The Girl Whom Cried

Chapter 4: The Dark Room

Patrick greeted the two teens as he saw them enter the flower shop. Amy ran over to her grandpa, enveloping him in a bear hug. ''You won't believe the day I had!'' She snuggled deeper into him, inhaling and exhaling.

Patrick patted the young girl on her back, gently. ''Are you alright, Amy?''

''No.'' She let him go and groaned. ''My writing teacher is making me attend his public speaking classes.''

''What's so bad about that?''

While Amy and Patrick chatted, Sonic quietly slipped away into the back room where he saw his father counting flowers and checking them off the list. His father was even worse than before. His cheeks were reddened from the cold and his eyes didn't hold color in them any longer. When Sonic tapped his dad on the shoulder, he turned around with a smile. ''How was school?''

Sonic shrugged. ''Good, I guess. We didn't do anything fun.'' Class was typical. It was boring. First, the teacher gave directions, then an assignment, next would be homework. Same old, same old. ''How was your day?''

Sonic's dad shook his head and blew a sigh. ''Busy, as usual. Making money though. We'll be able to eat tonight since it's only going to be you and me.''

''You and me?''

''Yup. Manic is spending a night at a friend's house and Sonia is doing the same.'' He continued to scribble on the clipboard and check the flowers. Suddenly, he stopped and turned to Sonic. ''Don't tell me you were planning something for the weekend as well?''

Sonic did want to go somewhere for the weekend other than be home. Much of a small shed, really. He wanted to run around in a fenced yard and eat in a large kitchen- that had a table! He wanted to live with Tails. ''Nah, dad. It's just going to be you and me.''

''Jules!'' Bellowed Patrick's voice from outside. Sonic peeked into the doorway and sure enough the two of them were heading this way. Jules set the clipboard down and opened the door fully for his boss to walk in.

''Yes, sir?''

Patrick cleared his voice. ''It's almost eight. If you'd like we can stay and help you clean up and maybe treat you out to dinner?''

''No, thank you-''

''Dad!'' Sonic interrupted. Jules turned to his son, an irritated expression etched on his face. ''Can we have a moment of privacy, please?'' Sonic tugged on Jules' arm and went outside to a corner of the shop.

Sonic's P.O.V

I could not believe my dad was being so uptight. He knew we didn't have food, and they were nice enough to invite us for dinner... again. All those invitations turned down! Now, I'm turning the tables whether he likes it or not. I'm tired of being submissive to him.

And, I need to somehow get him to go to a doctor.

''Sonic!'' My dad scolded. ''Your behavior is unaccepted!''

My behavior? ''Dad, they are always inviting us to get something to eat and here you are Mister- I- don't- want- anyone- to- help- me- when- I- really- do- need- help! Stop being so-''

''Who's the grown up and who's the child?'' A felt his hand choke my arm. ''Stop being intolerant!''

I bent my head down to not look at him. ''So, what? We're suppose to starve?''

''We're not going to starve! I made two hundred dollars today by selling cards!''

''Who cares about cards?'' I say, maybe a bit too rude. I knew how much my dad loved those cards because him and my sister made them. I had no feelings for those cards. In fact, I completely hate them. Before, my dad could yell at me farther, I changed the subject. ''Two hundred dollars is not enough to support us! Newsflash dad, but food prices went up since last year!''

His grip hardened on my skin and he stared at me for some time. Perhaps, thinking? Whatever it was all I know is that my arm is in pain. ''What I say goes.'' With that being said, he let go and continued to work. I rubbed my arm at the red spot.

''Thank you for the offer, Patrick, but no thanks. My son and I will be eating in our beautiful home.'' Wow. Two lies in one sentence.

''Are you alright?'' Amelia's voice scared me. I jumped out my skin when I turned to see her. Her jade eyes were wide, glistening. It seemed as if she'd been crying or the sun shining down in them.

I nodded. ''I'm fine.''

''You wanna go for a walk?'' She wanted to talk. Not walk. She probably want some business out of me that I refused to tell anyone. But, a walk away from the scene that just played, my mind could use the justice. Without saying a word to the two, we walked out, that little bell chiming.

