in this world. She would never ignore you without a good reason, she’s probably just really busy with work…”

  Aven shook himself from the hug, looking pleadingly at Snowy, “but… it's not just today! She’d been distant for weeks!” Tears started forming at the edges of his eyes as he opened himself up to Snowy.

  “She used to talk to me all the time! To help me with my homework! She kissed me and hugged me and always had time to py!” He sniffed, waterworks now fully on dispy. “Now she avoids me every time I get close…”

  Snowy covered her mouth, mortified. “My child… Oh, my sweet boy… I’m so sorry!” She hugged him fully now. Squeezing him tenderly. “I promise that I'll try and talk to mommy once we get home, alright? She’s probably just stressed. But don’t ever doubt her love! You’re her world…”

  Aven struggled to breath, trapped in Snowy’s ample chest. “She…” He sniffed, “the other day… she… she screamed at me to leave…”

  He broke down crying. Soiling Snowy’s clothes with his tears and snot.

  Snowy just hugged him tighter.

  The big bear woman caressed the back of his head tenderly, “Shh, It’s alright… Let it out.” She consoled him.

  After a couple of minutes, Aven’s breath stabilized, his eyes puffy and red, but no longer filled with tears.

  He remained glued to her guardian, basking in the affection she provided as he looked pensively through the car’s window. “Am I a bad boy?” He questioned, feeling Snowy tense the moment the words left his mouth.

  Her arms tightened slightly around him, as if trying to shield him from the very thought.

  She stirred, carefully holding Aven’s head between her big fluffy hands and forcing him to look her in the eyes.

  “Absolutely not!” She shook her head vigorously, “and I won't allow you to think that way about yourself. You’re the sweetest, best behaved, and most loving boy in the entire world!”

  The passionate words reached deep inside Aven’s heart, tears started to get dangerously close to the edges of his eyes as he nodded. “Thank you Snowy…”

  Snowy smiled sweetly, resting Aven’s head back on her chest as he closed his eyes. “My child, do you remember that time you convinced your mom to take you to the amusement park?” She asked, a pcid smile adorning her face as memories came rushing back.

  Aven chuckled as he too remembered the event, “Yup, she insisted on bringing not only you, but like fifty other guards from her girls.” He cleared his throat, deepening his voice “‘There are way too many dangers out there! It’s too public! I won’t risk anything happening to you.’” Aven imitated the tone her mother used back then, much to Snowy’s amusement.

  The por bear cracked a smile, “Heh, I remember it as if it was yesterday. She expected them to remain undercover but you wouldn't have any of it,” She closed her own eyes, reminiscing the moment in her mind’s eye. “‘It’s not fair if only I have fun!’ you said, and wouldn’t bulge a millimeter.”

  She hugged him tighter, “I’d never seen her flustered before, always so regal and imposing. She ended up renting the whole park for that day. The pictures of the girls on the rides, smiling and having fun, still adorn the base walls.” She looked down at him, pride shining on her eyes, “And when you asked to share ice cream with everyone, I think you earned the girls adoration right then and there.”

  He giggled at the memory, “mommy was grumpy for a week after that…” He sighed as the memory resurfaced his previous worries.

  Snowy brushed a strand of hair from his face, “Oh she may not have admitted it, but she was so proud of her generous little prince…”

  Aven eyes widened at the cutesy nickname, “Did she call me a prince!? Snowy! Do you think I’m a pretty prince too?”

  The inside of the car rumbled with the boisterous ughter coming from the por bear’s throat. “Oh, my sweet prince, you’re the prettiest!” She procimed, following it up with a surprise tickle attack aimed at Aven’s sides.

  Shocked at first, Aven exploded in a fit of ughter and giggling, begging Snowy to stomp in between bored breaths.

  When the tickling ended, Aven was left panting, gring pyfully at his guardian as she looked back with mirth in her eyes. “Feel better dear?”

  The boy smiled, a warm bnket of gratitude enveloping him, “Yup! Thanks, Mama Bear…”

  Mama Bear submerged herself in the deep blue pools of Aven’s eyes, adoration pstered in her face.

  “Uh… that’s strange.” Miss. Growly broke the moment between them.

