Chương 2: 《Miracle?》

Weeks passed by, marking three months, with me meeting Autumn every early morning before her bitchy mom comes back and scolds her. I get along well with Rebel and Wolf, turns out they weren't actually friends of Marcelino and was there just because Rebel wanted to party, which is relieving 'cause Marcelino is one of those whose execution isn't enough to end his evil.

These moments with her have become extremely meaningful to me and it's almost impossible to feel like my day is complete without at least taking a glance over her; Her giggles, her smile, her spoken-out thoughts; her everything is just so beautiful.

Though, it's night now, Wendy Grahams is out leaving her little daughter alone in such an hour. Who thought it'd be safe to leave Autumn with her? That's hella frustrating. But, at least, Rebel is there to accompany her and she excused him to meet me in the front yard.

"Aaaaand I never s-saw her again!" I turn my head back to her after she finishes talking about the girl thief whom she caught stealing her bunny's hay and carrots for her family's farm, and couldn't afford their farm's animals' supplies.

"Axel?" I hum as she giggles back, "Were you even t-there?" I nod, stretching my lips into a small smile, deciding to add the thought that has been lingering on my head since she started talking about the whole situation.

"It was so kind of you not to call the cops on her."

Which's only half of the thought....

Such kindness don't exist in anyone anymore. Not even in your mom.

Her smile widens into a grin at my compliment, nodding her head.

"I know, r-right? Mommy didn't like what I did at all and scolded me f-for it," Of course, the black widow won't like any act of kindness. "She said I shouldn't have let h-her go and brought her home to be punished."

What kind of a parent is she? She never even thought of helping her daughter's stutter.

I notice that her stutter decreases, almost disappears when she's with me and Ferrari, becomes severe with everybody else especially her mom.

"Can I ask you something, ma princess?" She nods, resting her face between her hands like how she always does when she thinks she needs to focus.

"I love it and I'm not complaining about it at all, but," Her grin is stopping me from going on; I don't want to upset her into asking about that. I don't know what shit happened or Wendy or whoever shitty like her has caused that or even how she would feel speaking about it.

It's even weird that I care about whatever someone is gonna feel except for Miracle who's my younger sister, but now Autumn is counted in.

"Yes?" She nods again for me to go on, "Were you born with your beautiful stutter?" What I fear, happens; Her grin turns into a small frown. I'm about to withdraw the question when she shakes her head no.

"I had it about a y-year ago." That's what I thought. I've read about stuttering cases and found out that some would get it from a trauma. Having a mom like hers is definitely a big yes for Autumn to be traumatized.

"If it feels alright, tell me. If not, it's totally fine. I don't want to know if it hurts you." She nods, letting out a heavy sigh.

"I'll tell you, m-maybe it'd feel less heavy a-afterwards." My mind starts picturing couple of scenarios which aren't one percent pleasant.

"You know Millie my bunny, I was just talking about?" I nod, starting to question its existence. I never saw any bunnies around their place except for once and it was about a year ago. I don't think Autumn is the type of person who cages her bunny, so...?

"M-Mom never liked her. She always, deliberately, scared her whether by y-yelling near or playing some loud rock music that would sound a-aggressive. A-And bunnies, as prey animals, get scared from loud sounds or generally disturbing environments," She pauses glancing at me with tears starting to twinkle in her eyes. I place my hand over hers that's resting over her shaking lap, patting it gently.

"O-One day, she was having fun running around. She was q-quite fast, so she stumbled over one of the table's legs. That caused the table to shake alittle and m-mom's favourite vase fell off as it was placed on the edge," She stops to wipe her falling tears, sharply inhaling, apparently trying to gather herself to say one more unpleasant thing.

"She...she, violently, grabbed Millie from the floor, yelling at the top of her lungs. I was begging her to let her go, I even promised that I'd give her up to one of my classmates at school, but she was too f-furious to listen. Millie was in pain under her grip and was continuously shuffling, trying to break free,"

I don't want whatsoever I'm imagining right now to be true. Because that would be terrifying, not to me, but to this pure soul before me.

Yet, it's true.

"M-Mom took one of the vase's broken large s-s-shutters and s-stabbed M-Millie's abdomen over a-and over, until her white f-fur was soaked in her b-blood and m-mom's hands, s-shirt, face were all over in b-blood."