The neighborhood was awful. Litter everywhere and the once green grass on lots appeared to be yellow with abandonment. Many of the houses were boarded up around here, some with graffiti from gangs. The most writings come from ''Ride or Die: PythonNation!'' I always wondered who they were. If they ever ended up in jail.

Other parts was an abandoned park with two broken swings and a dusty slide. The chips of ground of the field was a darkish black brown. Bird poop sat on top of swings and the play set. It was really sad sight on such a beautiful day.

It was better than where I lived.

There were people that still live in these houses even though they aren't modern. I don't live in a house. i live in a small shed with a connecting kitchen and dad's room. Sonia, Manic, and I shared a room. Manic and I shared a bed and Sonia got to sleep in her own bed. We didn't have a bathroom or shower. We had a outhouse and we used a hose to shower up.

We had to move there after our mom died. While mom was living, she made all the money. She was a lawyer- a good eye for weakness and a charge brain. My dad was in the process of owning his own business until that eventually failed and mom was left to provide for us. Now, she's dead and we were forced to move out and move in where we are now.

At least we have each other.

''Is there something going on between you and Sally?'' What? Weird question that came out of Amelia's mouth. Why would there be something going on with Sally and me? The girl was pretty, I'll give her those points, but she was annoying as hell! Probably, because she hung around my sister and my sister love to irritate the shit out of me.

''No.'' I abruptly say.

''Oh.'' She said. ''I thought... there was...''

I shrugged. ''She might like me, but I don't like her. '' There was no point in continuing this subject. So, I changed it. ''So, you going to Mr. James speaking classes? You could've just read the paper-''

Amelia groaned. ''You sound just like him! I can't read a paper. My voice gets really mess up if I try.''

''Everyone going to have fears of public speaking even if they are the most talkative person in class-''

''I don't want to go.''

''What did Patrick say about it?''

Amelia huffed. ''He thinks it would be a good chance for me to build up my skills.'' She shook her head and dug her hand in her pockets. We stopped at a dead end, where a pond was flowing below a small hill. I jumped over the fence and helped Amelia get to the other side. Together, we walked down to the pond and sat down on the grass. ''He wants me to get into politics or the law enforcement career once older.''

''Law enforcement? Politics? What a choice!'' I say with sarcasm. ''To be honest, I hate both career fields.''

''Exactly. They're boring to me. I barely can watch the news for ten minutes without going to sleep by four minutes into the program!'' We laughed.

''What do you want to be when you grow up?'' She later asked.

I shrugged. ''I don't know. Rich, maybe.''

Amelia laughed. ''You can't be Rich as a job field. I'm talking about career. What do you want to do for a career?''

I shrugged yet again. ''I don't have anything in mind.''

''Seriously?'' Amelia said. ''Me either. My grandmother wants me to be a cook-''

''You can cook?''

''Ever since I was five. And bake.''

I suddenly had an idea rise in my head. Subconsciously, I grabbed her hand in mine and smile. She stared at me confused. Her eyes glittered back and forth from mine to the pond. Was she nervous? I got up from my seat and pulled her along. ''Come on, I want you to try something.''

''Shouldn't we get back to the flower shop?''

''Nah not right now. This is important.'' I gave her my signature grin and we hopped back over the fence. i ran with her hand in my hand and together we passed the isolation of Station Square. The place looked like it belong with a thousand dead ghosts. Something like halloween decorations, but much horror than it really was. Thank Mobius it wasn't dark when we went on this walk.

I halted at an abandoned building. Amelia smacked behind me, hurting her head. Compared to me, it felt like I was hit by a stuff animal. ''Damn, Sonic! What are you made of? Bricks?'' She rubbed her temple and groaned. I laughed, ''Sorry. I workout a lot though.'' I flex my arms out of amusement to impress her.

Through it all she smiled, her cheeks tinted red. ''What is it that you want to show me?''

I pointed in front of me, ''This.'' It wasn't much. It was a small boarded up building with grass growing on the side of it. The windows been shot through mulitple times and the wood used was quickly molded. The police tape once used was discarded. I glanced at the girl beside me, her smile was forced. I knew she didn't like it. ''It isn't much, but it'll do.'' I took some steps further and motioned her to follow through the side of the building.