  Snowy stopped looking at aven, switching her focus on whatever Miss. Growly noticed on the road. “What is it?” She asked.

  “Hmm, I think there's a blockage on the road, ma’am. That looks like a crashed truck.” She commented, uncertainty evident in her raspy voice.

  Snowy eyes squinted suspiciously, “take the first detour you can.” She commanded, her previous sweet tone absent, now in full business mode.

  “Aye ma’am!” Miss. Growly confirmed, getting ready to take a turn in the next intersection.

  One of the cars behind them accelerated violently, burning tires as bck smoke erupted from behind it. Said car positioned itself at the right of their own vehicle. Blocking them from turning.

  Miss. Growly turned the steering wheel violently, avoiding a collision and shaking both Aven and Snowy. Their seatbelts holding them in pce. “Ma’am! What do we do!?” Desperation evident in her voice.

  “Do not stop! No matter what!” She roared, Aven flinched at the sudden change in her voice. He didn’t remember Snowy ever raising her voice before.

  They were getting dangerously close to the stopped truck blocking the street, so close they were that Aven was capable of seeing a bck cdded figure standing right in front of it.

  The person standing in front of the truck extended her arms. Behind her, an explosion of white manifested. Like one of those pretty fans Aven liked to use whenever the day felt too hot. A feathery crescent moon lined with bck eyes.

  The air in front of them shimmered.

  Out of nowhere, another big truck appeared to their left, quickly speeding towards them. Its intentions clear.

  The car to their right stepped on their brakes violently, leaving space for Miss. growly to violently turn their own car in that direction. Wheels screeched in protest as she lost control of the vehicle in her attempt to avoid colliding with the truck to their lef…

  Uh? Why’s the truck no longer there? It was right about to hit us… Aven’s head hadn't had time to process fear yet, so he was left with just cold curiosity.

  Then they crashed. His body jerked violently as the seat-belt held him in pce.

  The st thing he remembered before everything fading to bck was Snowy's warm embrace as she shielded him.

  "Hold on, baby," she whispered against his hair.

  …

  Smoke. Pain. Darkness.

  Aven felt his body protest as he opened his eyes.

  In the distance, grunting, screaming and cshing. Snowy’s roars reverberated through the walls. Covered from floor to ceiling in pipes of different sizes and colors like overgrown metal vines sticking for dear life to the surface of every wall.

  Aven shook his head and studied his surroundings.

  The car had smashed through the wall of some kind of factory. The distant rumbling of machinery was always present.

  From some of the pipes, small puffs of vapor escaped now and then.

  He looked forward, and all he could see from the front window was the white spider web of cracked cristal.

  “Miss. Growly…” He called as he saw the back of her head resting on her seat, unmoving.

  He reached to shake her, but she didn’t answer.

  Must be asleep. He concluded.

  He unfastened his seat-belt and slid out of the car. The door where Snowy sat was open…

  Snowy…

  He heard more noise coming from the direction of the door. Snowy’s unmistakable voice grunted and panted far ahead.

  He walked on shaky legs in the direction of the noise, “Snowy! Where are you!? Snowy!” Aven’s dazed mind started making room for fear to creep in, and he rushed forwards, towards the noise.

  He turned a pipe infested corner, and there she was…

  “Snowy?” Aven marveled, her guardian looking like something straight from a fairy tale.

  In front of him, in a more spacious room filled with machinery of unknown function connected by more of those ugly pipes, stood his guardian.

  Her body was completely encased in a sparkling armor made of ice. The light entering from windows high above refracted in pretty rainbows that shimmered every time she moved.

  In her hands, an ice mace so big that Aven wondered if it would weight more than himself.

  Around her, a bunch of bck cdded people y sleeping like Miss. Growly. Their chests unmoving…

  “Snowy…” He whispered, unsure of what to do with the scene in front of him.

  Her head snapped in his direction as soon as she noticed him. Her eyes quickly changing from murderous coldness to motherly warmth as soon as they nded on Aven. “Aven! Get back to the car! I’ll quickly finish here and go back with you.” She pleaded, her tone dripping with poorly disguised worry.

