Warnings;
. Swearing.
. Violence.
Anyway, enjoy the chapter!
It took two days, and one long night, for Cassie, Helena, and the Anti-Heroes to create a detailed plan. There'd been many things to discuss, and figuring out a way to get Harry into the centre of the Isle had been the hardest one. Heading into pirate territory was obviously suicidal, and they'd ruled that out without a second thought. After all, the shoreline where Uma's ship - and shoppe - resided was Harry's safe space, so to speak. If they went into pirate territory, and attempted to take him down somewhere around that area, the chances of Uma's crew somehow overhearing and turning the tables on them was too high a risk. The son of Hook was clever, but he hadn't ever needed backup to find Cassie before, and he had no reason to do it now. He didn't know that Cassie had made some new 'friends', and the little cat knew with certainty that - when he did meet up with her - he'd definitely come on his own.
Eventually, they'd come up with a believable option that would surely get Harry into the centre of the Isle.
The beginning of the plan involved the Gaston twins, their 'baby' brother, and a little rumour spreading. The twins had reassured a hesitant Cassie that Gil wouldn't be hurt during any of this, and though the little cat was reluctant to trust the word of two V.K.'s she hardly knew, Helena had also given her opinion on the matter. The Cheshire Cat's daughter wasn't the only one who was fond of the blonde-haired pirate: He had the Queen of Hearts on his side, as well. So while Cassie was shamefully relying on Gil's loyalty to Harry and Uma for this plan to work, she was at least content to know that he wouldn't be hurt.
There was a small risk that Gil would forget what he'd overheard his brother's discussing, so the twins would make sure to mention the 'rumour' more than once, until they were absolutely positive the message was firmly implanted in Gil's brain. Obviously, the little cat had had her doubts about that one, but the twins had soon put her mind at rest. According to them, Gil was awful at keeping things to himself, and even worse when it came to his excitement. If he realised that the things they were telling him would be of interest to Harry or Uma, a wide-eyed, gleeful expression would cross his face, and he'd come up with the shittiest excuse to leave the house.
If all went well, and Gil did what he was supposed to do, everything after would run smoothly. It was painfully evident by now that Harry was incredibly eager to find her, and no matter how smart he was, desperation always ran the risk of error in any situation. If things went their way, then he wouldn't hold back. The pirate would unknowingly follow the path they'd made for him and finally receive the punishment Cassie was sure he deserved.
However, when Cassie had made the decision to accept their help, she hadn't quite anticipated how large of a part she'd have to play. She didn't mind throwing her name out into the crowd if it meant getting Harry to the destination they'd settled on, but willingly taking part in it was a whole other thing. During their meetings at Helena's salon, the Anti-Heroes had made sure to include her presence in most of their wicked plan, and since Cassie had been playing a part when around the V.K.'s, she hadn't been able to tell them otherwise. There was no way for her to tell them that - while she'd asked for their help with this - she had no desire to get involved with their vicious plan. Truthfully, she'd hoped to be able to stay as far from the ambush as possible, but by now that hope had been tarnished. Whether she liked it or not, she was going to have to stand witness to this horrible attack.
Not everything so far had been terrible, though. Fortunately for Cassie, during her nightly meetings with the Anti-Heroes and Helena, she'd been able to get to know the bunch a little better. The group were oddly comfortable discussing their home lives, personal preferences, and any enemies they made on the Isle. They didn't hold back, and for someone like Cassie, who was quite reserved and secretive when it came to certain things, the fact they were so quick to tell her anything was quite bewildering. But after she gave it some thought, she realised that they had nothing to fear by telling her about themselves, and why would they? If what Helena said was true, these five were the most feared group on the inner Isle right now, and though Cassie hadn't seen much wickedness from them yet, it didn't mean it wasn't there; It was just sleeping.
The presence of the Anti-Heroes also brightened the spirits of the Queen of Hearts. Not that she wasn't a good person to be around before, of course. But whenever the group were due to arrive, Cassie saw how cheerful her friend became, and how excited she was for their visit. Whether it was because the five brought on some kind of nostalgia for the Queen, or because having Gilzean's father with her filled her with joy, Cassie wasn't sure. Either way, they'd certainly brought about a lovely change in Helena, and Cassie couldn't help but wonder what'd happen when all this was over and done with, and the group went back to what they'd been doing before.
To Cassie's complete astonishment, she'd somehow wound up getting closer to Ginny than she did the rest. The daughter of Gothel had approached her on the second night, casually settling down onto the seat beside Cassie to ask how the little cat had met the son of Hook in the first place. After a lengthy discussion, including the first night she'd run into Harry, being locked in the cell on the ship, and everything that came after, Ginny had finally determined that there was no romantic interest between Cassie and Harry, and her animosity toward the little cat had lessened considerably. The two had bonded over their hatred for the hook-wielding pirate, and Ginny had introduced a saying to Cassie that the little cat hadn't ever heard before.
'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'. It fitted in well with their situation, and so a partnership... of sorts, had been declared between Cassie and Ginny. The Cheshire Cat's daughter would have nothing to fear from the daughter of Mother Gothel, because in angering Harry, Cassie had now given Ginny a chance for revenge. And if there was anything Cassie had learnt by now about Ginny, then it was the fact she held very, very large grudges.
Cassie hadn't gotten too close with the rest of the Anti-Heroes. Aside from discussing their plans for Harry, they hadn't shown much interest in the little cat. At least, three of them hadn't. Anthony Tremaine very rarely spoke to her, instead he chose to linger in the background, throwing his own opinion into the mix whenever he saw fit. The Gaston twins, though, were quite playful, even going as far as to lightly stroke Cassie's head whenever they past by, a light-hearted tease toward her other form. The first time they'd done it, Cassie had been understandably taken aback, until she peered over her shoulder and saw the large, joking grin on their faces. She'd asked Helena about it after they'd left, and with a laugh of amusement, the Queen had reassured Cassie that they were thanking her in their own strange way. Apparently, Helena had made sure to let them know how much Cassie had helped her since her arrival in the salon, and how she took care of little Gil whenever she could. Family, it seemed, mattered a great deal to the sons of Gaston, and anyone who cared for theirs was welcomed.
Thankfully, Cassie didn't feel as threatened by the group as she had when they first arrived. However, one of them always had Cassie's nerves frazzled when they entered the room, and the little cat still wasn't sure what to make of them.
