To FeatherSunfire : Thank youu so muchh! And I hope you the best for your first fanfiction!
The Almost Truth : Chapter 2
In the morning...
Siddeley woke up first. He stretched his landing gears a little then he ready to go. When he rolled out from the mattress, the mattress get a little bumpy. But even that, didn't wake Snowy up.
Siddeley let her sleep for a little while, while he prepared some breakfast for him and for Snowy.
After he finished, he went back to his mattress and see that Snowy is still asleep. Siddeley lowered his nose to nudge Snowy awake. But before he nudged her, Siddeley saw something he wish he never see.
Snowy's little body looks pretty fine from afar. But when you look closely, her little body is actually pretty small and thin for a child her age. Her body has so many bruises and maybe cuts, which some are new and some are old. So actually her body looks so beat up.
Siddeley can only see the bruise on her face, but he wouldn't be surprise if he see some other bruises under that white long sleeves shirt of her.
Siddeley can't help it but to see her so...vurnerable, so...fragile. Siddeley want to wake her up and tell her to eat something because her body looks so thin, but he also can see that she looks so tired out. So Siddeley let her sleep for another while.
In the afternoon...
Siddeley become more worried about Snowy now. She hasn't woke up even once in all day. Siddeley himself stay at his hanger because he was worried about Snowy and fortunately that today is his day off, so he didn't have to go to work.
But he has to go to work tomorrow and he can't leave a-must-surely-sick-child alone in his big hanger. So Siddeley decided that he will take her to the hospital today to see what's going on.
But then he remembered that this is Cars world. They never see another human since centuries ago. The vehicles will be surprise if they see another one. So Siddeley is going to take the girl to one place that first come into his mind. But first, he have to wake Snowy up.
So Siddeley nudged her side gently. Snowy stirred a little, but she didn't wake up. She was too tired out. Siddeley nudged her again but a little harder, not too hard of course, and it did the trick, Snowy finally wake up, well, half awake actually. But that's good enough for Siddeley, as long as she isn't going to sleep again.
"Wake up Snowy. We need to go now" Siddeley said gently. Snowy, who is still half awake, tried to process what Siddeley was saying in her head, and then she finally said...
"Okay..." Snowy said weakly and tirely. When Siddeley heard her weak voice, he become more worried.
"Okay then, just go inside me and we will be there in a minute" Siddeley said.
"Inside you?" Snowy asked in confusion.
"Yes, come on in" Siddeley said while turned around and open his hatch on the back near his tail wings. Snowy went in and then sit on one of the chairs and then she asked...
"Where are we going?" Snowy asked.
"To the HQ, we'll be there in a few minutes" Siddeley said.
"HQ?" Snowy asked in curiousity.
"Head Quarters of where I work, you'll see it yourself when we get there" Siddeley said.
Well Siddeley was true to his words when he said they will arrive in a few minutes. Siddeley didn't even have to use his afterburners. Well his hanger is only a few minutes away from the HQ, so when there's an emergency, he can be ready in a flash.
Siddeley and Snowy arrived there at the HQ. There are many cars passing around and many of them are busy. Snowy took interest in them because they all look like New York city residents, but the only differences is that they are vehicles, not humans.
Siddeley went into some kind of room which walls are all white. In there, there's a car with a beige colour and wear a pair of glasses. When he saw Siddeley, he smiled...
"Hello Siddeley" the car greeted.
"Hello Doctor Wilson" Siddeley greeted back.
"What brings you here today on your day off? I'm pretty sure you didn't come here just to talk" Doctor Wilson said. Siddeley just grinned and said...
"Well, I guess you are right doctor, I need you to check on something" Siddeley said and then opened his hatch door on the back. Snowy knew that it was her cue to come out, so she did.
When Doctor Wilson saw Snowy, he just gasped slightly and didn't look really surprised. Snowy was confused with his little than less reaction though.
"You aren't surprised?" Snowy asked. Now it's Siddeley's and Doctor Wilson's turn to get confuse.
"What do you mean 'I'm not surprised'?" Doctor Wilson asked in confusion.
"Well, I don't know if I'm right or not, but as far as I know, there's no human around here and the only living things around here are living vehicles, right?" Snowy asked, but more like a statement. Siddeley and Doctor Wilson were surprised though.
"How did you figure that out if I may ask?" Doctor Wilson asked, but with a genuine smile on his face.
"Well it's not that hard actually. When I was inside Siddeley, I can see the outside from the window. I saw that there's only living vehicles around and there's no human, so does this place. So I have a conclusion that this is a Cars world?" Snowy said. Siddeley and Doctor Wilson were quite amused with her observation skill.
"Yes, you are very right. Well to answer your first question, about 'Why I'm not surprised when I see you', is because there's actually some humans around here before, but it was over centuries ago. We know about it because we learn it in our history lessons when we were young" Doctor Wilson said, explaining.
