Chapter IXRunning, running, running. It was all she could do. Smoke came from her muzzle as she ran, her paws hitting against the snow. Yelling. There was yelling. Was it at her? She couldn’t tell or care. Something hit her. It was cold.
Turning, her crimson eyes fell on the small form of a boy. Growling, she watched as he gasped, moving back, ignoring the yell, “Aaron!”. Smirking, she moved forward, her now blood stained fangs showing. The boy turned to run and she saw her chance, jumping. She heard him yell him out. She bit into his neck. She quickly tasted the magnificent taste of blood. She licked her lips before biting down, chuckling at the yells and sobs of the boy’s mother.
***
Coldness. It was all she felt. She felt alone. She felt fear gripping her heart. She could only watch with wide eyes, trapped inside…this…this….monster. She gagged as blood filled her lungs, gasping, she fell to the floor. She clutched her stomach, groaning.
“Oh, God…”
She held herself tighter, her eyes shutting. She now could only hear the sounds of screams, but she could still feel everything. She could feel her nails strain as the monster’s claws slashed at their skin. She could taste their blood as the monster ate.
…This monster was her.
***
Again, she was running. Out of Russia. The people of Russia were glad of this news, but still feared for their European brethren. It was clear the monster was heading closer to Italy…
***
She learned to accept it. The days she spent trapped in this darkness had thought her to forget emotions, accepting the taste of blood and the pain from the rare attacks the humans would throw. That was not the only thing the fifteen year old did, she also thought. She thought about her past. A lot.
She thought of the day she found Tails, mewing as a small kit, lost in the woods. She remembered his baby fur as she picked him up, smiling as she gave him a peck on the head before bringing him closer to her jacket. She thought of the day her mother had grown sick. She remembered sitting by her mother’s bedside as her father watched, unable to do anything. She remembered the day her mother died, tears running down her face as she punched the floor, screaming. She remembered Tails as he walked up to her, nuzzling her hand. She remembered sobbing into his fur as she held him. She thought of the day she found Screech, a shut down robot lost deep in a temple. She remembered turning him on and remembering his happy voice to be up again, thanking her. She thought of the day she first met Scythe and his cold gaze. She remembered him killing her father. The last remaining part of the family she had come to love.
It was then that Shelbi had decided that since she had this new body, she would get revenge…and it would be sweet.
“Logan!”
Shelbi blinked, looking through the monsters eyes, her bluish gray eyes widening as she saw Maria, glaring at Logan. She could see the others, too, but her mind froze, as did her body. She gasped as she felt a pain on her back. She watched as the monster threw Logan, only to watch in horror as, minutes later, it slashed Maria’s neck, blood dripping from the claws.
“Maria…” she whispered.
She eyes stared at Maria’s form, watching as the girl looked up and, shockingly, said, “Shelbi?”
Shelbi yelped as light suddenly filled her vision. She clutched her shoulders, falling to the ground on her knees. She shut her eyes, feeling the wind wrap around her before flying away. She started to hear voices. She slowly opened her eyes, peeking up into the eyes of a shocked Logan. She stared, unable to talk.
“Wh…what did you do…?” he whispered.
Shelbi continued to stare, panting. Her eyes trailed over to Maria and she, again, stared. She hitched her breath, muttering, “Oh, God,” before quickly standing up, running away. She heard the flaps of wings and a, “Shelbi,” and knew Martin was following. She shook her head, ignoring the alien. She almost killed Maria. Her friend. One of the few friends she had left.
She tripped.
She knew it was stupid, but she started crying, hugging herself. She heard the flapping stop and soon felt wings around her. She sobbed, “Oh, God, Martin….What’s wrong with me?!?”
She looked up into his golden eyes. His eyes narrowed as he picked her up, bridal style. “Nothing is wrong…but I’m afraid we have to get rid of this…monster inside you…”
Shelbi simply sobbed into his chest, nodding.
***
She didn’t know how long she was sleeping in Martin’s arms, flying. When she awoke, she blinked around the hut they were in. She didn’t know where they were…she did, however, smell roses.