  Aven shook his head, “But… Snowy! What is going on? I wanna go home… Miss. Growly doesn't wake up!” He protested. He really didn’t want to throw a tantrum, he was a big boy after all. But everything was so confusing, and his body hurt and he felt so cold and afraid…

  Snowy’s face contorted in an expression of sorrow. “Oh, my sweet boy… I’ll take you home soon, please just be a little patient alright?”

  She started walking towards Aven, when out of nowhere, a knife appeared in Snowy’s shoulder, right in the armor’s joint, embedded to the hilt.

  Her expression was one of shock. Quickly morphing into pain as her body caught up. Crimson dripping form the point of contact between her skin and the bde.

  “Snowy!” Aven shrieked, as he processed what just happened. He started to run towards her guardian, but a firm shake of her head and a white hand signaling him to stop made him think twice.

  Snowy grabbed at the knife’s hilt, intending on ripping it from her shoulder, but thought better of it and decided to leave it as it was.

  Her eyes squinted as she studied her surroundings.

  “Show yourself you coward! Face me like a woman!” She roared at the top of her lungs, Aven covering his ears in surprise.

  The air inside the room shimmered, like it does close to pavement on warm days.

  From the top of one of the machines, a voice echoed through the room. Laughter, devoid of humor and dripping with malice.

  “I can not believe this!” The voice said, amused.

  “Illusions…” Snowy whispered, her brow furrowing in worry.

  On top of the machine, a figure materialized from thin air.

  Tall and lithe, cdded in bck clothes resembling a military uniform. Her legs, long and elegant, ended in leathery bird cws.

  On top of her head, a single white feather adorned her ashen hair. Her arms, covered in carefully maintained in white feathers.

  And on her back…

  An enormous white fan of feathers in full dispy. Bck eyes at the end of each feather, their gaze mocking and arrogant.

  She bowed deeply in a crude mockery of respect.

  “I was told that this job may be complicated, but to think that they’d send a brawler to protect the brat.” She looked at Arien, her eyes devoid of any kindness or warmth.

  A chill ran down his spine.

  Snowy roared at the birdy woman, her face red with fury. “Don't you dare look at him, you bastard!”

  The bck cdded woman raised an eyebrow, amusement painted all over her face, “and why wouldn’t I, Teddy?” The nickname was spat as an insult. “I’m the worst match for you, girl.”

  She jumped from the machine, only to disappear once again just before touching the floor.

  Snowy took a defensive stance, positioning herself between Aven and the machine from where the girl just jumped.

  The por bear’s eyes scanned the seemingly empty room, awaiting an attack that never came.

  In front of Snowy, the peacock woman materialized from thin air. A pcid expression on her face, her arms resting behind her back.

  She didn’t hesitate. Swinging her hammer with brutal precision in a downward arch. Concrete fracturing as the weapon impacted…

  Nothing.

  Another knife embedded itself in Snowy’s back, the por bear roaring in pain as she twisted herself, swinging her hammer with enough force to bring down a building, only to hit the air again.

  Cackling could be heard around them, never for one single pce. She was running circles at incredible speed around Snowy.

  “I would tell you to surrender and accept a quick death,” the mocking voice procimed. “But I’m having way too much fun! So by all means, please keep struggling!” She taunted.

  Snowy’s teeth remained bared, a constant growl escaping her throat.

  In front of her, the peacock woman materialized, mid acrobatic backflip, a knife between her fingers.

  In a smooth movement, she let go of the sharp weapon, throwing it in the direction of Snowy’s chest, but she was ready this time! So she used her hammer to block the knife and just before it impacted… it vanished.

  “Wha…” Snowy wasn’t able to finish her sentence, when a knife stabbed the back of her knee, making her scream in pain as the leg stopped supporting her, falling on one knee.

  The manic ughter redoubled, the peacock woman appearing and disappearing, throwing knives to and fro. She jumped and twisted herself in an impressive demonstration of grace and speed.

  Snowy eyes grew manic as the fight continued, her armor cracked and lost part of its shine. Only serving her as dead weight as the acrobatic woman seemed to have no issue aiming for her joints, or any other exposed part of her body.

