Chapter Text
There she was, sitting in a cell, cold and alone. At least, she was alone in the cell. Through the bars were two cops, talking amongst themselves about what they should do as punishment for the girl. She hadn't really done anything wrong, right? I mean vandalization of property wasn't nearly as bad of a criminal offense as say something akin to murder! She'd be let go, right?
She thought she'd toughened up over the years, she'd grown cold, distant and distrustful. She glared at anyone who dared look at her and when people gave her trouble, all she had to do was brandish her paint splattered baseball bat. People around the streets knew her, they knew what she could do and what she has done with that bat.
She wished she didn't need to be feared, she wished she could be the sweet, innocent child she was when she was younger. Before she lost her parents, her brother, her home, everything.
She hardened herself to survive in the streets of the city, but that didn't mean she liked it. But what else was she to do? If she wasn't strong enough people would hurt her, take advantage of her. She'd probably be dead by now if she never learned.
If only she could go back, somehow prevent what happened that tragic night.As her thoughts began to travel to her memories, she lied down on the cot in her cell and cried herself to sleep, reliving those memories in a nightmare.
xXx
It was a dry night in July, while most people were out shooting off fireworks and having bonfires, Amy and her family decided to stay in and have a movie night. Amy's mother, a dark magenta hedgehog with curled quills, and father, an orange hedgehog with upturned quills and a bushy mustache, were seated on the sofa while Amy and her brother, a near spitting image of their father, sat on the floor with a bowl of popcorn.
They were laughing, having such a good time.
They were distracted from the things happening outside.
They realized too late.
A group of drunk teenagers ran into the forest with a plethora of fireworks that they probably shouldn't have. They were too intoxicated to notice the dry grass and trees around them. The area was in a drought and it hadn't rained for a while, so people had been advised not to start fires in the area in case of a forest fire.
But the teens didn't care.
They emptied the crate of explosives onto the ground to decide which one they wanted to do first. One of them, a large grey albatross, got the stupid idea to set them all off at once, thinking it'd make for a cool and colorful display. They set them all in a row and went in a line with a lighter. The line of fire started burning up the grass around them, but they cared little about it.
As all the fireworks were lit, they shot off in unison. A million streaks of color painted the sky and the group was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. However, as the sparks form the flashes began to fall, the tops of trees began to catch on fire.
"Oh shit!" one of them, a green hawk, shouted as they all noticed. Another one, a magenta swallow, grabbed the hands of her two friends yelling at them to run.
They were careless and didn't even think to warn anyone in the forest.
As flames began to engulf the forest, they rapidly approached the family of hedgehogs. They only realized their doom as they began to hear crackling sound, the house began to get caught in the fire.
As they realized, they all shot up from the sofa and huddled together to think of what to do.
Amy's father had such a big heart, so he volunteered himself to go save the others in the forest and left Amy's mother in charge of the children. He was so brave, but it was his demise.
Amy's mother tried to rush the children out of the house, but it was beginning to crumble. Just as they were in the doorway, the ceiling collapsed on her brother. He cried out for their mother as he tried and failed to escape the rubble.
Amy had tears streaming from her eyes. She was afraid and burned badly. Her face was beginning to blister and so were her arms.
Amy's mother saw and turned around to her quickly before going to help her son. "Amy, go on ahead, we'll meet you on the outskirts of the forest where the creek is. Everything will be okay." She wiped tears from Amy's eyes and turned around to help her son out.
Amy was stunned for a moment, but after her mother told her to go, she ran.She ran so fast that she couldn't breath. As she passed through the forest, branches fell from the trees and singed her skin more. She was crying but she couldn't stop. No matter how much it hurt she had to get to the creek.
When she arrived, she nearly fell in the water, collapsing on the ground just in front of it. She could finally breath, but she began to think. To worry.
Her whole body hurt, she had burns and blisters on her face, arms, legs and torso. The pain wasn't even the worst part, it was the anxiety, the worry for her family. She began to cry herself to sleep.