Mad Maddy: The leader of the Anti-Heroes. Knowing she was in charge of the fearsome five was a worry in itself, since she was clearly the smallest of the bunch. Kind of like Uma being the Captain of the pirates. If they hadn't earned their title by strength, then it meant they had something else. They were the brains of the group, the ones who planned, directed, and gave the orders. They were the leaders for a reason, and while it was nice to see that someone didn't have to be a huge, brute of a person to lead, it still unsettled the little cat.
For whatever reason, Maddy seemed to have a strange sort of fascination with Cassie. The little cat hadn't had any idea why, but she'd assumed it was because Maddy absolutely adored cats. In fact, the green-haired V.K. had even swung by the salon during the daytime, asking Helena if she could see Cassie. It'd been quite a strange encounter, since Cassie hadn't ever gone to someone in her feline form and had them know who she really was. But much to the little one's surprise, Maddy had treated her just like she would if Cassie were a normal cat. She'd brought along some fish for Cassie to eat, and a small carton of milk. And when the Cheshire Cat's daughter had gladly devoured both, Madame Mim's granddaughter had invited the furry black cat up onto her lap, gesturing her in with a few clicks of the tongue.
Truthfully, Cassie had enjoyed the day a little too much. It was rare for her to receive any form of kindness from someone when she was in her furry state, and getting it from Maddy had been rather strange, to say the least. Aside from greeting her when she first came in, Maddy hadn't said more than a few words to Cassie. Instead, she'd chosen to sit in silence with the little one, giving her light scratches here and there when Cassie asked for it.
It wasn't until after the second meeting with the Anti-Heroes that Cassie found out Maddy had her own reasons for being so nice.
"Pussycat."
Cassie looked up from the floor, her brows furrowing in concern when she saw the look on Helena's face.
"C'mere for a minute," the Queen requested, sharply nodding toward the dinner room behind her.
Warily, the little cat stood from her chair and wandered into the dinner room. When she came through the red curtain, she found Helena had already sat herself down, waiting patiently for Cassie to join her.
"Everything okay?" she asked, sitting down across from Helena. So far, the night had gone well, and she couldn't think of anything that might've put the Queen of Hearts on edge. But from Helena's exasperated expression, something must've happened.
"For now, everything's fine," replied Helena, and Cassie frowned. She wanted to ask what her friend meant by that, but instead she stayed silent, deciding to let Helena say what she had to say. "You haven't had any trouble with the guys, have you?"
Cassie shook her head. "Nope."
"Really?" the Queen pressed. "They haven't made any remarks? Made you uncomfortable? Anything like that?"
"No. Helena, what's going on?" Cassie leaned forward and rested her arms on the table, frustration gnawing away at her mind. If Helena had something to say, then she should say it, and not beat around the bloody bush.
"Maddy likes you."
At first, there was silence. Helena sat stiffly in her chair, a single brow raised as she waited for Cassie's response to the abrupt announcement. Meanwhile, the Cheshire Cat's daughter froze, her mouth moving wordlessly as she fought to find the right words.
"O-kay," she eventually muttered. "Why is that a problem?" Cassie had thought that Helena would be relieved to know she was getting along with her old crew, but from the looks of things that wasn't the case.
The Queen of Hearts huffed. "No, pussycat. She likes you." Helena put more emphasis on the word 'likes', subtly implying something Cassie couldn't comprehend.
A small, humourless giggle passed through Cassie's lips. "You're kidding?" A flash of annoyance flickered in Helena's gaze, and Cassie's laughter died down. "Shit," she mumbled.
"Uh-huh," the Queen confirmed, leaning back in her chair.
"I-I...um," the little cat stuttered, stumbling over her own words as she attempted to accept what Helena was telling her. "Is that a bad thing?"
Helena stared at Cassie with wide, disbelieving eyes. "Yes," she said firmly, leaning forward once more. "Pussycat, you don't want to get involved with someone like Maddy."
In response to this, Cassie rolled her eyes. She wasn't an idiot: She didn't plan on getting involved with any them. Just because Maddy had shown some kind of interest in her didn't mean she was about to abandon all sense and run away with the girl. Maybe if Madam Mim's granddaughter had found her a month or so ago, she would've considered the idea, but not now.
"Look, I get it." Helena gave a small shrug, a smile playing at her lips. "You've been hiding for sixteen years, you haven't had anyone take an interest before. Trust me, pussycat, I know exactly how it feels." Cassie shyly bowed her head, looking down at her fingers. "It's a good feeling, right?"
"Yeah," the little cat whispered, somewhat reluctantly.
When it came to partners on the Isle, Cassie's experience was vastly limited. The only things she knew about those things in particular she'd learnt from seeing numerous couples on the Isle, and even then it hadn't taught her much. Her father hadn't exactly stuck around long enough to explain what it was she was feeling, or why her stomach wound in knots whenever she saw someone she found particularly attractive. If she hadn't come out of hiding, or decided to live with Helena, Cassie had a small feeling she would've spent the rest of her life alone. Every encounter she'd had with Harry would've turned her away from the idea of meeting anyone new, and though her loneliness would've taunted her relentlessly, she'd have been better of because of it. Despite what she thought about herself sometimes, Cassie knew she was strong - in her own way, at least. She could survive all by herself, and she didn't need a partner to be happy.
But that didn't mean the thought hadn't crossed her mind once or twice. After all, Helena and Gaston Jr. weren't as slick as they thought they were. Cassie knew full well he was sneaking back into the salon after hours, when Helena thought the little cat was sleeping, and the moaning and groaning echoing from inside the main salon area wasn't lost on Cassie. Even when the Anti-Heroes were there, the two weren't subtle. As soon as the other was within reach, they were glued together, from intertwined fingers to hard grips on the other's waist. Sometimes it was a little sickening, but it always stirred a faint longing within the little cat.
Cassie wasn't even sure if she liked Maddy the same way, but she wasn't about to rule it out altogether. Plus, the idea of someone wanting her was rather... nice, in a strange, terrifying kind of way.
"Pussycat, I'm not trying to hurt you," said Helena, gently smoothing a stray lock of hair behind Cassie's ear. "But I know you, and I know Maddy. She's nice now because she's pulling you in. You're a pretty little thing, pussycat, and you turn into an actual cat, it's no wonder she wants you. You're a crazy witch's wet dream. She'll keep you safe, and she'll give you everything you've ever wanted, but Maddy doesn't like being told 'no'. Wherever you go, she'll go. You can say goodbye to your night-time walks. And gods help you if she thinks someone else wants you too. People call her Mad Maddy for a reason, pussycat. She's a good friend, and I hate talking bad about her, but she's not a good girlfriend. I don't wanna see you in a cage, can't you understand that?"
