Chapter 9- December, 2008

December 5, 2008

Twenty more days til Christmas! Oh my gosh, my favorite holiday! From the trees to the decorative lights, and the constant smell of baked goods…it's in full swing, even here at the Foundation.

Sorry, I'm just so excited. While I adore Halloween, I absolutely love Christmas. And I love it even more so now that I have someone special, and plenty of friends, to share it with. It's going to be a great one, I know it.

Christmas has always been kinda complicated here at the foundation. Yeah, not everyone celebrates, true, but it's not just because of that. When you're surrounded by creatures and objects that can potentially kill you, the Christmas spirit can be a little hard to find.

Hard to find, but not impossible. I've been overloading myself with Christmas themed books. And Dr. O'Reilly was nice enough to get me some Christmas music and hot chocolate along with my usual tea. Thank god he remembered I don't like mint. Mint hot chocolate…ugh…

Cool is still focusing on his Keter studies. After winning the fight to keep me alive, Gears has been keeping him busy out of spite I think.

For the time being, Paladin Night has been my shoulder to shoulder companion. Whenever Cool's too busy, Pal accompanies me on my library trips.

One question remains now: Is it going to snow soon?

Yours,
Caddy

December 12, 2008

Thirteen more days til Christmas! Finally Cool's had enough time to visit, he's earned it. Gears still doesn't like us together, but Cool makes no mention of it. I guess, like me, he'd rather not think about what everyone else says or thinks. We sat in the library, discussing potential Christmas plans over the hot chocolate Dr. O'Reilly got me.

"Don't you have family you could go visit?" I asked.
"I cut ties with them after joining the foundation" he admitted with a slight sigh.
"Oh…I'm sorry".
"It's for the best. We have too many enemies here at the Foundation. They'd exploit every weakness we have. Damned if I risked their lives too much".
"Dr. O'Reilly has his daughter" I told him.
"Because she was born in the Foundation. She's safe here".
"Oh…that makes sense. Well" I took his hand, "We can spend it together".
"Like we did Halloween?" he gave me another one of his warm smiles and my heart melted.
"Exactly. People still talk about that you know".
"Does it bother you?" he asked.
"It did at first but not so much anymore".
"That's all that matters"

I let go of his hand but I really didn't want to. I just didn't want the moment to feel too awkward.

"Have an idea of what you might want?" I asked.
"Are you sure you can actually get me anything?"
"Well, I could make something" I looked down at my hands.
"Can you do that?" he looked curious.
"Oh yea, have you not seen the inside of my cell? I've made tons of figurines of various different things. All made out of the crystal I make" I took off my glove, "I can show you".
"Alright…let's see".

I smiled and held out my ungloved hand. I closed my eyes trying not to concentrate on the man by my side. But it was much easier said than done.

I felt the crystal flow from my hand like a river. I opened my eyes and liquid rose quartz formed into a ball in my hand, solidified. Cool looked more curious now.

"Rose quartz…interesting choice".
"Oh…well, it's not really a choice. I don't choose the crystal I make usually. It's most of the time determined by emotion" I probably just opened a can of worms there.
"Really?"
"Well" I had a chance to save myself, "Sometimes. Other times it has to do with the environment or if I'm crystallizing a certain type of material. It's a mix of the two, and what the material's made of".
"I've read the experiment logs with you and SCP 409. They say your powers were amplified when you held it".
"That's…technically true. It's mostly amped when I hold it, but it's painful to hold".
"Why?"
"Because I think in a way we're trying to cancel each other out. Gears regards me as a humanized version of the contagious quartz".

Cool rolled his eyes. "I'm not surprised. I hope you know you're more than that".
"I do" I smiled, "Thanks to you and all my other friends"

He smiled back and took my gloved hand.

"What does it mean, rose quartz I mean"
"Rose quartz? Oh, it's the stone that signifies unconditional love. It opens the heart chakra and makes the heart more receptive to love".
"Hm…might as well call it the love stone".

I laughed. "That's one way to put it".
"Can you shape it?"
"Oh yeah" I nodded and closed my eyes again.

I felt the crystal liquefy again and start to form into the snowflake shape I imagined. My friend laughed again, amused by what I was capable of doing.

