Chapter 7
The days were turning into weeks. Nicholas was nowhere to be found. Elijah was getting weaker with each passing day. And so were his newfound friends, with their heart themed names.
"We better get some sleep." said Grumpy.
"Yeah. It's getting dark." said Elijah, looking up at the sky.
"Where are we this time?" asked Bright Heart.
"We are getting to the richest parts of the city. Look at how fancy the people look here." said Cheer Heart.
"We haven't eaten in a day. We should at least eat something from the garbage." said Grumpy.
"Don't worry. I still have money from the dance off I did with that one person. It's enough for a plate of scrambled eggs. We can divide it." said Elijah.
"That sounds like a great idea." said Cheer Heart softly.
As Bright Heart bought the plate from a vendor, he returned and the kids divided their food. They made sure everyone ate equally. However, Grumpy gave more food to Elijah.
"You need this. You need to be alive to see your brother." said Grumpy.
"Oh Grumpy. I didn't know you cared." teased Elijah.
"I don't." said Grumpy blushing.
"I see red on your face." said Elijah. He started to laugh, but then he coughed.
"Take it easy! You see! This is why I want you to eat more." said Grumpy.
"But you need it too. This is why the food was divided equally." said Tender Heart. His face was soft and his smile warmed Grumpy's own heart.
"Aww, you are such a stinker." said Grumpy.
Tender Heart smiled. He then looked at Cheer Heart, who was sneaking a glance up to him.
After the kids went to sleep in a nearby park, which was clean and very private, Cheer Heart left the group. She walked down a path and stood in front of a fountain. She kneels before it and looks at her reflection.
"What are you doing?" asked Tender Heart, who was next to her suddenly.
"You're awake?" asked Cheer Heart.
"I saw you stand up. Rule number three or one of being a hobo; always sleep with one eye open." said Tender Heart.
"Oh Tender Heart." said Cheer Heart.
"Yeah. That is my name now. I forgot what my old name was. It started with an E." said Tender Heart.
"Don't ever forget it. But I remember it. It's Elijah." said Cheer Heart.
"Yeah! Elijah. But do you remember your name?" asked Tender Heart.
"It's been so long. And I never knew it. I've been called Cheer Heart before." said Cheer Heart.
"Well, why don't I call you by a different name. How about Natalie?" asked Tender Heart.
"Natalie?" asked Cheer Heart.
"It fits you." said Tender Heart.
"Yes. I believe it does." said Cheer Heart.
He held her hand and they both looked at each other's eyes. "I like you Natalie." said Tender Heart.
"I like… no. I love you Elijah." said Cheer Heart.
Elijah and Natalie both got their faces closer to each other and they shared a small gentle kiss. This right here was true love.
They both walked back to the others and sat next to each other, holding hands and they fell fast asleep.
The following morning, the kids were back into town. Tender Heart promised them that this was going to be the last day to search for Nicholas. He had a feeling he was probably gone from the city and perhaps he was nowhere to be found anymore.
As they got deeper into the city, the kids felt something in the air. A sense of evil that they never felt.
"I don't like this feeling." said Grumpy.
"I've felt it before. But why?" asked Bright Heart.
Suddenly, they see a familiar face. Beastly comes running towards them, with his floppy ears flying behind his neck.
"Get away! Shoo!" cried Grumpy.
"No! Listen to me! You guys are in danger! I was in danger too! You all have to run!" cried Beastly.
"Why should we? Is this another one of your tricks?" asked Bright Heart.
"It's Professor Cold Heart! He's actually a devil! He's been using your brother and hurting him to be a shadow like him!" cried Beastly.
"My brother?! Nicholas! Where is he?!" cried Elijah.
Just then, they heard a window breaking and glass falling. They look up to see a young woman falling from a tall building. She falls straight into the ground. In that instant, the kids rush towards her and they see her struggling to breathe. Blood was splattered all over the ground and Cheer Heart couldn't help but cry.
"She's hurt! Oh that poor girl!" cried Cheer Heart. She sits beside her and puts her hands on her face.
"Run…" said the woman.
"We won't. We are not going to leave you like this. You need help." said Grumpy.
"Bright Heart sat next to her and so did Tender Heart. The kids all surrounded her and they put their hands on her arms. They all cried seeing how much the girl was suffering. Beastly sits down too and he starts to cry.
Just then, a miracle happened. Their tears fell on the girl, but sparkles started to come out and her body was healing. The girl's breath went back to normal and she was healed at last.
"Thank you." said the girl.
"You're alive!" cried Tender Heart.
"I am. Thank you all. But how did you do that?" asked the girl.
"We don't know. But we are supposed to help people. What happened to you?" asked Elijah.
"I was with my lover, then a shadow appeared and…" the girl was saying.
"Cold Heart did this. And he's got your brother up there." said Beastly.