Even though it pained her to admit it, Cassie knew where Helena was coming from. If she let Maddy think for just a second that she felt the same way, the green-haired girl would have her shackled. Cassie would have the comfort of being with someone, and being safe, but she'd lose her freedom at the same time.
"Yeah," she finally agreed, lifting her head. "I understand."
Since that slightly uncomfortable conversation, Cassie had done her best to steer clear of Maddy. She'd come back to the salon again the next day, but Helena had been ready for her, and she'd told the green-haired girl that Cassie was sleeping. Obviously, she hadn't been: If anything she'd been wide awake. Helena's words of warning rang loud and clear in Cassie's mind, but the little cat couldn't help herself sometimes, and since the Queen had sat her down and brought Maddy's intentions to light, Cassie hadn't been able to think of much else.
Now, though, that was the last thing on her mind.
In her feline form, Cassie perched at the edge of her bed, yellow eyes fixated on the door in front of her. With the use of her heightened ears, she heard Helena giving her goodbyes to the last customer. The day was coming to an end, and the sun would be going down soon. When it did, Cassie would turn back into her natural state, the Anti-Heroes would arrive, and they'd head to their destination.
Tonight was the night. If all went well, and as they'd planned, Harry would finally stop. The horrific, furry little bodies would stop showing up around the Isle, and Cassie would finally be free.
The door creaked open, and Helena walked in, softly shutting the door behind her. For a moment or two, she stayed there, leaning back against the door with her arms crossed beneath her chest.
"Are you alright?" she asked, keeping her voice low so that she didn't wake Gilzean.
Cassie blinked, and her ears flickered. In her current state there wasn't much else she could do, so she settled on giving a small meow instead.
"This is freaky as hell, y'know," the Queen chuckled, taking a step forward. "I know you're human. I've seen you change into a human. But I still feel like an idiot talking to a cat." Helena reached out with her right hand, lightly stroking the top of Cassie's head. "If I pick you up, are you gonna bite me?"
Cassie moved her head away from Helena's hand, her purrs dying down into silence. She flexed her paws and leaned back, her lower half wiggling in preparation for the jump.
If Helena hadn't been anticipating the move, she probably wouldn't have managed to catch the leaping cat. Thankfully, though, she caught her just fine.
"I know you can't say anything right now, pussycat, but I don't think you have to. The sun's going down, and the guys are gonna be here soon, so I don't have much time." The Queen of Hearts held Cassie firmly to her chest, her right arm holding onto the little one's body, while she used her left to scratch behind Cassie's ear.
Once again, Cassie wished for the ability to speak when trapped in her kitty state: Or at least be able to convey something other than disinterest. Unfortunately for her, the most she could do was stay and stare, and hope her friend knew she was listening.
"I honestly don't know what's gonna happen tonight," the Heart girl admitted, averting her brown eyes to the space above Cassie's head. "You won't be on your own. Not completely, anyway. I've made Gaston promise me he'll keep you safe, and I trust him with that. But if something goes wrong I need you to promise me you'll get the fuck out of there, okay? Blink if you promise." Cassie blinked instantly, and Helena gave a long sigh. "Good girl, pussycat."
When Cassie's stomach started to turn, and her little paws began to tingle, she wiggled in Helena's hold. Her transformation was steadily approaching, and she'd rather not be in her friend's arms when it came.
Helena quickly moved back toward the bed and lowered Cassie, taking a few steps back to avoid being too close. For a moment, Cassie thought the Queen would leave, but when Helena simply took up her former position, the little cat realised that her friend was going to stay.
Cassie turned away from Helena and moved further up the bed, laying flat on her stomach as she waited. She stared up at the pillow in front of her, her claws firmly latching onto the blanket beneath her body. For some reason, cats seemed to have the ability to sense oncoming danger, and Cassie was no different. Her tail darted back and forth, her ears twitched backward, and a low growl formed in her throat. Her inner feline knew exactly what was coming, but since it couldn't be avoided, Cassie could do nothing but lay down and suffer, a sudden panic rushing through her little body.
Finally, it started. The numbing sensation began at her tail, gradually making its way through the rest of her form. Then came the weightlessness, like she was drifting through the air with nothing to hold her down. She could handle this part... to a certain extent, anyway. The pins-and-needles sensation, plus the floating, didn't take away the lingering fear she felt whenever her transformation took place, but it was still bearable.
Then came the hard part. An awful, breath-halting moment, where it felt as though someone had reached inside her stomach and started to twist. It often bewildered her that the ear-shattering screech she gave when turning never woke little Gilzean, but most of the time she could hardly focus on that thought. In a quick, bright flash of light, which temporarily blinded the little cat, she was back to her natural form.
Faintly, Cassie could hear thuds against the floorboards, which she knew was the sound of Helena's boots. Slowly, her eyelids fluttered open, and she blinked quickly, hoping it would clear her vision a little faster.
"Shush, it's alright, pussycat."
Cassie hadn't noticed the whimpers drifting through her dry, parted lips, but as soon as she did she tried her best to tame them down. With a faint cry of pain, which she held back by biting down on her lower lip, Cassie rolled over onto her back, inhaling and exhaling deep and soothing breaths.
"Take your time, pussycat," the Queen softly urged.
"I-I'm okay," she stuttered, quickly moistening her lips with her tongue. She knew Helena was trying to keep her calm, but she couldn't take her time tonight like she usually did. The Anti-Heroes would arrive soon, and Cassie had to get this over and done with.
The Queen of Hearts sat down beside the little cat, holding a raggedy old towel in her hands. "I've never seen it like that before," she whispered, dabbing away the sweat from Cassie's forehead. "It looks like it hurts."
"It does," the little one replied, flexing her fingers against the bed. The ache was still there, but as the seconds went by it lessened, and soon enough she'd be able to get dressed.
"You sure you're up for this?"
Cassie frowned. "Of course. We didn't go through all this planning for nothing."
"And you remember your promise, right?"
"Helena." Cassie turned onto her right side, wrapping her fingers around her friend's wrist. "I promise I'll come back," she said, meeting the older girl's gaze.
The Queen of Hearts paused, her eyes roaming over Cassie's face for any trace of a lie. When she couldn't find one, she gave a perturbed sigh, and shook her head.
