Chapter Fourteen: The Reason
I completely forgot my birthday. I've been in this world for over a good week, scared out of my wits, been thanked by the queen herself, and I forgot my birthday. It already passed sadly. It was the day after I came here. March 27. Well, now my parents are probably depressed more than ever. I know I said I was 16 in the beginning, but to be honest, I was close to 16. Now, I am literally. I guess it wasn't one o' clock in the morning when I was kidnapped. Going to the anime convention was suppose to be my birthday gift. Now, I missed the entire thing. Well, that was a waste of money. This stinks. I just had to be taken away on the day before, making my family miserable. If only I could find a way to convince Rati…er, him to take me home. Jeez. I hate saying his name. This is his entire fault! All because of his selfish needs. Why can't I just turn back time? I'm sitting in Basil's red chair, staring at the unlit fireplace, and my mind wandering. I was so lost; I didn't even notice two hands covered my eyes.
"What's going on?" I asked after coming back to.
"Shh, come with me if you want to live." I heard AL's voice. She led me somewhere while still keeping my eyes covered. What is she up to? "Shut your eyes." She told me. And so, I did. She removed her hands away from me. "Okay, open." I did.
"SURPRISE!" came from a crowd's voice. The Bishops, the Flavershams, Ms. Judson, Dawson, and AL cheered as Basil held a…cake? I read the lettering on it. Happy 16th Birthday, Kiara. My eyes widen. How in the world….?
"Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday, dear Kiara, Happy Birthday to You!" Everyone sang and cheered. I couldn't believe it!
"You told them?" I looked at AL.
"I know NOTHING!" She giggled. "Okay, maybe I mentioned a little something to Uncle Basil."
"Well, make a wish and blow." Basil told me. I looked at the cake. It was white with red candy roses on the top-left corner. Right beside the lettering, was a frosted drawn magnifying glass. Sixteen candles were at the top. I looked at the cake, and then to everyone. I smiled, trying to hold back the tears of happiness.
"It already came true." I said as I blew the candles away. It really did come true. I have people that care for me, even though I'm different from them.
"Now, time for the presents!" Olivia shouted. What? They bought me presents?
"Olivia, not yet." Hiram chuckled. Ms. Judson cut the cake and handed me the first piece. I took a bite. It's…it's…
"It's delicious!" I shouted out. Everyone laughed.
"Of course it is. Ms. Judson's the finest cook around here." Dawson chuckled.
After finishing the cake, it was present time, as what Olivia would like to call it. She was the first to hand me hers. I unwrapped the box, and pulled out a stuffed black and white cat.
"Daddy and I made that. I did the stuffing." Olivia said.
"Thank you, Olivia. Thank you, Hiram." I cuddled with the cat. "I'll name him Phantom." Katy looked at me confused.
"Why that name?" She asked.
"Oh, it's from one of my favorite musical plays from where I'm from. It's called the 'Phantom of the Opera'." At that moment, Katy looked at me surprisingly.
"You're not joking?" She asked me. She quickly handed hers to me. I tore off the wrapping paper and it revealed a golden hardcover book. I looked for the title on the cover, but there was none. "Look inside," she said. I opened the cover. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. I screamed.
"YOU BOUGHT THE ORIGINAL BOOK?"
"IT'S MY ALL TIME FAVORITE! I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY HAVE A MUSICAL OF IT!" Katy screamed with me. I hugged her tightly.
"Thank you!" I went to hug Olivia and Hiram. "And thank you for the beautiful cat!"
"Okay, okay. Settle down. It's our turn." Elaine exclaimed. Christina handed me a small box.
"We made these." She said. I opened it up. Inside were two beautiful brooches of green, red, silver, and gold. One was a butterfly brooch, and the other was a dragonfly.
"I made the butterfly one. Elaine made the dragonfly. We made these a long time ago in our family shop, and they never got sold. So, we thought you would like them." Christina explained.
"I love them. They're beautiful. Thank you." I hugged them both.
"Ah, it was nothing. We had to get rid of them, anyway." Elaine said. Christina then elbowed her sister. "What?" Elaine looked at her twin confused. Dawson handed me a sketch pad and charcoal.
"Miss AL told me you were quite the artist. I thought you would like this."
"And I do. I've been wanting draw something for awhile now. Thank you." I hugged him as he chuckled. Logan came up to me.
"This is from all of us." He said. He handed a painted snow globe with town houses around it. Inside it was Big Ben.
"I…can keep this?" I looked at him.