"A pink snowflake?! I guess that white is too overrated?"

I shrugged. "I was going for something holiday-ish. Do you like it?"
"I love it. But I think that's enough free lance experimenting for one day" he handed me my glove, "Before someone sees".

I reached for it, but Cool pulled a fast one and snagged it away, putting an arm around me.

"Got ya" he whispered in my ear like a secret.

I felt my face grow warm and he started caressing my bare arm again with his fingertips. Oh god…yes, he did that number again.

"You have very soft skin…absolutely beautiful…like the purest marble"
"Th-Thank you" I managed.
"No thanks needed for honesty. Believe me, you're a lot prettier than you think".

I turned in his hold and put my gloved hand over his heart as he kept me close.

"Heartbreakingly so?" I asked.

He blushed, the first time I've ever seen it. It was actually really cute.

"Yeah…that was stupid wasn't it?"
"Not really. I thought it was sweet actually".
"Don't flatter me now, Cadence Revan".
"I'm not" I stared at my hand and felt the strong beat of his heart.

I smiled a little and I was sure I was sparkling again. With that, he helped me put my glove back on, taking the pink snowflake for himself. That's fine, it can be an early Christmas present.

Yours,
Caddy

December 19, 2008

Six more days til Christmas! Dr. O'Reilly brought in some gingerbread cookies he and his daughter, Carson, made for me, Cool, Iris, and Carlisle. We even gave Jiminy one. The little orange slime ball flipped his lid over the cookie.

Iris' mission to get Carlisle to talk is going, as she believes, accordingly. I wondered if he could talk but kept it to myself as we all snacked. I took a spare cookie to Paladin who was more than happy to see me. I had to thank him for his help anyway with Cool's case against Gears last month.

He appreciated it, but didn't have much time to talk. That was alright. I have Christmas gifts to work on for now.

Yours,
Caddy

December 22, 2008

I've got most of the presents done. Only three days til Christmas! Excitement is abound. I even decorated my cell with some help from Iris, Cain, Carlisle, and Jiminy (Can't remember if I mentioned him before last entry, but he's SCP 999, Safe Class, AKA The Tickle Monster or Jiminy).

Sadly, the Foundation doesn't do much in the ways of Christmas because Bright always manages to ruin parties for everyone. So we've decided to do our own thing in the library when everyone's gone for the holiday. I extended invitations to Paladin and Cool and both have agreed to come. Just hope a certain someone won't object to it…

Dr. O'Reilly sadly won't be joining us. His family's stationed at Site 17, and he's already gone to spend the holidays with his wife and kids. I hear his wife is afflicted with some kind of Cancer and this could be her last Christmas with them. I pray for her health and meditate on it in my quiet moments when I can meditate with my crystals.

Most would think around Halloween would be one's strongest time to meditate, but it was never that way for me. Sure, other planes of existence and the spirit world are much easier accessed, but it's around this holiday that I feel the greatest in my spiritual wanderings. I come out feeling more positive, hopeful and determined. Maybe it's anticipation for a new year, but I'm just in a more positive mood after meditating around this time of year.

But while Dr. O'Reilly is away with his family, he's left my care to Cool and my friends. Due to this, we've been spending more time together.

And Gears can say nothing about the matter. Take that you emotionless sack of…nothing.

Yours,
Caddy

PS: Obviously insults aren't my forte

December 23, 2008

Well, tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and I couldn't be happier. I got Cool's present done but I can only hope he likes it. All of my friends are getting figurines for Christmas. But his is special.

It's a figurine of two dragons, one made of aquamarine and the other from diamond, with their foreheads together as their bodies form a heart. I made sure their tails were also intertwined to get the details all just perfect. Like I said, I just hope he likes it.

For Iris, I did another mythical creature, a unicorn made up of amethyst, lapis lazuli, and rose quartz. Not sure if she likes unicorns, but I thought she'd like it anyway. For Carlisle I've made multiple stones and put them in a velvet bag. I think some crystal therapy and meditation could do him good. Not sure if he would into that sort of thing, but I hope he likes it anyway. At least the crystals are nice to look at.