"You fucking better. Or I'm coming after you myself."
~...~...~
Uma leaned against the edge of the ship, her right arm draped over the banister. She stared ahead at nothing in particular, hardly blinking as she focused more on the argument going on inside of her head.
The Captain briefly wondered if she was going insane. It wouldn't surprise anyone, really: She had been going through a bit of stress lately.
Taking care of a large crew was somewhat foreign to her, since it'd only ever been a handful of them, and considering how heavy of a weight it was becoming, she knew she was doing rather well. The payments she received from store owners across the Isle was being put to good use. Most of the coins were stored away for ship repairs and items she needed for her mother's shoppe, but the rest was being split evenly between her crewmates, since most still had families to care of. At the same time, the teal-haired V.K. was doing her best to keep the first mate from losing what was left of his sanity. Thankfully, he was cleaning up whatever mess he made down in the cells, and keeping the bloody remains away from her shoppe and its customers. He still ran the same errands, joining Gil in collecting payments, and other things that needed doing around the shoreline. But Uma knew full well that he wouldn't be truly content until he found Cassie again.
Apparently, tonight was that night.
Gil had come sprinting into the shoppe that morning, wheezing as he doubled over the main countertop, struggling to catch his breath. At first, Uma had been a little concerned, since it was rare for the blonde-haired pirate to run unless he had big news for them, or he was being chased. This time, it'd been the former, though Uma couldn't help but wish he'd kept it to himself for once.
"Cap'."
Uma blinked, bringing herself back down to earth when she heard Harry's voice. She wanted to spin around and demand that he stay on the ship, or at least come back to the shoppe with her. But if she did, he'd never forgive her for it, and she'd never forgive herself. After all, she had given him two days to get over his strange and gruesome obsession, and today was the second day. As his Captain, she'd given him her word. And as his friend, she had to let him do this.
"C'mon, Uma," he sighed. "Talk ta me."
"It doesn't feel right," she told him, twirling a braid between her fingers. Stubbornly, she stayed where she was, her refusal to face him showing him exactly how she felt about his leaving.
There was a small silence, in which only the waves and creaking of the ship could be heard, but then Uma heard his footsteps. They stopped behind her, and she felt the warmth against her back as he leaned into her.
"I'll be fine." He gently rested his chin on her shoulder, his lips right next to her ear. "I swear ta ya, I'll come back."
She wanted to believe him; Really, she did. Every time he left the shoppe to do something she didn't know about, she worried. And every single time he came back, just as promised. It might've taken him a little longer on some days, but he always came home.
Tonight, though, it felt different. This wasn't the usual feeling she got when he left, where a quiet voice in the back of her mind toyed with her anxieties, tricking her into an unneeded panic. She knew that feeling, and she'd learnt to ignore it a long time ago. No, this time was different. The voice didn't just whisper: It screamed. Her fingers tingled and twitched, and her stomach turned with an overbearing sense of distress. For whatever reason, something inside of her could tell there was an oncoming danger, and it was heading straight toward her best friend.
"Harry," she muttered, finally turning to face him. "Please, don't go out tonight." Usually, she wasn't so obvious with her protectiveness over him. He didn't need it, and she hardly had to put it on display, but they both knew it was there. Tonight, though, she couldn't seem to help it.
The first mate frowned, his blue eyes staring deep into Uma's dark orbs. "Are ya orderin' it?" he asked.
"No," she replied, swallowing down the lump in the back of her throat. "I'm asking you, as your friend, not to do this." The voice in her head was back again, sounding strangely similar to her mother, taunting her over her sentimentality. She ignored it this time, determined that her friend's safety was worth more than her reputation as a fearsome leader.
"As my best mate, ya should know why I'm doin' this," he pointedly replied, and she huffed, her lips pursed as she averted her gaze. "C'mon, Uma. I'll come back, I swear."
Harry wouldn't leave without her say so, but this back-and-forth between them would last all night if they wanted it to. He was just as stubborn as she was when he put his mind to something, and neither of them enjoyed losing: Even if it was to each other.
"Fine," she snapped, shoving him away with as much force as she could muster. "Go. Find the little kitty-cat. Try not to get killed while you're out there." Swiftly, she turned back to face the ocean, her braids flying through the air as she did so.
If he didn't want to listen to her, fine. She'd said what she had to say, and it hadn't deterred him one bit. He was still going to go and find Cassie, and if Uma's body warnings were right, he was going to get hurt in the attempt. Did she give a shit? Of course. Even the strongest of friendships came with the occasional argument, and theirs was no different. All she could do was hope with every fibre of her being that - like every other time before - he returned without injury, and they could go back to the way they were before.
Uma flinched when a sudden weight came down against the back of her neck, something heavy falling against her stomach.
"Keep it safe for me, eh?"
Only when his footsteps faded away did Uma take a quick look down, lifting the object in her fingers to see what he'd given her. She was furious with him, and that would surely last the rest of the night, but she couldn't help the small smile that came to her face when she saw what it was.
"If you don't come back, I'm coming after you myself."
~...~...~
There was something odd about walking around the Isle knowing you couldn't get hurt. Usually, the Cheshire Cat's daughter stuck close to the walls, quickly moving through the streets and alleyways to avoid alerting anyone else who might've decided to take a nightly stroll. She was always careful, treading lightly when turning any corners, and climbing up onto the rooftops if the area got a little too risky. Most of the time she'd never had a specific destination, especially back when she'd been 'collecting' special things.
Tonight, though, was a whole new experience for her. The Anti-Heroes were a feared group on the Isle, and the way they moved about the place radiated confidence. They weren't the type of people to stick close to the walls, or double-check behind every corner to make sure no one was waiting for them. They walked with purpose, almost daring any other Isle-dwellers to try something. If the road was wide enough, they formed a line: Like a barrier, of sorts. But if there was a narrow alleyway, the positions shifted. The twins, since they were clearly the strongest of the bunch, travelled through first, ready to take down anyone who stood in their way. After them, Ginny came through, with Anthony close behind. Only when the four had safely made it through did Maddy follow, skipping through the alleyway without a care in the world.
Cassie had only ever seen the Fearsome Five in Helena's salon, so she hadn't seen their intimidation in all its glory just yet. Even now she was only being shown a glimpse. But in the darkness of the Isle, with a few lanterns casting their shadows across the gravel, Cassie was beginning to realise how frightening the five could seem to a simple ruffian unfortunate enough to be lurking around at night. They weren't quiet about it, either. The twins practically stomped through the streets in their thick boots, and Maddy often gave a low cackle at random moments, one that made the little cat wonder what was going on in that strange, twisted head of hers.
