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MHP: Cold Rains, Chapter 4

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"One thousand!" 56 screamed, dashing out of the Movie House. "95?! 95!"

"They're long gone," Fox sighed.

"We have to go after them!" 39 cried, tugging at his hair with shaking hands.

"Go after them where?" 38 asked gently, putting a hand on her twin's back. "We don't know where they went."

"He's been in the walls," 56 said determinedly as she ran over to where she knew the exposed brick opening was, hoping, praying that he left some clue about Bunny's hideout behind. But inside Tethys's nook was only a pile of used chemical heaters.

"She's been taking care of him," 39 said quietly, his knees buckling beside the pile. "Oh, baby girl…we told you to be careful. We told her."

"We can split up," 5-6 said, his voice filled with worry as 56 sunk to the ground beside her mate, wrapping her arms around him protectively. "If we go in pairs, we should be safe enough that we could—"

"No, we can't." 95's family looked up at the firm, accented voice. "It'll start rainin' soon. An' I dinnae want ta risk tryin' ta revive yeh if yeh short out."

"So what do we do?" 39 asked hoarsely.

Fox looked up at the rain-swollen clouds helplessly. "We wait. An' we pray."

39 and 56 stood, shakily, taking the hands of their remaining child and leading him inside. Each small family unit clustered around each other, desperately reassuring themselves that they were still there. At the back of the line, Mags took Σmily's hand. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me…."

***

The rain started back up just as Tethys and 95 came upon the old theater. 95 had tried to fight him, once, but Tethys had explained how far away they were from the movie house and how she would never be able to make it back alone, and 95 had simply dissolved into shaking sobs. Tethys felt a pang of guilt in his chest, but he had a mission and he had to carry it out. They raced inside just as the rain pelted down on their heads and Tethys released a tiny giggle at the thought of seeing his mistress again.

"Tethys, pet? Is that you?" called a fluttery female voice from the ticket booth.

"Da!" Tethys practically sang, rushing back behind the booth with 95 in his arms. "I brought you a child!"

"A child?" The voice suddenly turned cold and from behind a Chinese-style screen stepped a pale-blue stitch woman with long bunny ears. Two white cuffs hugged her wrists and she wore a bright red sash around her waist. She put a hand on her hip and sneered at Tethys and 95. "Tethys. Who is this?"

"Ees 95," Tethys said, the smile slipping off his face.

The woman kicked open a nearby jewelry box and took 95, throwing her into the box with a yelp from the girl. "95? Who the hell is 95?"

"Tethys—" 95 whimpered as the woman slammed the lid and locked it with an ornate key that sat in the keyhole.

"39 and 56's daughter," Tethys whimpered.

"You brought be 39 and 56's daughter?" she demanded as she removed the sash from her hips and threaded it through the key, re-tying it as soon as she did.

"V-vhat?" Tethys sounded terrified. "I-I-I brought you a child! Like you said!"

95 heard the woman rummage around for something. "You brought me. The wrong. One."

"O-oh, did I? I didn't realize! I-I thought—augh!"

95 crawled to the keyhole at Tethys's cry, peeking through to see the woman standing over Tethys, a riding crop that she had obviously just struck across Tethys's face in hand. Tethys was on all fours on the ground, hunched over.

"You thought what, Tethys?" the female demanded. "You thought one child would be interchangeable for another? You thought wrong."

"I'm sorry, Bunny," Tethys moaned.

Bunny quickly and viciously brought the riding crop down again, slapping him across his shoulder and forearm. "You do not call me Bunny, pet!" she said as Tethys yelped. "You call me mistress. You have lost your privileges to call me by name."

"I'm sorry, mistress."

"You were supposed to bring me Crow!" With each sentence she hit him again. 95 winced each time, not wanting to watch but not able to look away, either. "I wanted you to bring me Fox's daughter! Because I want Fox! Not the damned warrior-woman and her slut!" She paused, catching her breath. "Now ask for another."

"May I…p-please have another?" Tethys panted.

