Deltarune: Hard decisions Excerpt 8

Noelle’s POV

I brush the tears away from my face, and walk towards the window, and see Dess’ snow blurred figure run off into the darkness.

I hear the sound of knocking, followed by a voice.

“Noelle, what was that crying I heard?”

“Nothing, Mama!” I call out, trying to hold back the sadness in my voice.

“Well then quiet down the racket.” 

I hear her footsteps retreat until they fade completely. I put on a hat and scarf, slowly open the window’s hatch, and slide out. The wind stings my face, but the feeling eventually wears off.

I trudge through the slush covered yard, and spot a crowd full of kids, seemingly in a moment of revelry. Then I see a smaller kid in the middle. They have fear written all over their face.

“Hey.” I yell, stuttering slightly. “L-leave that kid alone! They didn’t do anything to you, so why do you have to be so mean to them?”

“Hohoho.” One of them sniggers. “You that Holiday kid? The tiny one? Bet you’re all defenseless without your brave big sis Dess around.”

“Stop it!” I scream. “Leave Dess out of this! She was the best big sister there was!”

“What are ya gonna do, cry?” One of the kids starts pitching their voice up. “Ooooh I’m Noelle Holiday, I can do no wrong and I’m a goody two shoes who wouldn’t dare tell on anybody!”

“NO!” I scream. “No no no! Stop being so mean!”

“Ohhh welll what are you gonna do about it? Run home to your Mommy? Well she can’t protect you because she’s too busy, and your heroic sister can’t save you either because she ran away! You’re all alone, you poor defenseless little know it all.”

That was the last straw.

“I said LEAVE ME ALONE!” I feel a burst of energy build up inside of me, and I feel my body rise up one or two feet off the ground.

One of the kids screams. Gusts rush past my face.

A near blinding flash.

Then I feel coldness. Everywhere.

I open my eyes and I see them flee. One of the kids’ legs appears to be…frozen.

Oh no.

I hurt someone.

What would people do if they found out

I cast a spell

On some random snot nosed kids from who knows where.

“Dess!” I yell. “Dess, where are you?”

Sobs rack my entire body.

I just want my sister back.

I never wanted anyone to fight. Not even my own family.

Not Dess.

But now we are all torn apart.

I run as fast as I can back into my room, shut and lock everything, and pull the covers up to my face.

Something terrible happened, and it was all my fault.

I hear Mom enter my room.

“Noelle, what is all this fuss about? And why are you cold?”

“Mama, what happened to Dess?” I blurt out.

Mom pauses. “She…died, dear. I’ll be planning a funeral right away.”

Mom promptly turns away and shuts the door behind her.

Somehow deep inside I don’t know if that’s true.

Dess’ POV

I walk towards a small building resembling a house, but it’s dimly lit. Through the shades I see several figures moving about. I approach the house, which appears to be old, but in good condition.

The outside is made of worn brick, while the window and doorframes are  made of aged wood.

I enter the house and hear the tinkle of a small bell mounted on top.

I catch a glimpse of my face in a nearby mirror. My hair is messy, and my head and shoulders are sprinkled by a small powdering of snow, dusting it like the sugar on freshly served pancakes. My blue eyes are reddened and watery from crying.

The front of the house is a large sitting room with a small fire blazing in the hearth, a low table with a teapot and two cups, and near the corner, a desk with several papers and a tiny calling bell.

I gently tap the top and it releases a small ding.

I sit down, and hear the sounds of footsteps. I spot an older woman, a wolf with graying brown hair tied into a braid, approach me.

“What’s been troubling you, dear?” She asks quietly.

“Well…” I reply. “I’m-I’m…the mayor’s daughter, and she’s been known to be hard on us. But she doesn’t care about the things we ourselves want to do in life. She controls what I wear, how I act…she expects only the best out of us. Our choices weren’t really our own. But lately things…have started to fall apart.”

“Oh Honey, that’s terrible.”

“Then I had to run away. I couldn’t take my little sister Noelle with me, but inside I think she knows that soon, home won’t be safe for her, if my mother keeps trying to control her like this, then Noelle will end up suffering unbearably with all of the weight of other’s expectations on her shoulders. I really don’t know what to do anymore.”

I burst out in long, ragged sobs. “I’m so sorry for troubling you, I should go.”

“No. It’s okay. Stay for as long as you need.” The woman says, putting both arms around me. “I’m Lapis.”

“December—Dess Holiday.” I whisper.

“Can you at least explain a bit what happened?” Lapis asks.

“She has a fuckton of rules surrounding how we dress…and pretty much everything so when my friend Asriel gifted me a white faux leather jacket just because he wanted to, Mom flipped and kicked me out of the house, but not before I stopped to comfort Noelle. She was crying hard, wanted me to take her along too, but now wasn’t the time. But my mind says she’ll probably run off someday unless Mom does something about all of the…the…”

I trail off, at a loss for words on how to explain the situation.

“About the ramifications of her actions, thinking controlling everything we do is going to affect how other people see us.” I finish.

“But it doesn’t always matter how other people see you.” Lapis says. “Once you’ve known the same people for most of your life, that doesn’t exactly become a concern anymore. They all know you’re not perfect, despite being the daughter of someone who runs an entire town.”

“I know it doesn’t matter.” I say. “The lesson just hasn’t taken root yet. I wish I could let go of all this. I wish my mother would just let go. But it’s all so hard.”