Suddenly in her face was in old woman, her dark skin contrasting against her white hair. “You brought her too late, Torres.”
“I know…isn’t there anything you can do?”
Martin.
“I made those jewels for a reason.”
“I know, but can’t you do…witchcraft or something?”
Shelbi slowly looked over at Martin, who was sitting in a tail, his golden eyes on the old woman. The elderly female snickered, saying, “She might go insane-“
“I’ll do it…”
Both Martin and the woman blinked, staring at Shelbi. Shelbi was now looking up at the roof of the hut. She knew her eyes showed no emotion as she muttered, “If I do become insane, then kill me…I’d rather try than keep living like this…”
“You don’t-“ Martin began.
“She has spoken!” the woman screeched, smoke coming from her as she laughed. She turned to Shelbi, staring into her eyes. “I want you to calm…think about your most terrible past…”
Shelbi simply stared, the night of her father’s death and Scyth’s laughter filling her mind. She narrowed her eyes, a deep frown on her face. She could hear the woman’s words, but she was barely listening.
Suddenly, Shelbi had an urge to laugh…
Shelbi started to simply giggle, unsure why she was, before she gave a full laugh, clutching her stomach. Both Martin and the woman stared. Shelbi turned to them, a toothy grin on her face. “What’s wrong with you?”
“You…you….” Martin tried to talk.
Shelbi laughed, jumping off the bed. She closed in on Martin, saying, “What? Lost for words?” She laughed again. She started to head out of the door, but paused, turning to the woman and Martin, “What’s my name?”
“…Shelbi.” Martin muttered.
“Shelbi? Pfft, that name is so dull!” Again, she laughed, turning and walking out.
As sunlight filled her vision, she smiled, stretching. “How happy the sun is today!” She laughed, glancing at the flowers as she giggled, “My name can’t be Shelbi. That’s far too dull…Hmm….Chess….Cheshire…Yes, Cheshire. That’s my name. This time, when
Cheshire laughed, it sounded insane. That’s when Martin came out of his shock and realized what had happened, muttering, “No…”
Cheshire jumped over the woman’s fence, giggling. She pointed to a guy in a top hat as he yelled, “Hey, you! Where am I?”
“Err, Italy…?” he blinked.
“Oh, I’ve always wanted to try their spaghetti!” Cheshire laughed.
She walked down the street, happening to glance down at the river. She paused, smiling as she looked at her reflection. Two fox ears were her ears now as she had one bluish gray eye and one crimson eye. Her hair was rather straight, blue and black at the ends of the tips. Black and red hawk wings were on her back, outstretched. A bushy tail was noticed as well.
“I look so beautiful today!” she laughed. She looked down at her clothes, frowning, “But these clothes…blah, they will not do!”
Giggling, Cheshire made her way into the markets of Italy, giggling and laughing insanely, causing people to stare. She came to a costume shop and smiled as she walked inside. She looked around, giggling. Her eyes fell on an orange and black jester hat. Laughing, she picked it up, putting it up on her head. She fiddled with the silver bells, looking around again. She giggled with glee as she found a long sleeved black and orange stitched up shirt, along with baggy black pants. She clapped her hands, grabbing them.
“H-hey! You have to pay for those!” the man at the counter said.
“Oh, really? And who’s gonna make me?” growling, Cheshire pointed her finger at him, blinking as electricity came from her finger and shocked him. She giggled a second later, walking into the dressing room. Once the insane girl was done, she jumped out, noticing she had large, fox like feet. She snickered, sure, she had to cut holes for her wings, but, oh well.
Yes, Cheshire was going to have fun.
Basically, I made Shelbi go insane and forget who she was. That she was ever Shelbi. Oh, and about the jester hat, think of Quackerjack from Darkwing Duck. I was thinking of this when I was watching an episode with him in it. I thought it would fit Cheshire. As for the Cheshire part, the reason is because a lot of people say I act like the Cheshire cat. Shelbi is based off me in some way, so I decided to now show Cheshire, my crazy and insane side. Oh, and as for the electicity, I always thought that a canine (fox) and bird (hawk) put together would have that element for a power or something. That, and, to me, it suits Cheshire.