Bunny smiled coldly and backhanded him across the face with her crop, easily the hardest hit of the evening. Tethys fell to the ground, cowering. "Look at me," Bunny said, her voice suddenly a loving coo as she used the end of the crop to tilt Tethys's face towards hers. "I hate that sad face. Give us a smile." Tethys forced a grin. "That's my baby. We can fix this. Okay?"

"Da, mistress." Bunny knelt and kissed him, a hard, claiming kiss, one to show the world that he was hers and hers alone. "Vhat do you vant me to do vith Lee—vith de child?"

"Oh, she'll be fine for now. My Foxy will come to get her. I just wanted him to come alone and not have to deal with the whole clan. Now, I have someone waiting for me in my chambers. I'm sure you can entertain yourself for a while, Puppy."

"Da, mistress. Tank you, mistress."

Bunny glanced over at the jewelry box and grinned deviously when she heard the small gasp and the sound of 95 shuffling back from the keyhole. She walked over, those dangerous hips swaying, and bent to speak directly into the keyhole. "Listen here, you little runt," she hissed. "If you cause any trouble for me, I'll turn you into a pretty, purple rug, got that?"

"Please," Tethys whispered, shrinking as Bunny slowly straightened and looked at him incredulously. He hesitated before saying, "Please don't hurt her."

"Oh, my stupid little pet," Bunny laughed, shaking her head as she walked over to the area that led to her bedroom. "You love her, don't you? That's adorable. I'll remember that when I skin her." She flicked her crop once more and disappeared into the theater.

Tethys stayed where he was a moment more, wrapping his arms around himself and consoling himself with the memory of the kiss Bunny had given him, proof of her love. It had to count for something, right? He would have been content to sit there all night, as he had many times before, had he not heard the small sob from the jewelry box.

"Oh!" he gasped, crawling over and leaning against it. He fit his hand into the keyhole, groping around until he felt two much smaller ones latch on. "Are you okay, Leetle?"

95 was silent for a long moment, feeling Tethys fumble to wrap his hand around hers. "You're shaking."

"Ha, so I am," Tethys said, his voice even betraying the tremor that rushed through his body. He tried to force his hand to stop shaking, but that only seemed to make it shiver harder. "I'm sorry, Leetle."

"Big, why—why did you do this? And why did she hit you?"

Tethys sighed, staring at his knees. "She likes to. People sometimes to crazy tings vhen dey're in love."

"I miss my daddy. And mommy. And Shen."

"I'm sorry."

95 was silent for a moment, still holding Tethys's hand. "She doesn't love you."

"Vhat do you know?" Tethys scoffed. "You're a child."

"I'm not as much of a child as you think!" 95 insisted. "I'm gonna be an adult next week! And I know what people who love each other do!"

"And vhat is dat?" Tethys asked, humoring her.

"When two people love each other," 95 said patiently, thinking not only of her own parents but also of the other couples that lived with them, her aunt and uncles 38 and Fox and 5-6 and 27, and her cousins Mags and Σmily, "they try to only say nice things to each other. They sometimes fight, but never for very long. They snuggle and speak in soft voices and tell each other 'I love you' all the time. And they never, ever, ever hit. When two people love each other," she began stroking Tethys's hand absentmindedly while she spoke, "they spend time together, not just for important things, but also because they like spending time together. They say things that make the other one smile, like, 'oh, I like your hair today' or, 'you have excellent form with that knife'. They sometimes tease, but if they hurt the other one's feelings on accident, they always apologize and hug them and make sure they know they were only teasing. They're like best friends, except more. When two people love each other, it makes other people smile too, because they're so happy that it makes everyone happy." She shook her head and looked back out of the keyhole towards Tethys. "Bunny doesn't love you. When someone loves you, they never make you do something you don't want to do."

"I—" Tethys started, but his voice was thick and he was unable to finish his sentence.

95 furrowed her brow and held the back of Tethys's hand against her face. "I'm sorry, Big," she murmured. "I didn't mean to make you sad."

"I—ees okay," Tethys finally forced out, squeezing her hand. "I don't…know vhat to tink of dat. How do you know all dat?"

