(A/N): Hey everyone! So this is a story that my good friend Takaluca and I have been discussing for some time now, developing the general plot and the events and such. It's only now that we've started writing it though, and it's a more serious story than the usual stuff here. I guess it could be a darkfic considering its bleakness? But do not worry, we will be back soon with another update. This here is just the beginning of the tale. And yes this is a collab.
Ah, Christmas Eve. A day full of joy and wonder, and a perfect day to have a good day spending time with family. Decorations, presents, hot chocolate, winter games, Christmas specials, and all the joy you could ever imagine.
"Ugh...Sister unit, while I remain questioning the reasons you've requested me to follow you to this white wasteland of a hill, could you at least aid me carrying this way bigger than average tire up, considering your superior strength?" A 10 year old Lisa asked, as she, wearing her dark green coat, ski eye protectors, white gloves, green hat, and everything needed to stay warm, climbed a hill near the ends of the small town of Royal Woods, pushing a giant truck tire using only a single rope.
"It's not a wasteland, Lisa, it's a wonderland! Just look at all this snow everywhere, you can almost get lost in it." A 12 year old Lana replied as she trudged up the hill in similarly heavy winter attire, being yellow pants and a coat, dark blue snow boots and a pair of green and blue earmuffs over her red cap. She quickly took to Lisa's side and grabbed the rope, helping her pull it up. "I mean, I think you can use a good workout like Lynn always says, but I get it, it's Christmas and all."
After many paces upward, they reached the top of the hill. One had to admit, it provided quite a view. Snowy winds whirled around, searing their exposed faces while also trying and failing to bite through their winter gear. Dead trees and evergreens alike stood prevalently in the harsh weather.
"Well, despite my suspicions of both of us being lost in this glacier after your second to last comment, I must admit the view is quite delightful with the proper weather." Lisa stated. "I'm still wondering the usage of this heavy object, though."
"You ever hear about tire sledding, Lisa? Or tube sledding, I guess, but none of that soft cushiony crap for babies. This here is all you need for a good time." Lana said, beaming proudly over the tire.
"So...your conception of fun is risking your life in a irresponsible way in order to boost adrenaline concentration on your synapses, creating a feeling of fright mixed with excitement and joy?" Lisa asked
"Yeah, you just described it perfectly! Now hop on." Lana did just that and patted the space of the tire behind her.
"...you don't have me convinced that the lack of safety measures is a risk worth taking for a few seconds of so called 'fun'." She clarified.
"Lisa, Lisa, Lisa. You still have a lot to learn, so lemme just show you. You can hold onto me if you don't want to grab the sides." She gave a calm, reassuring smile to the younger girl, or at least as best as she could manage through her giddiness.
"Sigh, you're lucky my senses are being largely affected by the lack of heat in this area. Otherwise, I wouldn't even approach such a dangerous machination." Lisa mumbled, as she went towards the tire behind Lana, hugging her in the region of the stomach. "I'm prepared to face whatever consequences of this ignorant action are bond to fall over us."
"That's the spirit! Now let's go!" Lana dug her heels into the soft snowy earth and with a single mighty heave she managed to send the tire sliding rapidly down the hill. The already strong winds from before now hit at full force, nearly knocking them off as they both held on for their lives.
Lana turned her head towards Lisa with her tongue hanging out like a dog in a car. "Isn't this fun?!" She asked loudly and excitedly.
"AHHHHH!" Lisa screamed as an answer.
Their acceleration increased by each second, and Lisa somehow calculated it in her head. Around 250 inches per second squared, disregarding air resistance. When they hit the bottom of the hill, the tire made a sudden halt, sending the two girls flying off face first into the snow. And the two of them, who were already screaming, Lana in excitement, and Lisa in fright, continued with their voices until they've hit the snow.
Lisa was breathing heavily. "Ah...ah...Did we...did we just accomplish...we just rode this whole hill down without any major injuries?"
Lana picked herself off the ground and licked the snow off her face before shaking the rest of it off. "Yeah, we did! See Lisa, I told you this was fun and that you'd be okay and that notepad of yours detailing our possible deaths and wills for the rest of the family wasn't needed." She pointed to a little yellow notepad sticking out of Lisa's coat pocket.
"I'd rather be aware of our chances of not successful slides, elder sibling. As you are aware, the 95% of me that assumes the condition of a mature adult scientific researcher, I must consider all factors and outcomes to precise favorable situations." Lisa explained.
"Okay. Ignoring all of your nerdiness, what's the other five percent?"
"Oh, that's the art of my respective to my interior ten year old average girl."
"And what would a 10 year old say?"
"THAT WAS AWESOME!" Lisa exclaimed in excitement. "LET'S DO IT AGAIN!"
"YES! THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!" Lana grabbed her in a hug and playfully gave her a noogie, though most of the pressure was absorbed by Lisa's snow cap.
They went up and down with that tire many times. Sure, the time they took to go up was many times longer than the sliding part, but the fun was worth it. Every single time the tire sent them flying right into the snow, the laughed afterwards, and repeated the process. They had fun until the skies grew dark and their bodies grew cold and tired. And of course, hungry.
