Tales of the Alternate Universe

Chapter Two: Flanna Hacksworth

Her feet kissed the ground repeatedly, lifting puffs of dirt and withered leaves behind them as the red-haired girl passed by. The night was falling upon her and that wasn't a good sign. She raised her pleading eyes towards the sky, asking the sun to stay up some more minutes for her. Mr. Hacksworth –her father– had warned her that if she came home past dusk, there would be bad consequences.

"Dang it!" she muttered, her hurried breath was now visible thanks to the cold "It's all that Mertens boy's fault!"

Flanna lived on the other side of the valley, it took her at least two hours to get home and usually she'd be there before dusk –but no when Miss Bonnibel punished her with detention. She gritted her teeth, thinking of how lucky the Mertens boy was. Since the school was built near the farming fields, his house was literally around the corner; he'd never be late for home or classes.

She shut her eyes and shook off the thoughts of that annoying boy from her head, if she arrived late her father would know that she was in detention and he would probably lock her in her bedroom the whole weekend. Flanna hated that punishment more than anything; she couldn't tolerate the idea of being confined in small spaces, rooms or whatever, without being able to escape. Her claustrophobia felt like an overwhelming illness at times, but Mr. Hacksworth didn't seem to care about it. He would always use it against Flanna to keep her under control.

Her hand reached out for her chest, she was starting to suffocate just for thinking about it "Calm down Flanna… calm down…" the girl whispered softly "Life would be much easier if dad was a farmer… Mr. Mertens and Finn work outside the whole day in the fields, but no… Dad has to be the owner of the town's colliery!"

Coal mining was the worst job ever for a claustrophobic girl like Flanna, but for her father digging coal was like digging gold. The whole town was powered thanks to his colliery, which ment that everyone's money ended up in his pocket.

The Hacksworths weren't exactly a rich family, but there was no doubt that they lived better than the rest of the villagers in Junktown. Especially during winter, when everyone's crops withered and their need for coal increased.

Flanna quit her running. It was too late now; she'd better save her breath for later when she'll really need it. Her father was going to lock her up for sure. Flanna walked by her father's mines, staring at some dirty and sweaty men, who were obviously covered with coal. The only thing on them that wasn't blackened, was the shiny smile that they gave her as she passed by.

Her house was just a little bit farther, Flanna dashed in front of the colliery, hoping that her father was still busy inside his office and scurried towards her home. Unlike most of the houses in the valley, her house wasn't a simple wooden shack; it was a robust redbrick building surrounded by an elegant gate made of steel. They used to have a nice front yard covered with many different kinds of beautiful flowers, but since Mrs. Hacksworth passed away, it had been neglected a long time ago.

Flanna pushed the door softly and tiptoed towards the staircase, if her father wasn't home she'd probably have the chance to wash herself and change her clothes, snatch a sandwich from the kitchen and pretend that she had been working on her homework the whole afternoon... But as soon as her foot touched the first step…

"Flanna Hacksworth…" a deep voice called from the living room.

The girl shuddered and sighed, "Yes father?"

"Come over here."

Flanna gulped nervously and obeyed, dragging herself fearfully towards the living room where her father was sitting calmly. She couldn't see his face because his sofa was facing the chimney, and even if she dared to stand between him and the fire, a huge newspaper was being held in front of his face.

"Your teacher called." Her father announced.

The girl embraced herself "S-she did?"

"You fought with the Mertens boy again, didn't you?" the man commented sternly "It's the fifth time this month…"

"I know…"

"Well, that's not what it seems!" he growled "Come here, I want you to look at me when I talk!"

Flanna did as told. Her father lowered the newspaper and the first thing he did was to glare at her, then he examined her clothing and sighed in frustration.

"Flanna…what happened to your clothes…?" her father asked as his finger pointed her ripped off jeans and her scrapped knee.

"I… I kinda jumped over the Robinsons' fence and their big dog almost ate me for lunch… hehe…"

"Last week you almost drowned in the swamp, Bruce's geese bit your ankles and you got hit by a cart at the market…"Mr. Hacksworth raised his newspaper again "Now you come home late, with torn clothes and a bloody cheek... is it too hard for you to stay away from trouble?"

"Well…"

"Perhaps I've given you too much freedom lately…"

"No, Dad! I…!" Flanna knew what was about to happen.

"Just wash yourself and go to sleep, we'll discuss this later…"

The girl lowered her head "Yes sir, I'm sorry…" she began to walk with a sad pace towards the staircase once again.

