(The Lorax and The Once-ler do not belong to me. They're Dr. Seuss' and Illumination's. Same goes for the other characters. You should be able to identify them! Only Marie, Chloe and Natalie, Aiden and Natalie's babies are only mine.) Prepare for violence and sadness!

Chapter 27

Caught Up

The monitor was beeping to trace her heartbeat. Alicia Katie Edmundson was hooked up to what seemed to be countless machines to help her survive. She was born on December 5th, one-forty in the morning after a surprise five hour labor. The doctors didn't know if she'd make it because she was still underdeveloped. The blue eyed baby was so tiny that she nearly fit in her mother's hands. Her black hair was slicked down under a knit cap.

Natalie blamed herself. She had done everything right from taking parental vitamins to watching how much weight she put on. Five days ago she had given birth and still visited the hospital when she could. She felt alone inside with her struggle. It felt like nobody understood her fear of losing a child.

"Mmaaa," said Veronica trying to talk. Natalie turned her daughter who turned a year old on November 13th, and somewhere far away was her firstborn who had just turned two.

"I know, I know," coaxed Natalie. She lifted her out of the stroller to look in the window of where Alicia was. "You're tired. Mama's tired. We're going home soon. Mama just wants to make sure your sister's okay."

Her firstborn daughter seemed to not understand and grew impatient. She was in a bundle of snow clothes to keep warm. She didn't seem to care to have a sibling. Veronica smacked her stuffed dog on the floor. Natalie grinned at her action and retrieved it. Veronica was like her. The baby laughed when the plush animal was put in her pudgy hands. She started chewing on its ears. Veronica chewed anything if she could.

"Bye Girlie," whispered Natalie to the baby behind the glass. Her free hand pressed against it. Her heart was breaking for her baby. Alicia was hanging on for dear life. She placed Veronica back in the stroller and wheeled out.

Gellar's streets where coated with snow. Holiday wreaths and garlands were on light poles. Everything looked beautiful and that was something Natalie didn't say often save for her babies. She hoped Christmas wouldn't be full of worry about Alicia.

Things seemed to grow harder; her job was paying her less, the rent wasn't being paid fully, she had failed two tests in college classes and couldn't buy a new crib for Veronica. Until now, she had slept in the bassinette. Chloe had been sick with the flu for almost two weeks and Aiden was visiting his family until December 27th. The effects of being a single mother were growing on her. How did her mother handle it all?

During Christmas Eve, Chloe was healthy again and seemed to have more of pep in her step. She was playing matchmaker with Aiden and Natalie. Chloe was more than ever determined to set them up. She really liked Aiden for a brotherly figure. He had let her play a few riffs on his banjo! Veronica needed a father whether Natalie agreed or not and the young mother needed someone to love.

"I said I'll do it for you," said Chloe that night after having a little turkey dinner.

"Do what again?" asked Natalie.

"Babysit for Ladybug while you go date Aiden?" grinned Chloe. "I'll do it every single night if I have to. You're both perfect for each other! Why can't you see it?"

"Because I don't feel the same to him and he won't feel the same to me," said Natalie. She didn't like talking about Aiden that way. "So get it out of your curly haired head!"

"Why don't you and Aiden go out for a date?" asked Chloe. "I'll watch Veronica. I can change her diapers, give her baths, feed her and play with her. She loves my guitar playing. Come on Natty! You don't have to worry about Veronica!"

"C please!" retorted Natalie. "I don't want to date Aiden." She ignored the blush growing on her cheekbones.

"Aw come on," teased Chloe. "I know you like him!"

"I don't!"

"I think you do!"

"Aiden and I are just friends," said Natalie firmly. "If you don't quit this pestering about me dating him then you can forget staying over for the week!"

"What will it take for you to go out with Aiden?" asked Chloe, not in fear of her twin's threat.

"Are you threatening me?" asked Natalie in surprise.

"No," said Chloe. "Just asking of what it may take for you to ask him out."

"Nothing!" said Natalie. "There's no force you can do that will make me. I go my own way." She bent down to put Veronica in her baby swing. A slow clicking was heard as the toy started. Veronica giggled at the motion.

