Chapter Three

"The future is but a thought, while the past remains a memory."

　

When we finally arrived home, Rae chained my bike for me while I headed in to shower; all that pedalling had not only worked up a sweat, but killed my legs.

As I sat in the bathtub to soak after my shower, I thought about the first time I met Rae. It was back when I was 9 and Miss Felicity had first come to live with me cause my parents would be traveling for a while. It was actually on a rainy day, they were my favorites so I used to go walking in the rain with my umbrella and a good book. Everything would have stayed the same if I never met Rae.

I was walking down the sidewalk that lead away from my parents large lonely mansion to the other distant mansions on the street. I remember always describing that house that way. I guess that was the only emotion I've ever truly felt before Rae. Or maybe it was just that I didn't care about anything else in my monochromatic world.

Ugh, I'm getting side tracked, I thought as I tried to bring my mind back to how we met. Right, it was a rainy day and I was heading away from the lonely mansion when I heard the faint sound of a cat. I looked down from my book and saw the cat limp towards me before falling.

"Ah, kitty are you alright?" I reached out for the cat but before I could pick it up, it pushed itself back up and began to lead me somewhere, and I followed. The cat lead me down a dark alley and I followed.

I guess you could misinterpret and say I was really trusting, but truly it was just that the books I read depicted adventures just like the one I was experiencing, and I was hungry and ready for an adventure. So I charged full steam ahead without thinking things through. Anyway, back to the reminiscing.

I followed the cat down the dark alley and found a dirty man crouching in a corner next to some trashes, and a box on top of the trashes. I stood there for a second, because I had always read that enemies come in all shapes and sizes and the man in the corner didn't look friendly. Furthermore, the hostages were right on the other side of the man, and the cat wanted me to take the box, which I knew had 3 small kittens in it. So, gathering up all my courage, I came up with the plan to sneak up, grab the box, and run for dear life, but, as expected that never worked...just, let me explain.

I stealthily snuck up to the trash and was grabbing for the box, but I was too short so the dirty crouching guy found me out.

"Hey, what are you doing kid," he yelled in a gruff and clearly hostile voice which kind of scared me.

"I-I'm taking back the h-hostages!" I declared it with as much conviction a scared nine-year old could muster.

The man stared at me for a few seconds after that, probably trying to make sense of what I was talking about. The he grabbed the box of kittens and said, "Huh, you wanna save these fleabags you're gonna have to try harder than that."

At that moment, all I could think to do was run away and get one of the butlers from at home to make him give them to me.

No, I thought while shaking my head. This is a solo mission, the cat chose me to save her kittens. So I put on my scariest face possible and ran at the man with my small fists balled.

"AHHH, GIVE THEM BACK! GIVE THEM BACK," but the man just stood their laughing. Then he pushed me and I fell which made me start to cry. "I can tell you've never lived a day without privilege. Spoiled rich brats like you don't de-" before he could finish I caught a glimpse of someone running past me, and then the man dropped the box of kittens and grabbed his face in an angry fury.

I sat in shock for a second before I realized there was a boy my age, soaking wet, standing in front of the man with his fist balled and a dangerous look on his face. "You shouldn't bully girls, especially ones that are smaller than you," said my mysteriously calm savior. Then he turned to me, outstretched his hand, and ask, "Are you alright?"

That was the first time my world held color. Everything blossomed with color, and the boy standing in front of me was made up of beautiful ones. I took his hand, and he helped me up. Then he grabbed the box of kittens and exited the alley and I followed. He gave me the box once we where out of the alley, and I could tell he planned to leave, but I had no clue where I was so I said, "P-Please wait...I-I don't know where..." and I trialed off. He tilted his head and then smiled at me, and I felt my heart skip a beat. I'd never seen that before, or had I. It felt like I was experiencing a completely different world now that I met him. He helped me get home after I horrible described where I was trying to go and he even carried the kittens for me.

"Here you go. Try and be more careful next time Tigress," and he took off down the long driveway that lead to the lonely mansion.

"Ah wait! What's your name? Will I see you again?" When those words left my mouth, I felt worry, yearning, and sadness all for the first time. But they all faded just as fast when he replied, "Oh yeah, my names Rae! How about we play again tomorrow?!"

That simple encounter was what spurred the long 10 year friendship me and Rae shared now. And the many emotion I was able to feel because of it!

Author's Note

I hope you enjoy this new installment!

Reviews

[Fox]

This chapter did very well in helping to introduce another character and their role in the story. If this does become a manga it would definitely be another of my favorite series.

[Ren Nightshade]

Thank you!!! I'm trying my best to describe enough to hold the reader's attention without giving away all the pertinent details for the rest of the series!!


Thank you for your feedback!! I really appreciate it! (^V^)

[Fox]

I really admire your work, and that you share it with others. Not another soul has seen the novel I'm currently working on.

[Ren Nightshade]

Actually I was just reading the short story you posted. Also, thank you for saying that. I can't wait to finish your short story!!! Keep working at it Fox, and just know, you can always count on me to read your work!!! z(^U^)v*