"Of course you can." Mr. Bishop said.
"We just want you to have a touch of London from us whenever you return home" Mrs. Bishop finished. I hugged all three of them.
"Thank you."
"I would've gotten you something, but I'm broke." AL looked at me sadly, showing her pockets. I smiled and hugged her.
"You being here is the best present you've ever given me." The frown disappeared.
"All right, enough with the mushy stuff." She smiled as she hugged me back.
After everyone left, I sat on the red chair, took out the sketch pad and charcoal and began drawing. My first sketch was of Basil and his cunning smile. Funny, I know his face by heart.
"You captured every detail." A voice from behind. I looked and Basil was standing over me smiling. I smiled at him back, but it came to a frown.
"You know, he said the same thing." Basil knew what I was talking about. "Why do you still have that?" I glanced over the fireplace, looking at the face of demented criminal rat, smiling devilishly.
"I don't know. Does it bother you?" Basil asked me. I nodded.
"Sorry." I said.
"No need to be." He then took the portrait off the fireplace and broke the frame with his knee. He tore up the picture and threw it into the ashes. "I'll burn it tonight. It'll get cold around time." Basil looked at me. "He hasn't bothered you yet. But when he shows up, I'll be ready."
"We'll be ready." I corrected him. He gave me a surprise look.
"Kiara, I don't want you to get hurt again."
I stopped him. "I made a vow, Basil. And I'm intending to keep it."
Basil sighed. "You're so brave, like Annabelle." He walked to his room and came back with a small box in his hands. "This was supposed to be Beatrice's when she grew older." He opened it and inside was a sterling silver heart with diamonds filling the inside.
"It's beautiful." I looked at it.
"It's yours now." He took it out and put it around my neck.
"Oh, no. I couldn't…" I started, but Basil interrupted.
"Annabelle said it was for our daughter. But, I can't give it to her. I can't bring it to Heaven with me. But, ever since you came into my life, I felt that tug I had with Annabelle. A paternal tug. I want to show you that you are safe and loved. I want you to know that no matter where you are, you'll always be remembered as my goddaughter." I looked at him in the eyes. They're so soft. Oh, man. I'm gonna cry again. "Kiara, I want to give you the love of a father and a friend."
I quickly buried my face in his chest. He obviously knew that I was crying, but he didn't seem to mind. I can't help it. Basil is the only protection I have in this world. But, every time I embrace him, I can feel my family, holding me tight. I can't help it. I love Basil, but not in romance. I love him like a friend. A true friend. And father.
"Hey, K.P." AL called out. "Have you seen MC?"
"MC?" Basil asked.
"Oh, that's short for Moonlight. We sometimes call her that." I explained.
"What's her real name?"
"Moonlight Cylla."
Basil gave a weird look. "You and naming your pets." He muttered under his breath.
I went over to AL. "No, I haven't. I was starting to wonder where she is. Let's go look for her."
"Well, she's not in the house. Let's check outside." AL said. Basil, AL, and I went out, searching in the bushes on the side of Holmes' house. We looked and looked and looked. But, Moonlight was nowhere to be found. We called her name, even her full name. No answer.
"Where could she have gone?" I thought aloud. Then, I saw rustling in the leaves. Could it be? "Moonlight. Moonlight Cylla. Here, kitty, kitty, kitty." I called out. No answer. I got closer to the leaves. I saw a shadow. "Moonlight?" I called. Instead of a cat, a hand shot out and grabbed me. I started to scream, but before I got a chance to, something hit me hard on the back of my head. I blacked out. I didn't even see who captured me. Basil, AL, Dawson, anybody, help me.
I came to with a slap on my face.
"Man, you sleep too much." A voice said. I started to open my eyes. My vision was blurry. I can't see. I closed my eyes again.
"Aww, poor Miss Phoenix is sleepy. Maybe I should…WAKE HER UP!"
I felt cold ice water splashed all over me. I coughed and gasped for air. Okay, now I'm wide awake. I saw who splash me. I recognize him. He was one of Chippendale's thugs who were with him when he was threatening the queen. How did he get out of jail?
"YOU IDIOT!" A familiar voice shouted. "NOW SHE'S SOAKEN WET!"
"But, Chief, you told us to wake her up!" A chipmunk came up to me with a cigar in his mouth. It's him.
"Long time, no see, Miss Phoenix." Chippendale chuckled. "Like my new attire?" He was dressed in a black suit with an opera cape and top hat to match. He had a monocle on his left eye. "I thought it would fit for our guest in honor." I hate it when he mocks me.
