Strange

Summary: Helga disappears, but what leads up to the event? Will she ever be found alive... or be possibly gone forever?

A.N: This is my first fan-fic ever. It's going to be centered mostly around Helga. Rated M because it's going to get violent later on, like at the next chapter and so on, so read at your own risk. I wanted to write this story because, well, I like these types of stories. Don't get me wrong though, I love the other HA! fics where they have a happy ending.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hey Arnold! but I sure as hell would love to.

A lot of questions needed to be answered and they needed to be answered now. No one knew what happened to her. Not her classmates and not even her parents or her 'perfect' sister. Though her parents never paid attention to her, they still cared and wanted to know what happened to their daughter. She disappeared after a few months after she started changing drastically. Was she still alive? Would she ever come back? Was she even in Hillwood still?

The young teenage girl in question vanished around mid-February, well about 3 days after Valentine's Day to be exact. No one had a clue where she went off to, but some had ideas of what could of happened. Only ideas. The search for the missing girl began shorty after she disappeared. It was strong for the first few days, clues were found but later turned up to be dead ends. Search parties tapered off the following days and weeks after no other clues were found. She ended up as an unsolved missing person case.

Later in the week after search parties stopped, her family decided to pack her stuff from her room into the attic. The bigger items, such as her dresser and bed would be placed in the garage and most likely be thrown away at a later date since it took away room from her father's Hummer. The older sister decided to turn the empty room into her's even though she had her own room to herself.

School was going to back to normal somewhat. Her best friend though was still feeling depressed about the events that took place. She was best friends with the missing girl since pre-school. Even though they had their differences at times, they still remained friends. It was a strong bond between them. The young Asian never knew something like this would happen to her best friend. Leaving without a trace.

Even her stalker didn't have a clue where she went and he knew where she was all the time. After every monologue, he would pop up from a trashcan or behind a post only to be punched in the face and fall to the ground. He did feel pretty depressed only because he couldn't be punched square in the face by Old Betsy or the Five Avengers again.

The golden-haired boy that would help anyone in need was saddened by the outcome of the missing girl. They may had their differences, but they got along sometimes. The desk behind him in class was empty ever since she left. The spitballs and name calling stopped. The pranks on the green-eyed boy were no more. It felt different. It didn't feel the same without her.

Would the story of the young Helga Geraldine Pataki ever be solved? Mostly no one cared and were glad that she was gone. She tormented just about everyone that got in her way. She was rude and bossy to everyone. She wanted things her way. She would manipulate people to get the things she wanted. She didn't care, she was the boss and that's all there was to it. But there were a few people who wanted the case to be solved and they would hope to get the answer they needed soon.

Early September: The Beginning of 8th Grade

It was chilly September morning in the city of Hillwood. A cold front came in during the weekend and left about 6 feet of snow. Monday seemed to be the busiest day of the week and it seemed it would only get busier. Snow plows were called in to remove the snow off the streets and off the overpass freeway. Owners of homes and business had the task to remove the snow off their property for the day.

School would be in session on Wednesday. Most of the kids would need to pick up their schedules before it started. Parents would drive their kids to Hillwood Middle School to do so today and tomorrow. Many students didn't want to go back to school, but that was life. They would still have 2 more days until school was back in session. P.S.118 was torn down a few years back and replaced as HMS.

The young blonde with two pigtails dreaded school. It was the least thing she liked. Waking up to the early sunlight and getting dressed up was like a chore for her. She would go downstairs only to find her mother passed out on the couch with a bottle of Vodka or Jack Daniel's in her hand. She would go into the kitchen to get her lunchbox only to found out her lunchbox was empty as usual. She really hated her life. She sometimes wished she didn't have a dysfunctional family, but that ship long sailed away. She could run away, but where would she go? She didn't really know at the time. So she stayed put and dealt with her problems her own way.

Monday afternoon rolled around and she stirred from her sleep. Helga loved waking up later than usual, but it would soon change. She went to her closet to visit her beloved, at least a shrine of him.