"I dunno about you, Lis, but I'm beat. We should get going before the others get worried." Lana said, panting heavily and holding the rope with the tire laying behind her.
"Yes, I assume it's the most expected and wise procedure to follow." Lisa said, also breathing heavily. "As we walk towards our lair, though, would you mind if I ask you a couple questions, not counting the one I do now?"
"Heh, lair. I like how you say it like we're heading to a monster's den or something. But sure, go ahead."
"First, where did you actually acquire this tire that we slid the hill on multiple times? That actually peaked my curiosity."
"From the truck of some guy who wanted to clear the woods, which by the way are home to lots of important animals, for a mall of all things." Lana answered nonchalantly while they started walking back.
"So...you stole this for the sake of protecting the environment?"
"Pretty much. Hopps helped me loosen it out too."
"Interesting. In the way Royal Woods has expanded in its urban factor, its nature factor, once so prosperous, shows its lack of action in certain areas. Despite your action being condemned by the law, perhaps your cause has more worth than any groupement of stores and parking lots."
"Yeah, well they can condemn my ass all they want." Lana said crudely. "And I'm glad we see eye to eye on things like this, even if we often don't on some other things. I just wish the human race as a whole took better care of the environment." She added in with a more serious tone.
"Despite our necessities to explore nature, we do have a path to advance to find stability with it." Lisa agreed. "And what you mentioned about often not doing the same things...that brings me to my second question, what made you invite solely and specifically me to this activity, over any of our other siblings?"
"Well most of them are doing their own thing, and we barely ever spend any time together anyway. When's the last time we actually did something together, just the two of us? Other than the tutoring sessions, I mean."
"Hmm...you do present a fair point. Our schedules, obligations and hobbies differ in a way our time spent together is minimal. Is this an attempt to expand it, I assume?"
"Yup. Plus, it's Christmas Eve and all so it's the perfect time to do so, right? I know how much you like terrorizing us with snowball fights."
"Despite the challenge not being as interesting due to the lack of abilities and equipment by my opponent, it is, indeed, an activity I appreciate doing. Perhaps the winter is the season most fit for me when it comes to non-scientific related actions."
"Yeah, see? I know even a little grumpy-puss like you can have fun." Lana lightly jabbed Lisa's shoulder and gave a little laugh.
"What have you just called me?" Lisa asked, a bit offended.
"A grumpy-puss, y'know, 'cause you're always grumpy and cranky 'n stuff."
"Says the so called 'animal lover'." Lisa said, doing air quotes. "Is there anything you hide when you're alone in your bedroom, sibling?"
"Ay-ay-ay, don't go there! I'm not a damn beasty thot and you know it. I beat up beasty thots for a living." Lana retorted, crossing her arms and holding her head high.
"Where did you even discover such terms?" Lisa asked.
"I just don't like saying the actual word, so I made up something that's easier to say without throwing up in my mouth as much. And isn't it nerds like you that make those scientific words anyway?"
"We don't 'make them'. Every letter, radical and formation is thought in a way to have a meaning understandable for all of those aware of its existence, even if sometimes we use Latin, such as in speciation, and Greek terms."
"Yeah yeah, you keep telling yourself that, Little Miss still-sleeps-with-a-stuffed-fox-at -night." Though oddly enough, Lisa's explanation on how scientific terms are created was quite interesting, despite the circumstances of being insulted.
"No I don't!" Lisa exclaimed. "That toy is not mine, and it's in my room for the sole reason of…" Lisa stop and sniffed the air a bit. "Do you...sense something...burning?"
Lana was about to make a snide remark about her sister's obvious lie when the scent hit her nose as well. She took a few sniffs in the air as well. "I do, and it smells weird… like not the same as Dad's cooking, it's way stronger." The closer they got, the heavier the smell got and so did the realization of what the smell was. They saw a strong light, stronger than most Christians lights around all the houses. A burst of mixed tones of orange, yellow and red emerge towards the sky.
They discovered that 1216 of Franklin Avenue was being consumed by flames.
Lisa and Lana were rendered speechless at the sight. They had both seen some crazy things in their short time on the planet, but never had they ever expected to witness their street, their house - on fire. What could they even say about what they were seeing? Instead, they just stood their, frozen in place and staring ahead like a deer in headlights, their jaws agape.
All they could hear was the flames, and some expressions of screams coming from the inside. Before they had the time to react and do something, they heard an alarm by their right. Someone had called the firefighters to put out the fire. One of them even took the two further away from their home, to avoid the risk and danger of it. And even then they couldn't even utter a word or protest, their eyes fixed on the raging flames that engulfed the place once known as home.
"You two. Do you know the ones that live in that house?" The fireman that brought them away asked.
"Yes…" Lisa said, quietly. "Our family lives in there. And they were probably all inside…"
"W-what… happened?" Lana whimpered.
"We just arrived, little girl. We'll work hard on putting down the fire, and later we'll see what happened. In the meantime, just stay here where it's safe." He said, as he turned back to help his coworkers to put out the fire.
