The Sweet Hereafter Chapter 5: Storm And Release, a hey arnold fanfic

The Sweet Hereafter: Storm And Release

Part XVII: Stare Into The Abyss

"Beyond these thin hide walls
a child sits, before her on worn silk
a Deck is arrayed.
She cannot yet speak
and the scenes before her
she's never before seen in this life.
The child gazes upon a lone card
named Obelisk, the stone grey
she can feel its roughness in her mind.
Obelisk stands buried in a grassy knoll
like a knuckle protruded
from the earth, past and future.
This child's eyes are wide
with terror, for cracks have appeared
in the stone of stones and she knows
the shattering is begun."
--Silverfox

Steven Erikson

Phoebe felt exhausted as she finally made it to a payphone. Her eyesight was a bit impaired with only one functional lens in her glasses, but she was able to put a quarter into the coin slot and dial the number without much difficulty. She was very relieved when someone picked up on the third ring.

"Hello?"

"Arnold! Oh thank goodness!" Phoebe let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Arnold, it's Phoebe. Listen to me, something terrible is happening!"

"Phoebe?" Arnold seemed puzzled by the call. "Sure, what's up?"

"It's Helga! She's. . .something's very wrong with her, Arnold. She just attacked me!"

"What?" Arnold could feel a deep anger building up inside him. It wasn't a feeling that he liked, but something had to be done. If Phoebe was telling the truth, then he couldn't let Helga get away with it. Still. . .Helga definitely had a cruel side, and she would even snap at her best friend Phoebe from time to time. But to attack her? No, he just couldn't believe that Helga would do that to her of all people. "Phoebe, are you okay?"

"I'm okay." She said, a cough betraying her. "I will be anyway. She only hit me, I'll be okay."

"Phoebe, it's not okay that Helga hit you.!" Arnold felt the anger growing all over again.

"Something's wrong, Arnold. You know Helga would never do that to me! But she's looking for you, Arnold! You need to be ready!"

Arnold sighed. "I'm not going to fight Helga."

"Good. I wouldn't want you to. She's not herself! Something's wrong with her. You have to help her!"

"Help her?" Arnold felt puzzled. "If Helga's having a problem, Phoebe, I'm happy to help her with it. But this doesn't seem very simple. Where is she now?"

"I don't know. But I'm certain she's looking for you!" Phoebe's voice took on an unmistakably pleading tone.

"Look, maybe we should call her parents." Arnold sighed again. A long moment of silence passed as Phoebe ignored the comment. "Okay, Phoebe. If you say Helga needs my help, then I'll help her. What would you like me to do?"

"Meet me in the park. Until we figure out a plan, we should try to avoid running into her. I'll wait for you by the tunnel."

"Okay." Arnold acknowledged. "See you soon, Phoebe." As he heard the girl hang up on the other line, he wondered if he would regret this course of action. Ordinarily, Arnold had no problem with helping others, even Helga. But something about this time just seemed off. Phoebe had convinced him of that. This wasn't right. Helga was a bully by nature and certainly not afraid to dig her feet in and wave her fists around, but she wouldn't just haul off and attack her best friend for no real reason. She wasn't heartless.

Arnold packed up his room, taking just a moment to tidy things. He probably wouldn't be back until bedtime, anyway, what was the use of leaving everything out. Paying heed to the weather report, he wore a jacket over his usual attire. Satisfied that he was as ready as he'd ever be, he made the long walk downstairs.

"Hey ya Short Man, where ya off to?" Phil asked as Arnold made his way past the kitchen.

"I'm going out. A friend needs my help. Tell Grandma I. . .might be late for dinner."

"Y'want us to save y'some?"

"Yeah. That'd be fine. See you later, Grandpa."

"G'bye Arnold! Have fun!"

"Yeah. . .fun." Arnold mumbled to him self as he exited the building and began the walk towards the park.

"Well, well, well, that's was more fun than I'd expected, wouldn't you agree?" Helga grinned mischievously as she followed her meandering path to Arnold's house.

