So I downloaded a full mp3 version of the "Blood Moon Waltz", and I CAN'T STOP LISTENING TO IT OH GOD IT'S TOO GOOD IT MAKES ME CRY. *Ahem* Please excuse my trash self.
Heya folks, it's Watermalone here with another new story for your reading delight!
With regards to this story, there are a few details I must share before we begin. First, this story was created for EVAunit42's awesome series finale of If I say I miss you will you come back. However, when he requested I wrote a scene for him, I accidently misinterpreted it as an entire one shot. So basically the story you guys probably read was only about 85% of the original. Second, I have actually decided to expand on the one shot itself... I can't tell you what the next chapters will be about, but after what happens here, I think you can guess. Lastly, this story is a bit... darker than my usual writing, hence the T rating and so be forewarned, language and violence galore.
And now, for the everyday SVTFOE fan, like yourself, I highly recommend you check out the works of other authors such as EVAunit42 who has got another chapter up in his thriller/mystery series Starco Academy, Irritus138 who has got several new one shots in Of Magical Wands and Safety Helmets, a Starcodorable story by eggoraptor called Endlessly,and last but not least, a very well written tragic one shot by One-Crazed-Up-Dragon called Worth it.
And thus, we begin anew, another plot, another story. New characters, old enemies. This chapter will be the original scene used in EVAunit42's story If I say I miss you and so if there isn't many changes, well, it's because it's the original duh.
And without further ado, chapter one of Silhouettes. Relax, read, rate and review at your own ris- I mean... leisure.
SVTFOE isn't owned by anyone! Be free cartoon, BE FREE! *Cough* Yeah I don't own SVTFOE or anything related to it... *Cough*
Never be fooled by a summer's evening. While the skies may reign clarity like a stellar cesspool, the cold atmosphere will 'most always steal your breath. The darkness consumes, the shadows follow.
Silhouettes
Muffled clicking could be heard echoing around the empty streets of the Echo Valley metropolis. The normally busy and bustling life of the downtown avenue now lay to rest by the heat of a summer's day.
Star was alone. All she brought were the clothes on her back, a couple of keepsakes, and a few belongings, neatly tucked away in her spiked turtle shell schoolbag.
Perhaps she didn't think this through too well. Shrugging to herself, she trudged onwards.
"No turning back." She muttered to herself. "I can do this." A spike of raw guilt struck her.
What exactly was she doing? There must have been an easier way. There must...
Shaking herself out of this trance, she forced herself to keep moving.
One... Two... Three... Fourteen.. Twenty seven...
She was at least thirty blocks away by now. Definitely out of range.
Sighing, she set down her bag next to the base of a tall skyscraper. It must've been midnight by now, and she was exhausted. Beneath the light of a streetlamp, she examined her bag's content once more. Wallet, check. Extra change of clothes, check. Unicorn head stuffed plushie, check. Phone...
She gave one good look her cell, and threw it to the ground, stamping an angry heel through the fragile glass screen.
Phone, check. No one was going to find her now.
Inhaling deeply, she sat down next to her belongings. She probably needed a better place to rest than this, perhaps under a bridge or something of the sort.
All of a sudden a figure stepped into the light. "Excuse me... Miss?" She jolted at the sound of the voice, clutching tightly onto her belongings.
With clear difficulty in masking her fear, she responded. "W-what do you want?"
"I'm lost and was wondering if you had a phone I could-"
Star bolted as fast as she could. Was he following her? How did he know she was there? Who sent him? There was no time for answers. As fast as her legs could carry her, she sprinted far and wide. It didn't matter who that person was, she needed to get away from them.
No one could be trusted.
Then her eyes saw it. Just ahead was the train tracks used mainly to transport cargo between Echo Creek (a small neighbouring town known for its farmfolk), and Echo Valley. And right below the tracks was the highway for the main road that ran beneath. Perfect shelter for the night!
Thunder rolled in the distance. Good timing too, she noted.