Eventually, the six made it to Bargain Castle.
"So," said Maddy, turning to look at Cassie. "That's where you used to live, huh?"
Cassie gave a slow nod. "That's where I used to live."
"Were you dragon-lady's pet or something?" asked Ginny, blowing a bubble with the pink gum she'd whipped out of nowhere.
"Hades, no," the little cat firmly objected, a grimace twisting her features. "I lived in the attic. No one knew I was there." Cassie cocked her head, and added as an afterthought, "No one except Harry, anyway."
At the mention of the hook-wielding pirate, Ginny rolled her eyes, chewing obnoxiously loud on her gum. Out of all of them there tonight, Cassie had a large suspicion she'd enjoy this the most.
"So, how are we doing this?" asked one of the twins. Which one it was, Cassie wasn't sure: She couldn't tell them apart just yet.
"Harry won't go anywhere near the attic, I know that much. He'll get to the top of the stairs, though, so I'll be in Mal's room. Like I told you, there's a door up there to get in. There's another door on the inside that'll take you into the hallway," the little cat explained.
"I'll go block the inside exit with Ginny and Anthony. Twins, you stay near the main entrance, keep an eye out. Pussycat, you go straight up to Mal's room and wait for him. Don't worry too much, the when the boys see Harry coming, they'll come get us. We'll give it a minute or two, wait for him to get settled in, and then we'll head up ourselves. We'll hide outside, let you have a little 'chat' with Hooky-boy, and if you need us, just say the magic words." Maddy's instructions were short and simple, and her gang agreed without giving it a second thought.
"What're the magic words?" inquired Cassie, slowly following behind the group.
Maddy looked back over her shoulder. "Something wicked this way comes," she laughed, twirling around joyfully.
Cassie smiled in amusement. "It's not gonna turn me into a frog, is it?"
"Oh, pussycat." The green-haired girl tutted, her lips forming a pout as she abruptly stopped in front of Cassie, rapidly turning so that they were face to face. "You're way too cute to be a frog," she said quietly, delivering a light chuck underneath Cassie's chin.
In response, the little cat stood still, too entranced by Maddy's bright green eyes to even think about moving. In the back of her mind, she could hear Helena's voice, warning her of the dangers that came with getting too close to Maddy. She knew she had to take a step back, and make sure Madam Mim's granddaughter knew she wasn't interested in whatever she had to offer.
But she didn't.
Thankfully, Ginny was the one to interrupt the 'moment'. The daughter of Mother Gothel placed a firm hand on Maddy's shoulder, tugging her back toward the Castle.
"You can play later," she whispered with a dark giggle, a wicked gleam shining in her grey eyes.
After a quick, knowing wink aimed in Cassie's direction, Maddy took off, a skip in her step as she followed Ginny into the Castle. Meanwhile, Cassie stayed where she was, trying her best to tame down the flickering heat in the pit of her stomach. She'd focus on Maddy later. Right now, she had to focus on getting into Mal's room, and dealing with Harry.
Once again, Cassie dragged herself up the metal staircase, her footsteps seeming significantly heavier than they ever had before. Somewhere deep inside she knew it was the weight of the situation weighing her down, the reality of what was going to happen tonight angering her hidden morality. She wasn't like the Anti-Heroes, or Helena, or even Harry. They were wicked because they liked it, because - for whatever reason - hurting someone else brought them immense joy and satisfaction. She had a rather dark fondness for revenge, of course: Every moment between herself and Harry consisted of such. But no matter how hard she tried, Cassie would never enjoy hurting another person.
'Hello kitty, kitty.'
Just as it had the last time, Harry's taunting voice echoed through her mind the second she reached the set of doors. With a quick shove, which Cassie only realised was done a little too hard when the doors slammed against the walls, she entered the room, leaving the doors open behind her.
As Cassie's dark eyes roamed about the room, her unhelpful mind was all too happy to give her a repeat of what'd happened before. It'd been a month since, but Cassie could recall the events as if they'd happened the night before. She remembered the noises she made when he dragged her inside, the bellow of agony he gave when she scratched him, the thud her body made when he dropped her to the floor. It was like she was watching the entire thing through the eyes of a stranger, simply a witness to the horrific attack going on inside the room.
Instinctively, Cassie's right hand smoothed over her stomach, the ghostly sensation of being viciously booted in the ribs hitting her at full force. Her body had healed, and the bruises had faded, but it seemed the memory she had of that night would take a little longer to disappear. Maybe it was because that'd been her first attack, and the fact it'd been done with such brutality only added onto everything else. Harry knew how big and strong he was compared to her, he hadn't needed to use that much force to get her pinned, but he'd done it anyway.
There was a faint scuffling sound near the door leading out into the hallway, which Cassie determined was the Anti-Heroes blocking the exit. During her horrid flashback, she'd almost forgotten she wasn't alone tonight, and the quick reminder that they were there settled her nerves considerably. She wasn't the one who had a reason to be scared tonight, and if things went well, she'd never have to worry about Harry again.
Since she wasn't absolutely certain Harry would make an appearance, Cassie moved toward Mal's bed, sitting up against the headboard as she waited. On the walk to the Castle her nerves had been frazzled, but now there was just a looming suspense.
If she hadn't spent so long stuck in the back room at Helena's salon, the little cat would've gone mad within minutes. Time ticked by slowly, and she wasn't sure how long it'd been since she arrived. It could've been a few minutes, or it could've been an hour: She had no way of knowing. Eventually, though, she heard footsteps making their way up the stairs, and she was quick to abandon the purple, tasselled pillow she'd spent her time toying with.
"Here, kitty, kitty."
This time, his voice wasn't inside her head. It was just outside the doors leading onto the balcony, followed by a few taunting clicks of the tongue. He stayed outside, most likely waiting for her to appear from inside the den, and Cassie realised she'd have to call him in.
"In here!"
Considering just how nervous she was about seeing him again, Cassie was rather pleased she managed to use her voice. She'd gone through a few changes since she'd last seen Harry, but her body's natural reaction to a threatening situation was still running the same way it did before, and the urge to stay silent and hide until he left had started to seem like a good idea. It was truly a miracle she managed to push past it in the first place.
