the siren † john seed

32

•

When Liquorice found Faith, she was alone in a room, sobbing into her palms.

Liquorice's heart dropped upon seeing the sad sight. Faith looked so different wearing this sadness. She was usually a bubbly person that could make gloom seem happy. Liquorice had never seen her friend like this before.

"F." Liquorice places a hand onto her shoulder, her eyes softening.

This didn't do anything to Faith, she just continue sobbing into her hands, as if Liquorice wasn't there.

Liquorice pulls Faith into her chest, wrapping her small frame in her arms. The only sound in the white room was the soft sobs of the small woman and the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead.

"What did I do...wrong?" Faith calms down a little, wiping at her eyes that were covered in tears. She looks to Liquorice's face.

"I'm sure you didn't do anything wrong." Liquorice states, rubbing small circles into her back. This made Liquorice feel guilty, as she wasn't home for Cherri, who was her only child. "Cherri's probably fine. She's probably just being her dramatic little self - like usual."

This remark made Faith stifle a giggle. "Maybe." Faith adjusts herself on the seat so that both of them could sit comfortably. "She slowly lost her interest for food, and just stopped eating altogether. I didn't know what to do, Liquorice."

Liquorice places a small kiss onto her head, which Faith batted her eyes to.

"You did the right thing bringing her here." Liquorice looked at their surroundings. It was a small house with white walls. It was like a regular house. "Where is 'here' exactly?"

"A...friend of mine told me about their mom, who was a vet." Faith sits up properly.

She notices Liquorice's outfit. Her eyes automatically darts to her exposed thigh, which Liquorice immediately noticed, but pretended like she didn't. Faith blushes.

"You look so beautiful, L." Faith reaches over and tucks a loose strand of Liquorice's hair behind her ear and smiles. Her smile was genuine, but her eyes held a dullness to it.

"As do you, F." Liquorice responds, smiling back at her friend.

Faith grabs Liquorice's hands, but Liquorice didn't respond, as she was swimming in her daydreams.

This time, Liquorice was sitting on a roof, a full moon in front of her, and a soft song coming from inside the house. Beside her, was a kitten. White was her fur, and blue were her eyes. The kitten had several pink cherry blossoms on its head, the pink contrasting into a white with the moon.

"Cherry. Cherry blossom."

"Are you alright, L?" Faith asks.

Liquorice looks at Faith, a smile on her lips.

"Cherri got her name from a small cherry blossom tree that was beside my mom's house." Liquorice explains. "She was the runt of the litter. Of my mom's cat's litter."

Faith was interested by this story. The story of Liquorice and Cherri before Hope County. "Oh?"

"The day I left, I had a small kitten meowing and clawing at my feet. I easily recognized it as Cherri, my kitten." Liquorice explains. "She saved my life."

Faith was a little confused by this. "She saved your life?" She repeats, slowly.

"She saved my life." Liquorice nods. The day Carmen Willow left New York, she thought of ending it and driving off a bridge that was 50 miles from her house. Before she could reach the end of the small bridge, she heard a meow.

••

"She's okay."

Faith jumped out of her seat. "Oh gosh, really?"

"Yeah. Safe and sound." The veterinarian, a outgoing brunette, wipes her hands on a small towel.

Faith pulls the veterinarian into a hug, which makes the brunette veterinarian laugh.

"Thank you Meredith. I owe you a lot."

The veterinarian, Meredith, nods.

"You don't owe me anything, just promise me you'll take care of my daughter."

In the midst of this, Liquorice enters the room where Cherri was.

"Hiya baby." Liquorice places a hand onto the cats' white fur. The cat responds with a small meow.

"F is a sweetheart, isn't she?" Liquorice turns her head to peek out the door, to where Faith was talking to the brunette. The cat meows in response.

"L!" Faith gasps, skipping into the room excitedly.

"F." Liquorice smiles at the smaller woman whose eyes were set on the white cat.

"Kittens, L! Kittens!"

Liquorice's eyes widen. She turns her head to the cat laying on a small blanket on a table. She wanted to scold Cherri for having a boyfriend, but she couldn't bring herself to.

"Kittens?"

Liquorice places a hand onto the cat's stomach, in shock. She didn't neuter Cherri, as she couldn't find a professional to do it. It was honestly her mistake for not doing so earlier.

"Kittens!" Faith pats the cats head gently, a soft smile on her lips. She leans close to Cherri's face. "I know what family your boyfriend lives in."

Liquorice places her palm on her mouth.

"I don't think I have enough room for kittens."

"At your place or your heart?" Faith asks, jokingly.

"Probably both." Liquorice shrugs.

•

"I am so sorry Ferd." Liquorice says to her friend.

"Don't'cha worry 'bout it, Liq."

The skies were getting dark blue in result of the setting sun. There were no people left at his place, only the many chairs.

"Veronica was a good substitute." Ferd starts putting the chairs away. "That girl has a voice."

Liquorice helps in with putting the chairs away, a smile on her face. "I wish I could've heard."

"Oh, John told me to tell 'ya to meet him at Joseph's church or some place." Ferdinand grabs the few chairs Liquorice held in her hands. "He left like half a hour ago, so I suggest 'ya leave."

Liquorice nods. "Thank you, Ferd."