He was coming.
Cherry knew it. She knew he was close by, just behind her. The vixen somehow slipped out of the Polar Bear's grasp before, but this time was different! He was after her now, and there was no one to stand in his way.
She ran through the abandoned streets of Zootopia, cold wind whipping against her face. A loud groan echoed through the air, followed by the sound of stone crumbling. Buildings began to collapse, threatening to bury the vixen alive. The Fox closed her eyes and screamed. She crouched low to the ground and covered her head with her arms from the coming onslaught. Nothing happened. Cherry opened her eyes trepidly, and found herself in a white circle.
In the middle of the circle, was a metal streetlight emitting a soft, white light. Along the edges was an impenetrable darkness. Snow drifted gently through the air, joining the fresh powdered that was already on the ground. What drew Cherry's attention the most was an arctic vixen, standing underneath the streetlight. The wore a white sequin dress that sparkled with each little movement from her fluffy tail. With her arms crossed, ears pinned, and her head pointed up, the red fox knew the smaller female was imagining the stars. She knew that this little vixen's favorite fruit was strawberry, that she was full of hopes, dreams and positivity that Cherry had never felt. That she really did love the cold! The arctic fox, who turned to look at the stunned vixen with shining blue eyes, could only be one mammal.
"Snowflake?" whispered Cherry in disbelief, "Is that you?"
Snowflake smiled brightly, her ears rising and tail sweeping behind her. She threw her paws up in the air cheerfully, "Cherry! You came!"
The red fox laughed, tears streaming freely down her cheeks as she covered her muzzle. "Yes," she finally replied with an emphatic nod, "I came." She tried to move closer, but her legs wouldn't move.
The arctic vixen sighed dramatically, wiping her brow with the back of her paw. "Thank goodness! I was getting worried standing here by myself, but…"
Cherry stretched her arms to Snowflake, smile growing tense as she still couldn't move. She gestured to the white fox, "Come here Snow. I need a hug."
Snowflake laughed, and started for the red fox, but stopped when a loud crunch of snow echoed through the darkness. The arctic vixen glanced around, "W-What was that?"
"Just come here Snow," pressed Cherry, a cold chill running down her spine, "Ignore it and get over here. Now!"
A shadow stretched from the darkness, staining the pure, white snow. Snowflake remained frozen as a massive figure emerged from the shadow. Hungry, ice blue eyes emerged. The figure's gaze locked onto the petite female. It sneered, bone white teeth glimmering in the light.
"It must be my lucky day," growled a voice from the shadow, malice lacing every word. He pointed a dark claw at Snowflake, "Open up."
"Run Flake!" shouted Cherry, desperately trying to move her unresponsive muscles, "Get outta here!?" Snowflake didn't respond. "Please Snowflake! Don't let him touch you!?" The sound of a liquid dripping echoed.
The arctic vixen twitched, turning slowly towards Cherry. Her once pristine dress, now stained red from blood dripping from her nose and mouth, was torn on her shoulder and down the seam of the right side. One of the young vulpine's beautiful blue eyes was completely swollen, while the other red rimmed from crying. The fur on her tail was matted together, darkened a deep red. A trickle of blood ran down Snowflake's inner thighs, dripping into a thick puddle underneath her.
"Cherry," breathed the arctic vixen, obviously struggling with each inhale, "How could you let him?"
"I'm sorry!" cried out Cherry, falling to her knees, "I'm so sorry!?" She hugged herself as her tail wrapped protectively around her waist. The fox shook her head as tears continued to fall down her cheeks. "I'm not strong enough…" sobbed the vixen as she rocked back and forth, "I can't save anyone!" The vulpine glanced up, about to apologize again to the mammal she loved like a sister, but gasped.
Snowflake was gone, no sign of her in the white snow. The shadowy figure was now closer, stretching out and almost blocking out the light. It reached out its paw with a sinister smile, the vixen reflected in its merciless gaze.
"You're next."
Cherry screamed.
Cherry woke with a start, bolting upright and paw pulling the box cutter out from underneath her pillow. She was ready for Tassut this time.
He wasn't there.
