The Horror of Popularity
lucyrocks73: Thanks for putting me on your favourite author's list! Glad you enjoyed the chapter. Also I invited you to be a staff member of my community. Hope you'll accept!
OkiJule: Thanks for enjoying the chapter.
Nonymous: Yes Timmy has become a monster. Yes Tootie also hates him now but don't think Tootie's done yet; there'll be more of her as the story progresses and two surprising character comebacks. But trust me; you haven't seen the end of his cruelty yet. Glad you're still around reviewing and loving my story.
can't think: Yes Timmy has really become cruel in this story. Yet you haven't seen the end of his cruelty. Let's just say characters who you thought were cruel and conniving before will be like puppies (the nice safe kind) compared to Timmy in this chapter. Love that you thought my story was cool!
Disclaimer: I don't own the songs 'The Ghost that Haunt Me' (Crash Test Dummies), 'Two Steps Behind' (Def Leppard), 'In The Shadows' (Rasmus)
Chapter 12: Who's the Scapegoat?
(Meanwhile at the Richton's Residence)
Richard Richton took another swig of vodka as he sat in the magnificent living room that he and wife had furbished with the great wealth that they had. The mansion itself was an elegant place and the living room only exuded the great elegance that it had. But Mr. Richard Richton wasn't thinking about his beautiful home. He was thinking about his son. The son that he lost. The son that he helped to kill. He thought about Ian.
Why couldn't you just tell me who the witch was Ian? You kept saying that it wasn't you or the other popular kid's fault but bad stuff kept happening when unpopular kids troubled you cursed children. What was I supposed to do? I had to protect my little boy Richard Richton Junior. He'll (Richard) understand when he's older. He'll love his old man and know that I did it for the best. But why no matter how hard I tell myself that I can't believe it? Believe that my younger son will forgive me for sending his only sib and older brother to the gallows and almost participating in the actual hanging. I must've been high when I agreed to all this. Or maybe just plain evil. I wonder if the whole witch thing will really fly? If it doesn't I can't see how Dimmsdale will get out of this without a scapegoat. The Mayor will definitely be in hot water. (Mr. Richton's thoughts)
Richard looked up to see Mrs. Nadia Richton enter the living room and sit beside him.
"You've been like this since yesterday dear," Mrs. Richton said softly and ran her hand through his unusually unruly and ungroomed hair, "what's wrong dear?" she whispered despite knowing very well what his response would be.
"We murdered our son Nadia," Mr. Richton told her, "it's starting to eat me inside out," he said to her almost tearfully, "I drink to forget and want to die the more that I drink," he said his voice starting to become tearful.
"We did what we thought was best," Mrs. Richton responded kindly, "I guess in all this hyped up witch hunt we just…" she continued but stopped for a moment and took in a deep breath, "we just forgot that we had two sons and even though we had to protect one we shouldn't have totally shunned the other," she said and sighed.
"They said that the carbon monoxide would only be used on the witch," Mr. Richton recalled, "all the boys were proven to not be witches yet they didn't want to release them," he said softly, "I thought that it was only for containment of the curse," he said and shook his head, "but really they just wanted to massacre all the children," he realized, "I willingly sent my boy to his death," he croaked, "I deserve death," he said and closed his eyes tightly as tears started to flow.
"Don't say that," Mrs. Richton instructed him, "you know that you mainly did what you did before because you just got stir crazy," she tried to reassure him.
"Stir crazy?" Mr. Richton asked, "STIR CRAZY!" he cried incredulously, "I practically handed over the best way to murder my son and even help orchestrate what led to Chad and his mother's death!" he cried, "you used to do bake sales together!" he reminded his wife.
"But we were never friends," Mrs. Richton reminded him bluntly, "the Mayor was there too," she pointed out, "he can't just get off Scot free either if any of this comes out," she said frankly.
"I guess your right," Mr. Richton sighed, "but I wish that…" he said but stopped.
"Wish what dear?" Mrs. Richton asked her grey eyes filled with concern.
"I wish that I could've told Ian that I am sorry," Mr. Richton blurted out tears rolling down his face, "I wish that Richard will know what happened someday and be able to forgive us," he whispered.
"I wish that too," Mrs. Richton whispered as she allowed her husband to bury his head into her bosom as he sobbed, "we have each other still don't we?" she asked him suddenly, "we might lose two sons but we'll always have each other," she told him as she stroked his ears and his sobbing slowly ceased.
"Yes," Mr. Richton responded as he snuggled closer to his wife, "as long as we have each other little else matters," he whispered and drifted off to sleep.
Suddenly Mrs. Richton heard a soft nearby crash. She turned around quickly in time to see their pet cat run away from the potted plant it seemed to have knocked over and she sighed with relief.
Thank God! I thought for a moment that it was our son Richard Jr. who's staying home sick today. That would've been catastrophic! (Mrs. Richton's thoughts)
(Fifteen Minutes Later outside Mayor's Office)
Timmy walked around the beautiful grounds and ran a hand along the rose petals of one of the rose bushes. He was deep in thought about what Tootie had said to him earlier when he heard footsteps behind him.
