The Cold Shoulder:
Conclusion

Blaze still couldn't believe that this was happening to her. Under the heaviest pressure and the most exigent circumstances, she felt like bursting, exploding away into nothingness. The massive infrastructure around her wouldn't protect her from Frost. The nature of the trees and the sweet-natured animals, even the more violent ones, probably wouldn't save her from facing Frost. Is this how a sister treats another sister? Like a foreigner? Like a creature from another planet, met with hostility and hatred for something she didn't do? Why is Frost treating me like this? Because I wasn't there? Well, if she wants to know everything, I'll tell her what she wants to know.

I looked at her and saw her movements. They were slow, almost robotic as she breathed soft, bated breaths. What was she doing? Trying to stall for time wouldn't slow time down. If she knew very well that what she was going to do would cement our relationship together as sisters forever, then why was she hesitating? I couldn't hold back my patience just waiting for her. The rain above us poured down harder, and lightning struck at the sea water. The gentle downpour had shifted to a thunderstorm. Thunder clapped loudly against the troposphere, causing the earth under my feet to tremble. "Well?" I snapped. "What's taking so long? Let's hear it all. Let's hear everything you have to say. I'm all ears, sister." Why I still referred to her as sister, I don't know. Maybe I was anticipating the love ready to fill my body, to open my heart and allow our broken relationship flourish, to cumulate her adage within and let it flow deep within my mind. This was it.

"Whatever you want," she responded, "sister."

How she said the word sister surprised me because she always seemed so happy or concerned when she said it. Now, it sounded deep, dark, and misanthropic, like she was desperate to prove a point. This was it. This was the convergence of everything that I wanted. All I wanted was for her to tell the truth. Just come to me and tell me everything that happened. I wanted to hear it. I wanted her to say that she didn't come to save me. I wanted her to admit her wrongs and come crawling to me, scuffling on her knees, begging me for forgiveness. I would embrace her and we would be sisters again. My ears perked up and I 100% focused.

"Frost…"

"Yes?"

"I…"

"Yes?"

"Forgive you."

"Yes! Ye- wait. What?"

"I forgive you for what you've done. You blame this all on me because of your past misfortunes, then you come and reprimand me for their wrongdoings. You lunge at me and damage my throat. You use the most foul language against me and you spit in my face. Well, I forgive you. I forgive you from the deepest corners of my heart."

What in the world was I listening to? Did God hate me? Was I all by myself? I couldn't believe the words that came from her mouth. Just the way she said it, so calm and collected, made it even more disgusting. "I forgive you?" What was this nonsense, this toxic gunk, this malicious whisper haunting my ears? She was supposed to be admitting her wrongdoing towards me, painfully wallowing in her pathetic misery so I could comfort her. I was speechless. My jaw dropped to the floor and my eyes were just on the edge of popping from their sockets. This blasphemy that she was spewing made me want to rip my ears off and throw them into the unending ocean. Pretty sure I wouldn't be able to hear what she was trying to brainwash me with. "Blaze…what is the matter with you? How could you forgive me? I did nothing wrong!"

"And you wanted to hear the truth as to what happened today? You want to know why I wasn't there to prevent that tragedy? Well, I'll tell you the truth. You can choose to believe it, or you can bow it off as another lie. Your choice."

"B-Blaze…w-why?"

