CHAPTER 3: The Visit of Memories and Remorse
Arden was still in prison. She hated the fact that she was going to die. Why can't she have a normal life? Why her? These questions filled her head. What could she do? There was no escape.
"Arden? Arden?" whispered a voice. The voice was feminine. Arden looked at the bars and saw shadowy figures coming to them. As Arden tried to figure out who they were, her eyes were widened. It was two familiar faces, one of them being a supposed enemy.
"…Paige…Laura!!" she said.
Two female mice about Arden's age showed up on the free side of the bars. Paige was wearing a long navy blue dress, white socks, and black shoes. Her hair was long and flowing to her mid back area. Laura was wearing a gray scoop-neck jumper with a white V-neck shirt, with a denim skirt, and blue and white canvas shoes. Her hair was in a French braid.
"Hi, Arden," whispered Paige. Arden held out her paws and touched Paige's paws. As the held their paws, they remembered the day they met…back in 1898.
As Arden gazed into her flashbacks, Paige and Laura tried to gain her attention.
"Arden…Arden!" said Paige. Arden looked at her.
"Hmm?" she asked. She looked at the two visitors.
"Hi Paige…hi Laura," she said. Laura took a step forward.
"Arden…we need to talk to you," she said, trying her best to behave. Arden glared at her supposed opponent.
"I know…you want to talk about losers don't you? That's all you want to do when you're around me. Why are you here, Laura?" she said gloomily. Laura shook her head.
"No…I…I…" she said. Laura looked at Paige.
"Go on," she said. Laura gulped and tried to be very specific.
"Arden, Paige and I have heard some disturbing news. We've recently heard that the queen is dead because of you. The mice of London are saying that you did it. Is that correct?" she asked. Arden nodded.
"It's all because of Olivia. She spread the rumor. It was all because of our rivalry. I'm sure you know about that, Paige," she said, remembering that Paige could see into the future.
"Yes, you called her an ugly word, Olivia went crazy, teamed up with your ex, Hunter, and well…here you are awaiting your death," replied Paige.
"Yeah…and to think that one time, she was my friend…I miss those days. Those were the days when I lived with the Flavershams, went to a normal school, had friends (most of them don't even know where I am), and now, I'm going to be executed on my own birthday," explained Arden.
"We are aware. I found that out on my own too. Continue please, Laura," returned Paige gesturing to Laura. The nervous mouse took a deep breath and continued talking.
"Okay, we are both aware. When Paige saw it in a vision, she told me. A little while after I lost that role in our school play, I met Paige. When I learned that she was psychic, she told me about you, and after everything she told me, I had no choice to believe her. Now, after all this time, let me say that I…am…sorry…" she said. Arden's ears perked.
Did an enemy of hers just say the most difficult sentence in the English language?
"…What did you say?" she whispered.
"I was wrong. You're not a loser…not a freak either. I held my own grudge against you for so long; I had forgotten the good times we had before the day a long time ago when we were only six. I shouldn't have treated you the way I did. If you don't forgive me, I'm not going to blame you…My life is nothing compared to yours. While I've lost only my two friends, Aqua and Rayne, you've lost so much more…I should've listened when people told me that I had hurt others," she said. She looked down and took a step back. She wanted to say so much more, but what could she say? When she attempted to turn away, Arden held out her paw.
"Laura, wait," she said. Laura turned at her with tears running down her furry face.
Arden blinked and looked into Laura's eyes. She took her paw.
Arden knew that Laura Gonzales had become a better person.
"Laura, listen to me. You know our relationship. We hate each other and you know that this all started when we were six and I destroyed your precious doll, and like I've told you before, I'm sorry. And of course, you, Paige, and I both know that my life really sucks. There's no doubt about it. And part of that is because of that is become my sister who I used to think was my friend has turned on me. I can't afford any more loss and pain...which is why I'm accepting your apology. But from now on, I want you to be kinder to others. Understand?" she asked. Laura nodded.
"Yes…and everything we've told you really is true," the ex-bully mouse replied. Paige was starting to get a bit over emotional.
Arden took Laura's paws and held them tightly. Laura tried to hold it in, but she could not. Instead of smiling, she was still frowning. This made Arden wonder.
"Laura, are you okay?" she asked. Laura shook her head.
"No…I'm not," she replied.
"What's up?" asked Arden. Laura started crying.
"Arden...your friends…remember them?" she asked. Arden nodded.
"Yes…what about them?" she asked. Laura placed her head in her paws. She did not want to admit it, but she had to.
"Arden…your friends are gone…" she whispered.