Chapter 14: What Needs to be Said

Sunday 10:55am

The classroom in the orphanage was very dark. Only a small amount of sunlight cracked through the thick curtains and into the room. Many of the desks had been thrown around the room in different violent fits Scratch had in previous days. Only one desk remained upright, the desk where Scratch the hyena sat. She sat with her arms folded in and her head down. Her shoulders bobbing up and down while tears fell off the slant of the desk like a waterfall. She was scared. Scared, but with no regrets. She saved the crippled lamb's life by taking her place and now, within an hour, she would be taken away forever. She would die.

Light came through a crack in the door. Mary, the doe nun had arrived.

"It's time my child. We must make preparations. First, we must pray."

"I-I-I don't wanna go!" Scratch sobbed.

The nun glared at her disapprovingly. "You volunteered, remember? You saved Christine's life."

"But I'm going to die!" She said through her tears.

The nun knelt down before her. "I know. I'll make sure your sacrifice for Christine is known by all of the children. I'll make sure they see you as a savior and not the monster they think you are!"

Scratch sniffled. "Thank you."

As they exited the room, Scratch pulled herself behind Mary in fear. There, standing before them was the girl Scratch was most of afraid of. If Scratch gave the children nightmares then this girl was the nightmare's nightmare. She was dressed in white and red. She had dyed crimson hair as a reminder of what Scratch had done to her, but the most striking feature was the mask she wore. The art style of the mask was unique. It was a rabbit mask, with just eyes and ears, but otherwise, it lacked detail save for some red markings on the white mask and narrow slits were the eyes were. Scratch was trembling in fear.

A scratchy, young voice came from behind the mask. "You think you get to be a martyr now?"

Scratch couldn't look at her. "L-leave me alone!"

The mysterious figure got closer. "I want you to remember what you've done! When you have your final moments, I want my face to be burned into your memory in the afterlife!"

Mary got in front of her. "That's enough Rose! Respect her final moments!"

Rose grabbed Mary and threw her to the ground. The rabbit looked up at Scratch who now had her back to the wall.

"Look at me!"

Scratch had tears flowing through her shut eyes. She didn't want to see the horror.

"Please Rose! Please! I'm so sorry!"

Rose removed her mask. Her face was a mangled mash of scars and matted bits of fur. Part of her mouth was missing it's lips and only one eye could open because the other one was scarred over.

"NOT SORRY ENOUGH! NEVER SORRY ENOUGH! LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID! LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT MEEE!"

Scar ran away from her. She ran so fast it was making her legs ache. She saw the wire fence and leaped over it. She looked around and found the "X" and ran to it. There, she finally laid down in a heap and wept.

Moments earlier...

"YOU SHUT THE HELL UP, FATHER LEPORIDAE!"

Bonnie herself couldn't believe those words were coming from her, but she said it and she meant it. The middle-aged bunny mother couldn't stand by and listen anymore to the pastor's bigoted ravings.

"How dare you swear in a church of God!" Shouted the pastor.

"Oh please! You've said 'hell' about 5 times in this sermon alone!" Bonnie stated. "And how dare YOU! Foxes are good, hardworking people that this church has seen to treat like dirt!"

Bonnie started to have tears in her eyes. She saw Nick standing in the back. "That fox back there with the little lamb. I treated him like GARBAGE last night! SNIFF! I acted just like you! I saw him and my daughter kiss a-a-and told him it was disgusting, unnatural and a sin and do you know what he did? He THANKED me! He thanked me for being honest with him and said even...SNIFF!...even if I still hate him, he'd still love me! Then, this morning he helped me cook breakfast and set the table despite all the horrible things I sad!"

The pastor interrupted. "You are falling for his deceit and trickery! That's what they do!"

"I'M NOT DONE YET!" Bonnie yelled. "Then there's my future son in-law, Gideon." Bonnie looked in the back. "Stand up, honey!"

Gideon sheepishly stood up. He was obviously embarrassed. "Uhhhh...heh-heh Howdy y'all!"

Bonnie continued. "Now sure, when he was a child, he was a bully to my Judy. But now, I've seen him become this warm, sweet man who's only 'sins' are his love of baking and coming up with the sweetest things to say to my daughter Julie!"

"You would dare invite the man who was a bully to your daughter into your home?!"

"It's called 'forgiveness' pastor! Something you know nothing of! You speak of multiplying during an overpopulation crisis and hating on those who willingly come to our church and pray with us! Your words are dangerous and hateful and I will no longer be a member of a church that has YOU as a pastor!"