The fox was hyperventilating, and becoming light headed from lack of oxygen. She swallowed dryly, closed her eyes, and held her breath. Slowly she counted down from ten. When she reached one, the vixen breathed in deeply through her nose. It did nothing for her frantic heart rate, but helped her shattered nerves.
It had been a long time since Cherry dreamed of Snowflake, and it was never this violent. Normally they were happy dreams of some of their misadventures, memories that the vixen held onto tightly. The fox wasn't confused by why her dream had been different, in fact there was a very good reason.
"Today's the day," mumbled the vixen, sliding the blade of the box cutter back and slipping it back under her pillow.
It was dark in her room, and Cherry didn't have to look at her phone to know it was too early to get up. She pulled her discarded blanket back over her, curling up into a ball underneath the cover. The vixen closed her eyes, trying to ignore the scenes of the nightmare that played endlessly in her mind. She wanted to be rested, looking her best for the decision. The fox wanted everything perfect when she saw Tassut for the last time.
This was it.
What Cherry, Beatrice, and all the other girls who were brutalized by that monster were waiting for. This was their day! For Saffron, Azure, Trixie, and every other girl that Polar Bear laid his paws on. More importantly, this day was for Snowflake and the future she should of had.
Cherry laid in bed with her eyes pinched shut as a tear trickled down her cheek and onto her pillow. She wouldn't find any sleep.
Cherry sat on the left end of a long wooden bench in a mostly empty courtroom. She could see the back of the polar bear's head, the bright green jumpsuit he wore clashing with his white fur. The vixen couldn't see his face, with those venomous blue eyes apparently staring straight ahead.
A moose sat next to the arctic ursine, the defense attorney. The vixen had to give credit to the herbivore, he put on a show. It was all for naught as the jury returned with guilty verdicts in less than a day. Out of the hundred plus accusations against Tassut, only twenty seven could be prosecuted because of unreliable witnesses or time constraints. Out of those twenty seven, he was found guilty of eighteen. Cherry cried when the murder of Jane Doe, also known as Snowflake, was one of them.
The vixen glanced at the Assistant District Attorney, a polar bear named Hugo Vitpals. He was a cheerful fellow considering his profession, and more rotund than the ursines under Mr. Big's employment. The attorney tried to hide it, but he had a slight stutter. He also wore a pair of thick rinmed glasses that framed his soft, brown eyes. Vitpals was not even close to the cold blooded killer that was Tassut. Still, Cherry never could feel comfortable around him, and only spoke to him with Beatrice present.
The fox wanted to look for the lupine officer, but was too afraid to look away from Tassut for too long. Cherry knew that the bear was still cuffed. Knew that there were four officers of the court in the room, all armed with tranq darts and tasers. She even knew that the double door behind her was unlocked, and she could escape at a moment's notice. That didn't quell any of her fear.. Only the wolf next to her would ease the tension.
The door behind her opened noisily. Vitpals glanced over his shoulder curiously. He smiled before looking forward. The vulpine could hear the rustling of fabric and the hurried steps from the newcomer. Cherry blinked as her vision was filled with Z.P.D. blue.
"Sorry," whispered Beatrice, sliding in next to the vixen, "traffic was worse than usual."
Cherry shook her head. "It's ok," whispered the vixen back, her gaze still focused on the disgraced officer, "the judge hasn't come back yet."
"Arguments?"
"Given and closed. The judge wanted some time to think, and called a fifteen minute recess."
"Did you move?" asked Beatrice, concern obvious in her tone.
"Of course," lied Cherry. She didn't want to admit that, just like the rest of the trial, the vulpine remained rooted in her seat. No matter how long the break between, the vixen wouldn't leave till they were done for the day. She didn't want to miss any of it.
Beatrice hummed in thought, but remained silent.
As soon as the wolf sat beside the fox, an invisible weight lifted from Cherry. With the officer, she was always safe. Bee would never allow anyone to hurt her, and in return the vixen would always be there for the wolf. This feeling wasn't new, but one she hadn't experienced much outside of the girls she considered her family. The only male she felt this way around was Reggie, and even then it never reached the same comfort as it did for Beatrice. Cherry sighed, and leaned against the lupine's arm, the officer's winter coat serving as soft as a pillow. She was about to close her eyes when another door opened.