What the hell?!

She killed her rabbit for a fucking vase? Oh shit, I can't seem to comprehend the brutality being shamelessly displayed infront of a child. Not to mention, her child.

Autumn suddenly gasps as if her lungs are running out of oxygen. I immediately pull her in my arms, patting her back as she tightened her grip around me.

"M-Millie was m-my only f-friend. S-She was so sweet, you'd have l-l-loved her, a-and....a-and...." I shush her, kissing her forehead, "Everything is gonna be okay, shsh." Her body is shaking with her trying to contain her tears, but seems to fail. Imagining the scene is real disturbing, how does Autumn feel, then? When she witnessed it raw...real. Now I can put a conclusion to this. Because of how traumatizing the whole thing was, Autumn started stuttering.

She pulls back, putting on a smile when her eyes say it all. A child of her age should never experience such pain that's now brimming in her eyes. "I-I'm sorry, I turned our meeting into a whole m-mourning session. I'm sorry." I shake my head no, wiping the rest of her tears with my thumbs, trying to make her smile.

"Millie loves you as much as you do and if millions of pet moms had been offered to her, she'd still have chosen you. I'm sorry for what happened to her." She nods smiling sadly, fiddling with her fingers nervously. Though I don't want her to speak any further about it, I let her continue what seems to really has hurt badly.

"A-After the incident, I-I spent a whole week without being able to u-utter a word, t-then I started to have this kind of s-speech disorder which's s-stuttering." I place a finger on her lips, shaking my head. She shouldn't hate it or be ashamed of it. It's not her fault and doesn't make her any less of anyone. On the absolute contrary, her fucked up mother have to be thrown in jail for such abuse to her daughter. But, of course, who would report Wendy Grahams?

"It's beautiful and you're, no matter what." I say, breaking the thread of my thoughts to comfort her. Her smile turns into a grin, almost giving me a hug.

"Hey, hey, do you want to see something?" She nods excitedly. Rolling up my sleeve to show her the tattoo I've on my wrist's side. She squints her eyes, looking closer to examine it. Her lips form into an 'O' with a smile gradually drawn onto them. She runs her thumb on the tattooed arrow along with "Aim, shoot and get it" italiacly written as wrap over it. "Inspirational. Does it help y-you achieve your goals?" She asks in pure interest as I nod. "But, that surely hurts. You're brave enough to endure the pain." Patting her head, I smile with all the sincerity I've.

"Look at the ruthless bitch being ingy mingy."

Ferrari's words butt in like the happiness spoiler he is.

"But excused, aren't you? I mean she saved me from owing YOU three shirts. Damn, that would have been alot."

He probably isn't intending on shutting up anytime soon.

"Will you block your ears for me, sweetheart?" She giggles as she places her both hands on her ears, knowing that I'm going to say some bad shit.

"Get in before I fuck you up real bad." He swings his hand indifferently, ignoring my obvious threat.

"Spring!" She notices him as he waves his arms infront of her. She puts her hands down waving hello to him.

"Hi, Ferrari! How are you? Hope you're doing good." He blinks twice, apparently, not expecting such politeness from her, especially that she looks like she just finished crying and now smiling cheerfully at him. We aren't the type of boys who meet such sweetness often. Actually, on a rare scale. Probably, she's the second one after Miracle.

"I'm....I'm good...? What?!" We both chuckle at his puzzleness. "Girl, you're so sweet that you make me feel bad about my teasing intentions, dang!" Smirking at his exclamation, I feel him though. I never really expected to cross paths with someone like her nor did I even had hope that someone like her would exist.

"Boys!"

Here Miracle goes.

Acts like an elder sister when she's two years younger than both of us.

"Shit, shit, shit, I left the cigarette in there!" He rushes in, opening all the windows. I can see him, dipping the cigarette in a glass of water, waving in the air.

"What's that nasty smell, for God's sake? Is that smoke?!" She gets in, noticing Ferrari trying to get the smoke off, she grabs him from the back of his shirt.

"Open your mouth before your receive a teeth-falling punch!" He opens his mouth in an 'Ah' making Miracle scrunch her nose up, turning her face away in disgust.