"Flanna…" her father left his newspaper on his seat and knelt next to her. He raised her chin with his thumb and stared into her green eyes "Listen, I'm just doing this because I care too much for you. When your mother left, I swore I'd take care of you... but getting hit by a cart each time you step in the market… Flanna… you're way too rash and impulsive for your own good."

The red-haired girl studied her father's face in silence; he was a tall and sturdy-bodied man. The hand holding her chin was way bigger than her head, everything about him was massive. Father and daughter shared the same eye and hair color; a russet beard surrounded his face's frame and a wild mane (which he never cared to comb) covered his head.

"Listen dear," Mr. Hacksworth continued, leading her sight towards the chimney "look at those flames… they provide light and warmth, but that's because we keep them under constant control. If I didn't restrict the amount of wood that I throw in there, or if I just let them burn free –the fire would rage and create chaos. You are like those flames, it seems that I still need to keep you under constant control otherwise, that Mertens kid will get another black eye in any moment…"

"But dad, I didn't give him a black eye…" Flanna protested "This time I just punched his nose…"

"Flanna… That's not the point; if you can't control yourself, then you're giving me no choice but to lock you in your bedroom again. You'll only be allowed to leave for school and-…"

"No, father I… I'm not like the fire! Flames can't learn, but I can…! Give me another opportunity! I promise to control myself…please… I can behave… I can behave…" the girl pleaded, holding her father's arm tightly.

Mr. Hacksworth tapped her back gently "All right, I'll give you one last chance." He smiled, raising her chin again "But if you get in trouble again, I won't let you play outside anymore. Is that clear?"

Flanna hugged her father and nodded with excitement "Thanks, dad."

"Fine... now go wash yourself and meet me here at eight for dinner."

x+x+x+x+x

Finn woke up before sunrise just like he did every Saturday and went downstairs, searching for his old green backpack. His mother was sitting at the table, wearing her usual pink dress and he wondered if she was still mad at him.

"Good morning mom!" the boy said in a happy manner.

"Morning son…" she replied dully, not even looking back at him "Your father is waiting for you."

"Oh… yeah…"

If his mother was still mad then, introducing her to Jake wouldn't be a good idea. Finn left her alone and dashed into the kitchen, he ran through the backdoor and reached his father's tool vault in the backyard. His hands rummaged insistently among all of his father's rusty trash until they finally managed to find his backpack.

"Yay! Now I gotta get Jake!"

Finn climbed the oak tree so that he could enter his bedroom through the window, in an attempt to avoid meeting his mother's cold shoulder again. The golden puppy wagged his tail when the boy popped inside and ran in circles around his feet excitedly.

"Woof! Woof!"

"Yeah, yeah! You can come with me, but you'll have to stay very quiet." Finn instructed once he had managed to get the puppy inside his backpack "I'm afraid that mom won't like you yet…"

"Bouw…?"

"Don't worry buddy it's not your fault," the boy assured, swinging the green bag on his shoulders "It's Flanna's fault! You can pee on her foot when we see her at school this Monday, hehe!"

A while later Finn walked inside the hen-house where his father was waiting for him so that the two could help each other collecting the eggs. Mr. Mertens smiled and waved at the boy when he noticed his presence inside.

"You're not angry dad?" the boy asked shyly.

His father shrugged and smiled again.

"You're a cool guy, dad." Finn whispered as he checked the coops "Hey! I think we've been robbed!"

Mr. Mertens frowned and pushed Finn away to check the nests by himself, a bump got stuck in his throat. He had passed by the hen-house a few days ago and he was sure that his chickens had produced a good amount of eggs, but… what happened to them?"

"I saw something weird yesterday!" his son stated angrily "I think we have a thief roaming around our farm, dad!"

Mr. Mertens tapped his shoulder, asking him to calm down.

"No dad, I'm sure it wasn't a fox! Someone was here, lurking in the darkness… a thief!" Finn replied, clenching his fists "This isn't fair, you were planning to sell them on the market for winter!"

His father shook his head softly and hugged him tenderly.

"But…dad… sell the chickens?" the boy whispered sadly "Guess there's no other way, right?"

Mr. Mertens nodded.

"Houw!" Jake's head suddenly popped out of Finn's backpack, startling the heck out of his father. The man managed to calm himself down and pointed the puppy with curiosity.