She was woken up by the sunlight. She got up from the ground, looking around for any sign of her family, however what she saw instead was haunting.
The whole forest was black and charred. The only sign that houses had been there were large piles of rubble and soot. Amongst it all, her family was nowhere to be found. She panicked and cried. She was alone, wasn't she?
She didn't know what to do or where to go, she just wanted to run. So she did.
She ran aimlessly. Nowhere to go, no direction, just run.
She took breaks to breath here and there but never stayed in one place for too long. She was getting hungry and thirsty and she was missing her family. She arrived in a city with everything weighing on her mental stability.
She collapsed on a sidewalk and cried.
She felt sick from anxiety and grief and from crying so hard. She still hurt from her burns and that didn't help much either.
She heard someone yell towards her, thinking it might be someone willing to help her she raises her head in hope. However, fate wasn't that kind."Hey kid! Your blocking the sidewalk, get a move on and sob somewhere else!"
She couldn't believe what she heard, could people really be that mean? Didn't they see she was distressed? She was stunned in shock.The man who yelled at her speed walked over to her and forcefully yanked her up by the arm when she didn't comply. "Did you not HEAR me? I said GET OUTTA THE WAY!"
He pushed her to the side and went on his way. No one made a move to help her, nor did they bat an eye. She was alone.She would forever be alone now.
xXx
Amy jolted up in a cold sweat. That nightmare again she thought bitterly.
She stretched and slumped out of her cot and to the bars of her cell. Now there was only one guard there, he was talking into a phone hooked up to the wall. She tried to eavesdrop on the conversation."So, what's the plan for her?"
"..."
"School eh? She's quite the delinquent so I bet she needs it. Are we gonna send her to an orphanage or...?"
"..."
"Foster home, gotcha. I feel sorry who whoever's gotta take her in" the bear policeman cackled.
She glared over at him, and almost as if he could feel her intense stare, he looks over.
"Well Gary, that settles everything, she's awake now so I'll get off here so I can send her over."
He hung up the phone back onto the wall and grabbed his keys. He sorted through them until he found the one he was looking for and opened the cell door. "Alright, now I don't have to handcuff you, right? You aren't gonna try to make a run for it?" The girl nodded but kept a glaring look. "Okay, I'll hold you to that."
As he released her and gave her her things, he brought her outside and into a cop car.
As they drove off, Amy wondered what her new home would be like. Part of her was hopeful but at the same time...she was still scared.
She had to keep her guard up, can't let anyone hurt her.
As she sat in the cop car, she watched the buildings go by. She hated this city, but where else was she supposed to go? She didn't want to keep hopping from place to place, and she had no family left to take her in. If she did, she wouldn't have lived on the streets in the first place.
Amy saw the street lamps begin to switch on as it got dark and it began to rain. At least it was calming.
She liked the rain, it washed the dirt off of her quills while also providing a calming noise when she took shelter under a canopy. It helped lull her to sleep at night when she otherwise couldn't.
As the car continued to drive, she saw the city begin to fade away into the distance as they drove into a safer, more family friendly community. Where is he taking me? she wondered.
She looked at the houses, each having a nice grassy fenced in yard. Some had flower beds while others had children's toys laid out on the grass, somewhat haphazardly as if they threw them down and ran inside as it began to rain.
It looked nice here, that little childish part of her brain becoming hopeful, but she drowned it out. She couldn't let her guard down.
She clutched her bat in her hands and squeezed her eyes shut, no longer wanting to look outside her window. Don't give yourself false hope, you'll only get hurt.
The car began to slow down as they got closer to what she assumed was their destination. She opened her eyes again to take a peek at where they were.
They had stopped in front of a beige house with a dark brown roof. It wasn't too big, it looked to be a basic two bedroom home. There was a beautiful garden in the front lawn full of colorful flowers, even roses!
"Here's our stop!" the policeman stated, "There's an umbrella in the backseat you can borrow to shield yourself from the rain."
She rummaged in the floor till she found it. The cop opened her door for her and she stepped out, unfurling the umbrella and holding it above her head. She picked her things up out from the car as he shut the door and gestured for her to follow.