"It's the afternoon. The time is 2:30 PM. There I was, just walking around, letting the warm air and the rays of the sun splash my fur. Nothing was bothering me. Silver knew where I was going. I told him where I was going. I said that I was going to see my sister. It's been so long since I've actually saw her face, so I decided that it would be nice to give her a big hug and let her know that I wasn't ever going to leave her side," she said, smacking emphasis on the last few words. "After turning the corner of the building that contained our house, I heard some clamor. I ran to see what it was. As it turns out, there was a group of angry citizens crowded about a dark alley. Then, I heard people shouting, "Akuma! Akuma!" I said to myself, "Akuma? What do they mean by Akuma?" I remembered the lessons I was taught about the Black Cat Myth which states that the black cat would bring tormenting, pain and suffering for 1,000 years to whoever looked directly into its eyes. I was smart to know that it was just a myth, though. Instantly, I was reminded of you. Nobody could blesss me that kind of beautiful smile and those magnificent eyes. Just because they labeled you, that didn't mean it would change how I felt about you. I ran even faster when I heard the screams of agony. I got a glimpse of the white coat and the white fur and confirmed that it was you. I tried my hardest to break through the massive crowd of people, but it was hard. More people just kept coming, gathering together in one massive wall that prevented me from progressing any further. "One step forward, two steps back." That's what happened to me. Every time it seemed that I was closer to my goal, I was pressed backwards an even greater distance. That's when I heard the crowd cheering that just vexed me to no end. They all carried me away from you. I couldn't escape their grasp. That's when I saw your eyes open. You're hungry for revenge. And this is how you intend to get it."

It was official. The world was against me. What I heard was a crime, a sin, a blatant mortification against my senses that smacked me so hard it caused me to surrender. My entire body fell numb. My hands dropped to the floor along with my legs, which were as brittle as toothpicks. My knees scraped against the concrete. The lightning struck the coastline again while the thunder roared monstrously. Oh, if only that lightning would strike me, ending my pathetic existence. Nothing could stop hatred from pulling me down into the murky depths of Hell where I practically belonged. Every morsel, every fabric, every single molecule of my being was corroded and was left for dead. Nobody loved me. Nobody cared about me. Blaze, Silver, they didn't care. They never acknowledged how I felt. I was left alone and defenseless in the pouring rain. Each raindrop felt like an explosion tearing me down. Piece by piece, I collapsed and fell from my pedestal, crumbling into a million pieces against the cold floor. "B-Blaze…you didn't. Y-you…c-can't j-j-us…!" I blubbered. My eyes burned from the sensation of my tear ducts sucking themselves dry. I was blinded by my tears flooding my ember eyes. Why didn't she just set me on fire right there? Fire melts ice, right? So why not just melt me and watch me evaporate and become one with the air? I was already dead. Why make me suffer amongst the living any further? "…Y-you…y-you…"

"Frost…I love you. You can't tear yourself down like this. It's not healthy. It's not good for you. I've told you the truth. And I gave you your apology. This is what you wanted to hear, right?" Blaze said. Her sagging wet ponytail flapped in the wind as the torrents kept falling.

I remained silent. I didn't want to hear anymore. If this is what I was to be reduced to, then this was the end. I didn't need anyone. All those people who hurt me, Silver, Blaze, I didn't need any of them. Those vehement, venomous cheers from the tongues of men and women, the lies from my sister, the obliviousness of Silver, I didn't need any of it. I gripped my hands tighter and tighter until blood started to seethe through my gloves. All I needed was pain to ease the greater pain that polluted my soul: The pain of betrayal.

"Frost, can you hear me?" she said, stepping closer to Frost. "Frost, please answer me. I know that you can hear me. Please. I just need to hear those words. I know you know what they are. All you have to do is say them."

I grew deaf and dumb for a moment. All around me was a blur and I could envision myself in Hell. The fires melting away my body, melting away my bones and my sweaty face, all of it melting into the searing flames of Lucifer himself, severing all those memories that caused me so much anguish; the smell of sulfur smelt good right now. Maybe the feeling of melting wouldn't be so bad. Just then, I was brought back by a voice calling me, telling me to say the words. I looked up and saw Blaze with her hand stretched out, palm open wide. As if I was going to take this remark as something serious. Not for a second would I. She wanted me to say the words so bad, then I would just for her sake. She deserved it.

"Frost, are you there?" she said again. "Just say the words. Just say them to me. Blaze the Cat, your twin sister."

