After the Words

Warning M-Rated Story Contains Mature Rated Content

I hope you all enjoy this.
Please read and if you could leave a review that'd be much appreciated, I love reading reviews!


Chapter Three: Blackness


Later that same day the sweltering sun was high in the sky beating down its warmth onto the little town of Possum Springs. Mae suddenly burst through the doors of the church sighing heavily. "That was terrible..." she complained while stepping down the steps.

"Oh it wasn't that bad... you're exaggerating." Candy spoke as she wiped her mouth with a cloth taken from her purse. Stan followed behind her waving goodbye to the other attendees. Mae quickly spun on her heel turning around to face her mom while aiming a finger at her. "Yea it was, you slept through most it!" Mae focused her eyes on her mother. Her mom chuckled softly. "Don't be ridiculous I was completely and totally awake the entire time!" She protested with wide eyes.

"Honey you totally slept through it all, I even heard you snoring a little..." Stan stated as he stood beside his wife resting a paw on her shoulder. "Everyone heard you snoring Mom!" Mae continued furiously as she stomped to the car. "So embarrassing...!" She added while awaiting her parents.

Candy slowly walked over toward her daughter as she fiddled in her purse looking for something. "I'm sorry muffin I know I always make a big fuss about you going to church, I only do it because I care about your soul...." she spoke softly, as Mae turned to face her mother a somewhat forgiving smirk dotted on Mae's face as she opened her mouth about to speak only to be instantly interrupted upon inhaling. "--Though I think perhaps just maybe I've been a bit tired as of late between work and bills and what with the house..."

Stan heard this as he stepped closer to his two most precious kittens of all time, as he tried to get his fat paw out of his back pocket reaching for the car key. He frowned hearing his wife's woes hating he couldn't provide for the two of them, so they could live happily and carefree. It'd been months even after a measly dollar raise things haven't changed. How could they, they give you an extra dollar and they raise every thing because of it saying it's for the benefit of the community. Stan gripped his keys tightly while gritting his teeth, his fangs born plainly visible. Church goers walking by jumped at the sight as they quickly sped up. 

Candy sighed heavily as she pulled her daughter into a hug. "--I'm sorry sweetie, you don't have to go to church anymore not if you don't want too..." Mae's mom spoke sorrowfully. Mae stood in silence with her mothers arms around her back. She remembered back to five years prior after that fateful incident at baseball tryouts so long ago she could recalled this same sensation, after feeling so lost from coming home blood staining her clothes with a hollow feeling in her gut. She came in the door with her dad her mother ran to her side tears of worry in her eyes. 'Twas this a familiar feeling seemed to make it alright. Mae sluggishly raised her arms returning the hug.

"I just miss spending time with you is all..." Candy muttered.

Stan after calming down opened his eyes wiping his brow clear from sweat. He glanced at his paw it ached from squeezing his keys they had an indent left on his paw pads. He quickly noticed betwixt his fingers his wife and daughter mere feet away, he gasped having not seen them hug in a long time. He swallowed harshly seeing a light barely visible line of tears running down his wife's face reflecting off of the window of the car.

"...I... I hate this town...!"

Later that day the sun was still high after coming home from church with her parents Mae took to the interwebs. She still hasn’t really felt up to getting a job of course that’s what she tells herself, it’s not entirely for a lack of trying she just isn’t really good at anything, least anything she applied for work. Brushing a spider off of her laptop’s keyboard she tried IM’ing Bea four messages later to no response. “Hmm. I wonder what’s up she usually hits me back by now even if she’s at work.” Mae pondered for a moment before brushing it aside and attempted to chat up Gregg.

