Chapter 11: Alone
A/N: Hey guys! Yay! I got an update out! I just couldn't resist writing this. Let's see how my work schedule pans out now. Haha anyways, sorry it's so long! There was just no way I could think of to break it up. If I split it in half it was way too short. I hope it's not too long. And just a warning, there is some violence in it. Please, bear with me everyone! I promise to make this story worth your while! So don't be angry at where the story leaves off. Pretty please! I will try to update soon because I don't want to leave the story here for too long. Review! It means a ton.
Still don't own Cats! Shocker!
My sprint towards the clearing was quite the opposite of the run to the dance. All grace and balance seemed to have fled my body along with Quaxo, as it seemed that every small object found within the yard tripped me up. Only two things consumed my mind at that moment, fear of what was going on in the clearing and worry for Quaxo's wellbeing.
Multiple times I thought that I was going to fall face first into the ground, but each time, a steady paw caught my arm. I glanced over to see a concerned Plato easily keeping pace with my frantic running. I tried my best to return his actions with a grateful smile, by my face couldn't even manage a façade of happiness.
The band of younger cats and I came to a halt as we reached an entrance to the central clearing and a thunder of hisses hit our ears. We stood at the back end of a tense stand off.
Standing on a smoldering junk pile was a lean, matted, copper tom. His golden eyes surveyed the junkyard before him. The shadows that surrounded him began to move and morph, creating a haunting vision. The movement was caused by his many henchcats as they emerged from their hiding places.
Macavity laughed as more Jellicles ran into the clearing, fur on end.
I heard a gasp as I saw Jenny, Jelly, and Asparagus come running towards our little band. Jenny quickly grasped all three of her boys, as if making sure that they really were there, in front of her. Asparagus began to work his way through the band of cats, making sure that everyone was present and accounted for. Jelly immediately wrapped her arms around my shoulders, hugging me close to her. I could see tears in her, but I couldn't bring myself to comfort her. Instead I squirmed against the restraints that her arms created as I desperately searched for Quaxo.
I was terrified of the copper menace before me and all I wanted was to find the safety I only felt enwrapped in Quaxo's arms.
No matter how much I squirmed or searched, I couldn't find a glimpse of my tom. However, I did spot Alonzo right next to Munkustrap and the twins in the front of the Jellicle tribe. Everyone was in a defensive position, waiting for Macavity to make the first move.
The hidden paw laughed as he stood in a relaxed position, clearly enjoying the commotion before him. He began to speak, his voice low and menacing. I immediately started shaking, an almost instinctual reaction. "Well, hello there, my…friends."
Munkustrap snarled, cutting off Macavity. "What do you want, Macavity?"
Macavity held up his paws as if telling Munk to calm down. "Isn't it obvious?" he purred. "I have come to take over what is rightfully mine: this junkyard and the tribe."
Protests arose as many of the tribe began to hiss louder, calling insults to the Napoleon of Crime. Macavity began to yell over their calls, forcing them to quiet down. "Luckily for you, I am in a good mood. So if you would all just willingly surrender, I am sure I can find something besides death for you in my empire." His words were so calm and his voice was so confident, he truly believed that he was going to take over the junkyard.
I renewed my search for Quaxo as my fear heightened to a peak.
Alonzo released a snarl so ferocious that I suddenly grew scared of him as well. I didn't know Alonzo could ever be that mad. Sure, I had seen him fight during the ball, but this was a new level of ferocity. He would take no prisoners today. I was grateful that none of the henchcats were even as half as terrifying as the fury in Alonzo's voice. If they were, I surely would have lost any hope of winning the impeding battle.
Through gritted teeth, the black and white tom snarled, "What makes you think you will take this junkyard, yet alone with a surrender?"
Macavity just smiled, never losing his cocky air. "Because you can't win this battle. You have no plan of defense, and you are ill prepared. In addition I easily outnumber you." He paused for a moment, as if thinking through his words. The silence that pervaded the yard donned a terrified feeling as his words sank in. "However, I cannot take full praise for this soon-to-be victory. I must give some credit where it is due."
As he finished his statement, the lean tom extended his left paw out in front of him and swiped it to the side, as if brushing away a fly. His action sent a rather large milk crate across the junkyard, crashing into a nearby junk pile. Standing huddled, where the crate had been, was a shaking tuxedoed tom.
