The Winged Child

♥ Chapter 25: A Sad Little Child

C.C. POV:

***Flashback - Riddle***

"Happy eighth birthday, Riddle. This year's birthday cake is a low-sugar recipe made with nuts and lecithin-rich soy flour to improve your cerebral function." a tall red-haired woman says happily. "Thank you. But, Mom...Just once, I'd like to try one of those tarts covered with bright-red strawberries..." little Riddle mumbles at his seat. The claimed birthday cake does not look good in the slightest while it sits in front of Riddle. "Absolutely not! Those tarts are monstrously unhealthy. I might as well feed you poison! Even just a single slice would exceed your recommended daily intake of sugar. Now, dinner tonight will be a tuna sauté rich in DHA and omega-3 fatty acids. Now that you're eight, your caloric intake should be 600 kilocalories per meal, so don't eat more than 100 grams of it. Understood?" Riddle's mother scold harshly.

"Yes, Mom." Little Riddle replies sadly. "I'd always wanted to try one of those tarts

with the bright-red strawberries. The local cake shop had them in the window. They shined at me like forbidden jewels." Riddle recalls, sitting in front of the memory. The scene shifted to a study room with little Riddle sitting in a chair. "That's enough classical magic study for today. Your homework is to read the first fifty pages of the philosophy of language book referenced in today's magical philosophy texts. You may now have one hour of independent study before your potionology lesson." Riddle's mother states. "Thank you, Mother."

"I need some time to prepare the lesson materials. I will see you in one hour, okay?" Riddle's mother says before leaving. "I was studying every possible subject, scheduled down to the minute. When I didn't understand something, the lesson was extended until I did. That was my normal." Riddle continues. Me and Bubba sit next to Riddle and we hear small knocks on the room window. "...Is someone knocking on the window?" Little Riddle asks himself before walking over to the window. "Whoa, he heard us!" Little Trey exclaims in amazement. "Hey, come play with us!" Little Che'nya says. "Who are you?" Little Riddle asks.

"I'm Che'nya, and that's Trey. Let's all play croquet! Oh, but it's LOTS of fun!" Little Che'nya says happily. "I can't. I'm supposed to be doing independent study, and I have a lot of homework to do." Little Riddle replies uncertainty. "Independent study means you pick what to do, right? My grandpa says play is a form of study!" Little Che'nya exclaims proudly. "Just play with us for a little bit!" Little Trey says. "...O-okay... Just a little, though!" Little Riddle gives in before hesitantly slipping out of the room. "Hey, what's your name?" Little Trey asks. "R-Riddle. Riddle Rosehearts." Little Riddle mumbles.

"I had the best time playing with Trey and Che'nya. We did so many things I'd never done before. They taught me lots of things I didn't know. After that, I snuck out of my room every day. To play with them during independent study time." Riddle says with a sad smile. "Whaaat? You've never even tried a strawberry tart? They're out of this world." Little Che'nya says in surprise. "Yeah. My mom says sugar is basically poison." Little Riddle says. "I mean, you probably shouldn't eat too much of it, but calling it "poison" is kinda...yikes. You know, my family runs a cake shop. Let's go get a tart right now!" Little Trey exclaims. "Really? But...I shouldn't." Little Riddle says uncertainly. "Just one slice. It'll be fine." Little Trey says. "One slice for YOU, maybe. I want a whole one!" Little Che'nya demands.

"A bright-red strawberry tart on a white plate. To me, it shined more brightly than any gem could. That first bite was so sweet. It tasted like nothing I'd ever eaten before. With each bite, I became more entranced......and completely lost track of the time." Riddle says sadly. "I cannot believe this! Not only are you cutting independent study time, but I find you eating a mountain of sugar?! Those two hoodlums must have incited this behavior. You must never play with them again!" Riddle's mother yells in disappointment. "I'm sorry, Mother! I promise, it will never happen again." Little Riddle says with his head low and tears in his eyes. "Be quiet! You've broken the rules, and I'll not hear another word from you. Clearly, you're not able to handle the freedom of independent study. I need to keep a closer eye on you." Riddle's mother sighs.

"Because I broke the rules, my favorite part of my day was taken away from me. I vowed to never break my mother's rules again. After all, she was the most accomplished mother in the city, and therefore, the most correct. But Mom...Why? Why does my heart hurt so much? I want to eat a tart! It's my birthday, so can't I have some just this once? I want to play outside all day long! I want to make lots and lots of friends! Tell me, Mom, please...What rule do I need to follow to make this pain go away?" Riddle asks himself with tears in his eyes.

***Flashback ends - Riddle***

"Riddle.....you didn't deserve that, especially not as a child." Bubba says gently, placing a hand on his back. "Bubba is right, but you also can't end up like you mom." I add. "Yeah, you shouldn't take your fear and anger out on your classmates, not all rules need to be followed 24/7." Bubba explains. The scene around us changes and I look around in confusion.

***Flashback - C.C.***

" Hey #*%$@, I need you to look after your little sister for a bit. Mama needs to run a quick errand before Daddy gets home." a familiar woman says gently. Riddle and Bubba look around in confusion as the scene plays out. "Yes Mama, I'll watch Eli!" Little me says happily as the woman gently kisses his head and walks out of the house. "What's going on...?" I mumble. A little girl stumbles out and over to little me, grabbing onto my shorts. Little me smiles and picks her up before walking into a different room. "C.C. is this you family?" Bubba asks. "Maybe?" I reply.

The scene suddenly shifts, showing a man yelling through a home phone with a teen who is silent and trying to hide tears. In the corner I see little me holding the little girl while sobbing. "C.C....look at the tv..." Bubba say gently. I turn and look at the old tv, seeing a news report. " A %$& year old woman by the name of Mrs. ^*$&($&*% Afton has been found dead..." the reporter says through the rough tv static. I freeze and just stare at the scene in front of me. "C.C.'s mom died?.." I hear Riddle quietly asks Bubba. "Yeah...I read the news article after I met him..." Bubba replies quietly. I silently walk over to Riddle and Bubba and sit in Bubba's lap, my head against his chest. My mom died..? I have a little sister...? I have a big brother...? Suddenly everything goes black. "Riiiiiddle!" I hear Trey's voice faintly yell.

***Mutilated Mindscrolls***

Cassidy POV:

"Cass, is something wrong?" Gabe asks me. "Something is wrong with C.C.....majorly wrong." I mutter. "I'm sure he's fine Cassy-" Suzie starts. "Don't call me that. C.C. called me that and your only making it worse." I snap before rubbing my face. I pace around Golden Freddy before freezing. "Cass?" Gabe asks worriedly. "C.C.....he's in big danger...." I say before sprinting into Fredbear, then darkness hits. The last thing I hear is Gabe screaming my name in fear.