"Oh..." Snowy said shortly.
"Well then, I think we haven't introduced ourselves, my name is Wilson. Doctor Wilson. Nice to meet you" Doctor Wilson said.
"My name is Snowy. Nice to meet you too, Doctor Wilson" Snowy said politely in her British accent.
But with no reason, Doctor Wilson gasped slightly when he heard her name. Snowy noticed it though, so she asked...
"What's wrong Doctor?" Snowy asked. But Doctor Wilson immediately put his normal face and then said...
"No, nothing. Nothing at all" Doctor Wilson said immediately. Snowy was a little suspicious but she let it slide. That's when Siddeley decided to speak up...
"Well, I need your help to check on her, Doctor. Can you do that?" Siddeley asked. There was a hint of concerned in his voice, which was noticed by Doctor Wilson. But he let it slide and didn't question it.
"I could do that" Doctor Wilson said and then prepared a mattress on a car lift for Snowy to sit on. Snowy was confused though, so she said...
"Wait. Check on me? For what? I'm completely fine" Snowy said, clearly rejecting the check up.
"I won't say you are 'completely fine' young lady. That bruise of yours on your cheek is pretty noticeable if you look closely" Siddeley said in a stern voice, almost scolding.
Snowy was silence in second. She was pretty sure that she already hide all of her bruises. But Siddeley seems to read her mind, because he said...
"You can't hide your bruises forever Snowy. Sooner or later someone will notice it too. And I won't be surprised if there some other bruises under that long sleeves shirt of yours" Siddeley said in a lecture tone and clearly scolding her a little.
"Let me see that for a while, may I?" Doctor Wilson said gently. Snowy was reluctant at first, but she knows that Siddeley won't let her get away from it. So, she just nodded.
Doctor Wilson examined her noticeable bruises on her face and hands. Then Doctor Wilson put some cream or ointment on the bruises so it would heal faster. Doctor Wilson then asked her something, she wish that he wouldn't ask.
"You were bullied, aren't you?" Doctor Wilson said in a matter of fact tone. Siddeley's and Snowy's eyes widened in the same time, but for different reasons.
Siddeley was shocked because Doctor Wilson's statement confirms of what frighten him after he saw her bruises. While Snowy was shocked because Doctor Wilson has guessed it, right to the point.
"H-How do you know?" Snowy asked in a whisper, but Siddeley and Doctor Wilson still could hear it clearly.
"It was simple. There are many types of bruises, and your bruises could have come from two options. First one, your parents abused you. But it was not the cause of your bruises, because you aren't scared or traumatized with adults when you meet them, so that's not the case here. The other option is bullying. The bullies always hit their victims in random spots, just like where your bruises are. Did I miss anything?" Doctor Wilson said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Not a single one" Snowy said sarcasticly in a whisper. But Siddeley heard it.
"Snowy!" Siddeley scolded.
"Sorry..." Snowy said.
"Well, I never want to be curious around other people's business, but I want to ask you something. How old are you?" Doctor Wilson asked.
"I'm...seven" Snowy said.
Doctor Wilson seems to be thinking for a while and then said...
"Snowy, could you go outside for a while? I need to speak with Siddeley for a moment" Doctor Wilson said to Snowy, while eyeing Siddeley.
"O..kay..." Snowy said and then went outside. After the door was closed, Doctor Wilson turned around and then motioned Siddeley to follow him. Siddeley, who understand what the motion means, reluctantly followed.
Doctor Wilson went to his book shelf and then pulled one of the books there. Then the book shelf opened to a secret room. Siddeley wasn't surprised because there are many secret rooms in the HQ, including this one.
Doctor Wilson closed the door and then turned around to face Siddeley. What Doctor Wilson says, shocked Siddeley the most...
"Do you think she was 'her'?" Doctor Wilson asked in a serious tone.
Siddeley knew that "she" was refer to Snowy. And he definitely knows what "her" refers to...
"I don't think so. She was supposed to be with her mother and not wonder off alone here at the Cars world. She's not her. I'm certain of it" Siddeley said seriously.
"But she has white snow hair and sea blue eyes! She was seven years old, just like her!" Doctor Wilson said, almost loosing his patience.
"With all due respect, Doctor Wilson, I know what my daughter's look like and I'm certain that she was not her!" Siddeley said, who is starting to loose his own patience.
"And you were saying that she has the same name was all a coincidence?!" Doctor Wilson asked in an exclaim tone.
"Yes! And besides, my daughter was in humans world! How do you think she can be here if she doesn't even know about this world?!" Siddeley said a little furiously. Doctor Wilson knew that Siddeley was sensitive about his family. But this time was an exception.
"And of she fell into this world just like some vehicles experienced?" Doctor Wilson said, and he knew that he had hit the main point of this argument, because Siddeley was quiet after he said it. So Doctor Wilson said...