"My parents, and my relatives," 95 said with a small smile. "They show me. The movie house is full of love. It's why it's the best place to live."

"Oh, da, full of love," Tethys grumbled. "So dat's vhy Fox treatened to trow me off roof. Because he's so full of love."

95 giggled, bringing a small smile to Tethys's face as well. "You haven't seen him with Aunt 38. He's head over heels for her. And he'd do anything for Crow. You'll see."

"No, Leetle. I'm pretty sure I'll never see." Tethys pulled his knees to his chest, miserably resting his chin on them. "Your parents hate me. Everyvone hates me."

"I don't." Tethys sighed at her small, hopeful voice. "You're good, deep inside, Tethys. You'll do the right thing. I know it."

"You have such faith."

95 didn't respond, only shifted over and laid her head on Tethys's forearm. "Tell me a story. Please."

Tethys squeezed 95's hand firmly, the tremors finally subsiding. She had to know he would make this right. She had to. "All right. Vonce upon a time, dere vas a girl named Leetle."

***

Tethys laid still in Bunny's arms that evening. He'd reluctantly left 95 to make love with his mistress, his mate, but it was…less enthusiastic than normal. And Bunny could tell.

"What's wrong, pet?" she cooed, full of post-coital bliss. "You're quiet."

"I…I have been tinking, mistress." When she was silent, he continued, "About de child. 95."

"Oh, Maker, Tethys," Bunny groaned, removing her arm from around his shoulders and running her fingers down her face. "You want to let her go, don't you?"

"Um, I-I—"

"And don't even bother trying to lie to me, Puppy. I see right through you every time."

Tethys made a noise of surrender. "Da. I tink…it vill do no good to hold onto her."

Bunny smirked. "All right. I'll humor you. Why do you think she should be let go?"

"Vell…you said it yourself. Fox vill not come after her. 39 and 56 vill."

"Fox will come with them."

"Da, perhaps. But vhy take risk?"

"We already have her. Might as well keep her."

"Mistress, I—"

"You want to let her go," Bunny said confidently, walking her fingers up Tethys's buttons, "because you love her. She's precious to you, Maker knows why. And you want to keep her safe."

Tethys looked down, ashamed that he could be read so easily. "…Da. I do."

"Oh, pet." Bunny patted his cheek. "I knew you'd say that. That's why I had her moved."

"Vhat?" asked Tethys, his stomach jumping.

"The box she's in. I had a pair of the boys I had over here earlier move it. You won't find it, now."

He sat up, definite alarm in his eyes and voice. "Bunny, she—she's probably scared! And alone!" He held his head in his hands. "And ees my fault—!"

"Yes, it is." Bunny gripped his face with her hand, forcing him to look at her. "And what will you do about it? Play the hero? Find her, get the key off of me, bring her back to her parents? They'll kill you. You kidnapped their little girl." She kissed him. "No. You won't. You'll stay here, like a good pet. Or you will be punished."

Tethys stared at her helplessly, his eyes frantically searching Bunny's face for any semblance of compassion or mercy. Finding none, he demurely looked down, whispering, as he always had, "Da, mistress."

"Good boy. Get some sleep. We'll need it for when her parents come in the morning." Bunny fluttered another kiss on his face and rolled over, nearly instantly falling into a dreamless sleep.

Tethys waited until he was certain she was well and truly asleep before sneaking out into the rain and mud. He'd promised he'd make it right, and even if he was nothing else, Tethys was a man of his word. He would get Leetle out. And he'd have to gamble to do it.
Say it with me now, children: Bunny. Is such. A bitch.

Oh, Tethys. What are you up to? Something good, I hope.

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:iconmaerd7733scaip: owns 95, Shen, and 56.
:iconmeerkatheart: owns Butterfly, Keller, and 27.
:iconprincessofhope19: owns Σmily.
:iconskullwitch57: owns Crow.
I own the rest of this.
© 2012 - 2024 spiceXisXnice
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SkullWitch57's avatar
I hope Tethys doesn't get hurt with what he's about to do. Poor 95 and Tethys.

I wanna kill Bunny now.