"Something will," said Chloe following her sister to the kitchenette. "Keep in mind I know how to push your buttons as much as you can push mine!"

"Please," scoffed Natalie. "Now go away." She picked up the phone and pressed the numbers. Chloe peeked over her shoulder to see whose number it was. She smiled as her suspicion was confirmed.

"Oohhhh…Aiden."

Natalie elbowed her as a warning. Chloe wasn't too perturbed. She knew how to get Natalie to crack and she would do it without shame! She waddled backwards to the living room, a very short distance and stood still. She waited for the right second.

"Hi Aiden, its Natalie. How's your night so far?"

On cue Chloe sang with gusto. Natalie jumped and frowned. She wouldn't cave to her sister's singing.

"Is that Chloe?" asked Aiden in amusement. Natalie ignored the prickly pinkness that colored her cheeks when he spoke.

"Yeah, I think she had too much eggnog," said Natalie. "Just ignore her! So how's your family?"

"Just great," replied Aiden. "My family said they'd love to meet you sometime."

Chloe didn't stop when the song was finished and continued with more. She knew how much Natalie hated her over-the-top singing. The kind of singing that was over passionate to the point of ridiculous. Also, they were songs she didn't like listening to. She always grumbled when they played.

If anyone had passed the apartment's front door they would've heard a concert of different tunes playing along with snaps from Natalie, a baby laughing and a door slamming. After the first two songs some records were playing along with the singing.

At that point, Natalie had retreated to the hall closet. Little Veronica watched her fun loving aunt dance around and sing till her voice was hoarse.

"Want me to do your "favorite?" Natty?" called Chloe.

"Don't you dare!" yelled Natalie with a hand over the mouthpiece.

Aiden was snickering on the other side in good humor. He enjoyed the twins' shenanigans. He politely went on with the conversation about his family's annual Christmas dinner. Chloe played air guitar with Natalie's "favorite."

"Actually Aiden," said Natalie. "Something is going on right now. Can I call you later?"

"Oh, sure," said Aiden sounding disappointed. "I'll see you when I come home." He had wanted to ask her something.

Gladly, Natalie hung up and triumphantly smiled at Chloe with a smug glare. She had won this one. Chloe didn't make her cave in.

Chloe frowned and went to watch her program. She was exhausted after singing. She had to save up her singing for now. She did have to do a performance with the little band she played with at the restaurant.

Christmas came slowly and went too fast for both ladies. The whole month felt agonizing. Alicia was still in the ICU and Natalie didn't really care about classes or her awful job. She wanted to spend as much time as possible with her. She had a better purpose in life because of her children.

Chloe was still in the paint shop. She was getting tired of her job. When one is stuck at the same place for a long time in a career and their dreams won't succeed, one hates what they have. Chloe kept hoping she'd be promoted. Ice skating competitions only became stressful and she skated only for fun. She had a smoking problem, but still did it out of stress. Chloe's judgment wasn't always wise. She was clever with bugging Natalie, but not with serious things. It was a terrible irony.

The day Aiden came back was when Chloe did her performance with The Regeneration. Natalie thought that was the stupidest name to give a band! However, Aiden said he'd love to give Chloe support so Natalie went with Veronica in tow.

The leader of the band was Max Glynn. A young man, about four months of Chloe's junior. He was considerably cute. Shaggy blonde hair always gelled, dimples, and eyes of brown reminding Chloe of milk chocolate. He had a tattoo on his lift bicep that said "Wild Thing."

"Hooligan," thought Natalie looking at him. His members looked the same save for different hair and eyes. Chloe stood out, being the only female.

Chloe had pulled her hair back in a ponytail and wore a jeans rolled up to her calves. She wore a leather jacket and a striped blouse with sunglasses. The theme was sock hop. Chloe looked like she'd fit with the time period even without a poodle skirt. (Chloe couldn't find one and retreated to jeans.) She even purchased saddle shoes and a kerchief. Natalie did think she looked adorable.

The men were in typical greaser outfits. With Chloe standing with them she looked like a girly greaser. They played retro songs from the time period and some customers got up and started dancing. Natalie actually enjoyed herself and almost forgot her worries for Alicia's health. Chloe played a guitar that Max let her borrow for shows. It was a sparkling blue, matching her eyes.