~Boop~

“Who is that?” Angus asked from the kitchen the sound of gentle sizzling could be heard along with his voice as Gregg relaxed on the livening room lawn sofa. It being called a lawn sofa because they had scavenged it from someones lawn when they moved in, it was in excellent condition even though it had just rained the day before. It only smelled a little of wet dog for a few weeks, a couple of dozen air fresheners later and it's as good as new. Gregg propped his bare feet up on the coffee table and grabbed his phone outta his pocket. He smiled softly seeing a dopey looking picture of Mae making a funny face flashing across his phone while it was beeping and booping strangely.

“I changed my ringtone to something more classic!” Gregg stated happily as he proudly raised his phone up high letting the boops continue. Angus chuckled hearing the familiar tone. “Demontower huh, yea that’s a good theme I love that boss fight!” Angus replied as he grabbed an onion and began chopping it furiously he sniffled about to tear up.

“It’s Mae, I’ma see what she wants.” Gregg continued as he speedily replied back.

After a few moments of rapid taping Gregg suddenly burst into a fit of laughter for a about an entire minute. "What is it?" Angus questioned wanting in on it as he'd just finished dicing an onion and was feeling a little depressed about it as he swiped the onions into a pan. Gregg held a paw on his chest as he leaned his head back against the cushion of the couch he panted lightly. "Oh hehe gosh Mae..."

Gregg sat up and moved closer toward his phone as he gripped it tightly with both paws and the tapping continued. Angus frowned at being ignored as he reached for a green pepper which was probably his favorite type of pepper. He focused his attention as he chopped away at the pepper cutting it into pieces and destemming it. He paused for a brief moment to wipe sweat away from his brow it was getting steamy in here as rising steam gathered above the multiple skillets on the stove.

"This is gonna be so good I'm making my grandma's famous capellini, I hope Gregg likes it!" Angus hoped to himself as he swiped the minced pepper into the pan. "Ah it's smelling good, now for my spices then the sauce." He muttered as he reached up into a cabinet above him for the various spices he needed. Gregg out of nowhere had quietly walked into the kitchen as he stood over by the fridge staring at his phone with an odd expression on his face. Angus noticed him out of the corner of his eye.

"What's going on...? Is everything okay?" Angus questioned the dimmed fox as he tilted a jar of premixed sauce into his concoction in the sizzling pan. Gregg tapped a button muting his phone before lowering it slowly as he stuck it into his pocket of his torn at the knee jean shorts. He sluggishly turned toward Angus whom was looking over to him out of the corner of his eyes. "It's Bea, Mae says she hasn't heard from her in a few days..." Gregg spoke lowly feeling a bit concerned as he recalled his dreams or rather better put nightmares as he sat down at the dining table.

"Is this normal for her you've known her far longer than I!" Angus spoke a bit distracted by cooking as he placed a lid over his pan and turned the heat setting on the stove to low before sitting down beside of the glum looking fox. "Are you worried...?" He added softly while gently placing a paw on top of Gregg's hand that was resting on the table. Gregg sat in silence for a moment before looking up directly at Angus he chuckled when he noticed him in an apron with little teddy bears all over the front he looked so adorable that it just made him want to smile.

"I'm sure it's nothing, but it's not entirely un-normal I mean, she's been known to disappear for a day at a time for as long as I've known her. She'd just close herself off from everyone and go away..." Gregg spoke his voice grew weaker with each word he uttered. He slowly lowered his head as he squeezed his eyes tightly shut. "One time... I followed her when she ran away." Angus' eyes widened a bit in curiosity.

"She'd skip work making her dad absolutely furious, but he'd always forgive her... I eventually found out why he was so forgiving of this because them missing out on sales and work meant hard times for them. Bea would go on a walk leaving her car and phone behind she’d walk and walk. One time I saw her just walking out past the snack falcon with an empty expression on her face. I dunno if maybe I was just bored from being alone at work for so long or what but I closed up shop and followed after her." Gregg spoke taking a breath.

One of Angus' eyes suddenly started twitching. "How in the hell did you keep that job for two years!? I'd been fired if I did something like that even once at the video outpost..." Angus complained angrily Gregg merely smirked as he quickly raised his head up. "Hehe yea I did that sorta thing like once a week, either closing shop early or just not opening at all my boss was chill about it... I-I was lucky... Bea tho... she..."