"Ew! Ew! URGH! How many times did I warn you not to smoke these rolls full of poison and crap?!" She pulls his cheek making him groan.

"Miracle!" He whines, rubbing on his cheek, frowning. Miracle gets into the balcony, looking at me and Autumn.

"Hello, little beauty!" Autumn giggles nodding her head shyly. "Awww, such a sweetie. I know what'd make such a stoney like Axel babble about you all night." I roll my eyes in slight embarrassment, shooting Miracle a look to stop.

"Oh c'mon, the ultimate shameless Axel is shyyyy? Wow, rare to see, gotta click a picture of this." She immediately takes a photo like the photographer she's.

Autumn waves shyly as Miracle blows a kiss in the air, as she motions to me to get in.

"Excuse us, I'll have to wrap them in now. See you, little beauty." I hug Autumn tightly, as she places a peck on my shoulder. I think that has became a habit of her greet to me.

Little does she know what that peck does to me.

"Take care, sugar. I love you...so much." Though, she thinks I'm saying it as friends, but I do mean it more than that. I stand up, leaving after her small figure disappear behind the gates, walking back to mine.

"Please, be happy, Axel." I nod, smiling. I leave, getting inside the mansion to be met by Miracle's cheerful grin.

"Though, I disapprove on ninety nine percent of your lifestyle," I roll my eyes, expecting a lecture. "But, if there's anything good, it's you getting attached to Autumn." She continues, patting my shoulder with a gentle smile.

"I never saw you giving time to anyone except me and Ferrari. I want you to hold on whatsoever good you're having in your heart towards your close people. Don't let the world snatch the good feelings from you." Though, she's the youngest, she's the wisest.

"Don't you ever let any foolishness get into the way between you both." By that, she walks up the stairs as her words get me thinking. I know I never let myself be comfortable or slightly open towards anyone. But, now Autumn is filling that hollow inside me.

It's just scary...that after it'd be filled, she leaves or something happens.

That might be why I close gates on my feelings.

"Axel, Ferrari, C'mon, we're heading out for groceries. Don't forget the keys." Picking up my leather jacket as it gets cold at that hour of the night and the keys, I stand out behind Ferrari who's watching the night sky.

"Are you in love?" I sarcastically ask, taking a stand beside him. A sad smirk displays on his lips as he exhales the cigarettes' smoke.

"You know what? Sometimes, I feel like I don't know who I'm. Am I a good, playful guy? Or am I a bad boy who smokes, is around gangs and literally have close contacts with real shit?" He looks at me, waiting for an answer.

"Maybe we're both." He smiles at the "we", dumbing the cigarette as he sees Miracle turning off the lights. His stare at her says it all. He looks so absorbed like a Romeo staring at his Juliet. I know Ferrari is so in love with Miracle. He came to me confessing it courageously, I didn't disagree on his feelings, I just told him to keep it in until he's elder, so he's more certain and Miracle, too, is elder and ready to get into a relationship. Miracle is that one thing that makes someone like Ferrari and me question ourselves.

"Your nasty smell is all over, Ferrari!" He smirks after opening the back passenger door for her. "Ma bad, Miraculous." She rolls her eyes at him calling that lady bug name, which happens to be her favourite show.

"Let's go, shall we?" I, impatiently, cut off their teen romance as they smile to each other and Ferrari sits next to me on the passenger seat.

*45 minutes later*

"He literally stuffed all the bags over each other! I'm soooo anxious about my favourite orange bottle breaking!" Chuckling at Miracle complaining for the fourth time about Ferrari's 'messy' way of putting the bags into the car boot.

"Well, if it does, the car boot will get all sticky, but we have Mr. Axel, the owner of this car, who's responsible for cleaning it or it'd catch ants and bugs who would gladly chew on the seats' leather, man, they'd be full for a lifetime."

"Yeah, yeah, right, pretty boy?" Ferrari knows what comes after these words, so he, jokingly, gulped, sitting back on his seat quietly.

I turn my sight back to the road, trying to focus myself back at the fact that there's a truck which has been following ever since we left the supermarket. I keep taking various turns, seemingly random to test it; it's still following. The road is a highway and I can't just stop suddenly to check out. The truck rides faster until it becomes parallel to me. I turn my head aside to see the driver's face.

Him....

"AXEL! WATCH OUT!"