Yakko woke up with a start. His face drenched in sweat, he looked at his surroundings. His mind felt foggy, like he had a hard time thinking. He had a hard time moving and he started to panic. Was he back in that madman's clutches? He whimpered softly, darting his eyes around the room that he could barely see.
His vision sharpened only moments later. Colors came through. Now he could see that he was in a white room. He felt his heart slow down. He sighed with great relief. Despite his foggy mind, he had a hunch that he was in the hospital. He wondered why. He gritted his teeth. Had that guy struck again?
He found he could move his arms and legs. They were just stiff from laying on this bed...oh man how long had he been out? He tried to sit up. He found he was too weak to do so. He crossed his eyes at the object on his face. What he had thought was rope tying his mouth shut was just an oxygen mask.
Wearily, he moved his eyes to look at his arms. He saw the needles stuck into them, nourishing him with liquid, one red and one clear. Now he was really worried. What had happened to him? The last thing he remembered was eating the chicken, then blank. He knew better than to suspect Dot of anything.
He could see two figures standing next to him. He blinked a few times, letting the images come into focus. Upon seeing the two familiar black and white figures, he managed a smile.
"Hello guys." His voice was a little rasp. "What am I...doing here?"
Wakko looked down at him sadly. "You don't remember?"
Yakko shook his head. Dot placed a hand on his.
"You...blacked out." She fought back tears. "When you were brought here, the doctors found that you...bled out. You lost a lot of blood."
Yakko winced. That would explain the blood IV. He eyed it warily. "It was..that bad? Is that why I'm getting a blood transfusion?"
Dot nodded. "You'll probably have to stay here overnight just so that your blood is replenished. The doctors don't want to take any chances. You were lucky I found you sprawled on the floor. They said that if we waited until morning, you..would have...you would have..." She couldn't bring herself to say it and just started crying.
Yakko wanted to cry, but he felt too weak to. He reached up with a hand and touched his sister's face. He whispered, "I'm fine now..."
Dot tried her best to smile. She gripped Yakko's hand in hers and brushed her cheek against it. Yakko felt someone else grab his other hand. He looked over and saw Wakko hanging on to it, gripping on it for dear life.
At long last, Dot and Wakko released their grip. They stared at Yakko for what seemed like hours. They wanted to know he was all right. They were worried if they looked away, he'd be gone. They almost lost him today. They didn't want their nightmare to become a reality. They wanted Yakko to stay...to stay...alive...
Dot was happy that Yakko was smiling. Her own smile faltered when she remembered Brain's words. He wanted her to ask him about his assailant. Could she really do that to him now? Could she force herself to ask him an uncomfortable question in his current condition?
That question was easy for her to answer.
No, she could not. Not now. As much as she hated to defy orders from one of the smartest Animaniacs, she knew in her heart Yakko would not be able to handle such a question right now. He needed his rest. He needed to regain his strength. So long as she and Wakko were with him, he'd be safe.
She decided to wait.
sss
It took three days before Yakko was allowed to be released. He was able to get up without feeling dizzy on day two, but the doctors wanted him to stay just in case. He wasn't allowed to walk anywhere without a wheelchair or someone by his side. It annoyed him, but he understood it was for the best.
He was to be on a strict diet for the next week or so. Certain foods he was restricted from as they could cause irritation to the newly formed clots. He wasn't allowed to do any strenuous exercise or activities. And he had to remain in the water tower, not for his health, but his safety. The water tower sealed tightly and no one could get in, except for the Warners of course.
Plotz agreed with this order and told Yakko, just before he was released, until the culprit was found that he was not to leave the water tower for any reason, not unless he was being escorted by someone.
Yakko didn't like these orders, but he couldn't do much in protest. He was at least happy to be back in the tower again. He hadn't been gone that long and already he missed his own bed in his own room. He did feel safe behind the metal walls. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
Sometime after being released, Dot felt it was time to ask Yakko the question. She didn't want to upset him. She tried to pick the best time to talk to him, when Yakko was calm and neutral. She deliberately avoided playtime or dinnertime to ask.