I hate you!

"Relax. Phoebe will be just fine. I didn't see any reason to waste much energy on her. The important thing is that she learns proper fear and respect.

Why should anyone respect you? You're just a monster!

"I am you, Helga old girl! We're just different features of the same person. Were our roles reversed you'd be doing exactly as I am!"

I'd never hurt someone who didn't deserve it!

"Even him?"

………

"Ah, now the truth comes out. You do enjoy hurting Arnold!"

No I don't. I hate myself for it.

"Then why don't you stop?"

Because I don't like the alternative. Because I'm afraid I'll disappear. Because if I didn't blast him with a steady stream of punishment, everyone would know.

"Are you really so naïve as to think that anyone would really care how you do or don't feel about him for more than a day or so? How weak. The Helga Pataki I'm proud of wouldn't stand for anyone's teasing it if they did care. She'd stand in defiance with her fists raised and dare the others to make something of it."

It's…not that simple.

"Oh but it is! How can you bow as slaves before their opinions? Well, I don't intend to do that. And if they thinking smacking Phoebe around was cruel, wait until they get a load of the next act. I'm gonna turn him into an ice cream sundae!"

I won't let you get away with this! Ever!

"Do you really think I won't? If you can stop me, then do it. Don't think, just act. You always overthink everything. So tell me, what exactly is your plan for getting Arnold to fall for you anyway? Do you think maybe after you hit him with the one millionth spitball he'll just suddenly find you irresistible?"

No.

"Or maybe insulting him really is the best way to his heart. I could say some really nasty things about his parents for you. Would that be any help?"

Shut up!

"No. I don't have to. You see, you just can't make any kind of decision. You love Arnold, yet you won't accept him. And until you learn to do that, you're incapable of any growth. It's so simple! All you have to do is relax and say it's okay to love him. But you just keep resisting. And so, this is what you now face. You've already decided not to let him in, so I've come to harden your heart. It's better you grieve now, that's most therapeutic. Because once I've finished, you won't feel for him anymore. In fact, you won't feel much at all. Just you and I, and a world to ourselves, away from those who might bring pain and suffering with them. Just you and I."

Just try it! I'll stop you! I swear, somehow I'll stop you!

Part XVIII: The Clouds Gather

"Nine to five
Living lies
Everyday
Stealing time
Everyone's taking everything they can
Everything they can
Everyone's taking everything they can
Everything they can

Do you believe
In what you see
Motionless wheel
Nothing is real
Wasting my time
In the waiting line
Do you believe
In what you see"

--Zero 7

"In The Waiting Line"

Arnold had little trouble finding Phoebe in the park, and they discussed the situation, trying to formulate some sort of plan.

"And after she was finished with me, Helga dropped this." Phoebe reached into a pocket and pulled out Helga's pink bow.

"She just left it behind?" Arnold said, befuddled. He took the proffered bow from Phoebe. "That doesn't make any sense. Helga never goes anywhere without this. Helga without her bow is like. . .me without my hat."

"The way she was acting, it was like she didn't need it anymore. Or at least she didn't want it."

Arnold turned the accessory over and over in his hands, the action dragging an old but surprisingly vivid memory to the surface of his mind. He had always thought the bow complemented her well, and still did today, even if the Helga he knew today didn't match well to his first impression. "You're right, Phoebe, something's definitely wrong. Helga never goes anywhere without her bow, it must be important to her. She wouldn't just abandon it unless something was very wrong. We need to find her."

"I think she'll find you soon enough, Arnold."

"I'll make sure she does." He still couldn't believe that Helga had given her best friend a beating. It was so. . .pointless. Nearly everything Helga did seemed calculated. Even his own encounters with her, they often felt surreal, scripted even. But this was totally random. "Was there anything else that seemed wrong about Helga? I mean, besides hitting you and all."