"Does it look like I care? Why don't you stop acting stupid and tell me what's going on." I spat at him. He cocked a smirk.
"I'm sorry; Miss Kiara, but I didn't mean you."
Huh? What did he mean by that? Chippendale snapped his fingers. "Bring her out." I was able to see my surroundings. I was in front of Ratigan's lair. Now, I get it. Ratigan set him free to get me back. What a coward.
"Hey, let me go!" I froze. That voice. No way! It can't be! I turned around and two thugs were jerking and pulling…my…sister. What? How? The machine was destroyed!
"Get going!" A thug pushed her. I finally got up.
"Leave her alone!" I shouted. But I was soon grabbed by other thugs. Hayley looked a little different. Her hair was cut shorter than the last time I saw her. She still has her Fall Out Boy jacket on.
"Kiara!" She tried to run to me, but Chippendale seized her hand.
"Such a stubborn brat you are." He lifted her chin with his finger and puffed smoke in her face.
"Eww. You know smoking is really bad for you." She said.
"I've been told that many times, and it annoys me a whole lot." He smirked.
"What are you planning to do?" I spoke up. He turned to me.
"You recall the professor telling you that he's your only family, do you?" I shuddered and nodded my head. "Well, obviously, you still thought that you could find a way home. You believed that you'll see your family again. Let me make this clear to you. Your way to home is gone. Yes, I persuaded Ratigan to build the machine back up again, just to prove that once and for all, your real home means nothing."
"That is untrue!" I shouted out. "True, we may disagree at points, we can't get everything we want, but my family is my treasure. I wouldn't give them up for the world. Sure, we don't have everything, but we have each other. That's what makes us stay strong." I looked at my sister. "Hayley is my friend, my family. I want her to be successful in life." I looked back at Chippendale. "And I won't tolerate of you bringing her here again to this trash heap." He stared at me for a moment, and then he began to laugh.
"You're so full of it, Miss Phoenix. Always wanting to get the last word. I didn't bring her here to say hello to you. She's here to say goodbye." Chippendale pulled out a pistol from his pocket. Oh, no! Not my sister! I tried to break free, but the thugs had a good hold of me. Chippendale pointed the gun to Hayley's head. She couldn't move.
"No, please! I'm begging you!" I pleaded. "Don't take her life away!"
Chippendale ignored me and cocked the gun. Hayley started to sob.
"Don't start crying. The blood will stain." He chuckled. Hayley couldn't help but scream. Chippendale got annoyed and slapped my sister. "SHUT IT!"
I finally stepped on the thug's foot and broke free. I charged at Chippendale and got a hold of the gun.
"RUN, HAYLEY!" I yelled at her. She loosened herself and ran, but soon cornered. Chippendale whacked me on the side of the pistol.
"Little whelp!" I fell down to the ground, but quickly got up to help my sister.
"Come on, kid. We won't hurt ya." A thug said to her.
"No, but I'll hurt you!" I shouted as I sock him. I punched another when I spoke to my sister. "These guys are weaklings. You can take them on."
Hayley and I both took defense classes, so it was no big deal taking on guys like these.
"Take that! And that!" I heard my sister cry out. Suddenly, Theodore came charging towards me. I was able to stop his punches and kicks, but we both couldn't touch each other. We must've fought on for minutes, maybe even close to an hour. We still couldn't touch each other. Finally, I blocked his punch and kicked him in the stomach. He land with a thud. His cape torn at the bottom and suit all tattered. I was exhausted. I fell to my knees. I couldn't keep up with my strength. I took many breaths, panting and panting. Is it over? Is this nightmare finally coming to its end? I closed my eyes for a second. I was really tired. I must keep focused. I can't sleep. A shriek brought a new fear.
"KIARA!" I opened my eyes. A shot was fired. My sister, with her back facing me, fell to the ground. I froze, only to see Theodore with a pistol in his hand, smoke arising from it.
"Stupid brat. Got in my way." He said. No. No. He didn't just say that. This is all a dream. She's not dead. She is not dead! Hayley's alive! This is a nightmare! I looked at my sister's body, all still on her stomach. Her eyes closed, blood seeping from where the bullet hit. A flash of hatred and fury shocked through me. It was rage! No, worse than rage. The feeling was so horrifying; it couldn't be described in words.
"But you know, I've wanted to kill her since the beginning Ratigan built the machine. However, I never told him that. He just thought that I was going to prove to you that you don't need your family. Obviously, I wanted to kill them. I just felt like it."