First, there was silence, as if he was contemplating the idea of entering the traitor's old room. Then Cassie heard him moving, the floorboards creaking beneath his feet as he came further into the bedroom. He came in slowly, and she assumed he was doing it for the sake of scaring her, attempting to stir her fears before he made his move. A month ago it would've worked, but not now.
"Well, well, well. I have ta say, kitty, ya caught me by surprise."
Since her eyes had long-since adjusted to the darkness engulfing the room, Cassie was able to see him clear as day. During their time apart, it seemed her mind had greatly overexaggerated the hook-wielding pirate, leaving her no choice but to accept how terrifying and large he was. Now that she had him in front of her, though, she realised that her erratic noggin had been wrong. Harry was still as tall as the last time she'd seen him, and the muscles he displayed so proudly hadn't shrunk during their time apart, but Cassie was relieved to find he wasn't as frightening as her mind made him out to be. It could've been because she was a different person now, or it could've been due to the group she knew was hovering around somewhere outside, but Cassie knew it was a mix of both.
"Harry," she greeted with a long, slightly apprehensive sigh.
The pirate tilted his head. "Ya look differen', love," he observed, placing his hook beneath his chin. "New clothes?"
"I guess you could say that," she retorted, shuffling around until she sat at the edge of the bed. "I can't say the same about you, though." Cassie wrinkled her nose, her dark eyes scanning his attire. A faint niggle of warning appeared in her mind when she spotted his hook, but she was quick to push down her fear.
There was a flash of confusion on his face, but as quick as she saw it, it was gone, hidden behind Harry's arrogant grin. "I'll be honest, love, I was startin' ta get worried."
"Aw, Harry," she cooed, rising to her feet. "You were worried about me?"
There was a small part of her that knew playing this game with him wasn't what she'd come here to do, but with the confidence in knowing what was going to happen to him tonight, she simply couldn't help but have her fun. After all, her weeks with Helena had hardly been eventful, and though she'd never admit it, she couldn't quite deny that she missed the rush of it all.
"Aye," he muttered, moving his hook toward her face. "See, I foun' this guy a little while ago, tryin' ta flog a lovely little bracelet. At firs', I didn' think nothing of it, but then I looked a little closer." He slowly dragged through the hook through Cassie's strands, the point drifting uncomfortably close to her skin. "I'd seen this bracelet before, in a pile o' jewels hidden away in someone's attic."
Nervously, Cassie's eyes flickered toward the doors a few feet away. She remembered the 'magic words' Maddy had told her to say, but it wasn't time yet. There was still a lot more she and Harry had to discuss.
"So I take this lad back ta tha ship, shake 'im down an' all that, an' he tells me somethin' quite interestin'. Would ya like ta know what he said, love?" Harry raised a questioning brow, but Cassie knew he wasn't waiting for an answer, so she didn't give him one. "He tells me he an' 'is mates found this girl, walkin' aroun' tha Isle with all these pretty things on. A lovely, little thing, matchin' yar description, actually. Anyway, these lads know a goldmine when they see one, so they jump this lass, right? An' ya can imagine 'ow surprised I was, when I foun' out this girl didn' fight back."
The negative impact this disturbing conversation was having on the little cat was instantaneous. An uncomfortable lump of sadness brewed in her throat, bringing with it a terrible ache she hadn't had to endure since leaving her den. There wasn't much she remembered from that night, but the vague memories she did have weren't exactly ones she wanted to relive. It'd been the lowest she'd ever gotten, and what made it so much worse was the fact Harry had sent her in that direction. If he hadn't put her down so much, and used the truth against her, she never would've made such a stupid, reckless, and agonizing decision. That night had been her lowest point, and now he was using it to hurt her.
"Why didn' ya fight back, Cassie?"
The little cat's eyes snapped up at the question, her bottom lip held between her teeth as she subtly took in the rest of his features. The manic grin was gone, replaced with what Cassie knew was false concern. Harry wanted to know why she'd tried to end herself that night, but only because he'd had a hand in the decision. He already knew what she'd tried to do, but the twisted, evil parts of him needed some kind of confession from her. He hadn't killed her that night because he wanted her to suffer, and if she told him exactly how big a part he played in her choice that night, she was confirming it.
"Why did you kill all those cats?" she asked, instead of answering: She wasn't going to give him that satisfaction.
"Why not?" he carelessly replied, the corners of his lips twitching upward. "I needed ta get ya out somehow, didn' I?"
Cassie's eyes narrowed. "They didn't deserve that," she snapped, a stifling heat bubbling up beneath her skin when he chuckled at her words.
"Eh, now, it's not all my fault," he objected, shaking his head. "You could'a come out o' hidin' sooner, but ya didn'. Instead, ya hid away, like tha little coward ya are. Don' worry too much, though, I killed 'em off quick. They didn' suffer." He sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes drifting down to Cassie's throat. "Not the same way ya're goin' ta, anyway."
Realistically, she should've been scared: Terrified, even. Cassie had only heard through others what state the poor cats had been in when they'd been found, and she knew it didn't even come close to what this pirate was capable of. She could barely imagine the pain Harry could cause her with that dreaded hook of his. However, the overwhelming fury she felt at the fact he had no remorse for what he'd done overrode her fear substantially, and it helped erase the guilt she'd felt before when planning this night in the first place.
"Something wicked this way comes." Cassie said the 'magic words' loud and clear, somewhat pleased by the puzzlement on Harry's face when she did so.
"Hi there, sweetheart."
The moment Harry turned his head toward the open doors, eyes wide in visible shock, Cassie darted around him, joining Ginny at the only exit.
"Aw, c'mon now, don't look so surprised," the frizzy-haired girl said with a giggle.
Harry's surprise melted into uncertainty, but it wasn't long before he hid it away. "I see ya've made a new friend, kitty," he noted, eyes darting from Cassie to Ginny.
"More than one, actually," said a familiar, feminine voice from behind the Cheshire Cat's daughter.
For the first time since they'd met, Cassie finally saw Harry in a state he'd only ever forced her into: Absolute fear. He was rather good at concealing it, and while it impressed her just a little, she could still spot the panic fighting through his calm, unbothered demeanour. He wasn't so smug anymore.
"I knew I'd pushed ya inta some hard spots, kitty, but I didn' realise I'd pushed ya so bloody far," he chuckled, an unwilling sliver of anxiety passing through in his tone.
