A/N : No excuses this time, I was just too lazy to post another chapter. Shame on me, I know. I'll try not to let it happen again. Please review and tell me what you think.
July 2, 1939.
The day after Percy Whetmore's savage attack on her, Angela was sitting on her bunk, trying desperately to read her book without paying attention to the ever present leer on Wharton's face. He had once again taken to watching her and it was driving her nuts.
She couldn't imagine what she would do if his staring went on for much longer, but she knew nothing could be done. She could tell Brutal but what was he to do?. She shook her head to rid herself of the thought, she would just have to put up with it.
After a few more minutes of trying to read, she put the book away and walked to the bars. She forcefully ignored Wharton's stares as she looked at Del's cell. Boss Edgecomb had joined Del in his cell and they were now talking about who would get Del's mouse. Del was tossing a spool on the ground, and mr Jingles kept bringing it back. Edgecomb finally said that he would take the mouse.
"T'ank you kindly, merci beaucoup, but you live out in the woods and mr Jingles, he be scared to live out dans la forêt" Del said softly.
"He whisper that in your ear?" Edgecomb asked.
Del nodded, before tossing the spool again. They were all silent for a while until Brutal suggested they take him to Mouseville. Angela smiled, she was no rocket scientist herself but she knew there was no such thing as Mouseville. He was saying it for Del. Del was very excited about Mouseville, so excited that he tossed the spool extra hard and went clattering down the Mile. Mr Jingles went down the Mile as well, not noticing his old enemy, Percy Whetmore standing close by.
"Percy, no" Brutal warned.
But Percy ignored him and stomped on poor Mr Jingles. There was a soft snap as the mouse's back broke. Angela and Del's screams intermingled as they saw it happen. Del collapsed against his bars, calling mr Jingles name while Angela sobbed, her hands pressed over her mouth.
"Knew I'd get him sooner or later" Percy said, a smug smile on his face "Just a matter of time, really"
Percy strolled up the Mile, leaving mr Jingles dying in a tiny puddle of blood. Edgecomb tried to comfort Del, cursing Percy all the while. Brutal crossed the Mile and reached for Angela through her bars. She collapsed against him as best as she could, burying her face in his shoulder as she cried. Wharton was still staring at Angela, that mesmerized look back on his face. Del was still screaming, all his pent-up terror and grief pouring out at the dying mouse.
"Give'm to me" Coffey's soft voice came.
Edgecomb turned to John Coffey, who was standing at his bars, one of his massive hands stretched out.
"Give'm to me" Coffey said again "Might still be time"
Angela's sobbing quieted down and Del was looking at Coffey, now only gasping as tears rolled down his face. Edgecomb hesitated for a moment before scooping the mouse up off the floor, wincing at the feel of it. Angela gasped as she saw splintered bones poking through the small mouse's hide and she buried her face in Brutal's jacket again.
"What are you doing?" Brutal asked Edgecomb.
Edgecomb didn't answer, he gave mr Jingles to Coffey, who gently cupped the creature in his hands. Only its tail was visible, and it was twitching weakly as the small mouse died.
"Paul, what the hell..." Brutal began, holding Angela a little closer.
Edgecomb motioned for Brutal to be quiet. Terwilliger and Stanton joined the others and looked on.
"Please, John" Del pleaded "Oh Johnny, help him, please help him, s'il vous plait"
Angela raised her hand and watched as Coffey literally sucked the death out of the mouse. Coffey's face contorted and he started making horrendous choking sounds in his throat.
Angela gasped "His tail, look at mr Jingles' tail"
Everyone did and saw that it was no longer weak and limp, it was snapping briskly back and forth, as if ready to play. Coffey retched and gagged and exhaled a cloud of swirling black insects from his nose and mouth. The bugs slowly disappeared and Coffey bent down to let mr Jingles out of his hand. Angela laughed happily as the mouse bounded from Coffey's fingers and sped to Del's cell. Del laughed and cried as he held the dear mouse close.
"What did you do?" Stanton asked.
"I helped Del's mouse" Coffey said simply "He a circus mouse. Goan live in a mouse city down in...down in..."
"Florida?" Brutal offered numbly.
Coffey nodded "Boss Percy's bad. He mean. He step on Del's mouse. I took it back, though"
Coffey then placed himself on his bunk and turned away from them all. Angela smiled at Brutal and he hesitantly smiled back, still not knowing what to think of all of it. Angela noticed that he was still holding her, but she didn't mind. Brutal, in turn, didn't really feel like letting go. He had to, however, when Edgecomb called to him.
"Brute, come along with me" he said, before turning to Terwilliger and Stanton "You fellas go on back to your cribbage game"
Brutal kissed Angela on her nose, making her giggle, before kissing her on her lips. Brutal reluctantly let go of her and followed Edgecomb up the Mile. Angela sat down and sighed happily, not even caring that Wharton was still watching her. She couldn't help but laugh when Percy came back and saw mr Jingles, his eyes nearly falling out of his head. He stalked away, going back to where he came from and Angela shook her head in amusement. Her smile disappeared and her eyes darkened as she thought of what Percy had done. She may have been able to forgive him for physically attacking her, but killing, or attempting to kill, Del's mouse was unforgivable.
A/N : I apologize if I made any errorsinthe French bits, I don't speak French myself.