"Oh… this is Jake, you were not supposed to see him until mom's temper went down but… hehe" the boy chuckled nervously "Please don't tell her, I found Jake in the cold and he needs a home! Winter's coming soon, he could starve or die, or…!"

His father put his finger on his mouth and smiled.

"You won't tell her?" His father shook his head "You're the best dad ever!" Finn yelled joyfully and jumped into Mr. Mertens' arms.

The man rolled his eyes and raised his hands slightly in a doubtful manner.

"You're asking why mom's mad at me?" Finn replied, "Well, it's that Hacksworth girl's fault! She's crazy dad, I tell ya!"

His father looked startled by Finn's sudden reaction and tilted his head.

"I'm always getting detention because of her! Yesterday she was attacked by the Robinsons' dog and she tried to use me as a shield, then I said that she was nuts and she yelled at me! And Miss Bonnie punished us! And we fought again! And she punched my nose, and smacked my hand with a ruler!"

Mr. Mertens crossed his arms and stared at him.

"Well…yeah, I kinda…hurt her too…" his son answered with shame "Then Miss Bonnibel brought me home and told mom everything… And I said bad things to her…"

His father grabbed him by the arm and pulled him outside, Finn stared at him with confusion all the way until he stopped near the garden and offered him a flower.

"A rose?" Finn whispered "For mom? Dad I don't think that-…!" Mr. Mertens knocked his head "Ow! Okay, I get it…! I gotta tell mom I'm sorry!" his father pinched his arm "Auch! And tell her that I'll apologize to Flanna…!"

Mr. Mertens smiled.

"You're cool dad, but I don't know if this is a good idea…" the boy sighed "I don't really feel like looking for that girl… But I'll do it for mom."

x+x+x+x+x

Finn walked in circles around the golden fields with Jake following him close behind, he was feeling uneasy and nervous. Apologize to Flanna? He didn't really see how that could happen; the girl was probably going to attack him again, she had to be hatting him deeply right now.

"Oh Finn, that's such a wonderful idea…!" his mother exclaimed, embracing him warmly. "I'm sure you can be nice to that girl…"

"Argh! Jake, this is crazy! I can't do it!" the blonde boy complained.

The bulldog puppy blinked and tilted his head.

"What I'm supposed to say? 'Flanna, I'm sorry you're a psycho?'"

Jake tilted his head to the other side.

"Look Jake, it isn't as easy as it se-…!" something cracked under his foot "What the?"

Finn crouched down and stared at it carefully, it was a broken eggshell. Jake sniffed it and ran a little bit further "Bark!"

"What is it buddy?" the boy asked, getting closer "Another one?"

In fact, there was a long trail of eggshells that disappeared into some bushes near an old hollow tree. Finn and Jake followed them inside, whoever stole his father's chicken eggs was surely at the end of that trail and Finn swore that he was going to find him.

"Grrr…!" Jake growled after making a sudden stop at a random spot and began to scratch the ground with his paws in an uneasy manner.

"What are you doing, Jake? There's no time for digging up bones!" the boy said, picking the yellow puppy up of the ground and got him inside his backpack "We gotta find the thief, c'mon!"

"Bouw…" the dog moaned, still glaring at the same mysterious spot.

x+x+x+x+x

Flanna walked the whole morning with the intention of keeping herself as far away from her father as possible, that way; if she made a mistake he wouldn't notice it. She wandered around the farming fields aimlessly, hoping to find somewhere to rest her tired feet.

She knew there was a small pond somewhere close to the school, but that meant that it was also close to the Mertens' farm and if she wanted to avoid trouble, she had to avoid Finn Mertens at all cost.

"But maybe…" the girl said to herself "Maybe he's too busy doing farm work, so it's probable that he's not hanging around this place!"

Her feet drove her towards the pond in a matter of seconds. There she crouched down near the crystalline water and peeked at her reflection. There was a small piece of adehesive bandage covering her wounded cheek. "Finn's a psycho…" she muttered while her hand rubbed the still aching injury.

Flanna punched the water and laid her back down onto the grass, trying forget her problems and enjoy the blue skies above her. A "crack" sound beneath her made her spring up in surprise "What the?" she wondered, picking up the weird object "An eggshell?"

"Aha!" Finn Mertens shouted, jumping from out of nowhere. "I got ya! Egg thief!"

"Egg thief? What are you talking about?!" she could feel the anger building inside her just by staring at him.

Nothing good could come out of this… or maybe, it can?

2/06/13 Update: Grammar mistakes corrected.