"You've got friends, sweetheart," said Ginny, lifting her shoulders into a shrug. "I don't see the problem in Cassie making some too."
The Anti-Heroes carefully pushed past the little cat, drifting slowly toward a skittish Harry. The hook-wielding pirate didn't seem to know who was the biggest threat, since his gaze lingered on each of them, his mind attempting to locate the worst threat.
"Ya're gonna kill me now, is that it?" he demanded, looking directly at Cassie.
"Of course not," she replied, as though the idea in itself was completely absurd. "They're just gonna hurt you." Cassie gestured toward the Fearsome Five, who'd already managed to surround the pirate. "You just have to swear, on your pirate code, that you won't hurt anymore cats, and you'll stop coming after me."
Harry turned in a full circle, his right hand gripping his sword, while the left swiped his hook through the air in a pathetic attempt at keeping them away. There was no way for him to win this battle, and he knew it, but it didn't look like he was about to go down without a fight either.
"I'm gonna kill ya, Cassie," he swore, glaring at the little cat through the gap between Anthony and Maddy.
Cassie merely shrugged, and sat down on the bed once again. "You should've killed me when you had the chance," she told him. "Just take the deal."
The pirate swiftly drew his sword, aiming it at the V.K. in front of him. "Not a fucking chance."
Time moved fast after that. Cassie didn't know what was going on, since she'd firmly clamped her eyes shut when Harry refused her deal, but the noises she heard were unmistakable. There was a lot of banging, thudding, and grunting, and Cassie was pretty sure most of the furniture had been smashed in the scuffle. It wasn't nice, but it wasn't as bad as she'd thought it would be. The sound of fists meeting limbs, and the swoosh of Harry's sword as he erratically waved it through the air, was nauseating, to say the least, but if she couldn't see it, then she could pretend it wasn't happening. If Cassie ignored what was going on right in front of her, she could pretend that - at least for a moment - she was back in Helena's salon, wrapped up in the comforting warmth of her bed.
"C'mere, pussycat."
Cassie reluctantly opened her eyes, blinking a few times to adjust her vision. Just a few feet away, the Anti-Heroes had Harry firmly pinned to the floor, his hook, sword, and hat haphazardly thrown to the side. The twins each held down one of Harry's wrists, while Anthony and Ginny straddled his legs, affectively trapping the pirate in their hold.
Cautiously, Cassie stood up from the bed and approached the green-haired leader, tentatively accepting the hand she was offered.
"You want him to stop, right?" the non-magic witch asked, waving a hand toward the bound pirate.
"Yeah," the little cat confirmed, somewhat timidly. She wasn't sure what Maddy's intentions were, and she couldn't ignore the sudden, unpleasant change in the atmosphere.
"Good." Maddy lifted her left hand, bringing the sharp, gleaming object into Cassie's line of sight. "Then make him stop."
Cassie's lips moved wordlessly, her tongue rooting itself to the bottom of her mouth. She kneeled down beside Maddy, and reached for the weapon with a shaky hand.
"We're not gonna kill him," reassured Maddy, the mirthful giggle she gave afterward entirely out of place given the situation. "But he hasn't agreed to stop yet, so..." she left the word hanging in the air, her green eyes roaming over Harry's upper torso.
"W-what do I do?"
The self-assurance Cassie had felt only moments ago had long since faded, and now only doubt lingered. If she'd known before meeting the Anti-Heroes that this was what she had to do, she wouldn't have been so quick to accept Helena's proposal. After all, there was a significant difference between seeing violence, and having to act it out herself. At the moment, she was in quite the state of shock, and couldn't feel anything past uncertainty and insecurity. Right now, Cassie needed someone to guide her through this life-altering moment, and since Helena wasn't around to do it, the position now fell onto Mad Maddy.
"It's easy," the green-haired girl whispered. "I'll even show you."
Despite not having done this kind of thing before, Cassie wasn't completely naïve to it: She knew what to do. However, her mind had somehow gone blank when it realised what she was going to have to do, and her movements weren't entirely her own at the moment. So, when Maddy wrapped her fingers around Cassie's, and brought the knife down against Harry's stomach, the Cheshire Cat's daughter could only allow it to happen.
"You don't want to dig too deep," the mad witch instructed, drifting the knife across Harry's skin. "Just a little. Enough for it to sting and bleed." Maddy pushed down with the tip of the knife, creating a long cut across his ribs. "See? Easy enough."
Easier said than done, at least.
A deep, humorous chuckle broke through the quiet, and it took Cassie a moment or two to realise it was coming from Harry.
"Ya're so pathetic, ya know that?" he remarked, fixating on the little cat. "Ya go through all this trouble ta get me 'ere, an' ya can' even go through with it."
"Do it, pussycat," hissed Maddy, green eyes wildly bouncing from Harry to Cassie.
The Cheshire Cat's daughter remained silent, torn between knowing what she had to do, and what she wanted to do. She wanted this night to be over. She wanted to drop the knife, leave the Anti-Heroes and Harry to their own devices, and run back to Helena's salon. Surely the Queen of Hearts would understand Cassie's predicament, and wouldn't throw her out onto the streets because she'd royally fucked up.
But the Fearsome Five would. Gaston Jr. had promised Helena he'd keep Cassie safe, but could she really place her safety and wellbeing into the hands of a V.K. she didn't know? Maddy had made no such promise, and since she was the one in charge of the group, Cassie knew they'd do whatever it was she asked of them. The twin son of Gaston adored Helena, but would he turn away an order to keep her happy?
"I wonder what yar daddy would say, if he could see ya now."
Cassie's stomach jolted, her dark eyes momentarily widening as she met Harry's gaze. She'd heard those words before. Hell, she'd said those words before. Back when Harry had been stuck in another tricky spot, and her morality had won over any common sense involving survival. She'd used those words to cruelly push him into moving his ass, because it'd been the only way to get him out of the hole he'd stumbled into.
With an overwhelming sense of devastation, the little cat realised what he was doing.
"Take the deal, Harry," she said, doing her best to withhold her desperation. She didn't want to do this to him, but without fully knowing what'd happen to her if she refused, she'd have to.
The pirate slowly ran his tongue across his lips, keeping steady eye contact with the little cat. "No."
She had no choice. Cassie tilted her head forward, hiding her face from the others with her hair, and dragged the knife across Harry's stomach.