Gregg sunk solemnly in his chair as he just breathed for a moment. "She wasn't..." he stated meekly. "Wasn't?" Angus repeated. "She wasn't so lucky. Her life, even though she'd been born into poverty she had a family who actually loved her and cared for her she went through hard times they all did. She most of all. She wanted to go to college but her dad told her they just couldn't afford it. Her mother wanted her to go so badly she herself hadn't gotten to but she wanted her daughter to be able to she wanted it for her so badly. I remember Bea was a totally different person back then it seems like an eternity ago, but I can’t believe it’s only been three years." Gregg sighed weightily as Angus’ eyes grew wider in realization behind his light tinted glasses.

"That one time I closed the falcon and followed Bea. I had no idea where she was leading me to, I think she knew I was following her because she would stop every so often and just stand. I’d hide in a bush or behind a tree hoping to go unnoticed, I was a total ninja!” Gregg uttered proudly with a raised fist Angus merely chuckled at that last bit. “After about maybe an hour of walking my ankles were seriously regretting it. I’m not sure when it happened but I lost sight of her which caused me to hasten my pace I walked up and over a big ridge and looking down I saw her....” Gregg spoke as he began twiddling his thumbs a bit anxiously.

“I... I hadn’t heard the news y-yet, it was a surprise... a big one...” Gregg choked out as he tilted his head back staring up to the flickering lightbulbs of a five bulbed chandelier hanging above the table. Angus raised a paw taking his glasses off sitting them aside sighing heavily spectating as a few moist droplets escaped his lover's tear ducts. “I really liked her mom, sh-she was k-kind, she w-was like a mom to me, and a better one than mine ever was!” Gregg angrily shouted in utter frustration! “...Bea loved her mother and she was never the same afterward...” the fox continued his tone lowered.

Gregg’s eyes were closed tightly shut as he thought of his friend his emotions stirring in his stomach causing him anguish. “I hate graveyards...” he thought to himself. He hadn’t noticed that Angus had gotten up silently and was standing directly behind him. Angus suddenly threw his arms around Gregg who swallowed harshly but not in objection to his boyfriend's embrace merely of sorrow as he sniffled quietly. “It’s okay.... Gregg...” Angus mumbled softly.

Gregg with his head still leaned back now resting against his lovers chest he opened his eyes squinting staring up to Angus through his distorted teary vision. Angus held on to Gregg his arms firmly around the fox’s bare chest, he wasn’t the best in these situations and didn’t always know what to do or how to respond he just didn’t know what else to do he hated seeing Gregg so depressed. The both of them remained in silence.

Meanwhile Mae tossed and turned laying back in her bed as boredom overtook her which was swiftly overtaken with rage. “Uhh now he’s not answering either. it’s been like fifteen minutes!” Mae yelped aloud as she angrily closed her laptop shut. “Guess I have no choice...” she spoke with a sigh before sitting up and reaching for her shoes.

Mae stepped over toward her door that led out of her room downstairs she cracked it open when a surprisingly delightful scent rushed in taking her senses. "Emmhmmm!!! What is that?" Mae questioned as she took a few careful steps at a time not wanting to trip again, her butt simply couldn't take any more abuse. Mae's father just walked out of the bathroom as Mae reached the bottom of the stairs and suddenly a new scent a much fouler one mixed in with the deliciousness. "Ughhh dad please..."

Stan merely chuckled in response to Mae's reaction as she pinched her nose. "Turn the fan on, shut the door, spray something damn!!!" She spoke with disgust as she waved a paw trying to disperse the sickening aroma. Mae quickly darted down the second set of stairs bolting for the front door. When suddenly a voice called out and it was Mae's mother from within the kitchen. "Sweetie are you going out, where you going?" Candy called out.