"Good morning my beloved" she said stretching her arms out. "I hope you are doing well this fine morning or uh afternoon, whatever you want it to be. I wish I could give you a kiss, a big one too, it would make it all the better to wake up."

Helga went out of her closet and changed from her pajamas to her normal pink dress and white turtleneck shirt underneath. She put on her white socks and shoes. To top it all off, she put on her pink bow to complete her outfit. The day was only beginning for Helga. She has lots of things to do.

Helga decided to pick up her schedule from school just to get it over with and not have to deal with it at the last minute. She went downstairs from her bedroom and into the kitchen to look for something to eat. As usual though, the fridge was empty and so were the cabinets.

"Criminy, why do I even bother looking in here for something to eat" she put her hand into her face. "There is nothing in here at all." Helga went looking for her mother, but she easily found her passed out on the couch in the same place. "Great Miriam, another Jack Daniel's in your hand. I know you can't hear me, but you are piece of something. Really you piss me off. I swear." Helga decided to just help herself and look into Miriam's purse for some money to at least eat something for the day instead of starving. With a couple of twenty dollar bills, she was on her way out the door of the Pataki household, but not forgetting her coat since it was still cold outside.

Helga has a long walk to get to HMS, but she didn't mind. It felt better for her to be out instead of being inside her house with her blowhard father, her alcoholic mother and when she visited, her 'perfect' sister. With her hands in her coat pockets, she was looking at the sidewalk while walking, just thinking about how the new school year would be another boring year. I really hate this crap. Why do I need to go to school. I have better things to do. I mean criminy, I just sit on my ass all day long learning stuff that would probably never be used later in life. What the hell. A scowl replaced whatever facial expression she had before that thought. As she kept walking, she decided to stop to get something to eat since she didn't have any breakfast. Sub King was close by, so Helga decided to get something from there. As she entered the store, she saw Harold in there getting something since he was waiting in line.

"Hey Pink-Boy, don't order everything" she crossed her arms. "Some of us need to eat as well."

"Aw be quiet Hel-ga" he glared at her. "I'm only going to get 5 sandwiches. It won't take long."

Great just great. After a couple minutes and several tappings from Helga's shoe, Harold's orders were finally done and he was out of the store. Finally, I can order.

"Hello, welcome to Sub King" the employee smiled. "What would you like?"

"Yeah, I'll have the Pastrami Sub with extra cheese and make it snappy will ya?" Helga placed her hands on her hips, scowling.

"Alright, that will be $5.49 please" the employee said.

Helga handed her one of the twenties she took from her mother earlier. The man punched in some buttons on the cash register and took out the right amount of change for Helga and handed it to her. The employee went into the back and brought out the ingredients for her sub sandwich. It didn't take very long to put in the pastrami, onions, lettuce, spinach, cheese and bread all together and put it in one of the toaster ovens. A couple of seconds went by until the toaster oven dinged, signaling that it was ready. The man behind the counter took out her subbed, wrapped it up in some paper, put it into a plastic bag and handed it to Helga.

Helga exited the store and began taking out her warm pastrami sub sandwich. The first few bites tasted so good and before she knew it, she was almost done with her food.

She made a left then a right down a familiar street. Vine Street. The street where a red boarding house with the overpass just above it. The street where the vacant lot where they played baseball and the occasional football. The street where all the chaos happened one fateful day where the neighborhood would be torn down from FTI. The bulldozers being destroyed by a crazy old lady. The street getting blown up causing the Scheckvision screen toppling over. The overpass getting blown up with a bus jumping it moments later. It still gave Helga goosebumps just thinking about it, even though it happened years ago.

She continued her way down Vine Street, looking around since she had finished her sandwich. She wondered what would of happened if she never did what she did. To help her beloved, Arnold. She would never get to see him again, or any of the other kids that lived within the vicinity of the neighborhood being torn down. Helga knew she had to do something to stop her dad from tearing down the neighborhood. She would of loved the extra income that the Patakis would receive, but she cared more about a football-headed kid more than anything.