For Dr. O'Reilly, I actually did something a little different. I produced an amethyst still in its matrix. This is something I've never really practiced at, and I'm surprised it turned out as well as it did. I've endowed it with positive energy for his family's health. I just hope it works to some degree.

And finally it's started snowing. It's going to be my first white Christmas since I was a child. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll be able to go out in it sooner or later. I can't leave the facility grounds of course, but it'll be nice to feel the wintry air for once.

We're holding our Christmas get together in the library tomorrow. I really hope Cool can come. I'm starting to miss seeing him regularly, as he's been back to his Keter studies.

Yours,
Caddy

December 24, 2008

I spent my morning helping to decorate the library. It was fun. We played Christmas music and warmed up some apple cider. Iris even made some of her special blueberry tea. When it was decorated, we all went to our cells to get changed. Since no one's here, the safe classes and some of the more well behaved euclids can go out and roam the halls and stuff, only as long as we don't cause too much destruction.

I decided to leave my hair alone and go without make up. As for attire, well I wore something slightly more modern. I wore my usual Victorian era style clothing but wore leggings under the long black ruffled skirt. I had an idea of sneaking out of the little party and going out in the snow. I really did want to feel it for once. So…not surprising, the party wasn't the highlight of my evening, far from it.

Sure, it was nice seeing everyone together talking Christmas and past holiday experiences with warm cider and cookies and sweets, but I only had eyes for Cool and the snow outside. Iris seemed to notice and thankfully gave me a playful wink. I laughed a little and rolled my eyes in response.

When I looked, Cool was making his way toward the library's entrance/exit and stopped as he caught my gaze. He motioned his head for me to follow him and walked out before anyone else could notice. I was curious and excused myself to meet him outside the library.

I closed the door. "What is it?" I asked.
"You tell me. You keep looking outside. See something you like?"
"Oh…you noticed?" I felt my face warm and he smiled.
"You're sparkling again and yes I noticed".

I sighed. "Alright, you caught me. I like snow, and I haven't played in it since before my parents died-"
"So you want to go out?"
I nodded. "It'd be nice but we both know the rules".

Cool raised an eyebrow. "And since when have we ever followed the rules?".
"Oh yes" I rolled my eyes, "Because we're such rebels".
"Hm…we could be".
"But the rules-"
"The rules state you can't leave the grounds" he cut me off, "But to play in the snow we don't have to, unless you're willing to take a chance with me".
"What do you mean?"
"You'll know if you come with me. Do you trust me?"
"You know I do".

I know curiosity killed the cat, but I was genuinely interested. But I gave him a skeptical look.

"But the last time we were rebels, we had to fight for my life".
"We had witnesses then. Everyone's gone now. It's Christmas Eve, and we're the only ones here".
"You mean…you're seriously gonna take me off facility grounds?"
"I could…I want to".
"Why?" I asked suspiciously.
"Just come with me and you'll know. I promise you won't regret it".

It was tempting. Off grounds with the man I secretly love? What woman in her right mind wouldn't resist? He took my hand, needlessly, as I'd follow him to hell if he told me, and I followed him.

We walked for what felt like forever before we were finally outside. I hated the cold, but the snow falling slow and soft around us was beautiful as can be. He let go of my hand, just for a moment as I looked out at all the untouched snow.

"So beautiful…cold, but beautiful" I muttered.

I took my gloves off and held out my hand. The flakes the fell to my hand turned clear and hard, into clear quartz. I sighed and turned to him.

"Not even snow is safe from me it seems" I said.

Cool gave me a sympathetic look and came to my side. He put his gloved hands on my shoulders.

"Maybe we can make it something beautiful" he proposed.
"It already is…I just wish…I could just touch something. Feel something".
"Maybe someday we'll find a way. What would be the first thing you'd want to touch?"

He helped me get my gloves back on as I thought of the question. I knew what I wanted to say but it would've been too bold, even for me. I wanted to feel him, to be able to touch him without hurting him. It was one of the deepest desires of my heart. I loved him and wanted him to know. But, was he ready? And not to mention, the consequences of my confession could effect us both. With that in mind, I refrained.

"I'm not sure" I told him as Cool took my hand.
"Maybe someday you'll get to. Are you ready?"
"As I'll ever be" I attempted a smile.
"Alright" he gave me a genuine smile and we took off.

