Well, we're about to get to a head in terms of the Helga plotline, so let's get that out of the way!
Fifi's flirty and confident smile turned into panic and worry as she found herself in the police station's interrogation room, with a few officers and Phoebe sitting at a table, Fifi being attached to a lie detector as she gulped nervously.
"Says you have plenty of questions. Proceeds to not ask them, and drags person to police and shows evidence." Fifi groaned. "Ah think we skipped a few steps here."
"Thanks for showing us this... rather interesting evidence." One of the officers said as he turned to Phoebe, who could only give a grin. "Although we'll need to know for sure whether or not this IS the truth."
"Hmph! Ah don't know what that girl's on about, but Ah certainly don't know anything about a Miss Helga Pataki!" Fifi frowned, only for the lie detector to beep. "What in tarnation?"
Phoebe growled as she turned towards the officers. "The beeps mean she's lying, right?"
The officers nodded as Phoebe turned her death glare towards the girl. "All right, just come clean, and we can let you off easy. Where is Helga G. Pataki, the blonde girl in the pink bow?"
"Hmph, like Ah'd tell you! Ah'm being arrested on false charges here!" Fifi called out, only for the detector to beep some more.
"Tell us where she is, or I will make sure you're met with the back end of my hand!" Phoebe growled, ready to attack her at any moment.
"Hmph, try it. That actually turns me on more than you think." Fifi laughed a little as she crossed her arms. No beeping sound was heard, much to the guard's interests.
Before Phoebe could get up and make due with her threat, one of the officers had to restrain her a bit and settle her in her seat as the head officer turned to Fifi. "You know, I think we're all getting a little tense here. Do you need anything? Water? A snack?"
"Oh, well... uh, thanks." Fifi said as Phoebe raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I guess all this stress is getting to me lately. I've just been through quite an exhilirating experience."
"I see, I see." The policeman paused. "Is there anything we can do to make you comfortable? Can we take this to another room?"
"Only as long as I don't have to look out the window from a two story building. I'm actually afraid of heights, you see." Fifi explained as Phoebe paid attention. The lie detector didn't beep, much to her smirking excitement.
"Oooh, so you don't like heights, huh? Maybe you'd confess where she is if I dangled you out the window?" Phoebe smirked as she gave a nod towards the police.
Fifi's eyes widened, before frowning. "You wouldn't dare-"
The Phoebe knock-off screamed as one of the policemen was holding her out the side of a window. "HELP! HELP, THIS IS CHILD ABUSE! CHILD ABUSE!"
"I think the child abuse card has long passed!" Phoebe glared from the window. "Now where is my friend! Where is Helga G. Pataki, really?"
"Don't drop me, don't drop me!" Fifi whimpered. "Okay, I'll tell you where she is! Just... let me go!"
Phoebe smirked as she looked up towards the officers. The officers could only nod as they lifted Fifi up as they stared her straight in the eye.
Meanwhile, over with Gerald, he was nearing the street where the boarding house was as he was panting a little bit. "Okay, almost there. Just got to knock on the door and tell Phil and the others what's going on with Arnold, and to have him restrained in the room if he isn't corrupted already... I just hope I'm not too late."
As Gerald reached the door, he was about to reach for the bell, when he noted a tape recorder that said 'Play me' in the corner. Gerald raised an eyebrow as he picked up the tape recorder and played it.
"Hello, this is Phil Shortman. If this is an adult friend of ours, proceed to ignore this recording. If you're all here for Arnold, unfortunately, the boy is grounded. For how long, I have no idea." Phil's voice sounded through the recorder.
"Grounded?" Gerald asked to himself as the voice continued.
"Yes indeed, grounded. However, depending on what happens, he may also be going on a little vacation... for a very long time. I'm making arrangements for him to visit his cousin out in the country, to get him out of the hectic city life that pressured him. I don't know why, but Arnold just isn't acting like himself, and the last thing I think he wants to see right now are the people he made friends with in Hillwood. I'm sorry it has to be this way, but this could be for Arnold's own good. Maybe someday, we'll see him again as a changed, better Arnold, but until he can get his act together, he'll be better off living in the country. I'm really sorry. As much as I want to throw a farewell party for Shortman and invite every one of his friends here, I think it would be best if he didn't have one. Just don't go spreading this message around, and rewind the tape when I'm finished talking. I'm sorry about this, kids. I'm sure Arnold appreciates all you've done for him. Thank you. Okay, now what do I do to make the recording st-" Phil's voice sounded before the recorder stopped, with Gerald standing in terror.
Gerald growled as he rewound the tape and turned towards the door. "Oh no, I did not come this far to get kicked out!"
The boy then proceeded to ring the bell as he waited. The door slightly opened for a bit as he noted Phil's face peeking out.
The old man frowned as he shook his head, "Didn't you notice the tape recorder next to the bell?"
"Listen, Phil, I need to tell you something importan-" Gerald started to say.
"Don't call me Phil! How many times do I have to tell you that!" Phil frowned.