Her sprint slowed to a jog, jog to a walk. Finally, she reached the underbelly of the bridge.
"Home sweet home, I guess." She murmured quietly to herself.
There was no way she could fall asleep this night. The slanted concrete slab near the internal edge of the bridge was cold and a bit too hard on her back. In retrospect, it probably would've been smart to bring a sleeping bag...
She sat down on the freezing sidewalk. Rain began to patter the streets, drenching the roads outside.
At least she was safe from the rain.
"Hey check it out! Who's the blondie?" Star whirled around. There, beneath the shadow of the bridge, stood two figures.
"Dunno Luther." The taller figure with the lower voice turned to face Star. "Hey there girlie, what's a fine piece of ass like you doin' out this late?"
Star shivered in disgust at his remark.
"Maybe she's got a present for us Tommy." She could see the faint outline of a toothy grin etch the facial region of the first silhouette.
Lightning flashed across the sky, providing her a brief glimpse of both of the men's faces.
The taller, more scraggly looking one, had wily straggly hair that grew in a cloud shape. He wore a scrappy brown overcoat with tears and patches strewn across the surface of the fabric. The second one had a lot more of a greasy look. He was shorter, stubbier and had hair that looked like it had been dipped in a deep frier. His evil grin was missing a few front teeth, and his face was dirty and menacing.
Her study didn't last long as she bent down, tightly gripping the strap of her backpack, and spun on her heel, ready to face the rain. Her legs felt weak and heavy running again, but she knew she couldn't stay. She almost made it out before-
*click*
Star froze, her blood running cold. She may have been new to this whole "street life" thing, but this was one sound she understood all too well.
"Sorry blondie, that wasn't an invitation." The raspy voice spoke with such malice it made her shudder in fear. "Now you're gonna hand over all you got, and then leave while your blood ain't spilling down with the rain."
She gulped, what a way for this to end. First night, and she's found dead. Imagine the laughs the folks at home would have. Their twisted, haunting images reflected in her mind.
So incompetent.
You should have listened.
I knew she couldn't do it, didn't I tell you?
That's one mess of hers we don't have to clean up.
Good riddance.
We told you so.
She shut her eyes, a single tear escaping from her eyes. They were right, she wasn't ready for this.
Footsteps shuffled closer. Here it comes, the end.
Her attention drew from fear to surprise when a yelp of shock came from behind.
"Tommy! Shit!"
Star turned around to see the shorter man, facing his partner, gun still raised.
Beneath the pale lighting, she couldn't quite discern exactly what was going on. Behind the taller man, however, she could tell there was another figure.
"Let the girl go or your buddy here gets a one way ticket to hell!"
This voice sounded... different. It was ironically calm and soothing to hear, he certainly sounded a lot younger than the other two.
"Damnit Luther, just do what he says!" The thug known as 'Tommy' cried out in fear.
What was going on? Was this other guy... helping her? Saving her? Why?
"Grrr... Fine, fine!" Luther motioned for Star to move towards the other two. She complied without another word.
"Now let my buddy go!" Up close, she could see exactly what had happened. Barely glinting in the darkness was a flash of silver, pressed against the throat of Tommy.
Reluctantly, the taller figure was shoved towards his accomplice.
Star studied the shaded image of her savior. He couldn't have possibly have been much older than him! His face looked hardened, his features chiseled, his soft brown hair in a bit of a tangled mess, and his eyes were a deep brown. The boy, yes he might as well still have been one, wore a bright red hoodie.
"Hey! Snap out of it!" His voice shaking her back to her senses. "Let's go." Stern and commanding, yet with a caring undertone. Quite the perplexing character.
Star blinked twice. She wasn't sure whether to thank him or slap him. Sure he saved her, but what did he want from her?
"Didn't you hear me? Or would you rather prefer to fuck around with tweedle dum and dumber over here?"
If it weren't for the fact he could still be considered hostile, and he was holding a knife, she would've slapped him.