"Is that so?" The pastor said. "That's just fine then!"

He turned to the sea of bunnies in the audience. "I vanquish this sinner from our house of God! If any of you feel the same, then you can get up out of your seat and join her out the door!"

To the pastors dismay, over half the congregation stood up and started heading for the exits.

"W-WAIT! WAIT! My brothers and sisters! Perhaps, I was a little bit hasty in my words! Wait! Come back!" It didn't help. More stood up.

Nick and Gideon started walking out the door and Nick stopped by the pastor. He made a mocking shake with his fists. "Curse those red-furred devils!" He said with a smile. "Nice sermon pastor. I'm sure you're gonna go far in this town!"

Stu still sat at the pew. Bonnie was furious. "Stu! Get up now!"

"But Bonnie dear! Those parking spots are paid up until the end of the year!"

Bonnie gave him a death stare that sent chills down his spine.

"Stu! Off the pew or we're through!"

"Y-yes dear!" Stu jumped off the pew as fast as he could.

Judy chuckled at the whole thing. "My mom's a poet and don't know it!" She was disappointed that she didn't see the Haresons there. She really wanted to have a long talk with them and hope that her connection to both families can help make a bridge of forgiveness. She decided she'll talk to them tomorrow.

Outside, everyone started heading to their cars. Cotton went over to Michael and giggled as he squashed the wool on her face. Gideon looked a bit worried and went over to Nick.

"Nick? Ah may have been holdin' back some things from you yesterday, but ah I need you to trust me when ah say we HAVE ta bring Cotton with us at all costs!Do NOT let her go back home with Stu!"

Nick was a little worried. "Why? You make it sound like life and death!"

"It kinda is." Gideon gave Nick a pleading look. "Please. Ah'll explain everythin' when we're away from here."

Stu walked up to Cotton and Michael. "Well just look at this cute couple! Say Cotton, why don't you come home with us and you can spend some play time with Michael and the others?"

"I'd like that!" Cotton said cheerfully.

Gideon walked by. "Sorry sweetheart, but yer daddy want's you ta come with us and get some new clothes!"

Stu had a furious look on his face. He talked through his teeth. "Nick can always get her size and buy her clothes himself!"

Gideon gave Stu an angry glare. "We're guys! What do we know 'bout girls clothes?!"

Stu pulled Gideon aside and talked to the family as he was walking past. "Excuse us for a sec."

Nick walked up to Cotton. "Cotton honey, I REALLY need you to come with us. Okay?"

"Awww! But I wanna play with Michael!"

"You'll have plenty of time to play with Michael when we come home. We won't be too long. I promise!"

Stu and Gideon argued in the corner.

Stu yelled through his gritted teeth so as to not be overheard. "What the HELL are you doing?! We need that little lamb or else I'll have to sacrifice one of my sons!"

Gideon got in Stu's face. "And fer the last time, I said NO! Ah am sorry fer your loss. Ah really am and ah wish things were different but Nick's a brand new father and a damn good one! Ah won't let Cotton die!"

Stu was furious. "You're through! When you get home, pack up your stuff and leave! You and Julie will get married in a shack if at all!"

"Pardon mah...Spanish er whatever, but fuck you Stu! Ah still hold the patent on mah pies and ah'll start mah own bakery! You never paid me shit anyhow! A'hm sick of bein' yer little stooge! Me and Julie will be just fine without you!"

Gideon looked over at Cotton. "Get ready ta go darlin'! We'll be out of town and won't be back until after three!"

Cotton's ears perked straight up. She knew that any time after three meant it was safe outside again. "After three?! Okay! Let's go daddy!" Nick grabbed Cotton and carried her to the truck.

Gideon went to leave, when Stu grabbed his arm.

"This isn't over." Stu said. "Remember...you just killed Michael!"

Those words hit Gideon hard. But he knew there was nothing he could do. He went and got in the driver's seat of the truck.

Nick saw the depressed look on his face. "What's going on?"

"Stu just disowned me."

"For what?!"

"Ah'll tell ya everythin' once we get outta Bunnyburrow, includin' 'Feedin' Day'. You aint gonna like what you hear, ah guarantee ya! Ah just hope Judy finds that information fer herself on mah phone!"

Nick ears perked up. "WHAT?!"

As they took off, Gideon smiled. "Nick, ah'm sure ya'll was a great con man in yer day, but yer a lousy thief. I GAVE you that phone! Now let's get outta this town and ah'll tell ya everythin'!"

