DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN HEY ARNOLD!
The rain had just stopped and dissipated into a drizzle. The cruel night breeze blew through the city sending intolerable chills to anyone lingering on the streets below. The homeless huddled around metal drums setting aflame the contents within. The looks on their faces is priceless as they smiled on basking in the warmth of the fire.
Atop the rooftop of a building in downtown Hillwood a silhouette stood at the edge of a tall building. It watched overhead as cars blurred by with their headlights, while the people flooded the sidewalks.
Steam roared through the street's drainage system temporarily blinding tlhe masses below. Footsteps treaded lightly from behind the figure. "You're late," She sighed in desperation mixed with a hint of relief. "you're never on time are you?" She stated with a bit of annoyance.
"I just got back from the dig site in San Lorenzo. I'm sorry I left you and the gang." Responded a males voice. "It won't happen again." The feminine figure walked over to the strong voiced shadow. "The civil war is leaving the country in ruins. Thank God Lorenzo and I got out in time." He stated uneasy. She wrapped her arms around him embracing him while letting out an audible sigh.
He returned the gesture snaking his masculine arms around her waist. "How'd you know I'd be here?" She asked with a smile pressing her head against his chiselled chest. "Lucky guess," He replied back planting a kiss on her forehead. She pursed her lips ready to pout. She had locked eyes with him, her crystal blue eyes intimidating his green ones.
His skin grew hot while sweat ran down the side of his temple. "Phoebe said you'd be here. Gerald and Sid picked us up from the airport an hour ago."
She furrowed an eyebrow while he swept a strand of hair behind her ear. Her long lush blonde curled hair hung freely past her shoulders. The way her eyes sparkled against her porcelain skin underneath the moonlight is beyond the word beauty. Even in a fit of rage or disappointment she's always the epitome of divine design.
He chuckled as he broke away from her stare, gazing at the sensational glow that is the city. "What?" She asked in a enthusiastic tone with a smile. "I missed this view, I miss us." He replied.
A shade of pink crept on her face from her cheeks to the bridge of her nose. Sensing tension between the two she broke away from his embrace.
He found himself disappointed at the sudden lack of contact. She strutted away overlooking the city. "You ended us with your remark remember Arnoldo?" She bellowed in bliss while she leaned forward on the railing. He looked at her in confusion. Just the way she said it she seemed free. Free of anguish, despair, of worries and heartache.
Arnold didn't answer as he struggled to fight off the emotions her simple touch and presence played. He was staring blankly at his old high school flame reliving the past. A constant reminder of the pairs memories.
He reached in his pockets managing a packet of cigarettes and a zippo. He pulled one from the cluster attempting to light it but to no avail. Either the lighter had run out of fluid or the flint had gone bad. "Damn it." He cursed under his breath throwing his zippo to the ground. "Since when did you start smoking?" She asked with a sarcastic tone and a dubious grin.
"Three weeks ago in the Central Highlands of San Lorenzo. They didn't let us drink so here am I now."
She turned to face him narrowing her eyes. "Right, right I forgot about that." She replied back twirling a strand of hair around her index finger seizing his attention with ease. "Did you ever get my letters?" The blonde pondered as she began to shudder as it got colder. With each breath they took small white mists escaped their lips.
"Here take this," He declared shedding his sweater for the girl he loved. "you need it more than I do."
"Listen short-stop that's really sweet of you but I'm fine." She replied back stuttering while her lips turned blue. Without thinking he just tossed the thin white sweater at her. A weak smile crept upon her lips mouthing a thank you in return. "Hey you know what's funny Helga?" He asked resisting the urge to laugh.
"What? That you're always saving me from something?"
"Yeah that too and it reminds me of our first kiss. Remember that day when we checked out that haunted orphanage school for that ghost?"
Just the thought of it sent inexplicable chills up her spine. "God just the thought of it irks me." Helga grumbled as she yawned. He grinned walking over to the emergency staircase on the side of the building. "Come on let's get going," He said with a smirk leading the way. "I don't wanna spend the rest of the night out here."
