A/N: Hey everyone, it's been awhile for this story, I know. And I offer my sincerest apologies to all of you readers for not keeping up with it. Unfortunate things had happened to bring this story as well as others to a halt, but I'm hoping to revive this fic once more. So I hope you enjoy this update!
To whoever reads this,
I'm bored. I'm tired of being on the run. It sucks! You have no freedom. No freedom at all. I hate being restricted, I always have. Hence, me at nine years old walking the streets at all hours of the day and night with no parental supervision. Pft! As if I needed it. It's unheard of I know, but I couldn't help it. My home life was the pits and I always needed some type of distraction to keep me from facing reality. I seeked out adventure, or more or less I created it, trying to keep my secret from Arnold. Regardless, I hated being cooped up. It seemed that Arnold and I had been sitting in this basement for who knows how long; maybe days, weeks, months even. Okay, okay I'm exaggerating it a little it's only been six hours. But….damn it! It feels like it's been months. I swear if I have to stay down here one more minute longer I am going to go insane. Wait a minute….I forgot… I'm already there. Yep… I've lost it…Probably why this is torturing me so much. (sighs) Oh well, I think I lost it long ago. I mean…How many normal nine-year olds get to see a shrink anyway…not much in my book! Looks like I got the short end of the stick in life! Yay Me!
Helga plopped her head down on the table with a thud. She sighed when she heard nothing but silence. She continued to write.
Anyway, as you all figure out we managed to escape the State Attorney's building at the expense of a friend. And my sanity continues to be tested as the challenges continue to come. How much more of this can I take? Helga sighed hopelessly.
I don't know, but I can only hold on for so long! My desire to shrivel up inwardly and hide in my protective place seems to grow stronger by the minute. The only person keeping me here in the forefront and in cahoots with my alters is Arnold…
I promised him that I wouldn't give in, but I can't help but feel like he's holding back. I can see he's keeping things from me and I feel useless. He doesn't want me to worry, but it's not like him to completely shut me out like that; especially, after what happened with Gerald. I'm not completely helpless, you know!
Since we escaped from the clutches of the wicked Fuzzy Slippers, we hardly spoke. Hmph, this is beginning to sound more like a fairy tale story, the good versus evil storyline. All the mayor needs now is a huge wart on the top of his nose. Ha ha ha ha ha. Wait a minute, I'm getting sidetracked here. You see! This is what happens when you're isolated from the outside world. You tend to rant more than necessary. Oh man! Am I delirious, again? I can't seem to clear my head nowadays with all the company that's in here, it's… almost impossible. Where was I? Oh yeah, Arnold. What bothers me the most is that he treats me like some delicate flower. Doesn't he know who I am? Hasn't he learned by now? I'm Helga G. Pataki for cripe's sakes!
"Hey!" suddenly two voices piped up in the background. "Alright! Alright, let me re-phrase"
I'm Helga G. Pataki and… company, for cripe's sakes. "Happy now."
Eleanor and Cecile replied respectively, "Could be better, but...it'll do." "It's okay I guess"
Helga rolled her eyes, sighing.
Anyway, as I was saying, who does Arnold think he is, keeping me in the dark like that? Especially when things are getting more and more intense. Doesn't he know what I'm capable of? Didn't he witness the terror that was me at PS 118? We've been in a lot more riskier situations than this back in the day, what makes this so different? FINE! So people want to kill us now or whatever. BIG DEAL! I've been through worse and lived to tell about it. I just….need to get my mojo back! That's what healing is all about, getting myself back…back to the way…I was. I need to be that fiery tempered, no holds barred, daring girl. Hmph, you know…I used to hate her…back then when I was with Arnold. She was the reason why Arnold couldn't tame her, at least that's… what I thought. She was a weakness and yet a strength that I possessed and when I snapped, I guess somehow I tucked her away in order to cope. It's funny how I want her back. How I want to feel complete once more. I feel so detached from my alters that I can't tell who I am anymore. I am the analogy of a woman without a face, a woman with no identity that you can place upon her. Is this…a bad sign? Helga sighed as her eyes was filled with worry.