"Follow me kid, this'll be your new home for now. Be nice to the woman, she's very kind to offer her home up for ya."
She followed, although wearily. Would she really be that kind? Or would she just be taking her in for some sort of benefit? Money? Attention perhaps?
She hated being this pessimistic but its what kept her safe, or at least that's what she told herself.
When they reached the door, the bear rang the doorbell politely and waited for an answer.
When the door opened, a tall beige rabbit stood in the door way with a sweet smile. It seemed genuine which put Amy at ease.
"Hello officer! I assume you're here to escort miss Amy to her new home?" She spoke with a sweet, motherly voice. It was already breaking down Amy's guard.
"Why yes! I'm sure Vector informed of this delinquents antics? We caught her spraying graffiti all over the city and vandalizing private property."
"Yes, yes I know," she spoke, "but she doesn't look as scary as Vector made her out to be. I think she just needs a little compassion." She finished with a bright smile towards Amy. Amy held back a smile and just stared blankly."If you say so miss, but I'll warn ya, I've heard she's a fighter, I'd be careful."
"Oh nonsense! I think I can handle her," she waved a hand in disagreement, "come now miss Amy, I'll show you where you'll be sleeping so this nice man can be on his way."
She stepped out and took Amy's hand, leading her into the house. She thanked the policeman and shut the door behind them.
She turned to the pink hedgehog. Her heart hurt seeing her in such a condition.
"You poor, poor dear. I'm so sorry you had to live in the conditions of that city." she said, almost teary eyed. "You...you know?" Amy asked hesitantly.
"Yes, the officer that informed me about you told me everything they knew. If I would have known about you sooner I would have scooped you up into my arms and taken you in. But, you're here now, safe and sound."
Amy was surprised to see someone care so much, especially about her! She almost felt...safe here. But she still had to be ready for anything.
She didn't respond to the woman. She took that as an opportunity to introduce herself.
"My name is Vanilla," she held out her hand for her to shake. Amy took it and shook her hand, but felt oddly self conscious about how grimy they were against this woman's white gloves. However, Vanilla paid no mind to it.
Out of the corner of Amy's eye, she could just barely see someone peeking out from the other room. Vanilla followed her line of sight and tsked when she saw a little rabbit that looked much like herself.
"Cream dear, come meet miss Amy," she said as she coaxed her out from hiding. Out stepped a small beige rabbit wearing an orange dress. She held a little plush toy of a chao in her hand and walked over timidly. When she got to Amy, she bowed her head and greeted her, "hello miss Amy, my name is Cream."
Amy smiled at the girl genuinely. She was so sweet, but she didn't want her to be afraid of her. She didn't wanna scare her.
"Hello there, my name's Amy Rose." She said as she crouched down to be at eye level with the girl. She smiled at her and in turn, Cream smiled too.
She felt safe with these people. How could they get to her so quickly? They were so kind already.
"Cream dear, could you show miss Amy to the guest bedroom while I make dinner? Oh! And there's a fresh change of clothes for you on your bed if you'd like to freshen up!"
Cream looked up at Amy and gave her a big grin as she took her hand and led her down the hall.
She turned to the last door on the right and opened it.
"This is your room! I hope you like it, I helped momma decorate it for you so you'd feel at home!"
It was a cozy room. There was a full size bed with a colorful quilt on top and next to that was a nightstand with a pastel moon and stars lamp. The floor was chestnut colored wood and the walls were a soft pink. There was a fluffy pink and white rug in front of her bed and desk off to the side against the wall.
She was speechless! This was more than she could've asked for! It looked so...safe. Almost like she could call it home.
Cream looked worried when Amy didn't say anything and let go of her hand. "I'm sorry if you don't like it, I did try to make it look nice but-"
"No no no! I love it! I was just...speechless, literally." She chuckled. Cream's eyes lit up again. "You really like it?"
"Love it!" Amy said with it smile. "You did an awesome job of making it feel like home."