These words came out of Chippendale himself. My eyes were on fire. I clenched my fists and started to grit my teeth.
"And once the machine warms up again, I'll bring them all here and shoot them one by one." His final words made me snap. "And you, Miss Phoenix, are going to watch."
I didn't know that if it was my heart or my brain that made get up and charge into Theodore. But, my heart did break. It was screaming in rage and sorrow.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" I screamed at him. His expression changed as he saw me ran to him and meeting my fist in his face. But, I didn't stop there. I kept going. Whether my strength came back or not, I kept going. Punching, kicking, cursing and spitting in his face. I actually snapped for the first and final time.
I finally hurled him to the ground, grabbed his pistol, and aimed it at his forehead. His lip was cut from my ring; his face was bruised, and had terror in his eyes.
"You're going to pay, Chippendale. Do you hear me? YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR MY SISTER'S MURDER!" I screamed at him. But, I was stopped. Some one grabbed my waist and threw off of Theodore.
"Very good, Gus. Someone had to control her." Theodore said. What? Gus? No, it can't be! Not the same Gus I know! But, it was. I turned around and saw him with a look of concern on his face.
"Please, Miss Phoenix. Stop this instant." He said. I glared at him.
"And this is the thanks Basil gets for saving your ass? Siding with the criminals?" I cursed at him. He didn't answer. "Huh. Pathetic, Gus. He saved you from poverty and you go into darkness? He cracked the case of your missing shit and you follow the way of thievery? That is so stupid of you. HOW COULD YOU?!" He still said nothing.
"Language, Miss Phoenix. I thought you were a good Christian young lady. You never curse." Theodore chuckled. I turned to him.
"SHUT YOUR TRAP! AS IF YOU DON'T!"
"Stop this, Miss Phoenix." Gus pleaded.
"Don't you dare tell me what to do, you asshole! YOU TRAITOR!"
"WHAT IN BLAZES IS GOING ON HERE?!" A familiar voice thundered. I looked and saw Ratigan stepping out of his lair. His eyes widen when he saw my blood-stained sister on the ground. He glared at Theodore. "What is the meaning of this?! I didn't give you orders to kill anybody!" He shouted at him. Theodore replied with a calm voice.
"Boss, she got in the way of my shooting."
"Oh, really?" The unimpressed Ratigan said. "Then, who were you really aiming at?" Theodore kept silent. He knew he found out. "YOU IDIOT! HOW DARE YOU TRY TO KILL HER!" Ratigan burst into anger. He came up to Theodore and punched the crap out of him. He grabbed him by the throat. "I BUST YOU OUT OF JAIL AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME!? DISOBEYING MY ORDERS?!" He threw onto the floor. He then looked at me. I shrank back. "Kiara…" He called to me. Just then, Theodore started to laugh.
"So, this is why you stopped doing crime. It was all her." He carefully got back on his feet, still laughing. "Ever since you built that piece of crud, you did nothing, but watch her." Ratigan began to glare at him. Theodore ignored the look and stared at me. "So, tell me, Miss Phoenix. What did you do? How did you stop him?" I said nothing. He smirked. "I see how it is. Only I don't know which one of you did the persuasion. So answer me this, Miss Phoenix." The question he asked me was the disgusting, unthinkable thing I've ever heard. "Did you ask him or did he pull you into bed by force?"
I wanted to hit him for asking such a revolting and unimaginable question. "I WOULD NEVER, AND WILL NOT, SLEEP WITH HIM! NEVER!" I screamed. Obviously, Ratigan cracked another punch at him.
"YOU SWINE!" I don't know why he did that, but I didn't care what he thought.
"Getting a little tense, are we, Boss?" Theodore cackled. "It's her entire fault that made you stop doing crime for over a year! It's her fault that her own puny sister got killed."
"No. No, that's not true." I whimpered.
"You just had to open your big mouth, telling her that you love her, and want her to be successful." He said to me.
"Stop it. Stop all these lies."
"Boss, it's time you learn that women are little disgusting creatures, and that they have no business in a man's life." He snapped his fingers and Gus let go of me. "Step aside, Boss." He shoved Ratigan out of the way.
"What are you doing?" He called out. Theodore didn't answer.