She found Yakko sitting in his favorite chair. He was so calm and relaxed. It was like nothing had happened to him. She couldn't help but smile at this. It was nice that he was able to grasp some normality back into his life. She felt her heart wrenching at the thought of asking the question as she approached him slowly.
"Y-Yakko?"
Yakko looked at his sister. "What is it?"
"I need to...we need to talk." Dot managed to say.
"About what?"
"About what happened."
That had the reaction she thought it would. And it made her feel horrible.
Yakko's smile washed away like wet pain from rain. His eyes gotten large. His ears were flattened against the back of his head. She could have sworn she saw him tremble once or twice. The newspaper he had held in his hand was now on the ground, wrinkling up as it hit the ground.
"I know you aren't comfortable talking about it." Dot said carefully. She clasped her hands together and took a step towards him. "But please, you've gotta tell us! I can't stand it...I can't stand not knowing!"
Yakko blinked back tears. He turned his head away. "You'll not be able to stand knowing..."
For a moment, Dot was silent. Then she spoke. "Brain told us...something about the internal bleeding." Yakko looked over at her, confused. She took another step towards him. "Yakko, there is something you aren't telling us."
"I told you my dream!" Yakko cried out, the fear starting to get the better of him. "Isn't that enough?"
Dot got close enough to grab his arm. Yakko cried out and pulled away, like she was trying to hurt him. Dot looked at him with a hurt look. "I hate seeing you like this. Yakko, you have to tell someone. Why won't you tell me, your own sister?"
Yakko closed his eyes. Dot could see the barest hint of tears. "Because it's..." He put his face in his hand. "Too horrible..."
"Tell me." Dot placed an arm across his back.
"...not now..." Yakko whispered softly. "Please...I don't want to talk about it now..."
Dot bit her lip. "Yakko..." She couldn't think of anything else to say. She could beg all she wanted to, but Yakko was not going to budge. She let out a long sigh. "Okay...but remember, me and Wakko will be here and we've got your back, okay?"
Yakko sniffled. "Yeah..I know." He closed his eyes. "I know..."
sss
It had been a week since the incident. Yakko's recovery hadn't made much progress. His fear of pencils was still strong. He had always hated being alone, but now he outright despised it. No one blamed him for it. How could they? He had been alone when he was attacked.
The other Animaniacs were still organizing the search party. There has been debates on who should be the leader. Many disagreed on what their job was going to be. The local authorities were already busy looking for the guy, but they had no solid clues or leads. No one was surprised the man wasn't caught yet. Rarely were criminals taken to court a week after the crime.
Yakko held the vital clues. He knew where he was taken. He could describe it to the officers and the other Animaniacs. He knew what the man looked like. He could tell the others. If he would just tell them what happened, everything, then justice would be served.
He was still too terrified, however. Anytime someone brought up the subject, he would freeze for a second before doing whatever it took to avoid the subject. His fearful behavior made the others suspicious that something more had happened. They didn't know what. What had the man done to Yakko that left him so frightful? Surely it wasn't just a few pencil stabs. The internal bleeding proved this.
Dot tried in vain to get him to speak with no luck. Wakko tried as well. He had no better luck either. Even though they couldn't make him talk, they still tried to make him feel safe and comfortable. They knew Yakko would never feel truly safe until that madman was behind bars, where he belonged.
On the eight day of Yakko's release, Wakko and Dot left the tower to go get some groceries. They didn't feel bad about leaving Yakko alone. They wouldn't be gone that long and the tower was locked up.
While they were away, Yakko decided to release to some reading. He laid down on the ground, holding up one of his favorite books. He read it a dozen times, but he didn't care. It was a classic and he loved every minute reading it. It was a great way to pass the time, too. By the time he would be half way done, his siblings would be home.
He jumped up, startled, at the sound of a loud ring. He calmed down. It was just the doorbell. He walked up to the door, then stopped. Who could be coming over? It surely wasn't Wakko or Dot, and he didn't recall inviting anybody over. Maybe it was just Plotz checking up on him, or Dr. Scratchensniff back to re-examine him.
He walked up to the door as the doorbell was rung again.