  Aven couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t blink, he felt like he was seeing this from someone else’s eyes.

  This is a nightmare, just a nightmare. Soon mommy will wake me up and let me sleep in her bed to keep me safe. It has to be… He convinced himself as more knives pierced her beloved Snowy.

  Horror didn’t even begin to describe what he was feeling at the moment. Who was this evil woman hurting Snowy? Why would anyone want to do that?

  She’s the sweetest person Aven knew. She always had time for him even when she looked busy…

  He remembered her taking him to pretty pces, full of flowers and animals. A memory of her buying him cotton candy as shattered as another knife produced a pained scream from his Snowy.

  With each attack, her screams sounded less and less as furious challenges, and more like pained whimpers.

  He was paralyzed as he watched the once pretty white fur from her arms and legs dyed in red.

  Like mommy’s… Was the only thing his dazed mind could come with.

  Snowy’s shiny armor gave up. Shattering in a million pieces around her. She was now breathing heavily, her eyes unfocused as she looked at him.

  “Run… My Pretty Prince…”

  Aven tried. He really did. He was a good boy that always followed orders. He’d been praised for that many times.

  But his legs couldn’t move.

  The peacock woman stopped running. Stopped her weird shimmering illusions. She just stood in front of the kneeling Snowy. A manic smile painted on her face as she drank the scene pying before her eyes, blushing madly.

  A knife materialized in her hand, or it just became visible while always being there. Aven wasn’t sure.

  The world started moving in slow motion.

  Aven watched unblinking as the bird woman knelt in front of Snowy. Faux tenderness in her eyes.

  She pointed the tip of the knife towards Snowy’s heart and…

  It didn’t even seem to face any resistance as Snowy’s eyes widened in shock. The peacock woman panted ecstatically as she twisted the knife.

  Snowy’s lips moved, a whisper carried in her st breath.

  “I’m sorry, Lady Virelya.”

  The warmth Aven was used to seeing vanished from Snowy's eyes. They looked unfocused, empty.

  He didn’t realize when he started moving towards her.

  His legs just moved, his mind was still in the car. Being tickled and called pretty by his Snowy.

  He knelt in front of her. His hands shook as he reached for her shoulders.

  “Snowy… wake up… Snowy…” he rocked her carefully to not touch the ugly knives.

  “Snowy… Please wake up, mom is gonna be angry if we’re te…”

  Tears started rolling down his cheeks without him knowing why.

  He begged, shaking her more vigorously, “Sno… Icy Cuddler! Wake up!”

  She remained still, her eyes open, looking without seeing at the pce he’d been a moment ago.

  “M-Miss Frosty! Please! Wake up!” He raised his voice. It started to crack.

  “Miss… Icy… Sno…” He started hyperventiting as he tried to remember any other name that may bring her back.

  “M-...”

  “MAMA BEAR!!!” He screamed at the top of his lungs. His throat burned as pushed her with all of his might.

  Silence.

  Mama Bear wasn’t waking up…

  Aven felt something break inside of himself. A pain like nothing he’d experienced before.

  Memories fshed in front of his eyes.

  Snowy putting a band-aid on his knee. Kissing it better.

  Halloween nights with her, going trick or treating between the base’s rooms. His mom’s girls giving them candy they ter shared.

  Her proud face when she saw him riding a bicycle without assist wheels…

  “Ah…”

  He clutched his chest, unable to contain the pain any longer.

  His throat exploded in a horrified wail. He emptied his lungs in an attempt to silence the pain. A scream that carried all of his love, all of his hopes.

  Innocence shattering.

  “Oh baby…” A sickeningly sweet voice cooed.

  He looked up, at the self satisfied face of the woman who'd stolen everything from him.

  No one should look so happy after causing so much pain… Aven observed her expression in a mix of disgust and morbid curiosity.

  “Don't you worry, I won't harm a hair in your head, my contractor wants you alive.” She smiled as she extended her hand towards him.

  “C’mon, grab it, I’ll take you somewhere nice!” She promised, her voice dripping with malice.

  Aven started crawling backwards.

  The peacock raised an eyebrow, amused, “Well, that works too. I prefer it when they fight back…” She showed him a predatory toothy smile.