He sighed. "Sorry, didn't mean to yell. C'mon I know a good hideout." While under normal circumstances she would've just ran, there was a certain softness in his tone that made her more willingly compliant.
He began walking, Star hesitantly following along, the rain lightly drizzling their skin.
"Um, I'm Marco by the way, nice to meet you." He extended a hand in offering.
Star looked at his rough calloused hands with concern. Taking his finger between her index and thumb, she shook it. Marco stared at her with utmost confusion.
"First night out?"
She nodded.
"Sheltered life?"
Another nod.
"Not gonna say anything? Not even a name?"
She opened her mouth to speak, but stopped herself. She nodded instead.
"Right. Well.. whatever." She felt bad not telling him anything, but it was miraculous that she trusted him enough to follow him to an unknown location.
"At the very least I should let you know, this isn't the best neighborhood to start your... Vendetta from... It can get a bit shady and threatening if you aren't careful. Personally, I'm a bit of a veteran at this sort of thing but you..." He scanned her up and down. "You might wanna stick to playgrounds and school zones."
"I'M EIGHTEEN I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF!" She covered her mouth as abruptly as she blurted out the words.
"Woah... I guess I struck a nerve there..."
"Ughhh.. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap there..."
Marco's eyes lit up brilliantly upon hearing her voice for the first time. "It's okay, we all got something biting our rears."
"Oh yeah? What's on yours?" He couldn't have been much older than her. In fact he actually looked a bit younger! What could possibly be worrying him?
"Mmm personal stuff." He mumbled.
"Like what?"
"PERSONAL STUFF ALRIGHT?" Those once soft eyes became glaringly scary, inducing her mind into a panic stricken state.
He noticed the fear in her expression and instantly corrected himself. "No augh... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get mad. It's just... I don't wanna talk about my life... Okay?"
He spoke with tenderness in his voice. If it was false, then he was really good at masking it. There was something he was hiding, but it very well could've been pain.
"Um... It's okay. I didn't mean to strike a nerve there... heh." She looked up at him. His eyes reverted back to the caring ones that she endeared much more than the cold ones.
Marco smiled. "It's cool." They walked a few blocks in silence.
"So... Eighteen huh? What happened?"
His brusque question was a bit unspoken for, but his intention seemed kindly enough, even after his previous outburst. Maybe, just maybe she could trust him.
"Parents." She huffed.
"Let me guess. Overbearing mother, overprotective father, too many expectations, too little time, doesn't wanna grow up, doesn't feel accepted, can't keep up the grades, didn't want to disappoint, wanted to be free, needed to be independent." Star's jaw dropped. "Am I somewhere in the ballpark here?"
She was speechless. "How... How did- WHAT?" Who did this jerk think he was?
"I'll take that as a yes. And believe me, it's not too difficult to tell. You don't seem spoiled enough to be ungrateful, and you don't dress rebellious enough to be a runaway. You're just a bit misguided and afraid, by the looks of it."
That was the last straw. Her hand whipped across his cheek before she could stop herself.
"OW! What was that for?" His pain brought her a bit of satisfaction. "That was a compliment!" Really?
"Sorry sorry! I-I... That just-"
"It's fine. I know I'm a loudmouth. I didn't mean to intrude..." He was right. That was pretty intrusive on its own.
"But if it helps any, you should know that your parents probably really care about you... Take it from me, you don't know how lucky you are... to have parents..." His voice quieted eerily.
"Um..." Star wanted to change the subject. "So how far are we from your... place...?" Considering he was probably homeless, that sounded relatively awkward.
"My 'hideout' is just in this alley." He gestured to his left. A little less of an alleyway, it was rather just a corner. Its only contents were a dumpster, a few pieces of garbage laying around, and a large brick wall that towered above them.
"Is it..." She gulped. "The dumpster?"