They then took off in the truck towards the Bunnyburrow border.

Meanwhile, Judy was in the back seat of one of the Hopps stretch limos. She was frantically trying to open up Gideon's phone, but the password wasn't working.

" 'Angel'...nothing...'angel' lower case...still nothing!...'ANGEL' all caps...shit!"

Julie was wondering what Judy was up to. "What are you doing Judy? You KNOW your phone has no signal out here, right?"

Judy panicked and quickly put the phone away. "R-right! Right! I was just playing 'Roady-Cross'! Don't need online access for that!"

The limo took off for home. Judy realized she'd have to wait for someplace private to try and get into the phone. There was also a bigger problem. She only had one more try before the phone locked itself.

"Dammit Gideon! If the password is 'angel', why isn't it working?!"

Meanwhile, Stu kept to himself on the drive home. He got on on his cell phone.

Bonnie looked concerned. She saw a lot of anger in Stu's eyes.

"Stu honey, are you okay?"

"Just fine dear." Stu said with a nasty grin. "I just need to make a phone call."

Sunday 11:40am

Gideon and Nick had almost reached the border pass. Nick was apologizing up and down.

"Gideon, I'm really, REALLY sorry! But no one was giving me and Judy information!"

"Fer the last dang time, it's okay! Trust me, once we pass here and ah tell you the truth, ah'll be the one doin' all the apologizin'!"

They got to the checkpoint. An ewe was guarding the station.

"Please state your business and show us your card."

"Gideon Gray from Stu Farms! Ah'm just deliverin' some pies and pickin' up some boxes fer the plant!"

The ewe checked out his card. "Hmmm Ah! Mr. Grey! Hello again! Yes. Everything checks out."

Just then the phone rang. "Hold on one moment...Yes?...Hello Mr. Hopps!...Oh no!...Are you sure?"

Gideon looked at Nick with terror in his eyes. "We might have ta make a run fer it!"

Nick looked panicked. "...What?!"

The Ewe spoke to Gideon. "Sir you and your passengers are carriers! Please step out of the vehicle!"

"Damn you, Stu!" Gideon started to back the truck up fast. Several guards spilled out and started firing dart guns at the windows of the truck.

Nick was ducking down. "What the hell?! This is insane!"

Cotton was screaming. "EEEEE! Daddy! What's going o-"

One of the darts hit Cotton in the arm. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and her tongue flopped out just as she passed out in her seat.

"COTTON!" Nick screamed.

"It's okay Nick!" Gideon said. "They're rabbit-sized doses! She'll be fine!"

Gideon drove away from the station as fast as he could, but he was still stuck in Bunnyburrow and it was near noon. Since it was too close to feeding time, the guards did not pursue.

Gideon looked back "Ah think we got away!"

"STOP THE FUCKING TRUCK!" Nick screamed. A frightened Gideon obliged.

Nick grabbed Gideon by the shirt. A viscous snarl exposed his fangs. "My daughters unconscious! You better tell me what the hell is going on right now!"

Gideon wept. "Ah'm so sorry Nick! A'hm so sorry! Ah should have told you sooner!"

As scared as Gideon was of Nick right now, he was ten times more terrified of the image in the sky coming towards them. "Oh mah sweet Lord!...They're early!"

"What's earl-" Nick saw it himself and went into stunned silence. A giant red-tail hawk was flying towards them. It was giant. At least six feet tall.

"Where is it goin-OH MY GOD!"

He saw it, but he couldn't believe it with his own eyes. A bunny child with an artificial leg was chained to a tree where a giant "X" was marked on the ground. It was pulling on the chain as hard as it could.

"MOMMY! PLEASE LET ME IN! PLEASE!"

Nick could make out the mother watching in the corner window. She was sobbing hard. Tears flowed down like waterfalls.

"I'm so sorry baby! I'm so sorry! Mommy will see you in heaven someday!

"MOMMY LET ME IN! PLEASE! I'LL BE GOOD! I PROMISE! I WON'T TEASE MY SISTERS ANYMORE!"

He saw the hawk flying towards the child and he finally pieced it together.

" 'Feeding Day'...They're gonna eat the children!" He jumped out of the truck and headed straight for the boy.

"NICK! NO!" Gideon screamed. "THEY'LL KILL YOU!"

Cry. Scream. Run. Shout.

It's Feeding Day...the hawks are out.