The girl jumped in place with how giddy she was. Amy wanted to give her a hug, but decided against it given how filthy she was. She could wait till she gets cleaned up.
"Well, I'll leave you to it! I'm gonna go help momma with dinner, the shower is just across the room!"
When she left, she went into her room and looked at her bed to find a soft looking set of pajamas and undergarments. An airy white night shirt with a minimalistic red rose in the middle and a pair of soft pastel pink drawstring sweat pants. They looked so nice, Amy ran to the bathroom to take a shower so she could put them on.
xXx
When she exited the shower, she saw just how dirty it got. I guess that's the result of having no real way to bathe for years on end.
She dried herself off and threw her new clothes on, and man were they comfy! She wanted to stay in them forever!
Before she left, she checked herself in the mirror. Sure, she'd seen her reflection before here and there but never got to see herself in a full length mirror.
She was short for her age, being 17. Her once dirty grey quills were now pink without all the filth clouding the vibrant color. She had one bright jade eye and one pale one and pale muzzle and arm fur. She could see her burn scars and winced at just how painful they were to remember.
She then moved to her body, only now noticing just how thin she was. She wasn't supposed to be this thin, she was badly malnourished. If she were healthy, she'd actually be a little on the chunkier side. She looked like a skeleton and it actually scared her.
She's in a safe place now, maybe she can start to look like herself again soon.
Having enough of her reflection, she cleaned the shower with a towel and walked out of the bathroom feeling refreshed.
She walked down the hallway slowly, looking at the pictures covering the wall. Baby photos of Cream and a few family photos with a rabbit she didn't recognize. Presumably the father. Where was he?
She thought it'd be best if she didn't ask. It might be a touchy subject.
She made her way to the kitchen and sat at the table which was already adorned with silverware and placemats. Cream was in the seat next to her, she smiled when Amy sat down.
"Do you like your new pajamas? I picked them cause momma said your last name was Rose, so I thought you might like roses!"
Amy gave the girl a genuine smile, "I love them! Roses are my favorite flowers! And these are so comfy!"
Cream felt pleased with herself for picking out something she liked. She hoped maybe she and Amy could be like sisters. She'd never had any siblings before!
Amy began to think she might be getting too comfortable here. She feels safe but she shouldn't get attached, they're just fostering her until someone actually adopts her, which is unlikely. She'll probably just have to move out next year and go on her own when she turns 18. Though, she hopes maybe she can stay here.
Vanilla finally emerged from the kitchen and placed a plate on each placemat. Amy's mouth instantly watered at the delicious food in front of her. There was a chicken breast and a drumstick with some mashed potatoes and gravy to the side. Set beside that there were some steaming hot green beans. To anyone else, this would look average, maybe even mediocre to some, but to her this was heaven. She could barely remember the last time she had a nice warm cooked meal, she went days without eating and when she would find something it'd be someone's thrown out hamburger.
She dug into her food, almost like an animal. When finished her plate, she blushed in embarrassment for being so impolite, however Vanilla giggled and asked her if she'd like another plate. She shook her head, feeling full already.
xXx
After dinner, Amy offered to Vanilla to help her wash dishes. Vanilla insisted she had it and told Amy she should get some rest.
It wasn't really late, but Amy did need a good nights sleep. Her whole body ached from sleeping on concrete and garbage bags all the time.She bid Cream and Vanilla goodnight and went off to her room.
When she got there, she closed the door, only leaving it open a crack, and pulled her covers back. Before she laid down, she carefully placed her bat next to her bed. She probably didn't need to but just in case.
She crawled into bed and practically sunk into her blankets. It was so warm and soft.
She felt tearful, it'd been years since someone had been so kind to her. She started to feel like she didn't deserve it.
She'd been so cruel minded, and it probably wouldn't change anytime soon. She made people fear her, she HURT people for getting too close. But, these people, Vanilla and Cream, they were so genuinely kind to her.
She felt cared for and safe here.
Finally feeling a sense of security, she snuggles into her bed and drifts off into a dreamless sleep.