"Chloe's doing great," said Aiden after ten songs.

"She is," laughed Natalie watching her twin proudly.

"She's eyeing Max a little isn't she?" asked Aiden. He hoped Natalie would catch his drift.

"Eyeing?" said Natalie in surprise. "No. Chloe's never had an infatuation before! She's likely to be single forever."

Little did she know that Aiden was right. Chloe kept looking at Max as he performed. For the past year she had felt a case of the butterflies and sparks around him. Chloe was a softy for what her mother used to be attracted too. Chloe didn't tell Max or anyone though. She didn't know how to react and tried ignoring it. It was likely he didn't feel the same. He treated her like one of the guys than a pretty woman.

That is until the end of the show…

"Hey Kitten," said Max. He had animal nicknames for everyone like Fox or Dog. "You were really rad out there tonight. We did two encores and you kept playing!"

"Thanks Max," said Chloe almost ready to join Natalie for a treat. It was rare for her sister to take her somewhere for the fun of it. "You and the guys were great too."

"No really," said Max. He sounded genuine and stood before her. "I want to apologize for how I behaved when you first showed up wanting to try out for "The Regeneration." I didn't mean to call you a sissy or that you should be in the kitchen instead. That wasn't necessary. You've really proved to us how committed you are to your work."

"Wow," said Chloe remembering that awful first day with Max. She hoped she wasn't blushing. "That's so sweet of you. Thanks."

"Listen," continued Max taking her hand. "I want to know if I can-if you want to of course- if I can take you out for uh, you know, a movie or dinner sometime?"

"A date?" Chloe felt pink all over and grinned like a lovesick fool. "Sure!"

"Maybe next Friday? I can pick you up at your job."

"That'd be great! I'd love to Max! I can't wait to tell Natty!"

"I'll let you go. I saw your sister and her boyfriend outside. Erm, wait. Can I do one thing first?" The ever confident Max looked shy. "Can I- I mean, may I kiss you?"

"I-I might be bad at it," whispered Chloe who never experienced romance. She felt like her long legs would give out.

Max smiled warmly and gently held her shoulders. He leaned in slowly, savoring Chloe's cinnamon flavored breath. Chloe puckered her lips and shook. This couldn't be happening to her! Lightly, Max's lips touched her. He kissed her, but Chloe couldn't react. He did it again getting a better reaction. Chloe pressed against him. Chloe smiled even wider when they departed. Max laughed. He loved her smile most of all along with her kindness, curly hair and laugh. Chloe leaned in and kissed him hard. Then feeling overjoyed she fled out the door squealing. She heard Max's laugh and his call of goodbye.

Natalie let Aiden take care of Veronica so she could take Chloe out for a little field trip; something she never tried. She felt that Chloe deserved it after a great night of playing guitar. It wasn't what Chloe had in mind. She considered getting a milkshake or fries. No. Natalie took her to a bar.

"I've been coming here since I got that job," said Natalie when they went in. "They don't care about age here."

Chloe felt very out of place. It was full of men drinking and laughing in an uproar. Natalie got them a booth and order two beers. Chloe was hesitant, but took a small sip. It was the worst flavor that ever touched her tongue!

"Yuck," groaned Chloe pushing the mug away. "You have it!"

Natalie who wasn't allowed to nurse Alicia took it up. She ordered another as Chloe went on talking about Max.

"I really like Max," gushed Chloe. "He's so cute, cool and talented. He's the only guy I've seen who can pull off a tattoo!"

"Really?" asked Natalie after a few drinks. Chloe noticed her voice sounded funny. "Hey Scotty! How about another strawberry daiquiri for the lovely lady?" Natalie giggled and twiddled her thumbs. "What?" she asked seeing Chloe's puzzled face.

"Are you okay Natty?" asked Chloe. "You sounded kind of, weird?"

"Don't be silly!" said Natalie. "What else about Mick?"

"Max?"

"Yeah…him. Keep talking sister!"