Now I haven't been off site grounds in years. I've always observed the changing world through the windows of my library sanctuary. I have to admit, seeing it and experiencing it are totally different. It was still beautiful scene that, deep down, I was overjoyed for once to be a part of.

The site is surrounded for miles by forests of pine trees and ledges. I find it most beautiful when it snows like this. This now is cold and powdery, but it shines like the purest crystal. I love it.

"How close are we?" I asked.
"Almost there. Close your eyes. I want it to be a surprise".

I did as he told me and he took my hand once more. I could hear the calls of various birds I didn't know. I heard the snow crunch under our boots, felt the ice crystals play on my face. In the distance, I thought I heard a stream or some kind of running water. The air was a mix of scents, from Cool himself, to the pine trees mixed with the pure snow.

"Maybe this is what heaven smells like" I thought with a smile, "Because I have my angel here".
"Can I open them now?" I asked.
"Almost" he answered and we walked just a little further until our crunching footsteps became solid and steady, "Alright…now".

I opened my eyes and gasped. It was an entirely frozen cavern, glittering slightly in the faint light.

"Oh my gosh! This…this is amazing!" I looked around, trying to take it all in, to dedicate it all to memory.
"You like it?" he asked me.
"I love it! It's beautiful!" I turned to him, "How'd you find it?!"

He shrugged. "I sometimes go exploring when I have time. The library is your sanctum, but this cavern is mine. Far from the world, from the Foundation…everything. Here…I can just be me and not worry about anything" he told me with a look of utmost tranquility.
"It's beautiful, but if they find it-"
"They already have".
"And?"

Cool shrugged. "Well, it's still here, isn't it? They don't care. It's only anomalous factor is how beautiful it is".

I smiled and looked around. It was almost like I was in a whole other world, a different one, where being different didn't matter. I smiled at the thought. But if only the world was so forgiving…

Yours,
Caddy

December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas!

And what a wonderful Christmas it's been! Cool took me back to his cavern and we exchanged gifts there.

"So" he took my hands as we sat on a larger boulder, "Did you want your gift now or when we go back?"
"Here" I answered without really thinking.

He laughed a little. "Well that was quick. Close your eyes".

I did as he said and he put two smooth objects in my hands. Both were the same shape, but different sizes. One was also slightly heavier than the other.

"Open your eyes" he told me and I did.

He surprised me again with two new books. One was a blank journal and the other was a book on the healing qualities of over 200 crystals. It's a book I've been needing and I'm more than happy to have it.

"This is amazing! I love them, both of them!" I couldn't stop smiling.
"I thought you'd need a new journal. You're almost done with the one you have. As for the book, I thought it would be a good read for you".

I put the books aside and hugged him. "Thank you".

He embraced me right back. "Of course. Merry Christmas, Caddy"

I held on to him for a few extra seconds, cherishing this moment. When I let him go, I decided to give him his gift too. I smiled.

"Now it's your turn to close your eyes".

Cool hesitated, but did close his eyes. I opened the new purse Iris gave me earlier and took out the dragon figurine. I set it in his hand, trying to contain my excitement.

"Okay, open" I told him.

It was rewarded with the most beautiful smile he'd ever given me. He held the figurine like it was the most precious thing anyone had ever given him.

"Caddy…this is…wow! This is amazing! Did you make this?! It's absolutely stunning, thank you".
"Merry Christmas" I smiled, "And yes I did make it…for the one who matters most".

He looked somewhat flattered. "Caddy…"
"It's true" I wanted to look away but found I couldn't.

He actually looked…vulnerable for a moment. It only served to endear him further to me.

"Thanks Caddy" He put the figurine aside and hugged me closer than he had before.

I don't know if he felt it, but I couldn't resist planting a small kiss on his shoulder. I know it's the closest I'll ever get to telling him I love him…

Again I find myself wondering…why wasn't I born normal?

Yours,
Caddy

Author's note: OMG! So sorry about the late update. I know this chapter was long overdue and I'm so sorry. But I do have good news. I do have this story completely written, and I've started writing the sequel Yes, there is going to be a sequel! Please review on the way out and thanks a ton for being so patient. Happy late holidays everyone ^^