"Hello Timmy," Wanda said formally and Timmy spun around quickly in fright, "hope your well," she said coldly, "well enough to deal with the repercussions of what you've done someday," she added as she glared down at him.
"What are YOU doing here?" Timmy demanded, "I gave you and Cosmo the boot!" he cried.
"Don't tell me that my presence in human form frightens Timmy the great hero," Wanda said feigning surprise, "Cosmo's resting so I came to visit you by myself," she stated.
"You don't scare me!" Timmy cried but his voice betrayed him, "what do you want?" he demanded in a scared voice.
"Don't worry," Wanda stated icily as she leaned closer to the quivering boy, "I'm nothing like you," she hissed then stood up, "I don't harm those who become weaker than me for revenge or some other dark twisted reason," she told him, "my magic won't be soiled because of your evil doing," she said firmly.
"You're just bitter because everything turned out okay despite you guys not wanting to use your powers for me," Timmy taunted no longer scared since Wanda didn't seem to plan to murder him, "you're just jealous because now I have most of the things that I desire and I got it without you misfits help," he continued, "I practically have it all," he said with a grin, "in fact looking at my age and where I've risen from I do have it all!" he declared happily.
"I just want to let you know Timmy," Wanda said with her grin, "that I'll be watching you," she stated, "I'll always be a few steps behind you wherever you go," she told him, "and when you fall," she said to him, "I'll take one step back and watch how low you'll land," she said with a smile.
"I'm not going to fall," Timmy declared proudly, "so you better not hold your breath," he sneered, "because the only place that I'm going is up," he added and pointed his index finger up for emphasis.
"Confident aren't we," Wanda said emotionlessly, "just remember that Justice may be blind but those who've been wronged still can see," she said to him, "you've not only done wrong to those children you helped murder by doing nothing to help them but also to Dimmsdale which you've made into a place to be feared and not to go near to or visit," she pointed out.
"That's all being taken care of," Timmy said confidently, "I won't be blamed for any of it," he told her.
"So you've found a scapegoat," Wanda said already knowing the answer, "which innocent person you're going to frame and harm this time?" she asked.
"Don't act all angelic with me!" Timmy cried angrily, "if it weren't for you and Cosmo I'd never have known about one of those dead kids was a witch," he said triumphantly.
"Who said the witch is dead?" Wanda asked him and Timmy gasped, "don't worry," she told him, "she has no powers now," she informed him, "and she wouldn't be of any harm to you even if she did," she said, "and," she continued, "if Cosmo and I knew what you'd have done with the information about the witch we wouldn't have told you a damn thing!" she declared, "to think that you could be so cruel."
"Cry me a river," Timmy responded scornfully, "I'll do whatever it takes to clear Dimmsdale's name and mine as well," he stated, "I'm not fighting what I am now," he declared, "I'm enjoying it as a matter of fact," he told her, "the old average Timmy is no more!" he cried happily and laughed as he fell unto the well manicured grass.
"No you're not," Wanda agreed, "the average Timmy cared about others and put other people before himself," she reminded him, "if you look at yourself you'd see the monster that you really are," she said to him, "I sometimes wonder if you were ever a good person," she said and her chest heaved as her face showed her anger.
"Well I'm top now," Timmy told her, "and Dimmsdale thinks I'm a good person," he reminded her, "a hero in fact," he declared proudly, "and that's all that really matters," he said frankly.
"You'll regret what you did someday," Wanda told him seriously, "you'll regret it and won't be able to take it back," she declared and disappeared in a puff of pink smoke.
"I'll never regret what I did," Timmy muttered after Wanda disappeared and he rose back to his feet, "I saved Dimmsdale and the citizens know it," he said confidently, "Tootie will know it too someday," he said firmly, "either way she'll be mine," he added with a grin.
(Meanwhile at the Tang's Residence)
A girl digs through Mr. and Mrs. Tang's things. She's desperately searching for something. A hint, a clue, anything to answer her undying question.
Then she finds an envelope. It's from Mr. Horace Jace and the seals broken. She takes out the letter and starts to read it.
Dear Mr. Tang
I can't believe this! I'm just letting you know secretly that the bodies of my daughter Britney Jace, Mr. Richton's son Ian Richton, and two of the Fin quadruplets are missing. I'm really sorry about your daughter's death Mr. Tang. I've been told that it must've been the witch's doing. Even though the report says that all those children are dead, it's not true and these reports are being used to lower panic among the citizens.
I also want you to know a secret from my wife. She only told me this yesterday and know that the letter that I hand you today in your office was written right after that and will reach your hands the day after. Britney might be the witch, in fact her weird behaviour of not being very depressed or pitying her so called elite popular friends before we allowed her to be taken to the barn unnerved me. My wife told me that when Britney was five years old that one night she went to tuck Britney in and saw our daughter floating above the bed and muttering something illegible. But that's not the weirdest part. The weirdest part was that it was in an adult female voice was and she was muttering from what my wife could pick up another language. Then Britney suddenly stopped and slowly landed back on the bed. But just as my wife was about to exit the room something hit her in the head and she fell down unconscious. She woke up hours later to see a note scrawled in fancy cursive handwriting (my daughter can't write good much less fancy cursive writing of any nature, disgraceful really but true) but worse yet it wasn't written in a five year old hand or had words most five year olds could spell much less write. It said:
Tell anyone of this paranormal
Event of the inconceivable darkness
And die mortal!