"Nicholas is up there?" asked Elijah.
"You know Nicholas?" asked the girl.
"Yes. He's my brother." said Elijah.
The girl looked at him and smiled. "You look a little like him. But he's never mentioned you." said the girl.
"And he's never mentioned you? Who are you?" asked Elijah.
"I'm Treya. I met your brother a few days ago." said she.
"And you are lovers?" asked Elijah.
"Y-yes." replied Treya.
"And he's never mentioned me? Why?" asked Elijah.
"The shadow. He's been controlling your brother from the start, forcing him to do things that he does not want to do." said Treya.
"And he took away his memories of you!" cried Beastly.
"Then I have to rescue him! I must!" cried Elijah.
Just then, from afar a new building emerged. It was tall and very dark.
"That is the shadow's lair. He took Nicholas there." said Beastly.
"I'm going to find him. You guys stay here." said Elijah standing tall.
"But you can't go alone!" cried Cheer Heart.
"I'll be okay. You stay and protect everyone else here. You're my queen." said Elijah.
Cheer Heart blushed and the other kids chuckled.
"Q-queen?" asked Grumpy, trying not to laugh.
"Oh my." said Treya.
"This is… odd." said Bright Heart.
"Elijah and Cheer Heart sitting in a tree. G." said Beastly.
Elijah kisses Cheer Heart on her cheek. "I love you Natalie." he whispers softly.
"And I love you Elijah. Please, come back to me in one piece." she said softly.
Elijah nodded and ran into the fog that suddenly appeared.
Once again, Elijah, no, Tender Heart found himself walking in an ally, leading up to the tall dark building. This took him way back when he would walk with his brother in cold alleys to find jobs or hide from drugged people.
He then found himself standing in the front gates of the tall dark building. As he was about to enter, he felt a darkness creep up in his chest. He turned around to see the neatly dressed in red Dark Heart walk up to him.
"I'm getting paid good money for this job. It's so easy." he said to himself.
"You're the shadow?" asked Tender Heart.
"Me? Oh no. I'm Dark Heart."
"Where is the shadow? Where is Nicholas?" demanded Tender Heart.
"Relax. The old man took your brother inside the building. They should all be in the first floor since this whole building doesn't have floors." said Dark Heart.
"Great. But what are you going to do?" asked Tender Heart.
"Me? I'm just here to distract you. But I don't need to. How old are you by the way?" asked Dark Heart.
"I don't need to tell you!" said Tender Heart.
"Feisty little bear cub. Ha, you see what I did there? Bear cub. You ain't even a bear. Well, up ahead, the shadow hosts some very strange and unusual company in the garden. To get to the building, you must walk through the garden of Vice and Sin. You will see things that no little kid has ever seen before." said Dark Heart.
"Like what?" asked Tender Heart.
"Orgies. Drugs. Alcoholic beverages being thrown around. Dancing naked women and men on poles." said Dark Heart.
"Nothing I haven't seen. I'm from the street." said Tender Heart, standing tall against Dark Heart.
"Only here, they are all happening at once. And there is a catch. Cold Heart put some temptation magic on this place. If you were to see anything from here, you would end up joining whatever activity you saw first, regardless of how old you are. That is how cruel the place is." said Dark Heart.
"Then I'll look to the ground." said Tender Heart.
"It's not that simple." said Dark Heart. He grabbed a stick and lit up a torch.
"Take this torch with you and it will guide you to your brother. You see, I like you kid. And I want to see the world burn. Go ahead, rescue your brother, as long as you are careful and you resist looking." said Dark Heart with a toothy grin. He then vanishes into red smoke and Tender Heart breathes in deeply.
"I'm not afraid. I will beat this world and I will save Nicholas." said Tender Heart. He closed his eyes and then opened them. He walked into the garden of vice and sin.
As Tender Heart walked forward, he did not look. He heard noises. Loud moans, bodies slapping close to each other, songs with sexual meanings; it was a cesspool of sex. Tender Heart did not look. He kept his eyes on the ground and he allowed the torch to guide him. True to Dark Heart's word, the torch took him only on the path, guiding him towards the tall building.
Eventually, the noises died down and the torch vanished. Tender Heart was now in front of the building. He opened one of the doors and entered.
Inside was a hallway. At first, there was nothing unusual. But he did hear screams. They were the screams of someone being tortured. He was about to check it out when smoke appeared. Beastly was right in front of him and he shook his head.
"Don't think about it! You are not out of the woods yet! Even in this building, there are things you shouldn't see." said Beastly.
"What's inside?" asked Tender Heart.
"What you hear is not real. They are nothing but tricks to think that someone is hurt. If you go to see what it is, you will fall into a trap." said Beastly.
"Then how do I get to my brother!?" asked Tender Heart.
"I'll guide you. But be prepared. Cold Heart hates the good." said Beastly.