"Heck no! You think royalty like me sleeps in a dumpster?" Sarcastic and intrusive. Could he be more charming? She rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Okay, then what are we looking at?" In reply to her question, Marco reached for a small handle below the two and yanked upwards, a small wooden hatch revealing a deep, dimly lit chamber. A thin ladder leading down towards what looked like a space heater, an old worn mattress and a small lamp powered by a series of extension cords everywhere.
"Mi casa es su casa!" His words made her smile internally. Marco just always seemed to make her feel... happy.
Suddenly, his pupils dilated. His eyes widened in shock and horror. All she could hear was ringing, but her screams echoed into the night long before she could register what had happened.
Marco's hand reached for his chest, the deep red dye camouflaged well with his hoodie but even in the night, one could tell that the red liquid was saturating the fabric, staining it.
He fell to his knees, and collapsed on the cold wet ground.
Much to Star's terror, she recognized the two faces in the pale light of the moon, the smell of gunpowder emanating from the smoking barrel of the pistol she remembered even better.
"That'll teach you and your little bitch to mess with us, punk!"
"Let's get out of here Luther before the cops show up."
Star was delirious. Her mind flashed red and pink. She needed to save Marco! But those two must see justice for what they did! The wounds must be closed. HE'S JUST A BOY. Call 911. KILL THE TWO BASTARDS! DO SOMETHING!
She dropped down next to him, sobbing uncontrollably. What could she do?! Rolling his body over she checked for a pulse. Yes! He was holding on! Now if only she had... her... phone...
"No, no no NO NO NO!" She shouted in agony. "Please, please don't die on me!"
Marco coughed, blood splurting from his mouth. "S-shit. Th-they got me... Damn them..."
"I'm sorry Marco! I-I'll get you he-help!" She frantically searched for a payphone, a passerby, anything at all.
"No... I'll- URGH- I'll be fine... Just promise me... Promise me..."
"Star." She spoke flatly, trying to hold back the tidal wave of feelings she had thrashing about her mind. "M-my name.. Is Star Butterfly."
Marco smiled, not without difficulty. "S-star... that's... a beautiful name..." He inhaled sharply. He was clearly losing the battle of mortality. "Promise me... Star.. that you'll go back.. back to your family..."
"Wh-wha..?" His hand reached up to caress her cheek. Instinctively, she nuzzled against it. The only person in this entire world that seemed to care about her was being taken away from her as quickly as they had met. While it was true that she had never seen him before she couldn't help but feel safe with him. Like they had been close... once upon a time...
"An amazing girl... like you... doesn't deserve... this..." He was fading fast.
Sirens wailed from behind her, and not a moment too soon. Some medical attention, a couple patch-ups and he would be good as new! Right? RIGHT?
"Star... Star listen... leave... me... go home..." His whispers became raspy and forced.
"NO! Marco I can't leave you! A-and you can't leave me! Please! You understand me... I... I..." She choked back strained tears.
"I need you."
A tiny grin curved his lips. "Go... go home... run... leave..." His eyes closed. His last breath escaped into the air, a small wisp, floating aimlessly, carrying the last cracked piece of his soul to the heavens. His hand fell limp in Star's lap.
The sirens drew near. Police, they were after the assailants.
He.. he couldn't be gone right? There was no way... he didn't... Any second now... he would spring back up, laughing with that adorably flashy grin telling her off about how she was gullible and... trusting... and...
And... Cliffhanger.
Hopefully this chapter wasn't too much for you, a lot of... stuff... went into the making of this... Yes, stuff. But, in true Watermalone fashion, I have already completed the next chapter, ready to be released next week. I will apologize in advance, however, the transition is a bit awkward.
As a final note, I would like to express a huge thank you to EVAunit42, he is an amazing guy, giving me inspiration to write this story in the first place. If you haven't see his work already, which I doubt, then I encourage you to check it out. Now. Or else. Just kidding!
And as always, comments and reviews are deeply appreciated, and I hope to see you all next week for chapter two of Silhouettes.