"Get her down on her knees." He ordered Gus. Gus pushed me down on the shoulders. I sat there. My face was staring at the ground. What have I gotten myself into? I just had to say that comment about him. About him being my favorite villain. I just had to perform on stage and get sold for money. I just had to yell at him and get slapped in the face. I just had to get angry and get mangled. I just had to fight with Theodore. I just had to get my sister involved and end her life. All for what?
"Got anything to say?" Theodore asked me.
"Yeah. Answer this." I still didn't look up. "Why did Ratigan bring me here? Why was he so kind to me? What was the reason he couldn't tell me on paper?"
Theodore only chuckled. "Excellent questions, my dear. I'll be glad to answer them."
"Theodore, don't." Ratigan protested, but Theodore continued.
"The reason why he watched you over a year. The reason why he bought you a dress and treated you with kindness."
"Stop it, Theodore!"
"The reason was because…"
"THEODORE, ENOUGH!"
"HE LOVES YOU!"
It was silent. Those three words echoed over and over again in my head. He…loves me? Loves me? LOVES ME? Now, it makes all sense. His reaction when he hit me. The way he caressed me that night. The way his eyes were filled with shock and sympathy and worry. Those words he said to me when I made that vow to him. It's all there. The answer, the reason was right in front of me. All because…he loves me. I feel so disgusted now. Oh, how I wish I have never known this movie. That it would have never been bought or caught my attention. I ended up screwing history. Theodore was right. This is all my fault. Everything. From the beginning I saw that movie. The Great Mouse Detective. I heard a gun cocked.
"Well, now you'll be satisfied with your answer once you rot in hell. Care to say goodbye?" Theodore said.
"You're right, Theodore." I said. "I don't deserve being a fan of the movie. I don't deserve favoring a villain. I don't deserve having a family who has raised me right from the day I was born." Silent tears, neither both sorrow and fear, fell from my eyes. "I'm better off dead."
I closed my eyes. A shot was fired. I stood still. I could still feel my heart beating. I'm…not dead? How? I opened my eyes, only to catch Theodore screaming in pain and falling to his knees. He had his hands on his left eye, where his monocle used to be. Blood and glass streamed from his hands. Someone shot in the eye!
"WHO DID THIS?!" Theodore screamed. "WHOSE THE BASTARD THAT SHOT ME?!" I looked around to see any smoke. Only one from a gun that I never thought that would've been used. Ratigan's.
Theodore looked at him. "B-Boss, why?" He was shocked. So was I. What was he thinking? I took a good look at Ratigan. His eyes were of hatred and glowed bright. He still pointed his gun at Theodore.
"Get out." Ratigan gritted his teeth. He had a terrifying look on his face. Theodore slowly got up.
"You're making a mistake. She's the little whore that screwed you." Ratigan cocked his gun.
"I said, GET OUT!" Theodore scampered off quickly and disappeared off into the darkness. After seeing Theodore ran off, I looked back at Ratigan. Our eyes met again. This time, He had a look of sorrow. Like he was…heartbroken. "Gus." He called. He voice started to break. "Take Miss Phoenix back to Basil."
"But, sir…" Gus began.
"NOW, GUS! OR I'LL FEED YOU TO LORETTA!" He boomed out. Gus immediately helped me up and carried me to Loretta. When she saw me, she sprinted towards and mewed sadly as she rubbed her cheek against me and Gus.
"It's okay, Loretta. I'm all right." I looked at Gus. "Put me down. I can walk." He did, but he kept silent. I saw Ratigan walking towards my sister's body. He began to lift her up.
"Leave her alone!" I was beginning to think he was about to do something to her, but he didn't. He looked at me.
"He missed." Huh? What? Missed? "He got her in the arm, knocked her out. She's alive." My sister? Alive? Oh, God, thank you! He missed! Theodore missed! I ran to my beloved sister. She began to stir. Tears of joy sprang from within me.
"Kiara…are we home yet?" She said to me. I smiled sweetly.
"Soon, Hayley. Soon." Ratigan carried her in his arms and took her to Loretta. When Hayley took a glance on who was carrying her, she became scared. I held her hand, knowing that I was with her. Bill and Gus helped get Hayley onto the cat's back. Loretta mewed sadly again to her master. Ratigan looked back at her.
"I know how much you care for Miss Phoenix. Take them to Basil. They need him." He smiled sadly at his cat. I don't know why I have this feeling, but Ratigan was acting strange. He would've kept me here in his lair, but instead, he's returning me back to Basil. As if, he had lost. The cat sprinted off, but I kept looking back with my sister in my arms, staring into those tragic yellow eyes. He loves me, and yet, he let me go.
Why?