As Helga walked down the street more, getting closer to the boarding house, she was lost in thought until something collided with her from the right knocking her and whoever she ran into, onto the ground. She looked up to see who she ran into.

"Arnold!" she cried, "I mean, watch where you're going you yellow haired shrimp. I mean for once in your life would you stop crashing into me, it's getting very annoying." She got up from where she was and dusted herself off. Oh man, I wish I could just kiss him now. But why can't I do it? I just have too much pride. I don't want the other buffoons from school seeing me acting lovey-dovey. I mean, I'm Helga G. Pataki. I'm supposed to mean, not nice.

"Sorry about that Helga, I was just coming back from-" Before Arnold could finish, Helga shoved Arnold to the floor after he had gotten up. Without a word, she left, continuing on her way to the school to pick up her schedule. Sheesh, what's bugging her today? Arnold got up again from where he was knocked down and continued his way back to the boarding house, keeping his distance from Helga since she appeared to be going the same direction he was.

"What is wrong with me?" she said low enough only for herself to hear. "Why do I continue to mean to the only person I love? Why can't I love him like a child or something?" 'It's because you're scared of him.'A different voice in her head told her. 'You're afraid of the rejection. He would say no and that would crush you. It would ruin your life completely. A simple no from him would be the end for you.'"No, no, I could live without him... at least I think. Right?" 'Perhaps, but why bother going on with your life if the only person you care about doesn't feel the same way as you? What's the point? He wouldn't care about you. All you do when you see him is screw around with him. The longer you do this shit, the longer it'll take for him to actually like you. Just like! Not even close to love. He'll never love you. Ever!'With a bigger scowl on her face, Helga shook her head back and forth trying to remove the thought and voice from her head telling her these things. She didn't want to hear them at all.

"Criminy" she said as she continued walking towards the school, "What the heck is up with me today? Never once I thought like that."

Helga was about a block away from HMS. It was about twice the size of P.S. 118. Some of the surrounding buildings that bordered the former P.S.118 were torn down to accommodate the bigger school. A small track and field was built behind the school as well as more basketball courts. The auditorium was much larger than before. The school itself was a two-story building with more classrooms. Most of the teachers that worked in P.S.118 decided to stay and work in the middle school. Other teachers were hired to fill up the remaining classrooms.

Now standing in front of the school, Helga made her way inside and to the front office where she would pick up her schedule. She asked one of the people that were in the office for her schedule. Helga gave her first and last name and the person that she was talking to that looked into one of the file cabinets and went through the list of folders that were alphabetized. She pulled out the right folder and handed it to the blonde.

Standing outside of the school with her schedule in hand, Helga opened the folder and glanced over who she was going to get for 8th grade. She didn't care who she was going to have as long as they were easy.

With a simple shrug and small sigh, Helga walked toward the direction of her house again. Of course, she would have to pass a certain boarding house again.

As she neared the boarding house, a certain voice crept back into her mind again. This voice wasn't her normal inside voice and she knew that already since it spoke to her earlier. It felt evil and she knew it. But why did it come all of a sudden? Was she changing from the inside? She didn't know. 'Hey I know what would make you feel better. Pour your feelings out to him only to be rejected!'"Criminy, get the heck out of my head, whatever you are." 'Oh c'mon, it wouldn't hurt to try. At least get to know his answer now than never. How long are you going to wait? Until we are in our late thirties or something? The sooner you know, the sooner you can call it quits.'"Un-freaking-believable," Helga put a hand to her temple rubbing it.

She passed by the boarding house, glancing at it every couple of steps. Helga went back the way she came from and went to her house. As she entered through the front door, she can smell the reek of alcohol. Great, Miriam making more smoothies. Helga walked up the stairs and into her bedroom, locking the door behind her to get some peace and quiet. Might as well take a quick nap. She placed her schedule on the table she had by her bed, took off her shoes and laid down on her bed. Strange, my 'evil' voice doesn't show up now. Hmmm. Well I hope it's gone. With this last thought, Helga drifted off to sleep.

A.N: If you guys love it or hate it, let me know! Next chapter should be out shortly.