Gently, I took her hand in mine and squeezed it softly. It was warm with a strong pulse. I moved my fingers up towards her wrist, passing here veins until I reached her arm. Covered by the sleeves of her shirt, my intended target was in full view. I wrapped my hand around her arm and let my ice circulate around it. Anger flowed in my eyes and a whirlwind of plagued hatred ran through my heart. My ice was the most devious thing I had right at this very moment. I could feel the warmth inside her dying. Halfway up her arm, it was pale and cold. The blood stopped flowing and it was time. I opened my mouth wide and snapped my teeth down on the frozen wound. I heard her scream out in agony. Her screams were like music to my ears. A sweeter symphony I hadn't heard in so long. Whatever blood that was pooling back to the pale area was seething from her wound. I dug my canines deeper, burrowing even farther and harder, scraping at the skin. It didn't taste very pleasant, but if it meant that bitch wouldn't bother me again, so be it.

A barely conscious got a view of the scene before him. He ignored the sting in his arm and jetted to help Blaze. He limped slightly as he pressed himself forward. He cursed the frostbite on his arm holding him back. He could still feel Frost's morbid touch slathering his arm with palates of black ice. He shivered at the thought. "Blaze, hold on!"

I looked up and saw Silver approaching me. I released my fangs from Blaze's arm and pushed her backwards. Silver managed to catch her in time, holding her close as soon as she fell into his grip. 'Don't worry, Blaze. I've got you,' he said. What a cruel person. How could he help a bold-faced liar so easily? I couldn't take it anymore. Nevermore would I live on the same ground as hypocrites and backstabbers. I spat on Blaze and looked at her pathetic state one last time. "You want the words? I'll tell you. I don't love you. I don't believe you. You're a bold-faced liar with a heart of stone that can never be permeated. Blaze…" I paused for a second to let her absorb it all, "I hate you." I turned and walked away towards the lightning bolt.

Silver's eyes filled with rage and distress. He never thought that he would ever hear Frost use those kinds of words before. He felt like he was watching a demon slither away into the murky depths of her corrupted world. He picked Blaze up and helped her catch her balance. "Blaze, are you okay?" he asked her, concern in his voice.

"No. I just can't fathom it. How could she do that to me? Just toss me aside like some discarded teddy bear?"

"Don't worry, Blaze. You've got to people like that don't listen to reason. Now, how about we go home so we can medicate that arm?"

"Okay," Blaze responded sadly. Silver threw her arm over his shoulder and they walked steadily side by side away from the coastline. The people around them clamored to themselves slowly about the events that took place and proceeded to walk away, acting as if nothing happened. Blaze turned her head and saw her only sister stand at the coastline, her figure getting smaller and smaller as her and Silver walked away, their feet shuffling slowly across the concrete. She looked up and noticed the sky clearing up. Rays of the sun broke through the gray clouds, banishing the darkness that covered the city. Birds began to chirp and there was laughter breaking from the citizens. Blaze shook her head at the sad spectacle and faced forward. They were about halfway towards their house when Blaze had a question to ask. As they turned the corner of the upcoming street, she spoke softly. "Silver, I have a question."

"What is it, Blaze?" he said.

"Is what she said true?"

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Those things that Frost said to me. How she said she hated me, and she didn't care about my feelings, and how she just wanted to watch me suffer at her own expense, do you think that what she said was true?"

Silver grew silent for a second. After the events that transpired, he really didn't feel like answering any questions, but he loved her as a friend. "Well, I just think that she is going through a phase right now, and…"

"N-no, Silver. Just answer my question," she interrupted him. "Do you think that the things that Frost said to me were true?"

Even through the birds chirping and the sun shining brightly through the neon blue sky, it couldn't keep Silver from thinking the worst or fearing the inevitable. He loved Blaze as a true friend, but through all the suffering that she entailed with her sister and the hardships of guarding the Sol Emeralds, he couldn't bear the guilt of putting more unwanted stress on her back. He cared for her too much to watch her break in half because of stress. The truth hurts, it may be, but if it meant losing the one nearest and dearest to your heart, then what was to be gained by that venture. In short, Silver just shook his head back and forth and responded, "I'm sorry, Blaze. I can't answer that question right now."

"Oh…"

They were silent the rest of the walk home.

The End