  Aven didn’t know what to do. He wanted to call for his mom, but his throat didn’t want to work anymore. He wanted to hide, but his legs didn't want to lift him. He wanted to cry but… he was already crying.

  The ugly bird woman studied him, her expression a mask of faux pity. “Come here my… what did she call you? oh yea,” She smiled. “Pretty Prince…”

  She didn’t…

  Something new started growing in Aven’s chest. A feeling he’d never experienced before.

  It felt like anger, only worse. More refined, sharper.

  For the first time in his life, Aven wanted nothing but bad things to happen to a person.

  For the first time in his life, he was feeling hatred.

  And it felt… Good? It dulled the pain! Maybe this is exactly what he needed!

  He looked at her, his expression adopting this new emotion in full. Only for her to ugh at him.

  “Oh! Yes! Look at me, just like that! Oh baby, my Pretty Prince!” She mocked, soiling Snowy’s st words to him.

  Hatred wasn’t helping him… It only seemed to push her forward.

  Aven didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of looking at her, so he closed his eyes.

  One second, two, three.

  “Hey, what the fuck is this thing?” The peacock wondered out loud.

  Aven felt something changing in the air. It smelled like…

  Like cinnamon and apples.

  Like freshly washed clothes straight from the sun.

  Like hot chocote.

  It smelled like home.

  He opened his eyes to a world painted in pink.

  So pretty… was the only thing he could think.

  In front of him, the peacock woman looked confused, her eyes searching everywhere for threats, “Ok, fuck this, we’re leaving boy. We can py ter.”

  She reached with her ugly hand to try and grab his arm, but before she could reach him, the world exploded before his eyes.

  Ding.

  A figure materialized in front of the peacock. Cdded in white robes that shimmered and danced like smoke. Only to transform into something completely different in front of Aven’s widening eyes.

  Just as fast as the person appeared, their clothes changed from white to a pretty purple with…

  He gasped, golden trimmings! That’s so… so…

  Beautiful!

  The person didn’t waste a second. Making use of the confusion in the peacock’s face. He, because that was clearly a male’s voice, roared.

  A battle-cry like nothing Aven had ever heard. Powerful and musical.

  Faster than what he believed possible, the pretty man’s fist connected with the ugly face of the bird girl.

  Time seemed to slow to a crawl as he witnessed it.

  Her face twisted into itself, like a finger pressing into cy. A sound like a whip making Aven’s bones vibrate an instant ter.

  She was sent flying backwards like a ragdoll, her body ying limp against a now very dented machine.

  He turned towards Aven.

  His eyes shone like stars, colors ever changing. Righteous fury hidden behind immeasurable power.

  Like mom’s…

  The mysterious man threw himself at Aven, but the boy didn’t feel any hostility in the act, only worry and compassion painted on his face.

  He let himself be embraced by the newcomer’s warmth.

  In the back of his mind, a pyful voice asked a wordless question.

  A plea.

  Permission.

  To be saved.

  Y-Yes! Please… Please. Save me!!!

  He felt the world around him disappear, and for the faintest of instants, there was only peace. Pink mist as far as the eye could see.

  And for one st time, he felt Snowy’s hands caressing his face. Calming him down.

  My Pretty Prince… Live, be happy. And please, never lose your kindness.

  I love you…

  Her touch was gone in an instant, but her voice echoed in his head. Hatred didn’t feel so nice anymore.

  He felt something even better!

  “I love you too… Mama Bear.”

  The world flickered back into pce, and for a brief heartbeat, Aven thought he might colpse. The arms holding him were the only thing keeping him from doing so.

  They materialized a few meters away from where they stood only a moment ago.

  In the pce where they were, a knife vibrated, deeply embedded in the concrete floor.

  Aven looked back, seeing himself reflected in the furious gaze of the peacock.

  “Run! She’s back up!” He pleaded with the pretty man holding him.

  And boy did he run.

  The man ran with the grace of a falling star, his cloak and mist trailing behind like broken dreams.

  Aven had never seen anyone faster!

  With the exception of…

  He looked back once again.

  “She’s following!”