“Listen. Right now. even though you’re on the run, I can promise you dearly, that while your sister can’t be helped right now, and you can’t change your mother’s mind on anything, I know you can change things for yourself. Just take it one step at a time.”

Lapis kneels in front of me, and places one hand on my cheek. “December Holiday. We may have just met, but I know, from all the roots and recesses of my heart, that the choices you make will leave good results in the future. I have faith in you. You just need to find an opportunity.”

I nod. “But this new place…it’s all so unfamiliar to me.”

“Don’t you worry. I know just the person who can help you.” Lapis temporarily retreats behind a door, where I hear her footsteps fade.

“Jasper, honey? Someone wants to see you.” She says from afar.

“Coming!” I hear a voice call out.

I hear more footsteps and the figure that emerges is a younger wolf with short messy hair.

“This is my eldest. He sometimes helps me with running this inn.” Lapis says.

“Dess, right?” He asks.

“Yeah.” I reply. “You’re Jasper?”

He nods. “It’s nice to meet you. Ain’t you the mayor’s oldest?”

“Bahahahah!” I snort, almost slipping into the fa-la-la way the rest of my family laughed, but swiftly and discreetly catching myself before either Lapis or Jasper notice. My voice becomes serious again. “Yes, but she’s also way too controlling. It drove me nuts, tore me from my beloved baby sister and now here I am because I’m tired of living life the way my mother wants me to.”

“W-Well…” Jasper replies, slightly nervous. “When my Mom and I were hauling some firewood back to the inn, I heard you guys arguing since I can hear literally everything happening, and people’s thoughts, I sort of know what’s going on between you and your family. It’s messed up. Also I apologize if I’m being intrusive.”

“No, no, it’s okay.” I say.

“Dess, I feel bad for you.” Jasper sighs. “Really.”

“No need.” I say. “I will—we will find a way out of this, and help my sister.”

Jasper clasps his hand into mine. “And after hearing what happened with your mother, we’ll find a way to get through to her, even if it takes us years. I have a friend that you might like to talk to.”

We walk through the hallways, the faint sound of keys jingling on a loop around Jasper’s neck.

“Fam and I are staying at the inn temporarily since our house is getting remodeled.” Jasper says, sticking a key into a room door with the numbers 128, and slowly opening it. He flicks a light on in the room, closes the door behind him and throws off his sweater, revealing what looks like a very tight tank top underneath.

“What are you wearing?” I ask. “That looks like it…fits a little too well on you.”

“It’s a binder.” He replies. “Helps me get less uncomfortable with my chest. I don’t use it very much, but it’s very helpful.”

“I wish I could get one.” I say softly. “Mom says they’re just another way to injure yourself slowly.”

“What your mother doesn’t know is that there is a way to do this safely. Limit yourself to 8 hours only. 30 minutes to an hour if you’re new to this.” Jasper says. “I can get you measured if you want.”

I nod.

I hear mumbling, and see the covers on the second bed rustle and move, like someone’s underneath. I see a girl with pale olive skin, messy purple gradiented hair with dark roots sit up with her back facing the wall.  She rubs one eye, wipes some drool from the corner of her mouth, and licks both lips. She wears loose black shorts and her chest is bare.

I wince slightly. “Well, that was…a pleasant surprise.”

“Jasper, you didn’t tell me you were going to drag someone over this late.” The girl mumbles. pulling on a maroon hoodie.

“Well, that’s a fine way to introduce yourself.” Jasper says, laughing sarcastically. “Ah yes, full upper nudity.”

“My name’s Eris.” The girl says, extending one hand out to me. She has three earrings on one ear, a silver ring on her right ring finger, two costume jewelry rings on her middle finger, and a sterling silver ring on her index finger that glints brightly in the lamp light’s warm glow.

“Where’d you get that ring?” I ask.

“It was my great grandmother’s. My gran passed it down to me when I turned 13 two months ago.” Eris replies casually.

“That’s really cool. My Mom never lets me wear multiple rings. However I did secretly buy these spike bracelets.” I say. “Mom claims I’d look too ‘angsty’ but who cares?? If my friends and I like them, there’s no point in throwing out perfectly good accessories.”

“My Mom says that they’re just pieces of metal. It’s the wearer who gives them their purpose.” Eris says. “She tells me ‘wear them proudly. Show the world who you are, because your choices can influence how you and others see the world around you.”

I hug Eris. “Thank you.” I whisper. “You guys are the best.”

Waves of thoughts float through my head, and deep in my soul I’ve found people who care about me who come from outside of hometown. With their help, I’ll be able to start a new life.

And help Noelle. Someday.

“Hey Dess, ya wanna go with us to visit Beach Village for the day? It’s only probably a two hour walk from here.” Jasper says. “It has a really cool boardwalk.”

“Sure!” I say excitedly. “I’d love to.”

My voice softens sadly. “A long time ago I’d promised Noelle I’d take her someplace like that. Too bad we can’t do that now.’

“Don’t worry.” Eris says , putting a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll get you a chance when that day comes.”

Jasper floats out of the room and emerges a few minutes later with a rollaway bed.

“I hope you’re okay with staying here with us.’ He says.

“Actually, I’d love to.” I say. It’d be interesting, seeing what lies beyond some tucked away small town.”

Eris grins. “December Holiday, welcome to your new life with fun and friends.”