Chloe did, but she slowed down to count how many empty glasses stood before her on the table; eight that held beer, four for the daiquiris, and six for the pina coladas. Chloe lost track of time, but it felt like forever. Finally, Natalie slumped over and sat next to her. She leaned against Chloe looking droopy.

"Do you want to go home?" asked Chloe.

"Uh?" came Natalie's voice.

"Home?" repeated Chloe.

"Home sweet home! Sweet home huh Chloe?"

"I guess," said Chloe rolling her eyes at the awkwardness. "Mom may agree."

"Mom? What are you doing here?"

"No, it's Chloe."

"Nah! I'd know Mom's voice anywhere!"

"Well, it's me! Chloe! I'm your sister. Not your mom!"

"Mom? I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Natalie closed her eyes.

"Okay?" Chloe had never seen a drunken person before. She knew alcohol wasn't always good, but she never saw its affects. What she didn't know was that people can speak honestly when they're drunk. Natalie slumped farther against Chloe and started muttering. It was nonsensical to Chloe until something caught her attention.

"Dad?"

Chloe's eyes widened hearing the word from Natalie's mouth. Curious of what she had to say Chloe decided to play along.

"Yes Sweetheart?" asked Chloe in a deep voice.

"Dad? I'm sorry. I let you down." Natalie hugged Chloe.

"No, no, no!" replied Chloe and stroking her shoulder. "You didn't let me down."

"I'm a bad girl. I'm a bad woman. I've failed. I hate nature."

"I know you do."

"I'm sorry I hate you."

Chloe didn't answer, but frowned. So much for being curious if Natalie would say something kind for once about their father!

"I hate being me!" whimpered Natalie. "I hate it! I hate being me!"

"No! Don't hate being you. You're a good person. Good people make mistakes too."

"I hate myself!" Natalie's voice started rising. People started looking at them.

"Nat-" Then Chloe cleared her throat back to her normal voice seeing the people. "Aw great! Now everyone's staring!"

"I won't be you! I hate you!" shouted Natalie. "I hate being my father's kid!"

"She's crazy!" chuckled Chloe trying to cover them for her outburst. "She pretends she's other people! Last week she was the mayor and told me to pay my taxes!" Her awkward laughs and grins did nothing to divert eyes.

"She's as crazy as that tree killer!" said one short man.

"Hah!" laughed a burly man. "He ought to be shot down for taking away a city's right to breathe! That old Once-ler!"

Natalie bolted right up. Slowly, she turned with a nasty glare on her face. She slammed her hands down on the table and laughed goofily. She gave a sigh and frowned again. She shook her legs and bit one of her lips. After her little giggle fest, she wobbled out of the booth. Chloe started panting in hurt at the horrible words. Natalie stared the man down like it was a showdown in a corral. No, a saloon was a better description with them in a bar.

"What'd you say about my dad?" slurred Natalie. "You insul-insulting him? The Once-ler?"

"Dad?" asked the burly man putting down his beer mug. Gasps were heard at the name of the old story. "The Once-ler's your papa?"

"What's it to you?" retorted Natalie. She crossed her arms. "Eh, cheese head? What's it to you?"

"Natalie!" warned Chloe. She was shocked to hear their old last name which had become a dream or memory to her.

"What's it to me?" said the burly man grinning slyly. "It means you are a lunatic like him! Why don't you go out and join him in that wasteland he lives in like legends tell? You can both die together!"

Chloe held back a sob from his words. She turned her head to hide any crying. It hurt to hear! Natalie clenched her fists. The woman with long raven hair stumbled forward and then without warning, she spun around to punch her fist in his mouth. Chloe had turned just in time to see something rattle to the floor. She nearly threw up realizing it was one of his teeth. Natalie crossed her arms and grinned smugly. The man panted and looked wide-eyed. Everyone seemed shocked as the terrible silence filled the bar. The only thing heard was the sound of Natalie's tongue giving a quick click.

Whump!

Natalie was knocked down against the barstools and looked up. She had a bruise forming on her left cheek. Her mouth was open at first, but it screwed tight shut. She got back up and slapped him. He smacked her back. Natalie shoved and he yanked a hold of her wrists. Natalie nearly felt the wind knocked out of her as she went hurling over a table spilling, the napkin holder, the salt and pepper shakers and the ketchup bottle.

