Tales of the Alternate Universe

Chapter Nine: Miss Bonnibel

The young woman sat in front of her dressing table, wearing her pink nightgown. She was staring at her tired reflection in the mirror as she combed her hair, ready to set it with her pink rollers. Keeping those perfect curls of hers was a demanding task, but every woman knows that vanity comes with a little nuisance as a price. Time flowed slowly as the school teacher worked on her hair, her reflection being a constant remainder of the anguishing day that had just passed her by. Some hours ago Miss Bonnibel was standing at her door frame, waving good-bye to the Mertens. She had borrowed a cart and a horse from her neighbors so that the worried couple could travel comfortably and safely towards their home. There was still no sign of Finn or Flanna.

Bonnibel placed her brush on the table. She had finished her work on her hair, but still, her eyes wouldn't drift away from the mirror. Some pictures of her parents and her old city friends were attached to its frame. She sighed. Though, she loved her life in the country, sometimes Miss Bonnibel missed those long gone days at the city. It was just that oddly pleasing feeling of nostalgia striking her again. Sadly, she wasn't allowed to dwell within her memories anymore. A constant and hurried knock on her door —an almost desperate one, forced her to snap out of her longings and abandon her seat. Her hands reached out for her housecoat with haste. She could only wonder what was wrong with the freak standing at her door. Didn't people know that it was too late for lending sugar at that time of the night?

"Goodnight, how may I…" Bonnibel's words, and pretty much her entire being froze. The image before for her could only be a product of her worst nightmares.

Flanna Hacksworth's eyes were clouded with tears. Her skin was covered with bruises and cuts, and her clothes were stained with the black of coal and the red of…well, she didn't even want to guess what it was. But reality as it was couldn't be denied, or so that was what her physics books preached. The truth was —although Bonnibel hated to reckon it— that her student's clothes were soaked in blood. Her brain wasn't able to process how such a young girl could lose so much blood and still be capable of reaching her house. Even standing on her feet should have been impossible for Flanna. It was in that moment that the teacher's irises glimpsed something that she had been ignoring until now, probably because of her shock. Lying unconscious on Flanna's back, was the battered body of Finn Mertens.

"F-Flanna what…what have you done?!" Bonnibel had to scold herself for guessing so prematurely the cause of the boy's condition. Years of receiving either an injured Finn or a wounded Flanna at her door, had made her used to the idea that the two kids' injuries were always an aftermath of their constant fighting. However, Miss Bonnibel knew the Hacksworth girl well enough to know that, despite how much she 'hated' the farm boy, it was impossible for her to hurt him in that way.

"Miss…Bonnibel…" Once again the coiled thoughts of the frightened school teacher were interrupted, this time by Flanna's weak sobs. "Help…Finn…"

The red-haired girl's knees were shaking. Bonnibel couldn't tell for how long she had been carrying that precious burden on her back. She couldn't tell if the injuries in her body were as serious as the ones on Finn's, nor could she guess how much was the twelve-year-old girl going to resist…

"Miss Bonnibel…" Flanna managed to muster a whisper before the color in her eyes faded away, all her apparent strength finally leaving her body.

Bonnibel did what she had to do. She leaned towards the girl, her arms opened wide, and caught her students before they collapsed on the cold ground. The stench of blood drowned the sweet scent of her perfume as her tears fell upon the two kids in her arms.

A long sleepless night was awaiting her…

x+x+x+x+x

Earlier that day…

Finn dragged Cecile along the tunnel while he carried the little Bartram in his arms. The light peeking at the end of the road gave him a glimmer of hope, however, hope wouldn't be enough to calm the agitated thoughts that lurked in his mind. He was concerned about Flanna. After they heard the Destiny Gang's voices looming closer, she decided to offer herself as a distraction to keep them away while he found a way to get Cecile and Bartram out of the mine. The farm boy hated the idea of leaving her alone, inside there with those guys, but she never listened to him.

"Are you insane?!" he exclaimed after the girl had proposed her idea.

They had tried to wait in silence until the D-Gang walked away, but it seemed that Big Destiny was too devious with his plans to let anything pass him aside. Their arrival was imminent, Flanna knew it and so did Finn.