"Quaxo!" I breathed as I made an attempt to run to him. He looked so scared and small that I had forgotten all about my fears and longed to comfort him.
Jelly tightened her grip around my shoulders, keeping me firmly in place as she hissed for me to stop. "He is not our friend."
I turned towards her in shock, I had never heard her so angry. She wasn't even that mad on the day I had played leapfrog with Jem and Plato in Jenny's clinical den. I couldn't move a muscle, even if I wanted to. Her voice was so commanding.
I turned my face back towards Quaxo as the hisses of realization sprang forth from the other cats. I blinked as tears began to sting my eyes.
Macavity motioned for Quaxo to approach him. Quaxo reluctantly obeyed the command, avoiding the hateful eyes of the tribe. Only I seemed to be watching with what could be considered pity for the young tom.
Once Quaxo reached Macavity's side, the copper tom grandly placed his arm around the smaller one as if they were the best of companions. He theatrically motioned towards the rest of the tribe, indicating for Quaxo to take in the scene before them. He addressed Quaxo, though making sure that the whole yard could hear every word.
"I must thank you, my dear Quaxo. Without you, this victory would not be possible." Quaxo winced as Macavity joyously pronounced his name. "How else could we have caught them so off guard? You telling them about our 'planned attack' next week was a stroke of genius! Now we can test the strengths and weaknesses you informed us about."
Quaxo glared at the ground, unable to meet our faces. Why wasn't he denying it?
It hit me. I had been lied to and duped the entire time, as well as the rest of the tribe. Nothing he had said to us was true. I had been used. The tears freely began to flow from my eyes as I repeatedly shook my head. It was as if I believed that that small action would change the course of the present. My body began trembling again as I tried my best to contain the emotions that were raging inside me.
I was the only one who had felt our love. I had been so happy. He probably enjoyed watching my innocent love grow. He didn't care how hard I fell. It wasn't like he was going to be around to pick up the pieces. My breathing became labored and it felt as if a monumental weight sat squarely on my chest. I began to gasp as I frantically tried to gulp in the air I needed.
Jelly frantically looked around and then gave me another squeeze. I couldn't respond.
From the corner of my eye, I saw her pleadingly look at Asparagus. I didn't know what he did in response, but she quickly tried pulling me back in the direction we had come from.
I stayed firmly planted to the ground, unable to take my eyes off of the matted tom as he lazily laid his arm across this tuxedoed companion's shoulders.
With a final forceful yank, Jelly had broken my trance and began to pull me away from the clearing. I proceeded to follow her, my body completely numb of all emotion. I blankly stared ahead as I saw Jenny usher Lectra, Jem, and Cetty away with me. The two motherly queens led us younger queens to another oven a ways away from the clearing.
The quickly pushed us into the oven. And began talking to us. It took me a moment to realize what they were saying. We were told to stay in the oven, no matter what. We weren't trained to fight and they couldn't risk us in the clearing when one erupts.
I heard Cetty try and protest but was immediately silenced. Teazer and the toms had all been trained to fight for patrols and could take care of themselves. While they admired her courage, they convinced Cetty that it would be best for the four of us to remain hidden.
Finally, with a last teary kiss on the cheek, the two elderly queens closed the door that had remained on this oven and we listened as we heard the two sprint back towards the clearing.
Silence dominated the oven. I was grateful. I didn't want to have to relive the past few minutes. I wanted to let my body go numb; I wanted to cherish the feeling of nothing. I had fallen beyond the void of depression.
I knew it was silly. The tom was my first serious relationship. What right had I to fall into this state of shock? I hadn't even known him for a year. But I didn't care. I loved Quaxo. I thought that we were meant to be together. To know the depths that I had been lied to was too much for me.
I suddenly felt a soft warmth rest on my paw. I hissed as I quickly drew it away. Even the gentlest touch felt like a hot coal searing into my skin. I didn't want anyone to touch me; I didn't want to feel anything that would remind me of him.
The paw retreated and I looked up to see three concerned queens watching me with sad eyes. Jem was in the center with her paw half outstretched. She must have been the one to reach out to me.
"Vik?" She asked, her eyes brimming with tears.
