Chocolate Heart (Wonka And Noodle) #1

Chapter 17

The flames had consumed the entire place, the pink tree was no longer more than a group of dry branches, the rubble had turned the sorroundings dusty; the building had practically remained as it was the first time they found it

Wonka was silent, crestfallen in a corner of the destroyed place, holding onto his cane without being able to look at the whole mess

"...Dad" Noodle muttered, walking towards the chocolatier was

"I let you down, didn't I?" he said, without turning to see her

"Of course not... we can still try again" she sat next to him

"Why? My mom said she would be here... and she wasn't" Wonka left his hands on his face "It was a waste of time..."

"Don't say those things!" Noodle exclaimed

"Stop this, Noodle!" He yelled, taking the girl by surprise "All this was for nothing, all this chocolate was for nothing... so I'm nothing... I'm a disappointment"

"Let's all give Mr. Wonka some space" Abacus said quietly

"...Dad, please... don't give up" Noodle murmured and then followed the group, leaving the place

The place became completely silent, only feeling the gusts of wind coming through the door of the store. Wonka stood up with the help or his cane, beginning to hear multiple footsteps, realizing that it was Mr. Slugworth, Mr. Prodnose and Mr. Fickelgruber

"You caused all this, didn't you?" Wonka questioned

Slugworth laughed "Well, of course, who else?" he said "Thankfully once we explained the whole ordeal to Mrs. Scrubbit, she wad more than happy to help us put some Yeti sweat in the chocolate"

"...Why?" Wonka looked at them

"We just can't have you meddling in with our chocolate profits, but we have a proposition for you" Slugworth spoke, taking a metal suitcase and opening it, revealing multiple wads of cash "All you need to do is leave town, and these will gain all of your friends their freedom" he explained

Wonka still felt too dejected to even protest the offer

"Think about it, this could guarantee much more than a paid debt, especially for the girl, she could have new clothes, education, things like that" Slugworth continued

That had been all that the young chocolatier had promised her and, unfortunately, he could not fulfill on his own, he let out a long sigh "At least let her come with me..."

"I'm afraid that won't be possible, we only got a ticket for midnight" Slugworth spoke "But rest assured, she will have the life she deserves" added

At this point, Wonka was doing his best not to burst into tears, knowing that he had no choice "...We... we have a deal" he said, giving up

Mr. Slugworth smiled "I'm glad we could come to an agreement... a boat is waiting for you at the pier, so for the sake of you and the girl, I hope you're on board" then the three men left the store

When the silence filled the place again, Wonka tried little to bear it, falling into his kness to the ground while he had his hands on his face, tears falling from his eyes. Willy had lost his shop, his dreams and his daughter that same dark night

Once he calmed down, he walked out of the ruined building, looking around

"Sorry, Noodle"

"I guess I got carried away"

"Sorry, Noodle"

"I hope you'll forgive me one day"

Wonka headed towards the laundry, having already paid his part of the debt, he was in his room collecting his belongings, unable to avoid seeing the alphabet that Noodle had made on his wall, remembering the times she tried to teach him to read

"I just wanted it"

"To feel the way that I did"

"When I was a kid"

"Sorry, Noodle"

As Willy left his room, he saw that Noodle was in the hallway, looking at him sadly, running towards him to give him a last hug

"Sorry for yelling at you" Wonka murmured

"It doesn't matter, but please don't leave me alone" she said "I want to go with you, dad..."

"I also want you to come with me, starshine, but it's not possible..." he lamented "But I'll send you letters as many times as I can"

"It will not be the same" Noodle spoke

"I know..."

"But promise me one thing" the girl added

"What?" he wanted to know

"That we will never stop being father and daughter" she said with a broken voice, trying not to cry

"I promise" Wonka said softly "I hope we can see each other again in the future" he kissed her on the forehead

And with that he left the laundry, but not before greeting Noodle, who was looking outside her window, greeting him too. Wonka felt like his world was falling apart, because she might feel the same way he did when he lost his mother