Ballad of Flowers

Chapter 19

                Her sadness eventually faded, Mint and Orchid quietly conversing. They had started to grow close, telling the stories of their past and heritage. "My mom and dad were nice... I'm not sure where they went though... I just woke up one day, and they were gone... There was a note on the door that said they had gone out to the park together to stargaze, and that was the last I ever heard of them... That was a few weeks ago..."

"How old are you?" Orchid asked, Mint blushing and murmuring something under her breath. "Hm?"

"... I'm 12..." She whimpered, Orchid rather surprised as she realized truly how short she was. "You're like, 13, right?"

"... I'm 19..." She chuckled, hugging Mint tightly. She flinched, rather surprised. "I know I'm short, okay? You don't need to rub it in..." Orchid mumbled jokingly, mint softly giggling. Alex had decided to go out for the groceries this time, leaving the two to themselves. They played a small game of Monopoly, making up their own rules as they got the "great" idea to go out to the park. They had left a note for Alex once again, stating the exact details of where they were this time. Orchid took off, then Mint, the two gliding together to the park.

It was still drizzling, the two of them walking along a cement path that was rather new and smooth. They had found a ball stuck in a tree, Orchid grabbing it and tossing it over to Mint. They played a small game of Two-Square at a small cement platform, not even noticing the patrol car driving towards them. Two police officers stepped out with their pistols aimed at the two, shouting for them to put their hands up. Mint did so at first, red and cyan spreading as her expression turned to a glare. She slowly walked up to the officer and put her head up to the gun. "Do it. It's not worth living in your awful reality anyways..." The officer was surprised, hesitating before she started to scream. "DO IT! JUST END ME ALRE- BANG" Orchid flinched, Mint's body falling limply to the floor as the police officer tried to hide his trembling. He was a rookie, never knowing this was part of the job. He dropped his gun and the other looked over to him as Orchid slowly walked over to her dead friend. "N-No... She isn't dead... She can't be dead..." Orchid checked her pulse. She was gone. "... Why? She was so innocent... She never did anything..." She started to cry. She got up and glared at the cop who just shot her, scales bright red. "What did she ever do to deserve this?! Why are you all like this!? We just want to be happy, we just want everyone to get along, but you just kill us off like some beasts!! Why are we treated like this?!" They just stared at her, not sure why they did it either. "... My mother was killed right in front of me when I was seven years old, and people just watched. Why would you allow a small child to become an orphan, and then not even let them get into an orphanage?" Tears were streaming down her face, anger coursing through her. She wanted to make these two suffer, but couldn't bring herself to do it. They just silently got in the car, the rookie starting to cry as they sat in the car. The other one sighed, peeking out the window.

"Hey kid, you need a ride home?" He asked, Orchid hissing and flipping him off. "... I'll talk to the chief when we get back..." She flew off, leaving the discarded ball in the grass.

Alex was home, reading a book in the recliner Mint had slept in. "Hey hun... Where's Mint?" He asks, Orchid just walking in silently and drying off. "Hun?" She remained quiet as she sat down on the couch. "... Oh no..."

"They shot her Alex... They killed her..." She quietly whimpered, a hollow look in her eyes. He gasped, tearing up as he rushed over and hugged her tightly. They silently cried together, the rain starting to get heavier...