"Siddeley, I'm not joking. She could be her. She is just like what you described to me about your daughter. She has white snow hair and a pair of sea blue eyes. She's seven years old and her name is Snowy. What other proofs that you need to prove her that she was your daughter?" Doctor Wilson said unpatiently. He began to loose his usual calmness.
They both stay silent, until Doctor Wilson broke the ice and said...
"Have you asked her, her full name?" Doctor Wilson asked.
Siddeley was silent, but answer reluctantly...
"I...I'm afraid to know..." Siddeley said. Doctor Wilson noticed Siddeley's hesitation, so he asked...
"Afraid to know that she is your daughter?" Doctor Wilson asked. Siddeley only could nod slowly. Both of them went quiet for awhile, then Doctor Wilsom said...
"You don't have to ask her now, you know" Doctor Wilson said.
"What do you mean?" Siddeley asked in confusion.
"You don't have to ask her full name now, but you can observed her personality and behaviour. So then you can see of she is your daughter or not, which I actually very certain that she is..." Doctor Wilson said suggesting for the first part, but whisper to himself about the last part.
"Alright" Siddeley reluctantly agreed, but Doctor Wilson can see that there's a light of hope in Siddeley's eyes.
"Okay then. I'll go get Snowy" Doctor Wilson said and then went outside to find Snowy. Leaving Siddeley alone in the room.
'What should I do if she is my daughter? Should I told her to stay? Or to go back? Her mother must be worried sick' Siddeley thought. But his spinning mind stop abruptly when he saw Snowy went back into the room.
'What was I thinking about? What I should do now, is to take care of her for the time being and keep her safe. The truth itself will revealed itself when the time comes' Siddeley thought.
"Okay then. Let's go home for now Snowy. Thank you Doctor Wilson. I appreciate all of your help for today" Siddeley said.
"No problem at all Siddeley. It's my pleasure. I'll see you in one week Snowy, to check on your bruises" Doctor Wilson said firmly for Snowy.
Snowy groaned slightly at this and make both vehicles chuckled.
"Okay then, let's go home Snowy. It's already late and it's almost your bed time" Siddeley said.
"Okay... But, Siddeley, why did you bring me here in the first place?" Snowy asked curiously.
"Well...the vehicles at C.H.R.O.M.E are all spies and they knew that humans are still alive until this days, so they won't be surprise when they see a human. While, I'm one hundred percent sure that normal vehicles will scared out of their metals if they see a human" Siddeley said explaining.
"Ohh...Okay... But, why did you bring me? I mean, for what purpose?" Snowy asked, clearly wasn't satisfied with the previous answer.
"You were sick, so I bring you here, so Doctor Wilson could check on you and you know the rest" Siddeley calmly said.
Snowy have to try not to roll her eyes, because of Siddeley's scolding look to her. While Doctor Wilson try to hold his chuckle while seeing that.
"Okay then, see you in a week Snowy, and try not to do something rough" Doctor Wilson said.
"Yes, Doctor Wilson" Snowy obidiently said.
"Go inside Snowy. We'll be home shortly" Siddeley said.
"Okay" Snowy said with a little yawn. Siddeley chuckled a little at that, because she looks so cute.
Snowy went inside Siddeley, then he closed his ramp or hatch door. Siddeley and Doctor Wilson nodded to each other. Then Siddeley went outside and flew to his hanger. He opened his ramp door to let Snowy out. But when Snowy didn't come out yet, he quickly asked loudly...
"Snowy?" Siddeley asked. Snowy who has been sleeping, woke up because of Siddeley's loud voice.
"Yes...?" Snowy sleepily asked.
"I want you to eat something first Snowy, before you go back to sleep" Siddeley said.
"Okay..." Snowy said sleepily.
"You got some food in your backpack?" Siddeley asked.
"I guess so..." Snowy answered sleepily, while getting out from Siddeley. Then she went to the big black mattress to get her backpack.
She opened her backpack and then grabbed a bread. Siddeley looked at the bread with a dissaproving look. Snowy noticed it and decided to ask...
"What's wrong?" Snowy asked.
"Is that the only food that you're going to eat?" Siddeley asked.
"Ehmm...yeah?" Snowy said.
"That amount was too little, even for you, Snowy! No wonder you're so thin and small" Siddeley said in a very concerned tone.
"It was the usual thing that I eat" Snowy said shrugging. Siddeley wasn't convinced slightly about that.
"That doesn't mean you have to eat only that for now" Siddeley slightly scolded.
"But I don't have anything else..." Snowy said.
Siddeley was confuse too, he knows that humans can't drink oil. 'But perhaps...' Siddeley thought and then asked...
"Can you drink oil?" Siddeley asked.
"Oil? I guess I could..." Snowy said.