~...~...~
The journey back to Helena's salon was a slow and tormenting affair. At least, it was for Cassie. The Anti-Heroes were unbearably joyful, playfully shoving and smacking each other in jest. It was evident that what'd happened tonight wasn't foreign to them: If anything they seemed enjoyed it.
Everything was still the same. The night air was cold and breezy, the buildings were still rundown and boarded up, and the paths they took to get back to the salon hadn't been altered in any way. But for some reason, the Isle of the Lost felt darker tonight than it ever had before. It was like Cassie had spent sixteen years wandering around wearing strange, magically-made glasses that kept from seeing what was truly going on, and now that she'd done something awful, they'd been ripped away from her face, exposing her to the true horrors of the Isle.
Cassie's movements through the streets and alleyways were sluggish. She felt as though someone had chained a heavy weight around her waist, and she was now forced to drag it with her wherever she went. She could only thank the gods that the Anti-Heroes were strolling ahead of her, barred from seeing the little cat in such a state. With how fast the world seemed to be spinning around her, it was a miracle she hadn't thrown up yet.
"Cassie."
The little cat could hear someone calling her: Someone familiar. But it was like they were shouting her name through a thick fog, and Cassie was struggling to see past the clouds and find whoever was calling her.
It wasn't until a warm, soft hand caressed her cheek that she woke up, rudely yanked from the nightmare-like haze she'd been trapped inside.
"Pussycat, wake up."
Cassie jumped, the fingers of her right hand grasping the wrist of the person in front of her. For a moment, an abrupt wave of dread came down against her chest, and she thought she was being attacked.
"Woah, woah, woah," the feminine voice soothed, firmly holding Cassie's flailing hands to her sides. "It's me, pussycat."
Cassie paused, her dark eyes widening in utter mortification. "H-Helena?" she whispered, only now realising how dry and scratchy her throat felt.
"Yes," the Queen replied, sighing in relief. "Are you alright?"
"I-I don't know," the little cat answered, quickly glancing over her friend's shoulder.
"They're inside the salon," the Heart girl reassured, knowing exactly who Cassie was looking for. "Don't worry about them. Worry about you. What the fuck happened tonight?"
Cassie began to shake her head, the words balancing on the tip of her tongue. But as her head moved, she caught the sight of her hands from the corner of her eyes, and her voice turned to ash.
The Queen of Hearts followed Cassie's line of sight, her brows furrowing in concern when she saw the dark stains painting the little one's skin.
"W-what did I do?" the little cat stuttered, unable to rip her eyes away from her hands. "Helena, what did I do?"
Cassie was frantic, dizzying recollections of what she'd done, paired with the worrying amount of blood drying on her skin, sending the little one into a sudden hysteria. She knew exactly what she'd done, and how the blood had gotten on her hands, but the two sides of her mind were warring with each other. One half replayed the memories, convincing her she'd actually done such a horrible thing, while the other half fought back, refusing to believe it.
"Shit. Cassie, you're panicking, okay? I need you to calm down." Helena was quick to release Cassie's left hand, and brought the little cat's other one to her chest, holding it there with both hands. "Feel my heartbeat, okay? Take deep breaths, pussycat."
Cassie followed Helena's instruction to the best of her ability. As told, she focused on the calm, thudding beats beneath the palm of her hand, doing everything she could to match the rhythm. At the same time, she mirrored the Queen of Hearts, inhaling and exhaling deep, soothing breaths.
"Good girl," the Queen quietly commended, an encouraging smile stretching her lips. "Now, we're gonna go inside, okay? I want you to go up the stairs... you remember where they are?" Cassie nodded. "Good. Go up the stairs, and through the door on the right. That's mine and Gilzean's room, alright? I want you to go in, lay down, and wait for me to come and get you. Got it?"
"I-I don't feel good," the little cat admitted, a disgusted grimace crossing her face as she put a bloody hand to her stomach.
"I know, I know." Helena took a step forward and wrapped her right arm around Cassie's shoulders, rubbing her hand up and down Cassie's arm. "Now, remember, deep breaths. Don't worry about the guys, just ignore them. If they ask, you're going for a bath, they don't need to know anything else. Just don't let them see you like this, Cassie."
Cassie wasn't sure if Helena was calming her down because she was worried about her, or because she didn't want to look like a fool in front of her old crew. Either way, the little cat decided to listen. She'd hidden her true self from the Anti-Heroes enough tonight, and keeping up the pretence for a few more minutes couldn't hurt.
"Okay," she muttered, moving away from her friend's warmth.
Helena raised a questioning brow. "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Don't worry, pussycat," the Queen said, moving toward the entrance. "You're safe now."
AN;
Hello my wonderful readers!
Right, okay, so... I know there was a lot going on in this chapter, and I know how dark it was, but it needed to happen. No more animal abuse, thankfully, but Harry finally got what was coming to him.
Review Acknowledgement Time;
Shipperandfanficer15: I know. Trust me, I absolutely love cats (and all animals, really) which was why I stayed away from the grizzly details with that bit. Don't worry, though, it won't be happening again. I'm really, really happy you're enjoying the story so far, and thank you so much for always posting a review when I update, it means a lot :) And I really hope you like this chapter.
Guest: Thank you for the review! I'm glad you're enjoying everything so far. And nope, no more animal abuse. :)
Guest: Yep! I'm back! And thank you for your review. :) I have to be honest, it's strange writing out Cassie's 'evil side'. She's not an evil character, or even a horrible character, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, so to speak. Obviously she has normal human emotions, and reacts realistically to certain situations, getting angry, vengeful, and whatnot. She's not good, and she knows that, but she isn't as crazy as everyone else on the Isle, and having her act like the other V.K.'s do is a huge strain on her character. (As you kind of see in this chapter). Also, I'm happy you're liking Gilzean and Helena! The Isle isn't exactly stocked, so I thought teenage pregnancy was almost a certainty. Plus, I didn't want the Isle to seem all-bad. Little Gilzean is just a bubbly, happy baby stuck in a horrible place, and Helena's doing her best to keep him away from it all. :)
Guest: Honestly, the thought did cross my mind. But this is a Harry/OC story, and as much fun as it is toying with relationship ideas for Cassie, he's the main focus right now. But I do agree, he's the psycho, grown up version of annoying little kids that push others over in the playground because they like them. It's not right, but it happens.
Anyway, please leave me a review or PM to let me know what you think about this chapter. And lots of love to you who've followed and favourited as well!
(Any typos or misspells will be removed once I've had a proper read-through. If you spot any, feel free to let me know. Thanks!)