Nothing else was said. No one wanted to tread on the sacred ground that opened a vast chasm between us.
The fighting must have started. Even muffled by the distance and the oven's walls, we could hear as cats hissed and snarled. We heard shouts and screams mixed together in a horrendous symphony.
"It's fine." I finally mumbled, looking away from the three and hugging myself. "He lied. I understand that now."
Jem reached out a second time. This time neither of us pulled away. Some contact was comforting as the battle ensued. "Maybe…" Jem craned her face to meet mine. I saw in her eyes some kind of hope, it startled me. "He didn't look happy… maybe we don't know the whole story." I could tell at this point that Jem was forcing herself say these words. However, I desperately wanted to hear those words, no matter how fake they truly were.
I bolted upright. That's right. I didn't know the whole story. What if he still loved me but had to work for Macavity? The Napoleon of Crime didn't get that title for nothing. He was an evil cat, I am sure Quaxo was scared of him.
What I had felt couldn't have been fake, could it have?
"I have to go to the clearing." I said triumphantly as I began to crawl towards the door to the oven.
I felt a flurry of paws grab me as hisses of protest erupted from behind.
"What in the name of Everlasting Cat are you doing?" Lectra demanded.
I forcefully pulled my arms free from the others and turned to look at them, a new hope and life in my eyes. "Don't you see? I am sure Macavity was forcing Quaxo to work for him. But now I am sure that he is fighting alongside Alonzo and Munk. I have to go and see. It wouldn't be fair to be here doubting him when I know he is good."
The three only stared at me, complete disbelief plastered to their faces. Cetty hesitantly broke the silence. "Vik…" She was about to continue, but thought better of it. "Why don't you just believe he's good and wait here?" The others readily agreed that this was the best plan of action.
I took no heed of Cetty's suggestion and began to push the door open. "No. I have to see now." I couldn't say why, but my heart was desperately longing to see Quaxo fighting alongside my friends and family.
My friends no longer tried to stop me. My determination was too strong and they had given up.
I cautiously stepped out of the oven and silently closed the door behind me. They may be content to wait in ignorance, but I was going to see the truth with my own eyes. I continued on my path towards the clearing with slow progression. All of my senses were on the highest alert as I did my best to maneuver in complete silence. I didn't have to be a part of the fight, or even seen. I just wanted to see him for myself.
The cacophony of shouts grew louder as I drew closer. However, the voices seemed separated. I imagined that the skirmishes had broken apart and were on a more individual basis now.
I approached a junk pile that I knew was quite a distance away from the clearing, but tall enough that I could probably see the tides of battle. I silently tiptoed up to the pile and pressed my body against its mass. I took a deep breath as I readied myself to begin my climb.
Just as I placed my foot on a sturdy box, a flash of pain radiated from the back of my head. My vision went white for a moment as I felt my head yanked backwards. When my vision returned, I was staring up at the dusk sky. It felt as if the headfur on the back of my head was on fire, slowly being torn from my skull.
I whimpered as tears sprang to my eyes.
As I attempted to blink my tears away, I saw a pair of sunken gold eyes gaze down into mine. Macavity smiled as he gave another yank on my headfur causing another whine to escape my lips.
"Well, well, well, look who we have here?" He purred, grazing my tear soaked cheek with the back of his free paw. "Do you know who this is, Quaxo?"
I froze as the menacing tom said the name. It couldn't be. Quaxo had to be fighting with Munkustrap and the tribe. He had to.
"That is V-Victoria."
I began to tremble as I heard what used to be such a comforting voice respond to my worst enemy. I heard no indication that Quaxo intended to protect me.
Macavity lessened the tension in his arm, allowing me to bring my head upright to see the two toms standing before me. However, he kept his grip on my fur allowing for a dull ache at the base of my skull.
"Victoria…hmmm. She looks rather familiar, doesn't she?"
Quaxo looked at Macavity with a combination of fear and puzzlement. "I-I don't know what you mean." He replied quietly, dropping his gaze to his paws.
"You know exactly what I mean." Macavity's voice was low and menacing; warning Quaxo that there was a correct course of action.
Quaxo gulped and kept his eyes glued to his paws. "Faintly, yes."