Mae halted in her tacks as she turned half way around staring down the hallway toward the kitchen. "I'm gonna go out and see what Bea is up too!" She replied back. "Oh well alright deery, but dinner'll be done in about an hour just so you know I'm making your favorite!" Candy spoke causing Mae's eyes to suddenly broaden at hearing that she licked her lips in anticipation. "I thought it smelled familiar! I can't wait! I'll be back real soon!" Mae yelled out loud before turning on her heel and dashing out the front door and quickly down off of the porch.

Mae ran through her neighborhood kicking up a few stray leaves on her heels while smelling the fresh springtime air as the pollen made her nose a bit drippy she resisted the urge to sneeze. Sunlight beamed down from on high as she felt brief patches of relief from the rising heat while passing underneath trees in full bloom their shade was comforting.

While Mae was running along the sidewalk she noticed Selma outside sitting on her front step staring blankly up into the clear blue sky. "Heyyy Selmers!" Mae yelled happily with a brief wave as she zoomed by the girl who quickly glanced down with a dazed look on her face. "Uhh wha...?" She spoke before peering down the road seeing Mae sprinting sluggishly up the hill. "Ohh hey Mae!" She happily replied back with a little smile.

Making her way through town Mae soon reached the O'l Pickaxe. Mae peered into the workshop not seeing any signs that anyone had been there all day. The door was locked with a sorry we’re closed sign on the window the lights were off. It was a little dark in the back but sunlight was glaring in past Mae as she cast a shadow on the floor inside. Shimmering dust was visibly flying around inside from the little bit of airflow caused by the ceiling fan on low. “Huh? That’s weird, come to think of it I haven’t really heard from Bea in a few days...” Mae spoke lowly just now realizing as she began to feel worried for her friend. She reached for the knob gripping it tightly she jiggled it fearsomely trying to open the door though it was clearly locked.

“I wonder if she’s still mad that I ran into that pole with her car a week ago I mean it really wasn’t that bad, I was only going like maybe five miles an hour in the parking lot of the food donkey... still tho that pole just came right outta nowhere!” Mae continued as she turned away from the shop sighing heavily. She pulled out her phone and quickly began to IM Bea her fingers tapped vigorously with purpose.

“Come on Bea please answer... We kinda need to communicate a bit more than just silence if we’re going to be heading up to Bright Harbor together tomorrow...” Mae mumbled to herself as she unknowingly began walking down the side walks of her little town’s main road. Possums passed by between building rats criss crossed underneath Mae’s legs as she stared intently her eyes glued to her phone’s screen hoping for a reply. She sped up as she reached a slope gravity pushed down onto the cat's back.

“Oy! Mae!” A familiar voice called out breaking Mae’s trance, she quickly looked up from her phone only to slam face first into a pole not seeing it in time. Mae spun round in circles for a moment as her phone with a massive crack going down the middle of the screen slipped out of her paw as she fell backwards to the ground. “Ah Mae! Mae!” The now warping and distorted voice shouted out repeatedly as it faded to the background then to silence.

Mae’s eyes shot open suddenly as she panted heavily while sitting up in a panic finding herself in a comfy yet unfamiliar bed. As if she’d just been underwater and was taking her first breath after emerging she gasped for air. Mae sat trying to regain her composure but she found herself unable to breathe no matter how much she inhaled it did not satisfy the sensation for inhalation.

A trembling fear overtook Mae her eyes dilated as she finally noticed a shadowy figure in the corner of her eye. Her body was screaming at her to run away she tried to look at the shady specter cloaked in pure blackness when she moved her eyes to look it appeared to retreat out of view. Her surroundings had begun to come clear to her as she noticed vital monitoring equipment all around her.

An IV drip bag was to her left she glared at it as it dripped drop after drop was all she could hear. A single drop of liquid glowing like neon colored of cyan suddenly fell into the bag. The glowing liquid traced the tube leading to Mae’s arm she unsurprisingly began to panic even more. She quickly reached for the needle sticking in her arm with her free paw but alas she wasn’t speedy enough to remove it as the faint glow disappeared into her veins.