"All rise!" bellowed the foremam, a massive buffalo, "For the honorable Judge Toumari."
Cherry quickly jumped up onto the bench, while Beatrice slowly stood. Vitpals, Tassut and the defense attorney also rose. Judge Toumari, an old mountain goat with curved horns and a long, white beard, gingerly climbed the steps to his seat. He sighed heavily as he settled behind the judge's bench, adjusting his black robes. The standing mammal sat.
"I apologize for the delay," began the caprid, grasping his gavel by the handle and head, "This case is...unique...and I wanted to consider your arguments further." He cleared his throat, the hoof from the head of his gavel moving to his beard. The judge turned to the defense, "Mister Vornelg, your argument for leniency didn't fall on deaf ears. I have considered your clients extensive history serving Zootopia..."
Cherry clasped Beatrice's arm with both paws, tightly gripping the lupine as dread began to build in her. The judge was going to let Tassut walk, and then the polar bear would be after the fox. No one could save her then. Maybe if she begged for mercy he would make it quick!
No.
Tassut was a cruel mammal, who would only prolong her suffering. It would be better if the vixen took her own life than to fall into his paws again. Pills and alcohol were said to be a painless way to die, and the fox heard of mammals
But...
What if Tassut went after the girls? How could she protect them if she wasn't alive? Was there any protection from the polar bear?
Beatrice protectively placed a paw over the vixen's, and squeezed it gently. The judge wasn't done.
"...However I cannot overlook the severity of the crimes committed," continued Judge Toumari, a scowl forming as he remained focused on the defense, "You have been found guilty of eight counts of sexual assault, five counts of rape, three counts of sexual abuse of a minor, one count of attempted murder, and one count of murder. To make matters worse, you performed these heinous acts while in the uniform of the Zootopia Police Department. Therefore, I sentence you to serve the maximum for your crimes consecutively." The old goat straightened in his chair, readying his gavel, "You will serve one hundred and seventy seven years first, and then your life sentence." The judge lifted his snout into the air, "May the creator have mercy on your soul. For this court shall not!" He tapped the gavel.
Bjorn Tassut, decorated former Sergeant of Precinct Six and boogymale for all working girls, collapsed into his chair. His attorney whispered into the ursine's ear, but the bear simply swatted him away. The foremam and the rest of the court officers approached Tassut. Surprisingly, he put up no resistance and stood to follow the guards.
Cherry wept openly, sobbing loudly as she hid her face in her paws. She expected relief. She expected to be freed from the burden of Snowflake's death at the paws of this monster. She expected the damage in her heart, caused by Tassut, to heal and let her get on with her life.
It never came.
The vixen jumped off the bench, rage pouring out of her just as freely as tears as she snarled at the polar bear. "You deserve this!" she shrieked, pointed a claw at the arctic ursine, "You deserve all of this for what you did to Snowflake!?"
Tassut's gaze remained forward.
"Someone calm her down!" commanded the judge, "She's hysterical!"
Cherry's vision was once more blocked by blue, as Beatrice hugged the vixen. "It's ok Cher," the wolf said soothingly, holding the fox close to her chest, "It's all over now."
Except it wasn't over. It never would be for Cherry. She would always look over her shoulder, expecting to see Tassut's icy stare locked onto hers. Her dreams would always be haunted by the broken form of Snowflake in her final moments. She could never trust polar bears, their size and strength frightening the smaller mammal. Nothing would ever be the same.
Cherry gripped the lupine's jacket and buried her face into it. She pinched her eyes shut, bawling inconsolably as she clung desperately to the officer. All the while, Beatrice never let go. She spoke platitudes softly into the fox's ear, as they gently lowered to the floor.
"It'll be ok," Beatrice whispered, her paw petting the back of the vixen's head, "Your safe, and he'll be far away now."
Tassut would never be far away. He would always be in the back of Cherry's mind.
Waiting.
Hello Readers,
If Nightmare's 2 and 3 were tasters for the Cherry story, consider this an appetizer for the vixen's mental state going into it. Let me know what you think!
-CG