"She sounded really angry." Phoebe added. "More than usual. And a lot of the things she said didn't make much sense. She also acted as though she had an audience even though no one else was there."

"I see." They had come to the edge of the park. No Helga in sight. "Phoebe, I've got an idea." He ushered them in the direction of Helga's building, wondering if there would be time enough to work out a solution.

Part XIX: The Storm

"I guess I'm just an old-fashioned sentimentalist at heart. I refuse
to accept a no-win scenario. I hate the thought of a universe without
justice. If the maneuverings of dark powers can't be exposed and
defeated by the pure of heart, then there's no point in anything. I
can't believe that."

--Benjamin Hutchins

The weather began to look threatening as the next hour and a half rolled by. Clouds moved in rapidly, blotting out the sun and threatening to unleash a torrent of water on the citizens below. Already the wind was kicking up, and both Phoebe and Arnold were feeling its effects on top of the building Helga lived in. From their high vantage point, they were able to keep a close watch on their quarry, which was waiting impatiently in an alley just across from the boarding house Arnold lived in.

"Okay, so she's down there. Now what?" Phoebe prodded as they continued to stare intently down at Helga, who was growing more frustrated by the minute.

"I was hoping she would come back here so we could surprise her, but I guess that's not going to happen." Arnold explained.

"So what do we do now?"

"Perhaps something uncertain." Arnold moved towards the end of the roof, in clear view of the street below. "Hey, Helga!" he called, getting the girl's attention and scattering her view as Helga began darting her head all over to find the source of the sound. "Just follow my lead." He spoke quietly to Phoebe before turning back to Helga. "I'm just up here with your good friend Phoebe. She had some very interesting things to say about you, you know!"

"WHAT?!" Helga snarled. "I told you to stay away--"

"Hi, Helga!" Phoebe smiled warmly despite her somewhat disheveled appearance from the early beating.

"I swear, as soon as I get up there, I'm going to grind you both into powder!" Helga stamped off in the direction of her home.

"Whatever you say, Helga." Arnold smiled, knowing full well it would irritate Helga even more.

"How'd you know to say that?" Phoebe asked. "I haven't told you anything about her!"

"You guys have known each other for years." Arnold shrugged. "I figured you had to have some dirt on each other. Gerald and I are like that."

"Really?!" Phoebe beamed.

"Um, yeah. Don't tell him I told you though." Arnold smiled. "Well kept guy secret and all, girl talk isn't just for girls."

Both Arnold and Phoebe could hear the sound of metal rattling, a clear indication that Helga was thumping her way up the fire escape. Phoebe shuddered slightly. "In case she creams us, Arnold, I just wanted you to know, I'm glad you at least tried to help. It's more than a lot of people would do for someone like Helga."

Arnold refrained from responding, focusing instead on the top of the metal ladder that Helga's form was now rising over. As the girl climbed atop the roof, Arnold realized how changed she appeared. Her right pigtail was undone, the hair flowing freely, while the other remained stubbornly fastened. But the real difference was visible in the empty spot where Helga's bow used to stand. It still resided in Arnold's pocket, waiting for the right time to make its way home.

"Ah, good evening, Football Head. I see you and my so-called best friend have been busy!"

"We were thinking about you," Phoebe tried to explain. Arnold gave her a look which signified that she should refrain from speaking.

"Hi Helga." Arnold said flatly.

"Hello yourself! You know, I never get tired of reminding you how much I hate you."

"I'm sure you don't." Arnold ignored the comment. "You know, Helga. I used to think there was something about you. Sure, you've always been a bully and mean-spirited, but then I'd see you do something nice for someone like Phoebe, and I'd realize that there was more to you, you just choose not to show it too often."

"Well doi! What do you take me for, some kind of freak?"

Look at him! My darling love god! He'll never let you do it, you know. He'll never let you hurt him or Phoebe. He's too strong for that.