I finally garnered some courage and without regard to the paw gripping my fur, blurted out, "What do you mean?"
There was silence as no one answered my question. Macavity began to laugh. "This is just grand." He purred. "And you were beginning to fall for her?" He shook my head to emphasis his question.
I tried my best to stifle my tears. I didn't want to give either of them the satisfaction of seeing how upset I was.
"That is just too beautiful." Macavity's voice took on a sarcastic, mocking tone. "Are you looking for some form of redemption?"
Quaxo remained silent, refusing to meet either of our gazes.
"Please…" Was all I managed to whimper.
"I agree." Macavity purred, stroking my cheek again, this time with his claw. I involuntarily hissed as I felt his claw make a slight cut across my cheek. "Tell her Quaxo. I want you to tell her everything. I want her to know how you entered the ranks of my empire." As he finished his command, Macavity threw me towards Quaxo. My knees hit the ground hard as I caught myself with my paws. I couldn't look up as my neck had been cramped from the way Macavity had held my head. But I saw Quaxo's black legs take a step forwards toward me, but stop.
There was silence for a while as I stared at my paws as they gripped the snow, blinking away my tears, trying my best to hide them.
"Quaxo, I said tell her!"
The feet before me straightened up and stood next to each other at attention. Quaxo's voice quavered as he responded to Macavity's order. "When I asked to enter the ranks of Macavity's Empire, I was given an initiatory task. To kill an enemy of Macavity…"
"Please, my dear boy, continue. Who was your target?"
"A queen who was a known liar and traitor to the empire."
There was a hesitation before the name was announced, but I already knew. The tears now fell freely with no reservations. My paws curled into fists, immediately melting the snow caught within them.
"I was sent to, and successfully executed, the traitor Griddlebone." Quaxo's voice had gone emotionless as he finished his 'report'.
My emotions exploded within me. I leapt up and charged Quaxo. I felt the tears burn my eyes and streak down my cheeks: tears of mourning and tears of betrayal. I had always believed that my mother was somewhere, looking for me or waiting to return. But she was dead, and had been for years. The tom that had fooled me into loving him had killed her. He had used me over and over again while I constantly defended him. I couldn't take these emotions anymore. They needed an escape.
Quaxo easily grabbed my wrists, preventing me from causing any damage. I continued to struggle as I tried my best to land a blow, blind with hurt and sorrow. But no matter how angry I was, I realized I couldn't unsheathe my claws towards him.
His grip tightened and I ceased struggling. It was useless. Everything was useless. I gazed into the eyes that had once enraptured me. They were as cold as the biting snow. Deep behind the stony front, I thought I saw a flash of sadness enter the copper orbs. It was quickly brushed aside as his gaze bore into me.
I finally tore my gaze from his and fell to my knees, letting my sobs rack my body.
Macavity began to laugh again as I heard him step closer towards Quaxo and I. "You really are such a good little tom." He purred.
Quaxo jolted his head up, away from me to face Macavity as he advanced. He bared his teeth for a moment and allowed a low hiss to escape his throat.
I heard Macavity cease his advance as the two toms stood still, eyeing each other in challenge. After a moment, Quaxo threw my arms to the side, causing me to fall into the snow. As I pulled myself up, I saw his tail disappear around a pile as he fled the fighting.
Macavity resumed his advance, only this time towards me. "Look at your little prince go. Tells you about his part with your poor old mummy then flees. Quite the coward you had there."
I couldn't respond. All I could do was stare blankly at the pile that Quaxo had fled around.
I felt a paw grab my chin as my face was yanked towards the matted tom. "I am talking to you." He growled.
He let his paw drop and stood up to his full height. He drew his arm back and unsheathed his claws. He was ready to strike me and all I could do was stare at him. I couldn't move, I couldn't react. In fact, I wasn't sure I even wanted to. Everything was gone: my mother, my lover, and the junkyard. Was there really anything to fight towards?
Just as Macavity was about to strike, a blur of white and copper streaked across my field of vision knocking Macavity to his feet.
The blur was flung against a nearby junk pile as a sickening thud hit my ears. I turned to see who had saved me. Plato sat slumped at the bottom of a junk pile, his fur matted and discolored with blood.