Right let's get a move on, she thought. "Wait for me!" She shouted playfully, "Fat chance Pataki! You know the rules, loser buys dinner!" with that being said she brushed past him jumping off the ledge. She closed her eyes feeling the adrenaline rushing through her veins.
A smile crept onto her lips as she gracefully opened her eyes. With such dexterity she grabbed a rail swinging her body onto the platform. She struck a pose crossing her long slender legs. "Took you long enough!" She shouted just as she caught sight of him.
"Hey no fair." He muttered.
"You gotta be faster than that bucko!" He quickened his pace jumping to every platform where the steps ceased and commenced. The sounds of her light yet ironic heavy footsteps followed suit. His meadow green eyes flickered back and forth in search for an escape route.
A smile played his lips. Without warning he jumped over the railing to his impending doom. The sudden feel of dread slapped her in the face. Helga leaned over looking down below with concern. "Are you freaking crazy?" She screamed in full force as she caught eye of him on the other building's fire escape. There she saw him dangling on the rails some stories below. Jesus Christ is he nuts?
"I'm not losing this bet!" He spat back with a grin hoisting himself over. She rolled her eyes at his remark continuing on her trek. Boys will be boys.. She thought.
She leaned over the guards peering downward. He's almost to the bottom! Her mind screamed. She swept her legs over the guards, taking in a mouthful of air. This is it! Without hesitation she leaped off the edge.
Helga G Pataki spiraled downward like a hawk ready to catch her prey. A whistle hung in the air causing her fellow blonde to look back. He shook his head in defiance like a salmon would in the talons of hawk. In a swift move he leaped off the staircase into the darkness below.
Just as she were to hit the ground she caught a bar of a ladder. "You okay?" Helga called out in concern. No response. "Arnold!" She screamed. Minutes seemingly stretched into hours. Yet she still held onto a tiny shred of hope that he'd be okay. Her eyes shot open at the groans and moans of a man. She hopped on the ladder a number of times setting it free from its place.
Once on the ground she walked in the darkness in search of the source of her contempt. She folded her arms shivering in fear as she neared a large garbage bin. Painful groans filled the air. It got louder and stronger as Helga neared the bin.
She closed her eyes pressing her back against the cold metal bin. Feeling it's wetness soak through her back; she shuddered at the chill traveling up her spine. You can do this Helga don't be afraid. He's not dead, he's alive. It's all a ruse! Arnoldo a trickster. Helga pounced on the side with a grin.
Terror struck her like a heart attack. Just as she was about to scream a hand slapped itself over her mouth in prevention. "Ssshhh," A familiar voice whispered, "I already called the cops we gotta get the hell outta here." sudden realization came knocking. She realized it was Arnold her former intended.
Helga nodded as she blinked back the tears beading at the corner of her eyes. "Help me please." Whispered a man's slurred voice. The way his blue eyes pleaded is utter torture. He clutched his chest but at his touch his skin crumpled into a massive cavity. He gasped for air staggering toward the two.
In a blink of an eye he collapsed on the floor. His frantic blue eyes began to drown in a black whirlpool of darkness. He kneeled over him feeling for a pulse. He turned to look at her in sorrow. "He's gone," He whispered, "we gotta get outta here." he declared as rapid footsteps echoed through the passageway.
He grabbed her hand making a mad dash down the alley. "Police freeze!" Bellowed a voice in a demanding tone. In an act of defiance they denied his order. Arnold looked back seeing a muzzle flash. He pushed her to the side hearing the gun go off.
"We got two potential suspects heading West on Wilson Avenue!" Yelled the police officer into his radio running toward the pair.