"You can?" Siddeley asked in disbelief.
"Yeah...I once drink it when I was 4 years old and it taste delicious. It was strange for normal humans though. Even my father scolded me when I drank it. After that I never try it again" Snowy said.
Siddeley was lost in his thoughts though when Snowy was done. Because Siddeley remembered that he once scolded his daughter when she was 4 years old because of drinking some oil...
"Siddeley?"
Siddeley then snap back to the reality when he heard Snowy's voice. He look to Snowy who was half-eating her bread, but then stoo when she noticed Siddeley was staring at her unconsciously.
"Oh, ehm, sorry. Just finish your bread for now. I will return shortly with the oil" Siddeley said in his British accent. Then he went to the kitchen to grab a can of oil.
When he came back to the hanger part where his mattress is, he can't find Snowy anywhere. He was still calm because he thinks maybe that Snowy was wandering off around the hanger. Then he went around to look for her.
After 2 hours... (Around 9 p.m)
Siddeley was become more franticly worried now. It's already one hour but he still can't find Snowy. He searched back and forth, around his hanger, but he still can't find her.
'She won't dare...' Siddeley thought, then went outside of the hanger. It didn't take long for Siddeley to find Snowy, who was wandering around outside.
"Snowy!" Siddeley scolded. Siddeley can't help it but to scold her. He was worried sick and it's already night time, what was she thinking?
Snowy jumped almost 2 feets from the ground when she heard Siddeley's voice. She turned around and find a mixture look from worry and angry of Siddeley's. Snowy can only smile sheepishly.
"Hi...there Siddeley...ehm, what are you...doing here?" Snowy asked nervously. Siddeley can only stare at her with a scolding look and a disapproving look, then said...
"I'm about to ask you the same thing young lady. What do you think you're doing out here in the middle of the night?! You should be in bed by now!" Siddeley scolded.
"I...I'm..." Snowy trailed off and can't find a word in her tounge. She isn't used to be scold like that. It has been a long time when someone scold her like that. Well, there are many people who angry with her in the past 2 years after her parents died, but they scold her because they were annoyed with her. While Siddeley..., scold her because he care for her? Siddeley didn't say it though, but his eyes held a concerned look...
Snowy was shivering though because the air at night was cold. Siddeley noticed it and softened a bit, but still had the sterness in his eyes. He went closer to Snowy and lowered his nose to nudge Snowy forward to move towards his hanger.
When they reached the hanger, Siddeley quickly wrapped Snowy in a blanket. When he did that, he noticed that Snowy was wearing her backpack on her back. He has his guessing, but he wanted to male sure by hearing it with her own voice. So he asked...
"Why did you went out alone in the middle of the night Snowy?" Siddeley asked with a stern voice. Like a parent do to their child.
Snowy was silent. She didn't answer, because she feels like she was being scold by her own father... But Siddeley isn't her father, even though he has the same name as her father...
"Snowy..." Siddeley said warningly. Snowy tensed, but decided to answer.
"I... But I only stay for one night..." Snowy reasoned. By this time, Siddeley was confused.
"What do you mean,'one night'?" Siddeley asked, still held the sterness in his voice.
"But last night you said,'you can stay here for tonight', isn't that means that I only stay here for one night, which is last night?" Snowy asked innocently.
"But you don't have anywhere else to stay" Siddeley said.
"I could stay on the tree or something... I will eventually find a place to stay" Snowy said. But Siddeley wasn't convinced even a single bit, so he said...
"Out of a question young lady. You're staying with me until further notice and that's final" Siddeley said in his firm and stern voice, just like when he's working on a case, to say that he means it and no arguing.
"But..." Snowy said, but cut off by Siddeley.
"No buts, now here, drink this oil, it's still warm" Siddeley said sternly, but softly in the end.
Snowy just nodded and drink the oil. While Siddeley is in a deep thoughts...
'She has the same personality like my daughter...stubborn, and most of all...good at running away... Could she really is my daughter?'
Snowy broke Siddeley's deep thoughts by asking sleepily...
"Siddeley... I don't want to go back... Can I stay here?" Snowy asked in her sleep position on the mattress. She was very sleepy, so she only mumble a bit, but Siddeley can hear it clearly.
"Sure. Besides, you already stuck with me, kid" Siddeley said with a smile. Snowy smiled back a little and sleepily. Soon enough, she already fall asleep.
Siddeley nuzzled her softly and then said...
"I won't let anything happen to you anymore. I promise"
Siddeley rolled on to the mattress slowly, so he won't wake Snowy up. Before going to sleep, he managed to thought...
'I don't care if she's my daughter or not. I will take care of her'
And they both sleep in peaceful and happy mind...
A.N : It's not done yet. There are still more chapters to come. The mistery is still unlock. So, thank you for reading! Let me know what you think about this one! See you in the next chapter!