Mae’s heart raced beads of sweat glided down her forehead a strange sensation overtook her as the room unexpectedly lit up with moonlight. The dazed kitten weakly turned her head to the right to see an opened window and out this said window the moon glaring down with all of its moony glory. Mae’s mouth dropped hanging agape as she shook her head back ‘n forth in disbelief. A black moon ascended above the horizon as shimmering stars danced in the night sky. Mae’s vision blurred and doubled as her eyes drooped. The sight of the all too familiar black moon rising in the distance haunted Mae.

“Wake up girl...” a deep mysterious voice suddenly called out as the sound of a loud whaling siren sounded off piercing Mae's ears quickly a window slamming shut echoed into the darkness cutting off the siren.

"Wake up Mae!" Selma repeated as she ran to Mae quickly kneeling down overtop of the unconscious cat who was laying on the sidewalk pavement with a little line of blood running down her forehead between her closed shut eyes. Selma panicked a bit at seeing the bright red blood on Mae's face. "Oh shit! How could this happen! Oy Mae! Wake up, come on Mae!" Selma continued as she shook the downed kitten she reached in her front pocket for her phone and a handkerchief. Selma quickly pressed the cloth on Mae's forehead there wasn't that much blood but she figured it wasn't good to leave her wound gaping and exposed.

A fierce breeze brushed past the two on the side walk followed by silence. The fur on Selma's head ruffled with the breeze she quickly began to dial 911. Suddenly footsteps could be heard coming down the sidewalk as a person passed by Selma and Mae.

"Wake up girl..."

Mae's eyes suddenly shot open causing Selma to smile in relief as she pressed the final number 1 for her call. Mae glared up toward a shadowy figure whom was just passing by, the kitten's body begun to tremble. "Mae what's wrong?, I mean besides your head injury of course... y-you look frightened!" Selma questioned concerned as she lowered her phone before she could hit call.

Mae gasped for breath blinking her eyes rapidly as if her body had just restarted itself she quickly sat up pushing Selma's paw off of her head. Mae jumped up turning on her heel within and instant as Selma sat back in surprise. Mae had her fists raised as she panted still catching her breath her eyes widened at the sight. Selma turned her head looking down the sidewalk her eyes squinted her vision narrowed. "What'd'ya know there's two possums doin---" "WHAT!!!!! WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME!!!!!!" Mae suddenly screamed aloud at the top of her lungs causing some residents to come outside to see what the fuss was about, she unsurprisingly startled the possums who were getting busy they scurried off rather quickly.

Mae glared into the distance seeing nothing and no one. She stood in silence before noticing everyone staring at her like she was crazy. Her heart pounding in her chest as a bead of sweat slid down the side of her cheek while blood continued out of the wound on her forehead. "M-Mae..." Selma spoke softly while sitting on her tush in the grass of her front yard. Mae suddenly turned and without any words she ran off leaving a trail of glittery light in the air behind her.

"Uh Mae, Mae wait..." Selma pleaded but it was too late. The bear sighed before pushing herself up off the ground as she closed her phone deciding it best not to call anyone now after all Mae seemed okay enough to run. She swiftly brushed her skirt off grass stains were a pain to deal with after all. "I hope she's alright... poor kid." Selma spoke softly before walking toward her front step.

~Beep Boop Beep~

Selma stopped in place she sluggishly turned around looking over her shoulder seeing Mae's phone laying on the concrete cracks running up the front of the phone screen as it flashed an icon of Beatrice...


Chapter End


I'm so sorry, I like little cliffhangers like this they're fun! But anyway I hope your enjoying it so far. Next chapter is coming soon it's already finished. I'm already working on chapter seven actually so I'm way ahead. Look forward  to it.