"I just don't know anymore, Helga. Why would you want to hurt your best friend in the world? You don't deserve any of the pity you have. You want to run me down and call me names, fine, I don't care. But if this is how you're going to start treating people, then I don't want to do this anymore. I used to think you were special. But I guess there's something about me that just really ticks you off. Well I'm sorry, but that's just how I am. If I bother you so much, why don't you walk a different way home from school?"

"Don't be absurd!" Steam came out of Helga's ears. "You little. . .I don't know why I didn't pound you into dust years ago!"

"I'm just tired, Helga. I'm tired of you. I used to think that there was something inside of you that was worth the trouble." Arnold paused, putting an arm around Phoebe. The rain started coming down then, and both Arnold and Phoebe shuttered a bit from the cold. "But not after today. Find someone else to abuse."

It's not me, Arnold! I'd never do this!

"I guess this was easier than I thought." Helga smirked. "Well then, I guess all that's left is to turn you two black and blue before I get soaked.

NO!!!

"Shut up! Care to watch?"

No! Somewhere inside, Helga pushed with all her strength, drawing on a reserve she didn't know she had until it was called upon. I won't let you touch him!

"Oh, you're going to stop me? Like you stopped me from hurting Phoebe? This should be good!"

Don't think, just feel. Don't think, just feel. Don't think, just feel. Don'tthink, justfeel. Don'think, just feel. Don'thinkjustfeel. Don'tthinkjustfeel.Don'tthinkjusfeel. . .

"Eh?" Helga blinked, she could've sworn she had heard something in her shatter. "No!"

I'm back.

"Too late!" Helga ran directly into Arnold, knocking him onto the ground. Arnold went down lightly and had little trouble picking himself up, but Helga had kept on running. Arnold thought he could see a glimmer of recognition within the girl as she turned towards him again.

"Arnold?" Helga asked.

"Helga?" He replied.

"I. . .I just. . .I wanted to tell you. . .I'm sorry about. . ." Actions spoke much louder than words, however, and through whatever Helga was trying to say, Arnold felt her strong hands squeezing on his throat.

"No, Helga!" Phoebe tried to pry her friend off of the boy, but found herself swatted away like an insect.

"Isn't this perfect?" Helga smiled. "That I'm here for you, in the end? It's not so bad a way to go, is it?"

Arnold's vision was beginning to tunnel. Knowing he had to somehow distract Helga, he thrust a hand into his pocket and pulled out the bow he had received from Phoebe. Using the last of his strength, he placed it above Helga's head. At least she looked like herself again.

I like your bow because it's pink like your dress

I'm the boss around here, Helga G. Pataki!

Doi!

Nice talking to you, Helga.

What do you want, Football Head?

This never would've happened to Olga.

Baby sister…

Ohayo gozaimasu!

She wants to destroy me!

She sure looks purty.

I love you Arnold and I want to marry you.

What's she doing here?

What?

Out of my way, geek face!

To discuss these anti-social tendencies and examine possible strategies for improvement.

Some things are best swept under the rug, Helga

Whatever you say, Helga.

Oh, Arnold.

Boys are rotten, made out of cotton; girls are sassy, made from molassy. . .

We can talk about Arnold. . .

Ice cream?

My deepest, darkest secret.

Oh Arnold, can't you see that underneath this façade, I'm really just a shy girl too afraid to tell you how she really feels. . .

Alright everyone, that's it for tonight, because I can't keep my eyes open I'm so tired. But I feel as though a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. The story is near its conclusion now, and it might not be what you think. With a little luck, it may even reach its conclusion tomorrow night. I have it all set up in my mind, I just need to write it.

I'm glad that many of you seem to be enjoying this so much. It really makes me feel good to come home from a trying day at work and see replies from people who want to see more. It gives me the strength to shrug off those 8 and a half hours of sheer torture and work at this story. Thank you all, and keep reading!

As always, send your questions, comments, compliments, complaints, love letters, death threats, marriage proposals, and ransom demands to:

Lord Malachite

09/22/04

4:39AM,

AIM: Asukaphile26