Needless to say my wife was scared out of her wits but told no one and since Britney acted normal after that assumed it was demon possession since she believed in evil spirits despite being agnostic like myself. But now she's told me this and I've sent this as a warning to you. I'm leaving Dimmsdale forever with my wife and so should you. Don't take too many possessions, it might arouse suspicious and that Timmy lad has a very keen if not keenly evil eye. Don't warn Richard, he's long gone nuts with this whole thing and only God knows if it's true the rumours that he helped to orchestrate Chad and his mother's death. If anything happens to him it's his own fault and quite frankly I could care less of someone who seems so into that Timmy boy. Televised executions? Treason? Leave Dimmsdale before things get crazier. They'll probably be blaming parents of these dead kids next. Worse they might blame people who've been publicly involved in their capture if this whole witch thing falls through. The Mayor will find any way possible to get out of it and trust me my friend we're the perfect scapegoats. Richard and his wife are the top ones actually but you've always been good friends with Richard and I fear that your refusal to co-operate after your daughter got taken to the barn without your knowledge has put you in hot water with not only the Mayor and some important people, but that Timmy boy as well.
I'm going to quickly close off this letter. After you've read this I should be out of the office and driving straight for the airport to meet my wife so that we can fly out of here. We've had our possessions handed over to our trusted first cousin Marilyn Trust and she'll send them to us after things have calmed down in Dimmsdale.
Leave and don't return Mr. Tang. Give this to your wife to read also when you go home, then burn it. Again I'm sorry about your daughter's death. I would've never suggested the barn and that they be sent to a holding area in the first if I knew such a thing would happen. Please Forgive me.
Yours Regretful,
Mr. Horace Jace.
The girl folded the letter and slipped it into her jeans pocket and stood up.
"I didn't find anything Vicky," a small voice whispered.
"Well hurry up and come then," Vicky snapped, "I don't know how you and your sister are so well after the whole carbon monoxide poisoning but you're still moving too slow!" she cried, "we're searching in broad daylight and I bet Timmy probably secretly ordered the townspeople to shoot me on sight since I'm part of the Revolutionary group," she said.
"I already told you that my sister and I were part of an experiment years ago that made us half immune to poisoning," the girl reminded Vicky, "plus I know Timmy and he's nice," she said, "I bet he didn't know about them planning to kill us," she continued, "the Jaces, Richtons and that Mayor are really the evil one," she declared.
"Hurry up and come before something goes wrong and we get caught," Vicky rushed and the girl hurried to her, "can't believe kids like you with high I.Q.'s decided to act your age and stay in the second grade," she muttered as they quickly exited the Tang's mansion, "if I were you I'd just go right ahead and jump straight into college so that I could get school over and done with," she said frankly as they quickly moved from the side exit to the back of the mansion.
"In my family it's traditional that females aren't overly intelligent," the girl revealed, "I for one uphold such values," she said proudly, "I keep feeding my intelligence, but keep it under wraps so that I don't become a public disgrace to my family," she told Vicky, "they're the only ones who know," she added quickly.
"Your family's weird," Vicky said bluntly as she reached behind the mansion and met up with Mary and the girl's sister, "what did you and Heidi find?" she asked as she rest down her heavy backpack now filled with supplies she stole from the mansion and the few items of interest she could find.
"Only some crushed up apology notes Mrs. Tang had written to Trixie while Trixie was trapped in Dark Manor like the rest of us," Heidi said dismissively, "they were never completed and Mrs. Tang seemed unable to write more than four lines before crushing up the notes and throwing it into the waist basket in her Study (room)," she told Vicky.
"I found something interesting," Mary stated, "here," she said and dug into her coat pocket and took out several pictures, "look at them closely and tell me if you don't see a pattern," she said seriously as she handed them to Vicky, "there's one prevailing pattern in every single one of them," she said and watched Vicky flip through the pictures.
"Besides the fact that they've all been cut at some point or location with scissors?" Vicky asked confused and Mary rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Then what the hell is it!" Vicky exploded, and I don't want to hear any long physiological or technical mumbo," she said frankly just as Mary was about to speak and Mary grew silent, "just tell me straight and simple."
"They all have someone who's been totally or more than partially cut out of the photograph," Mary told Vicky, "I found the cut off pieces and from the photographed faces that I found," she continued, "it has to be Mr. Horace Jace," he decided, "one of the men who you told me worked closer with the monitoring of the elite popular children than even Richard Richton," she said, "but you told me that he and Mr. Tang were close friends," she added feeling confused.
"Were seeming to be the key sense of the word now," Vicky said seriously now looking at the photographs and noticed how hatefully the pictures were cut to take Mr. Horace Jace out of them, "and you didn't find anything significant Mandy?" she asked the other girl.
"No," Mandy lied her light blue eyes not revealing a thing, "I found nothing," she told them, "nothing significant to show you anyway," she said finally.