"Listen, I know my limits!" she replied anxiously. "I can do this! Now it's not the time for you to worry about me!" a smile graced her lips. "You have to get the mules out of here fast. I know you can do it 'cause it has always been hard for me to catch you whenever you run away like a big coward…"

"Okay, I'll do it…" Finn assured sternly as his expression was quickly shifted into a grin. "But that doesn't change the fact that you are crazy nuts!"

Finn shook his head trying to get rid of the pessimist thoughts that had invaded his brain. He was finally outside. Gazing at the moonlit skies, the boy prayed mentally for Flanna's safety. It was funny how in a matter of hours he had grown found of her. But perhaps, Finn hadn't been feeling that way about Flanna just a few hours ago.

Perhaps, he had always felt like that, since she first walked through the classroom's door five years ago. It took Finn a life or death experience to help him realize that he truly cared for her.

"I'll catch up with you soon, I promise!" the red-haired girl's voice echoed within his mind.

His bare feet tapped the ground faster as he waited. Cecile was grazing somewhere behind him with the little Bartram making small hops beneath her to reach his mother's nutritious milk. From among his four-legged friends, Jake was the only one who could perceive Finn's uneasiness faster and more efficiently.

The pup laid his head on the boy's lap while this one sighed, "Where is she?"

It was taking her too long to show her freckled face. The more Finn turned back at the mine's entrance, hoping to see her jogging out of it, the more it seemed that she'd never appear.

"I can't stand it, Jake!" the boy claimed, springing up, his fists clenched tightly. "Something bad must have happened to her, I gotta go back!"

"Bark!" the bulldog yapped with determination.

Finn knew from experience that he could always rely on Jake's nose to find anything or anyone, any time and anywhere. This case was no exception. Flanna's scent was still pervading his clothes and it certainly helped his dog find her tracks within the darkness.

"Seriously, Tremi…!" Jake's ears perked up at the sound of that voice. "I think we aren't getting enough credit for our hard work, I mean, does anybody notice us? Does anybody know our names? No! All people care about is 'Big-D this and Big-D that', while Trami and Tromo get all the attention 'cause they are his favorites…yeagh!"

"I guess you're right Trumo, but when the boss finds out that we've captured the Firefly, he's surely going to reward us this time! Hehe…!"

"Flanna…!" Finn gasped instinctively, covering his mouth after realizing his mistake.

"Gesundheit!" one of the thugs exclaimed upon hearing Finn's whisper.

"Thanks Tremi, but I haven't sneezed."

"Then what was that sound-? Another intruder?!"

"Could it be?"

"Mr. heroboy!" the two voices exclaimed in unison.

The blonde boy tried to back away slowly as soon as he noticed two men running around the corner. One of them had short blue hair, purple sunglasses and a green sleeveless coat, while the other one was taller, with pink hair spiked upwards, a black headband on his forehead. This one was also wearing a weird light brown garment with darker boots.

"Yo, halt!" the blue-haired man cried, chasing Finn down.

Finn tried his best to keep his feet running, but his lack of shoes (as well as the lack of light inside the mine) caused him to trip over a rock, which —he could swear— had crushed his toes.

"That's it Trumo! You got him!" the man with the spiked hair yelled victoriously, heading towards his teammate.

The farm boy grunted and struggled to free himself out of Trumo's grasp uselessly. "What have you done to Flanna, you freaks?!"

"Flanna?" Tremi repeated doubtfully while he scratched his pink hair. "We don't know any Flannas… Hey Trumo! Wasn't your cousin's name Flanna?"

The shorter guy kicked his friend's shin in frustration. "He's talking about the Firefly, idiot!" Trumo stared down at Finn, still gripping his neck tightly. "Don't worry we haven't touched her!"

"Yeah, we're just keeping her locked in the small coal cellar that's in a nearby passage until she grows up a little so that Big-D turns her into his girlfriend, hehe—ow!" Tremi complained as Trumo kicked his leg once again.

"What the hell is wrong with you, giant piece of dumb?! Keep your mouth shut!"