Anyway, as we left the state's capital building behind, we managed to find a retreat while here in this city. It seemed that the call Arnold made in that office was to none other than, check this…Monkey man, man,man. I repeat Monkey Man! He moved up here a while ago since Hillwood was strictly enforcing the law against vigilantes. His love for helping the weak and downtrodden was still in his blood. His only resolve was to move elsewhere when that was taken away from him. Besides, he was the only one who had questioned Fuzzy Slipper's intentions and policies, when he came into office. He suspected that the once respected man turned to a life of deception and corruption, upon reaching this prestigious position. And here we are… now… stuck in Monkey man's basement of all places.
It smells like bananas in here, and I'm gonna go bananas if we stay here any longer. ~H.G.P
Irritated, Helga broke the pencil in half and crumpled up the paper she wrote her thoughts on and attempted to shoot it in the waste basket nearby. She aimed and shot. SCORE! A small sense of satisfaction graced her face as the paper went into the basket, but soon it disappeared. She huffed loudly.
"Ugh, what time is it now?" Helga asked Arnold in annoyance.
Arnold lying on the worn out couch, his arm shielding his eyes from the glaring light bulb, replied wearily, "Two minutes from the last time you asked me that."
He sounded bothered at her interrupting his attempt to take a nap.
Helga sighed once again and voiced, "So what are we gonna do now?" she uttered as she looked to him in panic wanting to hear anything other than not having to be stuck in this closed up, damp atmosphere for much longer.
Arnold removed his arm and open an eye to inspect Helga, seeing her expression, he grinned as he spoke, "I know what we can do Helga." Helga suddenly sat up, her brows rose, anticipating what he would say. However, the man she was stuck with in this dismal basement began to… sing?
"Let's all hold hands… here in the basement… cause we've been stuck here in the dark for way too lo-" But was cut short by a rolled up magazine hitting his football-shaped head.
"Har har, very funny, Hair boy." Helga said.
With a smirk to his face Arnold uttered. "Well… it worked! You're not bored anymore." Helga merely rolled her eyes, but underneath her serious expression a small smile began to form. From the corners of his eyes, Arnold saw the smile forming, knowing that he hadn't seen her smile like that in days. He thought, "Slowly, I'll bring you back Helga…this I know."
Interrupting their tender moment, Monkey Man entered the secluded room a bag in hand and with news from the outside. "It seems you guys might have to stay put for awhile, M-monkey man. At the moment there's a statewide search for you. Maybe in an hour or two when the sun sets you'll be able to make a move." Arnold pressed the bridge of his nose to alleviate some of the pressure there. Sounding concerned he hesitantly asked, "Any word on …um...Gerald or the mayor?" Monkey Man's face grew somber, "I'm sorry Arnold, Monkey man, all I know is that one man was shot and pronounced dead at the scene when the ambulance arrived at the building mmonkey man. Other than that no other news was released; not even the man's identity. What's best now is that you stay put until we can get you two out of here before the police finds you, you guys are still fugitives you know, monkey man."
As they digested the information provided to them, Monkey man placed a bag on the table. He mentioned, "I've brought some food. It might not be much but it'll sustain you." As Helga saw monkey man placing the bag on the table she looked at it and narrowed her eyes, thinking, "If it's stinkin' bananas, I am so gonna scream."
Meanwhile, Arnold sighed at the news he received and got up to approach the table. Helga looked on as he made his way there. He opened the bag and looked inside. Pulling out two cheeseburgers and fries, he walked back towards Helga handing her her food. Monkey man made his way back up the stairs. As he escalated, he said, "I'll get you guys some drinks to wash it down." And exited the basement.
As they silently ate, Arnold began to plan his next course of action. He thought, "It seems that the document that I retrieved from the waste basket was completely damaged by the fire. Nothing on it is legible enough to read the statement. That was the last shred of evidence we had to put Fuzzy Slippers away for his crime. What am I going to do now?" He softly sighed as he took another bite of his burger. "I can't tell Helga that. I can't tell her that there's no hope for vindication for her tarnished reputation. She mustn't know that the document has been completely destroyed. She's made so much progress that if I do tell her that she'll be devastated. And…I may lose her, forever."
Arnold turned to look at her munching on the burger and fries. Sensing him staring, she stopped chewing midway and turned to look at him. Her mouth was stuffed with a mixture of masticated burger and fries all in one clump. "What?" she uttered almost inaudibly.
Noticing the food in her mouth Arnold's face contorted at the disgusting view.