"All I have left to live for is this Revolution, life itself and you guys," Vicky admitted, "I hate to admit it but the Revolution's failing," she confessed with a sigh, "I'm the only original member who hasn't been caught or left Dimmsdale in fear of capture," she said, "I waited for the moment to bring that Timmy boy and those other worthless bastards down," she said, "but now I know that we won't be able to it," she said with a sigh, "the Revolution lives on but the battle's more than half won," she sighed, "by the other side," she added.
"But doesn't the fact that we tried matter?" Mary demanded a discouraged looking Vicky, "we saved three kids and that's not what I call naught," she said firmly.
"Ian's barely alive and I had to hand him over to that weird haired couple," Vicky reminded Mary, "I'm glad that we at least did something," she said, "but I wish that we could've done more," she said and sat down on the ground.
"Are you saying that you have regrets of being a part of the revolution?" Mandy asked Vicky frankly and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"No," Vicky said almost coldly, "I'd rather die than join a band of murderers claiming to be trying to keep the peace," she said icily, "I might be at times overly bad and probably wicked," she admitted, "but at least I don't try to hide from everyone what I really am," she snarled, "those monsters even try to fool their captives that they really give a damn about them," she said scornfully.
Should I show them the letter that I found? I know that keeping it from them is reckless, but if I'm to get it to him I need to keep my discovery a secret. He'll help find the real traitors. I know he will. (Mandy's thoughts)
"We've got to go now," Mary said suddenly, "we can't hang around here any longer without someone finding us," she continued, "the Tang's mansion might be abandoned but we don't know who might slip onto the property anyways," she pointed out, "plus it wont take long for neighbours to notice that everything's too quiet here," she observed, "they might've left most of their property to throw off suspicion but it won't take long for neighbours to notice the lack of servants like gardeners maintaining the property and decide to call the authorities to investigate," she said and Vicky nodded in agreement.
Oh no! If Vicky agrees to anything it means that it has to be done immediately. I have to get this letter to Timmy! (Mandy's thoughts)
"I need to go to the bathroom," Mandy announced suddenly, "I'll be right back," she said quickly and ran back into the house.
"Where is she going!" Vicky demanded angrily after her, "this is no time for a bathroom break!" she cried incredulously.
"I'm not sure if she's really on a bathroom break," Heidi said seriously, "Mary help me search," she ordered, "Vicky stay out here and watch out for any outsiders and or authorities," she commanded and hurried with Mary into the mansion.
Meanwhile inside the Mansion Mandy hurried upstairs until she found Mr. Tang's private study. She had been there before when she visited nearly a year ago when her mother took her along because the nanny was sick and Heidi was in Tibet with her synchronized swimming team for a competition. Mrs. Yolanda Fin had to complete a contract with Mr. Tang and Trixie kept Mandy's company by the pool. But Mandy had snuck back into the Mansion and found the study while exploring and using her hacking knowledge cracked the security code. She remembered that day enjoying herself being surrounded by so much technology. Now she inputted the same code and entered. She quickly locked the door and secured it to prevent quick entry by Heidi if her sister figured out that she's up to something.
"Which will probably have happened long before now," Mandy muttered and hurried to Mr. Tang's computer and turned it on, "let me just bypass security," she said and did so in seconds as her hands flew across the keyboard like bullets from a shotgun, "now I'll scan the letter," she said after the computer fully started up and turned on the scanner after she took out the envelope and removed the letter, "now to scan," she said as she turned on the scanner and scanned the letter onto the computer then saved it in My Documents, "now to log onto the internet," she continued and bypassed more security and passwords to break the password to log on.
Then Mandy went to Yahoo and logged into Yahoo Mail with a secret user that only she knew. She then clicked check mail, went through two unread messages then clicked on compose. She then clicked on Attach File and chose the letter that she saved on the computer and attached it to her e-mail. She was taken back to her e-mail and she entered the e-mail address that Dimmsdale had given to Timmy Turner and had it published in the newspaper so that all citizens could send praises and reports of suspicious happenings directly to him. She then typed in the Subject: IMPORTANT! Traitors Among US!
Then she proceeded to write a quick body explaining what she could reveal.
Dear Hero Timmy
As much as I'd like to, I can't reveal my name to you. But I have
Some important information. There are traitors among us citizens who need to be exposed and punished. People close to me say that you're among them, but I refuse to believe that. I know you Timmy Turner. And the boy who I met on the playground last school year would NEVER harm other people knowingly and wickedly. Attached to this e-mail is a letter from one of those traitors I mentioned. I don't believe the person he wrote to was a traitor, but I definitely believe this person knows more than he's revealed in the letter he wrote.
Also Timmy Turner, I need to tell you unfortunate news. It was not a witch or paranormal phenomenon that killed the elite popular kids. It was murder. Murder done by insidious murderers who locked the children inside the barn and released Carbon Monoxide on them. Don't ask how I know this but I'm going to tell you some of my suspicions.