"Phil, I need to talk to you about Arnold!" Gerald said. "He hasn't been in school and-"
The old man frowned a bit as he rolled his eyes. "Trust me, that much I know. Don't bother giving the Shortman homework, I'm afraid he won't be completing it when he moves to the new place."
"Wait, you're already making rearrangements?" Gerald asked in surprise.
"Not yet, but I'm just about to-" Phil frowned as he was about to slam the door.
"Wait... Arnold's grandpa! Did Arnold act strange to you at all this week?" Gerald asked before Phil paused.
"Well... I've noticed it recently, yes." Phil frowned. "Why is that any of your business?"
"I know why he's acting this way, and we may still have time! Just let me in and I'll-" Gerald started to say, but Phil could only shake his head.
"I already figured it out, Gerald. Arnold's turning into some type of juvenile delinquent. I know it's probably not your fault or anything, but..." Phil crossed his arms. "...maybe you're not as good of a friend as you are."
The boy's eyes widened in shock. "What?"
"If you'd been there for Arnold to pull him back instead of dilly-dallying all around, maybe he wouldn't steal from his old man's bank safes! Maybe he wouldn't skip school and run all around town. Maybe we shouldn't have gave him all this pressure, and just let him live his life." Phil looked down in sadness as Gerald looked up. Phil frowned as he said, "Trust me, Shortman's leaving will be good for him. You don't have to worry about a thing. He's going to Spireville, Texas to meet up with his cousin first thing."
"You don't understand! Spireville is where the cause of his problems a-" Gerald said before Phil sighed.
"Don't worry, Gerald, I'll make sure Arnold gets your good-bye." Phil sighed before shutting the door.
"But you're just giving her what she-" Gerald started to say, but the door was already closed. "No, no, no!"
Gerald tried to knock on the door furiously. "Phil, let me in! There's something else!"
Nobody answered, much to Gerald's dismay. Gerald groaned as he started to depart. "Oh great. Not only is Phil unwilling to listen, but he's sending Arnold DIRECTLY to that terrible girl! What do I do?"
As he walked off in defeat, little did he realize was that from within the upstairs room of Arnold's, the football headed kid was preparing to make a call.
Meanwhile, with a lonely, beaten, defeated, humiliated, partially naked and broken Helga, the girl's face had dried of tears, everything all dull and grey in her point of view. At this point, she had given up any sign of hope or help. All she could wish for was the sweet embrace of death... if anything to avoid living in a world that didn't involve... involve that knock-off. But even that was far and few in-between. She'd rather be kidnapped and be a tool for an insurgent soldier in a jungle than live ANOTHER day as... a toy.
All of a sudden, she heard the door opening up as she winced a bit, closing her eyes. She expected to hear the southern drawl of that knock-off, either preparing to stuff her in a suitcase, suffocating her, or chopping her body parts off to fit. She honestly didn't know what, but she knew she wasn't going to make the trip with all her body parts intact.
Then, she saw it as fear struck. A very familiar shadow... the girl who had threatened her... had come. She had no choice but to just follow along and obey. After all, this is her mistress's orders...
But, when she looked over to look at Fifi, she couldn't help but note something different was about her. She didn't have the slight overgrown teeth... or the freckles on her face... even her height was about as short. As a matter of fact, she almost looked like...
"Phoebe?" Helga's voice sounded rather hoarse, upon squinting her eyes.
"Helga!" Phoebe gasped as some officers came in and noted the girl as she gasped. "Oh my goodness."
"P-Phoebe..." Helga, for the first time since she had been captured, gave a small smile. "Oh, Phoebe... you... you came..."
The officers surrounded the girl's bed as they examined her, trying their best not to notice her naked body as they cut the chains to release her, only for Helga to wince in pain as both arms dropped from the bed.
"Looks like both arms got broken." One of the officers said as one of the officers reached over to touch her, only for her to flinch in fear. "And she seems to be afraid of other people touching her."
"You think that Fifi girl raped her?" The other officer asked.
"Well, judging from the ripped clothes from the other room and these... interesting... toys that are nearby, I think it's safe to say that she could very well have been." The officer said sadly as he pointed over to an nearby trunk where the remains of Helga's jumper and a few sex toys were seen peeking out. "What do we do here?"
"Honey, can you move your legs?" The other officer asked Helga.
The girl could only look up and nod sadly as the chains on the girl's legs was released. The other officer then tried to console her. "Try to get up with your legs, okay? Don't put too much strain on your arms."
The other officer then looked over and gave a nod, "Take away everything in the room, they could very well be used for evidence."
Phoebe could only watch as the officers started to collect everything in the room as a couple were trying to help Helga cover up and lead her to the car. She couldn't help but notice Helga's face as she looked concerned. "Oh Helga... what has she done to you?"
And that's that! Next time, we'll go back to Arnold's dilemma, along with what Lulu is currently up to!
By the way, what Helga was thinking about an insurgent soldier in the jungle kidnapping her... that's a reference to a... rather, interesting fan comic series that's written by... someone. I don't want to say what it is, but if you want to know, just shoot me a PM and I'll tell you what that comic was. Until next time!