"Hold your horses! I'm coming!" Yakko called out. Again the door bell rang. He groaned. "Yeesh, you have the impatience level of Chris Griffin on a road trip." He swung the door open. "How may I...help...you..." In an instant, Yakko was frozen stiff. He shook like a leaf and took a step away from the door. "N-No..."
There, standing in the door way, was the same man who had attacked him. The man stood 5 and a half feet tall. He wore a pale green suit with matching pants. He had no beard and only the tiniest hint of a mustache. He was toned, but still not too bulgy. His eyes were so cold it nearly froze Yakko's heart just looking at him.
The man smiled, showing off his slightly pointed teeth, a hue of yellow on them, at the frightened boy. He took a step into the water tower and slammed the door behind him. He took a step towards Yakko.
"I told you not to tell anyone." The man said.
"A-a-a-ah d-d-didn't..." Yakko whimpered. He took another step back.
"Naughty boy. You know you shouldn't lie to grown ups." The man chuckled. He frowned as he pulled out a newspaper. He opened it up and showed it to Yakko. "This here proves you are lying. 'Authorities looking for suspect wanted of assault of Yakko Warner'. That is you."
"I s-s-swear I didn't say anything a-a-about the..."
The man's pupils shrank into dots. "I will not tolerate your lying!"
Yakko screamed in fear and ran towards the phone. He had to call someone, anyone. He pulled the phone off its hook and attempted to dial. He didn't get very far. He felt the man rip the phone away from him and cover his mouth with his hand.
He struggled with all his might as the man dragged him away from the phone. He reached out towards the phone in desperation, his eyes wide and pleading.
He was brought into the kitchen. The man released him. Yakko thought he was free, but he was soon proven wrong. A golden glow surrounded him. The man's eyes glowed yellow themselves. Yakko felt himself being pushed into the table by the strange force. His head was twisted onto its side, exposing his neck.
The man walked over, sharpened pencil in hand. Yakko stared at him, horrified. He wriggled on the table. He tried to get free. But the man's telekinetic grip on him was too great. He looked up at the man as he raised the pencil, ready to strike.
"Leave my brother alone!"
The man turned his head. He had no time to react. A blur of black and white knocked him to the ground. The grip on Yakko was released. Yakko rubbed his head and looked over to see his rescuer.
It was Dot. She had bodyslammed into the man's side. Despite her small size, she knocked him onto the ground. She was now holding onto his neck and pulling tightly. She didn't stay like that for long. The man slammed her into the ground and pressed against her chest and stomach with his massive foot. Yakko called out her name, holding out his hand.
Suddenly, a large mallet came out of nowhere and slammed into the man, knocking him away from Dot. Wakko, baring his teeth more menacingly than he ever had, lunged at the man like a mad dog. He slammed him repeatedly with the mallet and was able to force him out of the water tower.
Dot and Wakko realized their mistake. They should have gotten the man in custody. Before they could correct it, the man ran away. They didn't see which direction he went in. Dot and Wakko wanted to pursue him, but they had more important matters to attend to.
Yakko was curled up on the ground in a fetal position. He cried softly to himself. His body was shaking terribly. He looked like an absolute mess.
Dot walked up to him and dropped onto her knees next to him. Wakko came over and helped his brother into a seated position. The Warners took a few minutes to take a breather. When their nerves had calmed down some, that's when Dot spoke.
"Now will you tell us what he did to you?" Dot asked.
"This is getting dangerous..." Wakko said, biting his lip. "Please tell us..."
Yakko looked at his siblings. He wanted to tell them. Oh how he wanted to and hope this nightmare would end. The man's threat still had him scared stiff. The man had been clear not to tell a soul about the incident. A dream was different, Yakko thought. It was just a dream...no it was reality. And he should have known better.
His siblings weren't going to let up this time. He knew that. The man had tracked him down into the water tower for Pete's Sake. And what's to say he wouldn't come back again? And would it really make a difference if he told anyone the truth by this point? The man had already tried to kill him...
Yakko closed his eyes and finally spoke. "Okay...I'll tell you..."
Wakko and Dot huddled closer. They stared at him, eager for the truth, but at the same time scared. When Yakko opened his mouth to speak, nothing could prepare them for what he said next.
"He...he..raped me..."