Firstly Mr. Horace Jace revealed to Mr. Tang privileged info that claims that some of the kids are still alive in the letter that's attached to this e-mail. Also Mrs. Jace revealed to Mr. Jace who then revealed in his letter to Mr. Tang information about the witch that if it were revealed earlier; would've prevented all of the travesties that had happened after the elite popular children were blamed for all the bad things that happened before being sent to the barn. I believe you should read the letter for yourself for more details. Another Person who I need to inform you about is Mr. Richard Richton who works at a Lab if I recall correctly. From what I know the popular kids were doused with special Carbon Monoxide that kills people faster than the regular C.M. and also more painfully. Wouldn't such a chemical need special development, care and research? I'm certain that you're following along the same chapter that I'm on Timmy Turner. Simply put I call out Mr and Mrs. Jace as well as Mr. And Mrs. Richton as traitors. I believe that they knew about the special C.M. or knew information that would've saved time, lives and torture of innocents that they didn't reveal for some greedy sadistic reason, which I'm currently unsure of.
I trust you Timmy. Even if my current company doesn't. Do us justice and punish these traitors who allowed things to get out of hand and willingly allowed murder to take place. I'll also tell you that I'm an anonymous informant who's female in gender and has reached up to second grade education wise. But I'm a genius who's decided to keep her smarts a secret for special reason. Hope this reaches you quickly. God Speed and God Bless Timmy Turner. Goodbye.
Yours Truly,
Agent Red Pony
Mandy then sent the completed letter immediately to Timmy Turner and also added his e-mail address to her online address book. She then signed off and logged of the Internet. Just then she heard shuffling outside and knew that Heidi had figured out where she was. She simply sighed and proceeded to print a copy of the letter she had scanned while Heidi tried to break the access code. Just as the letter finished printing Mandy heard the door open and didn't turn to look as she picked up the copied letter while Heidi and Mary hurried inside looking furious and livid.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE!" Mary demanded in opened fury, "are you trying to get us killed?" she demanded, "we can be shot while on other people's property without permission you know," she said seriously.
"You need to get in touch with the Twenty First Century," Mandy stated coldly and turned to her, "unlike your time we have laws that disallow such acts without SEVERE consequences," she said firmly, "plus I was just printing a copy of this letter that I found lying around as I was headed towards the bathroom," she said and handed it to Mary who looked at the paper quizzically, "it came from the printer," she told Mary who then looked more confused, "we really need to teach you about today's technology," she added exasperated with Mary's continuous confusion of and about things that seemed so simple to her, Vicky and her sister Heidi.
"What were you really doing here?" Heidi asked suspiciously.
"I told you," Mandy said loudly, "don't you trust me?"
"Words are cheap," Heidi said icily, "actions are what matter," she stated, "not words that are likely a bunch of lies and crap," she said.
"Whoa," Mandy interjected, "let's not get uncivil here," she said, "we need to be a unified force at this time," she said then returned to reading the letter, "this is interesting," she said with approval, "I'm certain Vicky would love to see this," she said with a smile, "good job Mandy," she said and patted Mandy on the head, "did you use the bathroom before coming here?" she asked suddenly and Heidi gave Mandy a furiously suspicious glare.
"Of Course," Mandy lied making sure to keep a straight face around her scrutinizing sister, "I wasn't going to wait until after and have Vicky on MY back," she said incredulously.
"Good," Mary said simply, "let's head back," she instructed and she started to head to the door with a seething Heidi in tow.
Mandy started to follow but she remembered the original copy of the letter and she quickly put that back in it's envelope and stuffed it back into her pocket. She then took long silent strides to catch back up with Mandy and Heidi. After exiting the Study Heidi stared to rearm it and Mary watched in awe and curiousity. Mary took the opportunity and quickly opened a nearby drawer in a night stands desk just a crack and slipped the letter in then closed it. She then moved away from the night table and started to yawn.
"Tired?" Mary asked and Mandy lied as she nodded, "now we can go," she said happily after Heidi stepped back from her completed task, "let's get out of here before Vicky hunts us down personally," she said and the other two nodded quickly and headed outside.
I know that Mandy did more than just print a letter. I saw a shrunken Internet Pop Up AD and I know that she went on the Internet. Oh Mandy! Please don't let me find out that you've done something naïve and stupid! (Heidi's thoughts)
"About time," Vicky spat angrily when she saw them coming towards her, "let's go," she ordered and they quickly snuck off the Tang's property looking out for anyone who might see them and rat them out or ask suspicious questions.
(One Hour Later Inside City Hall)
"You're going to address the gathering outside in five minutes," a male personel told the Mayor.
"I'll be ready," the Mayor said dismissively.
"Mayor!" Timmy cried suddenly and hurried into the room with several sheets of paper in one hand, "feast your eyes on this," he said and handed the Mayor some of the papers that he was holding, "this is the break we've been dying for," he said with a grin as the Mayor's eyes widened as he continued to read.
The Mayor finished reading everything in nearly four minutes. Then he turned to Timmy.
"Where did you get this?" the Mayor asked softly.
"Someone e-mailed it to my special address," Timmy said with a shrug, "I went to check my fan mail half an hour ago and saw that when I reached the fiftieth message," he told the Mayor, "after I read the message I uploaded the attached letter and read it as well," he continued, " I knew that you needed to read both the e-mail and the attached letter," he said with a smile.
"I can't believe it," the Mayor said, "this is perfect," he said happily with a laugh, "and from someone who knows that the kids were killed by Carbon Monoxide and doesn't blame me," he whispered happily, "I'm not going to fry," he said laughing.