Feeling flooded back to my body as I saw my friend leaning against the pile. I screamed as I raced towards the limp body, ignoring any danger that Macavity may have presented. I began to sob as I took Plato into my embrace, not caring that his blood readily stained my alabaster fur.
Macavity began to stand, brushing some snow from his fur. He growled as he began to advance. I didn't know what to do, but I bared my teeth, emitting a hiss in warning. I didn't care that I had no battle training; I wasn't going to let that cat touch one more hair on Plato's head.
Macavity's advance was soon cut short as more growls began to surround us. Many battle worn Jellicles began to emerge, hissing and spitting as they approached.
The lean copper tom looked around rather shocked. He then deftly jumped up to the summit of a nearby pile and looked down as the cats began their own ascent. "I guess you are stronger than I thought. Don't worry. I will remember this, and I will be back again." He then flung a large television set down the heap. Cats had to jump off the pile to avoid being crushed. Macavity jumped over the other end of the pile and was gone.
Pounceival lunged to the top of the small mountain and cautiously peered over. He turned back towards the cats on the ground and shook his head. Macavity wasn't there.
I could tell from the way that the adults began to stand shakily and look around that the fighting was over. We may have won, but we clearly hadn't avoided losses.
Munkustrap stood before me and looked at me with a deep sadness in his eyes before turning his gaze to something in my arms. I then remembered Plato. I turned with horror to face the body I was embracing.
I began to cry again, hugging him close to me. I felt his chest heave as a gurgling cough emitted from the otherwise still body. I pulled my head up, blinking through the tears at the blood soaked face.
A battered, white paw reached out and wiped a tear from my cheek. "It's fine." He said, giving his best attempt at a laugh, but it sounded more like a choke. He settled for his crooked smile. "I protected you. I'm happy."
I shook my head, afraid to speak. I turned to call for help. The others had begun to look for other wounded cats, as we remained out of earshot.
Plato mumbled as he used his paw to turn my face back towards him. "No, let them find others who they can help."
I whimpered as I continued to shake my head.
"I am not fooling myself… They're efforts would be better served helping others." He coughed again. His voice grew feint and I had to lean in to hear what he had to say.
"I guess it's a good think I didn't get to tell Cetty." He chuckled, "Otherwise I think I would have made her sad…"
I hissed. How could he make such an inappropriate joke?
Plato rolled his eyes. I couldn't tell if it was at my reaction or because he was slipping into unconsciousness. "Fine…Promise me something Vik."
I nodded silently, my voice too shaky to respond.
"Find Quaxo. He wasn't fighting. He… he really loves you…" His eyes fluttered shut.
A sob caught in my throat. No one knew the truth behind Quaxo. I never wanted to see that horrendous tom again! I buried my face in Plato's chest as I released the sobs I had been holding in, trying to convince Plato that I was strong.
After crying for what felt like an eternity, I felt strong paws grab my arms and attempt to pry me away from Plato. I resisted with all my might, but the sobbing had taken a toll on my energy and I eventually relented.
A weeping Jenny quickly took my place over her son's body as she began to examine it.
I looked to my right to see Asparagus holding my shoulders, tears brimming in his eyes.
I immediately tore myself out of his grasp and raced away from the clearing, away from the truth, away from Plato, away from everything. I sprinted down the path I knew by heart towards the location that I could find from anywhere in the junkyard.
I entered my secret clearing and began to run towards the center. The snow had begun to melt and I slipped in a forming patch of mud. I couldn't catch myself and fell face first into the ground.
I slid my knees under me and raised my torso off the ground, hugging myself tightly as I resisted the recurring urge to sob. I stayed curled up in the position for a while before finally opening my eyes.
Through sniffles and hiccups I murmured the same thing repeatedly, "You said you loved me. You promised you would stay with me."
As I began to rock back and forth, I glared at my shadow. I then turned to face the sky, unable to keep witness with my shadow. I watched as the moon retreated behind a cloud that filled the night sky. I glanced back down at the ground. My shadow was gone.
I was truly alone.
A/N: Sad :( Don't hate me Mistoria fans! I really do promise to make this worth your while if you keep reading. Though obviously Quaxo and Vik are going to be apart for a little bit of the story from here on out. I am going to try to update really soon and more regularly so that the suspense isn't killing ya. Thanks again and please review!
