Choices-Chapter 10
3 a.m.
It was a dark night. Thick fog blanketed the Romanian country side. Old fashioned street lamps faintly lit a cobble stoned pathway.
"Where am I? Where's Mom's shop? And what am I doing here?" She thought, as she looked around. She couldn't see anything in front of her face.
Vivica found herself walking down the cobblestone path toward a stone bridge. She barely made out a tall lone figure standing there alone. Then she got closer.
"Throttle!" She exclaimed, happily.
The tan furred leader turned to face her. The cold, wind blew his hair from his face.
"Throttle..I...I...want You..." She cried out, making her way to him.
"I'm sorry, Vivica...but I want someone else." He replied.
Her heart sank as she saw Carbine suddenly step up to him as he took her by the hand. Then they kissed.
"No! No..." Vivica moaned.
Then the scene changed as Vivica suddenly sat up in bed. She was in her bedroom. She had just woken up.
"It was all just a dream." She thought, "I wonder where Throttle is. I have to see him."
She got up and put on her robe. Then she walked out of the room.
...
Charley had taken Carbine to her aunt's apartment. It was over the chocolate shop. She was placed in a spare bedroom on the brass bed. The lady general had been bandaged up with a thick, white, bandage and she was recovering nicely.
She was still weak from her last attack. Hecuba told the mice and Charley that she needed to rest. That rest was the key to her full recovery.
Carbine was laying in the bed covered with a blanket sound asleep. Throttle offered to stay with her till she woke up.
The tan furred leader sat in a chair and gazed at the woman that he loved. His soul mate. He took her hand in his and sat down next to her bed.
"Carbine, you're totally worth your weight in gold. You really are, babe. I'm sorry I hurt you. I never forgot what we once meant to each other. I miss you so much it hurts." Throttle said, looking down.
"During the past three years my bros and I spent on Earth, you never left my thoughts. There was never a day I haven't thought about you. Everything I did to stop Limburger from doing to Earth what he did to Mars was to get me back home to you."
Throttle looked down at the rough callouses on his hands.
"When our ship got shot down by the Stink Fishes and we were stranded on Earth, I never forgot you. I didn't know how I was gonna get back to Mars. But I was gonna find a way. I know...I...I...don't have anything to offer you. All I know how to do is fight and handle weapons. All I own is my bike...But...I'll marry you...If..."
The tan furred mouse glanced sadly at Carbine as he let his last words slip.
"Carbine...you've got to get better. You've gotta fight, babe. Give it all you got. Do it for us. Don't...leave...me."
The general's eyelids opened up and she found herself staring up into the face of the mouse she loved.
"I'd never leave you, handsome. Ever." She smiled, warmly, placing her hand on his.
"Carbine..."
Then they embraced and shared a kiss.
Unknown to them, Vivica stood in the doorway. Her hand went to her mouth in shock. She stepped backwards into the hall. She looked like she was in a daze. Her head hung down. Then she shivered.
"Oh no...It really is true...My worst nightmare..." She murmured. Then she took off running as tears streamed down her face.
...
The next morning, the chocolate shop opened as usual. Aunt Agatha was busy at work in the kitchen.
"Looks like your hot chocolate is a big hit, Aunt Agatha." Charley said, as she observed several customers happily drinking cups of it.
"Just needed to add a little vanilla." She explained.
"Where's Vivica?" Charley asked.
"She wasn't feeling well this morning. So I told her to lie back down. I just made some chicken soup. I'll take it up to her." Aunt Agatha replied, using a ladle to pour soup into a bowl lined with saltines.
She then placed it on a tray and picked it up.
"I'll be right back." She said.
...
The Biker Mice were outside. Vinnie was fiddling with his bike's radio for the fifteen time. Modo was wiping off his bike with a rag. Throttle sat on his bike, legs crossed and arms folded behind his head.
"Man, will I be glad when we get back to Chicago." He said.
"Don't I know it. Hot dogs, root beers, and Sweet Georgie Brown!" Modo exclaimed.
"Not to mention the Chicago Nubs." Throttle commented, smiling.
"You're in a pretty good mood, bro. You make up with Miss Carbine Ma'am?" Modo asked.
"Sure did." Throttle replied, grinning.
"Oh, someone got their freak on last night!" Vinnie grinned.
"I did not!" Throttle frowned.
"C'mon, Throttle. You gonna tell me you and Carbine didn't get it on?" Vinnie asked.
"Seriously, Vinnie, is that all you can think about?"
The mice turned around to see Charley and Hecuba now approach them.
"Morning to you, too, sweetheart." The white mouse said.
"Mornin', Miss Hecuba Ma'am." Modo said, blushing, "Sleep well?"
"Good Morning, Modo. Yes. It was very thoughtful of Charley's aunt to give me the guest room. It was quite comfortable."
"And speaking of being thoughtful, I'm much obliged to you for saving my lady's life." Throttle said.
"You're welcome and I believe congratulations are in order." Hecuba replied, smiling slyly.
"For what?" Charley asked.
"Your friend is getting married. He asked her last night." Hecuba explained.
"Wait, how did you know?" Throttle asked her, surprised..
"I'm a witch. I can read minds, too."
Hey, you and Miss Carbine General Ma'am are tying the knot?" Modo asked.
"Way to go, bro! Let's celebrate!" Vinnie exclaimed.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash.
"What was that?" Hecuba asked.
"It came from upstairs!" Charley cried out.
She ran up the stairs followed by the Biker Mice and Hecuba. Aunt Agatha stood in the doorway of Vivica's room. The breakfast tray laid on the floor as well as the pieces of a broken bowl and a spoon.
"She's gone!" Aunt Vivica cried out.
"What do you mean?"Charley asked her aunt.
"Vivica has run off. She...she left a note."The distraught woman replied, holding up a piece of white paper.
Throttle took it from the older woman.
"Dear friends, by the time you read this, I will be leaving for the next flight out of Romania. I need to leave because I need to find my destiny. I no longer have a reason to stay here. I'm sorry, Mom and please don't worry. Vivica." The tan furred leader read.
It suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks.
She left because of me. She saw me and Carbine...
"Oh, my poor baby! She's out there! What if the pack find her?" Aunt. Agatha moaned.
"We won't let it happen." Throttle said, with a determined look on his face, "We'll find her!"