"Good things come to those who do Justice," Timmy said firmly, "despite the law and whatever human rights crap that exists," he stated,"Let's do this," he said confidently and both he and the Mayor walked out to face the crowd outside City Hall.
(Meanwhile at a Female Maximum Security Prison in Brightsburg)
"You only have one phone call," a female security said coldly to a brown haired female, "don't let it be for naught," she said and exited the room.
The female's hand shook as she picked up the receiver and dialed the number. She had never been to prison before and especially one that was so far away from her home in Dimmsdale. She couldn't see her friends or her husband while she was in here. Well the former wouldn't be around anyway since after it was announced over live television who she really was; there was pretty much no friend left. She heard the phone ring and listened anxiously.
After the fourth ring someone picked up.
"Dimmsdale's Male Punishment and Hard Labour Hell Prison," a woman said cheerily and the female winced at the name, "which prisoner would you like to speak to?" she asked vibrantly.
"Mr. Turner," the female said softly as she clutched the receiver tightly.
"Oh," the woman curtly all cheeriness and manners gone, "make I ask who's calling?" she asked cuttingly.
"His wife Mrs. Turner," Mrs. Turner responded.
"Guess Brightsburg's not tough enough not to allow certain prisoners to make phone calls," the woman said and Mrs. Turner gasped.
"Do you mean to tell me that my husband isn't allowed to call anybody?" Mrs. Turner asked incredulously.
"Only you," the woman said simply, "he isn't allowed any visitation either," she said, "not that anyone has come inside to visit him," she added.
"That's a lie!" Mrs. Turner cried, "his mother came by last week and told she that she was turned away every time she tried to visit him," she said firmly.
"That's not what he's been told," the woman responded with a chuckle, "but watch your manners Mrs. Turner," she continued, "I can disallow any phone conversation that I see as unfit," she hissed.
Mrs. Turner gulped. She really needed to speak to her husband. Especially now that she knew he hadn't been able to have contact with any loved ones from outside like she was able to. She had to be nice to this conniving woman and keep her temper in check.
"Pardon me Madam," Mrs. Turner said nicely, "may I speak to my husband Mr. Turner?" she asked.
"Hold," the woman said emotionlessly and left Mrs. Turner to wait quietly on her line.
"Hello?" a male voice asked nearly fifteen minutes later and he sounded tired and confused, "who is this?" he asked faintly.
"It's me your wife honey," Mrs. Turner said happily, "but what's happened to your voice?" she asked noticing how tired and weak he sounded.
"My wife?" Mr. Turner asked still sounding confused, "Oh hi," he whispered happily, "how are you?" he asked.
"What's wrong?" Mrs. Turner asked seriously, "why do you sound so weak and disoriented?" she asked with open concern.
"They don't call the prison by such a name for amusement purposes," Mr. Turner said coldly, "Oh sorry dear," he said suddenly, "the man across from me is telling me not to…" he continued but stopped when a loud crash of an object was heard and he stopped talking.
"There will be no conversing about the actions taken by the prison," a new male voice said formally on the other end to Mrs. Turner, "any other violation of that order will cause termination of Mr. Turner being able to receive any calls from you his significant other," he said formally, "in other words he will have no one else to be in contact with for the rest of his stay in prison," he told her.
"Okay," Mrs. Turner said calmly despite feeling the opposite.
"Hello again dear," Mr. Turner said wearily and his voice shook, "how has your stay been," he asked over enthusiastically.
"You don't have to pretend to be happy," Mrs. Turner told him.
"I sort of have to," Mr. Turner responded and he sounded very uncomfortable.
Mrs. Turner thought over what he said and started to fume.
"Well they can listen in all they want!" Mrs. Turner declared, "I just want to speak to you," she said softly, "my dear husband," she added tearfully.
"Don't cry dear," Mr. Turner said, "I'm okay really," he said sounding overly enthusiastic again, "the prison isn't half bad when you wake up each day knowing you're not dead," he said in obvious hopes of calming his wife but doing the opposite.
"This is horrible," Mrs. Turner croaked, "I almost wished that we didn't form that rebel group."
"No use looking back in the past," Mr. Turner said almost too carefully, "I might not be able to run for Miss Dimmsdale again with a criminal record," he said, "but at least we'll have each other when he get out," he said kindly, "when ever that is," he added his voice loosing all cheeriness.
"They haven't given you a release date either?" Mrs. Turner asked and he told her 'no', "oh well," she said and sniffled, "when we get out I'm certain that Timmy…" she continued but Mr. Turner interrupted.
"Don't…" Mr. Turner started angrily but stopped, "I mean, let's talk about something else," he said too cheerily and Mrs. Turner knew immediately that somebody present in the room must've threatened him in some way
"Okay," Mrs. Turner agreed, "is Tootie okay?" she asked suddenly.
"She's with our son," Mr. Turner said coldly and Mrs. Turner gasped, "I don't know anything else," he said seriously.
"I hope she's okay," Mrs. Turner said, "can't say that I say the hope about certain other people," she said with open distaste.
"Who we will not be talking about," Mr. Turner said too happily and Mrs. Turner knew that her comment must be offending someone who was listening in on their call.
"Fine," Mrs. Turner muttered, "so what kind of recreational activities do you do there?" she asked him with fake enthusiasm.
