//------------------------------// // The Last Stand // Story: Abuse // by Hazel_Hester777 //------------------------------// “Oh, what are we gonna do?!” Spring panicked as they noticed that they were all in Hazel’s room. “You guys, I can’t get a signal at all!” Rosette called out as she waved her phone around. “That’s the point!” Hester said as she got out of Hazel. “Deceptive’s taken out the signal here and put up a barrier spell to prevent us from leaving” “We’re screwed” Troy crossed his arms together. “Arf!” Whiz barked. “When mom gets home, we’re all as good as dead!” Spring elaborated. “But, people will come looking for us, right?” Rosette asked. “I mean, they have to. One missing student and her siblings are suspicious enough but another student? They have to come find us!” Hazel shook her head as she looked down in shame. “Mom mostly tells us that no one cares about us. That no one would even care if we went missing. Makes sense, all I do is hide and talk with Hest” “I just cook in the kitchen and be a waitress, but anyone could do that” Spring added. “Just a chef in a sailor suit, nothing much. Other than that, I just stay out of reality” Troy nodded. “Arf!” Whiz barked before panting. “I’m sorry I dragged you into this Rosette” Hazel looked down. “I should’ve just stayed shut to keep you safe” Rosette went immediately to her friend. “Don’t’ say that” She then noticed something. Hazel looked like she was turning paler. She looked rather unhealthy now as it looked like she was about to collapse any moment now. “What’s happening to you?” Hester provided an answer as she felt at her Partner’s forehead. Surely enough she also began to turn pale herself, but was still strong nonetheless. “The effects of the Aura’s Cell are catching up on her. It can’t really take her soul, but it eventually weakens her. At this rate, she’ll soon fall into a comatose” Rosette shook her head in disbelief. “No…” “I know after this, she will make me forget about you, and hurt Hester to the core, maybe even cut her off completely” “She couldn’t make you forget your best friend…” she then seemed uncertain. “…right?” Hester floated over to them. “I had to help her remember that he mother was the reason her pet rabbit, and two puppies had died, and that she isn’t really innocent of gore” Rosette’s jaw dropped all the way to the floor. She did that? If she could do that, then that would mean…no. Hazel forced a smile. “It’s been nice knowing you though, Rosette. You were my one true friend no matter what” “And I will always be, just stay awake and with us, Hazel!” Rosette begged as she held her friend’s face up to meet with her eyes. “You know something, Rose?” Hazel asked as her eyes were barely up. “I sometimes wondered what a limbo-state would be like” “No, Hazel, please, stay with us” Hazel forced a small smile. She had gone this far, practically only for this effort to be wasted. Then again, she always thought that no one would worry about her if she ever got hurt. Atleast she got her brother and sister to come out of their pawn-state, even for a bit. And she got to have a wonderful Familiar and had a great bestie. She closed her eyes as sleep came to her. “Hazel?” Rosette shook her friend, she just hang limp. “Hazel, no! No!” Hester nuzzled her Partner as she knew it won’t be long before she and the others also follow suit. Whiz let out a whine and lied down as Spring and Troy shared a hug and they turned pale. Rosette laid her friend down as she began to sob. This wasn’t fair; these kids never got to have a normal childhood. They rarely got to feel a normal parental love. She was their hope to help them be freed from this torment, but now this was their last. It was even harder since that one of them was her best friend. Hester wiped her eye as she looked outside. She noticed something about the barrier. It looked, like it was paler. Wanting to take a chance, she opened the window and put her paw out. Her paw went right through the barrier. As she touched it, she felt something else. “Hazel?” Rosette looked up at the Familiar who was calling her friend’s name. “The barrier, it’s weaker now” Hester spoke up as she pulled her paw back. Spring tilted her head as she got out of her brother’s embrace. Troy then took Rosette’s phone on the floor; and noticed that it was gaining a faint signal. She went over to the window, and tried to put her hand through the barrier, but she was denied. To her, it was solid wall. Hester did her action again, and it still went how she did the first time. “It only allows Familiars out now” “But, you couldn’t do it the first time” Troy pointed out. “No, I couldn’t. Not until…” she then realized it. “…Hazel” Rosette covered her mouth. “It’s her consciousness. With her unconscious, it allows me to break out. But not for long” she felt the barrier harden at her touch again. “What if we go unconscious as well?” Spring suggested. “Maybe if you have the consciousness of three kids, you’ll have enough to hold the barrier long enough for Rosette to call for help” “I don’t know; it’s too risky” Hester pointed out. “Let’s do it” Rosette spoke up. The young Familiar was shocked as she nearly dropped her jaw. “WHAT?!” Rosette looked up, wiping her tears away. “I came here to help three children, a Familiar, and a dog escape their abuse, and that’s what I’m to do. When I first met Hazel, I thought she was just naturally shy. But then I saw the truth, she’s been restrained, forced, and even scarred. I thought she wouldn’t be able to survive for long, but she was a fighter by just resisting suicide. I came this far with her and Hester’s help, now I must finish this. The only question is, are you willing?” The two siblings, dog, and Familiar all looked to one another, as though for approval. They all wanted this pain to end. They wanted to have their freedom. All nodded in approval. Rosette gave her nod as well. She peered down at her friend. “Don’t worry, Hazel. I’ll get you all out of here”