''It'll do for what?'' She asked, following behind me. We walked a few meters down the ghastly alleyway and from there I felt the building, looking for the familiar entrance. Amelia gazed at me, confused as to why I was touching the horrid place. ''It's somewhere around here.''

''What are we doing here, Sonic?''

''Wait, Amelia. You will see.'' I say, swearing at the wall. It refused to open up for me. Frustrated, I pushed the bricks into the wall, hoping that they would fall out of place so we could enter the darn thing. I was out of luck. ''This is hell bent! I know this place has an entrance.''

''You've been here before?'' I heard Amelia's footsteps behind me and I turned to glance at her, sighing. I never answered her question. Once more, I grabbed hold of the building and with all my strength I pushed down some of the bricks. There, the entrance came. Brick by brick fell, creating a large enough hole for the both of us to enter. I stepped into the empty place, nodding for Amelia to follow me. She stood there for a few minutes, contemplating if she should run instead of follow. She was scared of the cobwebs and she didn't feel as if it were clean enough to enter. ''It's not going to eat you, you know.'' I say before stepping deeper into the building.

It still looked the same way I left it. The floor was covered with dirt and broken glass. Tables spawned in every direction and white covers covered the furniture. The stairs were perfectly intact, it's where I mainly went up to when I needed some alone time. A few years back I founded the place and decided to call it my second home. My ears twitched when I heard a few steps behind me. Amelia came by my side, her face etched cowardness. ''It's not the best place.''

''Yeah,'' She nodded. ''I could tell.''

I smile. ''Remember Olley's? That place that sold amazing pizza and cheesebread?''

Amelia laughed. ''I loved that place! My grandparents used to take me there all the time.''

I gestured around the room, breathing in that musky scent. ''Well, this is the place. Once the manager was found dead upstairs, the place was closed because people were scared. He was murdered by a drive-by group of boys.''

''That's awful.'' Amelia whimpered. ''Who could do such a thing?''

''The many questions we ask about life.'' I say, heading towards the stairs. ''Why do people kill? Why do people commit suicide? Why do people kidnap others? Is there a point in doing all that?'' I turn to Amelia. ''Care to follow me?'' She scrambled by my side, like a little puppy. I skipped up the first few stairs. ''Watch out for the third stair, it's broken.'' I warned her. She skipped over it and smiled at me.

Once we got up the stairs, everything was where I left it. A air mattress I bought a few years earlier was still laying motionless on the ground with my blue cover sprawled over it. A few snacks laid on the ground with some dirty dishes. Some of my clothes was also in the room. Amelia stared, confused. ''I thought this place was abandoned?''

''It is.'' I skipped over to the bed, falling freely on my back. This bed was more comfortable than the one I shared with Manic. ''But, it's Sir Sonic's now.'' I stated, proudly.

Amelia scoffed. ''You come here to sleep?''

''Trust me, it's better than going home.'' I sit up from the bed and stare at her. ''You just don't understand ,Amelia. You never will.''

Amelia rolled her eyes. ''I understand a lot once people tell me things.'' She crossed her arms and looked around the dark room. The only light that gave way was the sun, shining through the bullet holes in the window. Her eyes landed on a spot splattered with blood. She pointed at it, ''Is that where?...''

''Yup, shot him right through the head.'' I said. ''I think there's still parts of his brain lying somewhere around her?...'' I heard her squeak and landed right next to me. She gently sat on the bed, close to me that I could feel her skin against mine. ''Don't be scared. He doesn't haunt.''

She snorted. ''I wasn't scared. I was just-''

''Surprised? Afraid? Weirded-out?-''

''Yeah, somewhere along those lines.'' She nodded. She took one of her hands to brush a stray quill out her face before a soft blow from her mouth came out. She shook her head at me, ''Can't believe you sometimes sleep here. You don't mind the stench?''

I stare at her for a while, smiling unknowingly. ''It doesn't bother you after awhile.'' And it doesn't. I learned how to get use to the horrible stench of blood and dirt the first few weeks I spent here. It was nice and quiet. Like, Serene. Though when I think of Serene I think of beauty and this place is anything except beauty.