"Labour," Mr. Turner told her, "lots of hard labour because of my treasonous crimes," he recited and Mrs. Turner knew that he must've been forced to say it and pitied him, "you?"
"I'm kept in solitary confinement," Mrs. Turner said sadly, "God I miss the Sun and wind blowing through my hair," she said wistfully.
"It's not much here trust me," Mr. Turner muttered, "when you've felt the sun beat down on you here," he said, "you'd miss or long for solitary confinement," he said frankly.
"So I guess they've caught all the rebels?" Mrs. Turner asked formally not wanting to give any one the incentive to cut their call short.
"Some are still at large," Mr. Turner responded carefully, "I think that includes Vicky who's tops their rebel list of teen rebels," he told her, "but Timmy the town hero," he said coldly, "is encouraging everyone to keep a sharp look out for anything suspicious," he said.
"Your time's up Turner," the female security said formally as she stuck her head into the room, "wrap it up and let's get you back to your cell," she said Mrs. Turner nodded and gave the guard a small smile.
"I have to go," Mrs. Turner told him, "but I'll call again as soon as I can," she added quickly.
"Hopefully we'll be out of here soon," Mr. Turner said in a melancholy tone so unlike his usually cheerful voice, "Bye Dear," he whispered.
"Bye," Mrs. Turner whispered back to him, "I love you," she added.
"I love you too," Mr. Turner told her and hung up.
Mrs. Turner stood still for a moment then dropped the receiver and started to sob. The security came in and saw this to her displeasure.
"Suck it up woman!" the female security cried angrily, "if you want to get out of here sane you better calm down," she whispered as she kneeled by the distraught Mrs. Turner, "most of us in this town don't support Dimmsdale's actions either," she told Mrs. Turner who looked up at her in surprise and saw the guard smile at her for the first time.
"I'm not really allowed calls or visitors, am I?" Mrs. Turner asked.
"No," the security admitted, "but we defied them by allowing you visitors on the sly," she said with a grin, "but we couldn't allow you to call your husband until a higher power condemned Dimmsdale for it's actions," she revealed, "and few powers are higher than the President of the United States," she declared with a smile.
"Yes," Mrs. Turner agreed, "I'm glad he agreed that the town's actions towards those unfortunate children was unnecessary and horrible," she said, "has he said anything about those imprisoned or are being hunted down as rebels?" she asked anxiously.
"No," the female security responded, "and even if he did," she said with a sigh, "Dimmsdale seems to be following it's own drum right now," she stated, "I just pity that husband of yours," she added.
Mrs. Turner nodded in agreement as she and the security rose to their feet.
(2 Minutes Later at the front of City Hall in Dimmsdale)
"Yes citizens," the Mayor said formally after introductions were made, "they're traitors among us!" he announced and got a mixed murmur of shock and disbelief from the crowd of citizens who were in attendance, "and ironically," he continued, "they're up in the higher social and financial class of our society!" he cried and many citizens gasped at this statement.
"So let me get this straight," a burly construction worker said loudly and bit into his ham and cheese submarine sandwich, "you invited us here because we're lower than them?" he demanded as he chewed his food openly and suddenly many citizens became irate and angry.
"Ahem," Timmy said suddenly from his seat beside the Mayor who was at the podium, "we invited your class of citizens here because we can TRUST you not to betray us to the traitors who we're about to announce," he told the construction worker, "would you contact a rich person if YOU were about to report a rich man?" he asked.
"Guess not," the construction said sheepishly with a laugh and stopped eating his sandwich, "ahem, continue Mayor," he said more respectfully and Mayor gave him a warm smile and a nod then quickly returned his attention to the gathered citizens.
"We've received information recently that's confirmed our suspicions that they're some potential traitors among us," the Mayor stated, "after the President of our beloved country announced that we'd gone too far I soon got to thinking," he said, "did we mean to kill all these children?" he asked rhetorically, "or just hold them until we found the true perpetrator?" he asked, "I tell you," he said boldly, "it's those who meant to do the former, who're the real criminals," he said and got murmurs of agreement from a small fraction of the crowd," and I have young Timmy Turner with written proof of what might've really happened the night all those darling children died," he announced, "Timmy Turner will now come forward and tell you about our proof as well as the identities of the traitors," he said and pointed at Timmy, "Timmy," he said sat down by the other side of the podium.
Timmy rose to his feet and went behind the podium. He stood their silently for nearly a minute as if contemplating his thoughts.
"Hello citizens of Dimmsdale," Timmy said formally, "I have the proof here of the traitors among us," he told them, "but first I have to say that I myself betrayed Dimmsdale," he said suddenly and everyone else gasped while the Mayor nearly fainted, "I betrayed you Dimmsdale by putting forward the illusion that only the witch could do devious deeds and that regular humans couldn't be just as if not twice as evil," he said, "I told people that their children would be safe and that Dimmsdale wouldn't be scorned and or blamed by outsiders," he continued, "and I was wrong," he admitted, "I know that these crimes of mine are not punishable by law," he said, "but I'm still haunted by them," he said softly, "I'm sorry," he said and bowed his head.