The burning sound, with a small hint of screaming here and there, terrorized the two girls. And they were powerless to do anything other than to just watch their home slowly be consumed. They would give anything now to be able to go in there and get their siblings, parents and pets out of there, but knew full well that would be pointless and most likely result in their own deaths, not helping anyone in the long run.
Despite the firefighters best efforts, it was stupid to assume the House wasn't heavily damaged. All that remained was dust and small portions of wall. They saw ambulances arriving, going inside the debris, and they saw bodies being dragged out. They couldn't see clearly, as the place was surrounded by firefighters, nurses, a tv news report and the neighbors around. Nobody took notice of them after the fire started.
They were left on the sidelines where the smell was still strong but not as invasive, slightly freshened by the wind. The sight itself could very well be considered an oxymoron with the snow contrasting with the hellish inferno, a horrible tragedy on what was supposed to be a blissful day.
"Lisa...wasn't the snow supposed to not let this fire happen or something?"
"Despite the temperature and humidity the area presents… it's not enough to stop such fire, even if it's able to prevent it from starting outside… The sources must have been from the house's interior… and spreader enough so that when the main structure collapsed...it wasn't able to stop it…"
"O-oh… how could this have even happened? Everything seemed perfectly fine when we left… a-and now look at it." Lana fell to her knees, shedding a few tears but quickly wiping them away and standing back up in an effort to appear strong. She couldn't show weakness to her little sister, not now. Especially since there was no guarantee that anyone else would still survive the fire. She took a few deep breaths to try and calm herself down, though it didn't help much at all.
"S-so many possibilities that could have gone wrong during our absence...an old and poorly repaired structure...mainly consisted of wood...i-it's an ideal scenario if the temperature was higher...but regardless...o-our habitation… I-it's a-all g-gone... sniff...r-reduced to nothing b-but d-dust a-and a-ashes…" Lisa said, taking a couple steps forward, and sobbing.
The ball-capped girl followed a few steps behind. "I-I can't believe it… this house survived a possible tornado years ago, and that's when I thought…" An uncharacteristically high-pitched sob escaped her throat. "When I thought we'd never lose our home." She covered her eyes with one hand and let out a few more soft sobs.
Lisa couldn't hold any longer when Lana broke. Both of them started crying, the younger nerd wrapping her arms alongside the tomboy's body, and the two basically screamed uncontrollably, like a baby does basically anywhere. The difference being, in this instance, they had a very good reason to be desperately sad. They stayed there doing that until they could no longer find it in them to yowl and scream obscenities at the heavens for cursing them in such a way and they just sniffled and sobbed quietly.
They lost track of time. By the time they had fallen asleep right there, in the middle of the snowy street, exhausted by so much cryin for what felt like years, collapsing on the floor, still clutching each other tightly, they were woken up by an unfamiliar voice.
"Excuse me, you two." A guy dressed in a police uniform properly adapted for the winter. "Would you mind following me?"
"W-what?" Lisa babbled. "W-who a-are you?"
"I'm officer Owens." He told the two. "One of the firefighters said that you two lived in the house that was on fire. Is that right?"
The two slowly blinked their eyes open, squinting at the person who they assumed to be the source of the voice.
"Mhm." Lana murmured and nodded her head sadly.
"Please come into my car. We'll take you to the police station, and later a place you can stay for the night." He assured.
The two girls slowly got up and followed the officer. He opened the back seat of the car and they walked in, like they were some sort of criminal being arrested for murder or burglary. He closed the door, and went inside the driver's seat.
"Officer…" Lisa asked. "W-what are the casualties of this...accident, if we can call it that?"
"I'm not exactly sure, little one. Everyone found in the house was taken to the hospital. And I'm sure they'll do everything so your family will be alright."
"I hope so…" Lana said, staring out the window as they drove by. She would cry some more, but just didn't have it in her at that point. Her ruddy complexion was stained with tears and a little bit of snot. She looked to her side, where Lisa was staring at the floor of the car. She couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking.
"And the source of the fire? Is there any clue?" Lisa asked.
"Investigations are ongoing, but we have no confirmation. Our best shot is that it started in the oven, but we can't precise for sure."
"So you're saying someone left the oven on too long or something?" Lana asked. Usually whenever they left the house, Rita and Lynn Sr. would always ask someone to run back inside to make sure the oven or stove was off before leaving. But weren't they inside when it happened, judging by how many (not yet confirmed) bodies they saw being taken out of there? How would any of them let something like that go?
"Like I said, it's not confirmed. I'll be honest, it's more of a guess than anything. We didn't have a lot of time to investigate."
The two girls remained silent. Lana faced Lisa, who faced the floor, who couldn't face anyone because it doesn't have eyes. But regardless, the two girls were kind of dazed by their views, especially given the situation.
"Hey Lis… are you okay?"
"What exactly do you think?" Lisa asked, a bit annoyed.
Lana sighed, knowing that any attempt to lighten the mood would prove to be futile. Instead, she just remained silent, and stared through the window for the remainder of the trip. It was a relatively short trip, but for the two girls, what felt like hours was just in its beginning.