He shook his head, "Nothing. Can you…close your mouth that's disgusting!"
As soon as he uttered those words, a devious smile came to her face. "Really?" she walked over to him and his eyes grew wide. She leaned forward to his face and opened her mouth wide once again, the food still there. "How's that now? Better?" she asked trying to gross him out. At the display Arnold put his hand up to block the view, he chuckled. But still, the sight of that brought a slight discomfort to his stomach as he tried to digest his own food. His voice raised a bit as he tried to extinguish the view already in his mind, "Still disgusting, swallow it Helga. Just…swallow it."
Helga maintained her stance at grossing him out. She straddled him and wrestled with him, trying to pry his hands away from his face. They both began to chuckle till full blown laughter was heard as they continued to wrestle each other for dominance. SPLAT! The food escaped Helga's mouth unto the floor and a few specs of it flew onto Arnold's face. He went still, his eyes widening and his lips twisting in disgust at the specs of food on his cheek. Meanwhile, Helga sat on his lap, laughing loudly pointing at him in amusement. Arnold's eyes narrowed, and in retaliation, he tickled her nonstop for knowingly disposing her mélange of food from her mouth. He felt so much joy seeing her like that, laughing without a hint of worry. Her attitude at that moment was so carefree that it made him want to see her smile more. "She's so beautiful." He thought wistfully.
However, in the midst of his happiness for her another desire pulled through. Soon enough, he realized her position on him and slowly stopped tickling her. He looked into her eyes, both of them were panting forcefully. He lifted his head up, his eyes focusing on her lips. He inched further up and she leaned in close as well. His focus returned solely to her eyes now a more vibrant blue as his eyes pierced into the distance of her oceanic orbs, longing to see the return of the girl he once knew. Beyond her reflective irises he saw an image of her former self, reaching out to him; her hand extended gracefully, begging for him to come to her. And her inviting smile was shining brightly as the sun. Arnold felt himself being pulled…pulled to the past awaiting his arrival. He drew his face in closer, still staring intensely into her eyes, softly whispering, "I found you" as he gently slid his hand to the nape of her neck, tenderly pulling her to him trying to close the gap. Helga gazed at him her eyes half-lidded, whispering only his name, "Arnold"
His eyes closed as he enjoyed the sweet sound of his beloved Angel calling his name so lovingly and soothingly. This made him feel at peace, if only for a moment. It felt nostalgic; he missed that feeling since he left six years ago. They both leaned closer, until their lips softly brushed in contact with the other.
A familiar warmth surrounded them, like the rays of the sun sheathing itself on them from the outside in. It was so… magical. And with only a slight brush of the lips to feel such pleasure, felt so surreal. The movements were delicate and caressing compared to the previous kisses that occurred. They held their kiss until the need to catch their breath was necessary. When they slightly parted, they looked to each other with passion and want. They leaned in once again, his lips anticipating touching hers once more, when Monkey man burst through the door urgently, interrupting the moment. They both shy away from each other, sighing in frustration. Still they kept a straight face towards their friend. Although, Helga somewhat couldn't manage to hold off her slightly peeved face as well as Arnold, she did hold back some.
As monkey man approached them his face was panicked. "It seems that Fuzzy Slippers' men are on the move. They want revenge. They're conducting a search throughout the neighborhoods asking people questions about you two. I think it's time for you to leave this place, MMonkey man, before they find you." Monkey man uttered regretfully.
Arnold's eyes shifted in thought for a moment. Trying to figure out what his and Helga's next step would be. Throughout the day, he racked his brain on what they should do next, but he was stumped. His only chance of bringing justice for Helga was damaged beyond belief. He was losing hope. He thought, "At least they don't know the proof is damaged, maybe we could work that angle." He sighed as he put both his hands in his pockets, trying to figure things out.
As he reached in deep into his pocket he felt an object brush up against his index finger. The object had a somewhat cool feel to it, and hard in texture. He ran his finger against the indentation lines as he attempted to grab it. His eyes suddenly widened. Monkey man shifted forward catching Arnold's attention. "Arnold, Monkey man, you have to make a move…now!"
Arnold nodded to Monkey man in thanks and looked to Helga. "Helga, I know where we can go" was all he said as he darted towards the stairs and Helga followed as they made their way to their next destination.
Reviews will be very much appreciated and encouraging.Thank you:)