The crowd was silent for a moment. This was a lot to digest. The young hero had just admitted to being a traitor. What would come next.
"I will now read a letter by Horace Jace," Timmy said firmly after finally lifting his head, "listen closely to his words and decide if he's truly virtuous," he told them and then read the letter.
"I just want to say that I find this horrible news," Timmy said after he finished reading the letter, "Mr. Jace withheld information that would've prevented most of what the elite popular kids went through because we were uncertain who was the main culprit," he told them, "also he sent his daughter Britney off with the other kids to obviously relieve himself of his burden but allow others to suffer," he said seriously, "his wife also knew about this years ago and said nothing," he snarled, "they even joined and headed committees to help find the culprit when they had the culprit within their midst," he said and his fist hit the podium, "as you know," he said calming down, "this letter was written to Mr. Tang who I absolve of any indication of being a traitor," he said, "I hope the Mayor agrees," he added.
"Yes I do," the Mayor responded from his seat, "from what I've heard there's no indication that Mr. Tang participated in any illegal or traitorous activities," he announced, "Mr. and Mrs. Jace however," he said with an ominous tone, "are not so innocent," he said darkly.
"Therefore I call out Mr. and Mrs. Jace as traitors," Timmy declared, "with agreement from the Mayor and of course you citizens," he said, "I'd like to have enforced a world wide call of arrest for them," he said to the crowd, "I'll also like the Mayor to contact the President of our country and reveal to him our findings," he said.
"I agree," the Mayor said simply, "citizens?"
"Arrest them! Arrest them!" the majority of the crowd cried for over a minute.
"This is outrageous!" a citizen towards the front cried suddenly after the crowd quited.
"And who are you Miss?" Timmy asked respectfully.
"Marilyn Trust," Marilyn said proudly, "and I can tell you why they didn't report their daughter," she stated.
"Then tell us," Timmy responded and Marilyn came to the podium to stand beside Timmy.
"My sister and Mr. Jace's wife assumed that her daughter had been demon possessed," Marilyn revealed, "and I believed so too," she admitted, "until I noticed the strange things happening to the unpopular children," she pointed out, "but I dismissed it because I couldn't believe that Britney would be dumb enough to get a group which she was apart of in so much trouble," she confessed, "but I got a tearful call from my sister yesterday that made my blood run cold," she told them, "she sobbed and told me that she had honestly assumed that the place that they had sent the other children and her daughter would suppress her powers," she said, "she told me also that Britney didn't show any pity for her 'friends' and the other children who were being accused, plus she didn't seem to care about herself being accused by the major public within the privacy of their property," she stated, "Beatrice (Mrs. Jace) also told me that she heard her daughter singing, two days before sending her away; in the back yard singing in an adult female voice," she said sadly, "that's when she decided to send her daughter away and hope that the legend of the place suppressing magic to be true," she concluded.
"It is," Timmy revealed and many people looked surprise, "which brings me to the next person who's a traitor," he declared, "Mr. Richard Richton," he announced.
"I'll now read an e-mail from someone who sent me the letter," Timmy said and read the e-mail.
"Now do you believe that we have traitors in our midst?" Timmy asked, "Mr. Richton works at a Research Lab that has a high specialty in poisonous and almost undetectable gases," he said, "it's very likely that this girl may be one of the survivors," he said and gasps were heard, "Mr. Jace claims that they are survivors," he said, "but he's the one on the committee who gives the final body count and if he had told us of survivors we'd know," he said to them, "but he told us of none," he said darkly, "Mrs. Richton must've had some idea of what was going on, so I'm not absolving blame from her either," he said firmly, "I hope the Mayor agrees," he added.
"Yes I do," the Mayor said formally, "but the main person to catch is Mr. Richton and the main person to find is Mr. Jace," he said in a hiss.
"Agreed," Timmy said with a nod, "but I think Mrs. Jace also needs to be carried in for several important reasons," he pursued.
"True," the Mayor agreed, "so is everyone in a agreement of this?" he asked and all the citizens; included Marilyn (who only nodded sadly) nodded and shouted in agreement, "then I'll tell the police to go locate Mr. and Mrs. Richton to be immediately arrested and discuss with the President how we'll locate Mr. and Mrs. Jace," he said and rose to leave, "Good Evening Citizens," he said then entered City Hall and disappeared.
"Bye Everyone!" Timmy cried and hurried in after the Mayor.
When they reached the fourth floor, the Mayor pulled Timmy aside.
"That was a great performance!" the Mayor cried excitedly, "I mainly told the truth and kept a straight face," he added, "but you!" he cried, "you lie with umm finesse!" he declared but noticed Timmy was looking at him surprised.
But soon Timmy started to grin.
"As you said," Timmy said with a grin, "I gave a great performance," he said with a chuckle then laughed out loud.
Done.
Death's Soulmate: Sorry for the delay. First I was stuck half way through writing it, then the diskette with the chapters turned into an unworkable dud! I had to rewrite the last part of the fic because I had only saved some of it on my home computer for quick reference. Thank God I did or the chapter would be lost (with the length of this I'm certain you can understand how BAD that would've been). Anyway, Review and please tell me what you think of the twin girls, the letter and e-mail and Timmy's 'performance' at the podium. Thank You!