"Hey, I'm just answering the boy's question!" Tremi folded his arms angrily. "It's not like if he could do anything about it! We were going to kill him anyway, didn't we?"

"Yeah, but what if Trami and Tromo hear you?! They'd steal our prize and…!"

As Finn listened to those dorks argue, he began to think in a plan to free himself from them, and rescue Flanna while he was at it. But what could he do? Trumo's grasp was tough. In order to escape, he'll have to force him to release him.

"Bouw…" the boy slowly turned his head towards that soft moan.

It was Jake, watching the scene from afar. The poor puppy looked pretty unsure about what to do to free his master.

"Jake…!" Finn whispered with a mischievous grin. "Chomp his butt!"

The puppy seemed to have understood his order because in the moment that the farm boy finished talking, the golden fur ball leaped over Trumo's buttocks, burying his sharp fangs in it.

"HOLY CRAP! MY BUTT!" the blue-haired gangster yelped, letting go of Finn to rub his aching soft spot.

Finn rolled on the ground, his hands quickly grabbing the rock that had made him trip a while ago as he got back onto his feet.

"Argh! How dare you outrage my butt?!" Trumo pulled Jake off his rear end and slammed him against the wall furiously. "Ha! Not so fierce now, right stupid dog?"

"Jake!" the boy cried, rushing to his buddy's side. The puppy was lying on the ground, seeming to be barely conscious. "You'll pay for hurting my friend!"

Finn charged against Trumo, pushing him up to the wall. He tightened his grip on the rock and used it to smack the gangster's head furiously. Some blood sprinkled over his shirt and face with each enraged hit until the man slid down onto the ground. Unconscious or dead, Finn was too angry to care.

"T-Trumo!" Tremi gasped, stumbling on his knees with astonishment. "S-stay away from me! You crazy brat!" he pleaded while Finn loomed menacingly over him, still holding the rock in his hands. Tremi's cowardice became more obvious with each step that the boy made towards him.

"Where's Flanna?!" Finn demanded harshly.

"I-I already told you…!" the tall guy stammered, covering his face in fear. "She's locked in the cellar, you'll find it on the tunnel that's just a few miles ahead… Please don't hurt me!"

Finn dropped the rock without saying a word. He crouched down next to Jake and scooped him up carefully. "How are you feeling, Jake?"

"Houw…" the puppy moaned weakly.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine…" Finn assured while he swung off his backpack to carry the puppy inside it. "I'll take care of you, I promise…"

"M-mom…mommy!" Tremi cried as Finn passed him by. He opened a small gap between his fingers and peeked through it. Finn was gone now. "Phew… it's a miracle, I'm alive…!"

x+x+x+x+x

Finn noticed that his pace became rushed when his eyes spotted the small wooden doors at the end of the path. There was a lit lantern hanging right beside them. Its light helped the boy find the keyhole and he forced it open, using a rusty clip that he had casually found inside his pocket.

His eyes pierced into the darkness. Perceiving the sound of a hopeless weeping, the farm boy grabbed the lantern, knowing that its light and its warmth would provide some comfort to the frightened girl trapped inside that narrow room.

"Flanna?"

Upon hearing Finn's voice, the red-haired girl raised her head, barely believing her eyes. It concerned him how pale her face was, Finn could only imagine the desperation that the girl must have felt while she was locked in there. "F-Finn?"

None of them was able to keep waiting anymore. Without realizing it, the boy and the girl found themselves cuddling in each other's arms. Finn felt that it was his duty to offer her protection, while Flanna felt that it was okay to show him her weaknesses without any kind of fear. She was after all, a simple human, struggling to stay strong amidst the chaos that surrounded her. No more hiding was needed, as he lent her his friendly shoulder, Finn understood that Flanna was trusting him a side of herself that only a few knew. The farm boy held her tight in his arms, letting her cry.

"It's okay..." he whispered. "I understand..."

"I know you do." the girl sobbed, burying her face in the crook of his neck. "I hoped you would..."

And Finn smiled, realizing that he had truly earned Flanna's trust... and maybe, something more.

Update: Grammar checked and corrected.