The splashes of approaching footsteps followed suit in a rhythm. Helga got the sudden urge to look back but she denied it. Don't do it damn you! Both of their minds screamed in unison. Feeling his glare and the squeeze of his hand; a sudden warm fuzzy feeling embraced her insides. "Whatever you do, don't look back Helga." She nodded hesitantly in return.
Trusting his instincts he slowed their pace once they reached the crowds. "Don't look back Helga just keep on walking." He whispered feeling the fear of incarceration melting away. Salty beads of sweat covered him, he slightly felt a stinging sensation. He turned to the right seeing his upper arm been grazed by a bullet.
Sirens blared in the distance while officers on foot patrol ran against the masses. She scanned the area for a fortress of solitude only to be interrupted by Arnold on his phone. "Where the fuck are you?" He harshly whispered into the phone, "They're closing off the blo- yeah okay bye." click. Arnold looked up skyward scanning the area for helicopters and anything out of the ordinary. A whistle ripped through the air. Crap! Arnold's mind screamed.
Why do I feel so hot? Strangely enough Helga was hit with a wave of confusion. She glared at him while his forehead creased with wrinkles. He glimpsed at his wristwatch while stealing a glance from behind. Roars of an engine hung in the air like a tune. The sound of tires screeching rung in the air; while the smell of burned rubber lingered in their senses.
The screams of the tires came to an abrupt stop. A blue 2010 Dodge Challenger hastily pulled up to the side of the curb. The driver opened the passenger door ,"Get in," he shouted tossing a pistol to Arnold. "or we're all screwed." Gerald yelled as he acted as the driver. Arnold carefully aimed beyond the crowd firing multiple shots. The crowds of people gasped and screamed all the while pushing and shoving.
Helga's head spun. She could hear the alarmed voices surrounding her. She felt giddy as if she might faint. The pristine white sweater is now stained in scarlett. A single hand wrapped itself around her wrist pulling her in. It was Lorenzo seated in the back with a backpack. Her eyes shot open looking at him in a blank stare. She clutched the vehicle refusing to go in. A simple task of pulling her in was now a tug of war. Demands from the peace officers shok out of her trance and she stared back at them.
In one final act of strength Lorenzo pulled her in. Her breathing became rampant as a flash of anxiety poured over her. A hot burning sensation struck her abdomen as if a heated knife pierced her right in the stomach. She reached down feeling the rim of a hole. She winced in pain just as her fingers ventured out to be gentle giants.
Arnold looked back at her crumpled form laying on the back seat with his friend. "You're gonna be okay," He said with fear in his eyes. Gerald handed him a police scanner, he looked away. "whatever you do don't fall asleep." She nodded weakly, whimpering in fright.
Police radio chatter filled the car."Lorenzo you gotta lose them man!" Gerald demanded as he did various turns. Flashing lights of blue and red filled the mirror. It's now or never dude! Hurry the fuck up man!
"On it," Lorenzo replied as his turned on his laptop. He quickly began typing in random numbers, keys, and phrases. Much of it didn't make sense to her. He grabbed a small device and flipped it on. "signal jammer is up and running. In an instance the police scanner went dead with staticy noises. "Shutting off engines in three, two, one." He declared as he pushed enter. He looked at the rear window. Gerald had ran through an intersection.
In a flash the cars stopped. The leading squad car had gotten t-boned by a semi. The crash was followed suit by an explosion. "Holy fuck," Lorenzo whispered. The feeling of remorse washed over him. "people died because of me." Gerald eyed him through the rear view mirror. Fuck man it's better them than us. He thought.
Arnold turned to look at the two. His face etched with dread. "Lorenzo get Sid on the phone now!" He did as he was told.
Her vision became blurred. Simple breathing now became hard labored breaths. She closed her eyes as tightly as she could; almost as if they'd rip open at any moment. Their words becoming incoherent she panicked. Feeling to numb to speak she accepted defeat.
She opened her eyes locking onto his green ones. Slowly a dark haze began to cloud her vision. She blinked twice seeing their forms drifting further away in this horrid sea of darkness.