The brawl became worse. Natalie was being fought by four men. Her confidence went down finding that the men were not an easy feat like the boys in elementary school. She was getting tired as they pushed her down, she twisted arms and the many punches that flew. The bar seemed to cheer on as they watched the fight. Some of the decent people called the police. Chloe sat there for a few minutes in horror, until she finally got up and tried to keep the peace.

"Natty!" she called over the chaos. She gripped and lifted her at the waist. "Knock it off!" Natalie wriggled out of her.

"Butt out pinky!" said the first man and he shoved Chloe down.

Chloe jumped up and shoved him back. Another man grabbed her arm, but Chloe punched him in the gut, making him cower down and she hit his back. He fell down instantly. Chloe took over the fight. Her eyes and arms were alert and strong after years of exploring the great outdoors. Natalie lay on the floor singing a ditty Chloe had written. When Chloe found a chance to dodge out, she grabbed Natalie and dragged her out.

Chloe had escaped just in time with a drunken Natalie because minutes after their flight the police showed up. Chloe raced up alley after alley with Natalie talking ridiculous. Chloe was afraid to go back to Natalie's apartment so she went for her shack. Out of the city and into the wood she knew so well.

The Lorax and animals were sleeping out of the cold on her mattress when she showed up. Chloe put Natalie on the floor and locked the door.

"Creek?" asked The Lorax waking up. "What's wrong with Brook?"

"She's gone nuts," said Chloe. "She got in a fight. She just snapped!"

"What are you going to do?" asked The Lorax looking sympathetic at Natalie.

"Let her sleep and hope nobody remembers this," sighed Chloe.

"If your sister snapped, then they'll remember it," said The Lorax. "Wouldn't be surprised if the city puts it in the papers." He held up an old newspaper sitting on a stool.

"Maybe they'll run out of paper," said Chloe desperately. "Let's all just get some sleep." She took her Thneed and shaped a blanket for her. "Okay," she yawned. "Make the animals move over, this creek needs to sleep."

Chloe snuggled among the pile of creatures, warm and cozy. She was sure Aiden would stay with Veronica for the night. They'd be back in the morning. All would be fine.

"Good night," she whispered.

"Good night to you too," yawned The Lorax.

When Chloe got up she made hot cream of wheat, (all that she had in the cabinet) and added a teaspoon of brown sugar for Natalie. She set out a saucer of honey for the bar-ba-loots, seeds for the Swomee Swans and bread crumbs for the Humming-Fish. The Lorax received a ladle full of the wheat. It wasn't pancakes though.

"You'll get some flour to cook pancakes soon right?" he asked.

"I'll try later today," said Chloe. "Right now I have to take care of Natty."

"Brook's as wild as a forest fire," said The Lorax. "You should always take care of her."

"I do and she does the same for me," said Chloe. They heard a moan from the bundle on the floor.

"Augh-oohhh!" came a growling groan from Natalie. She sat on her heels and rubbed her skull. "My head! Oh! What happened?" She flipped the Thneed off of her.

"You had one too many," said Chloe.

"Ah!" snapped Natalie covering her ears. "Quit talking so loud!" She noticed the animals and stumbled to stand. "Get me out of this zoo!" She plodded to the door and rattled the doorknob.

"It's locked Genius," said Chloe wryly. She took the key and set it open. Natalie waddled her way out, grumbling and spluttering.

"I'll be right back," said Chloe to her friends. She took her Thneed coat and went outside.

"Be careful out there," called The Lorax. It would be the last time Chloe would see him until decades passed.

The whole day and the following were agonizing. The Lorax and Pipsqueak waited for Chloe to come back, but she never did. Melvin kept his ears perked up in case he heard her footsteps. After a long time, months to be exact had passed, Chloe didn't return. The animals were saddened. Pipsqueak was brokenhearted again. Melvin became a cranky mule twice as much. The Lorax felt miserable.

For him, it felt like things were going right again. Just when he thought he could trust a human, she left. Chloe had reminded him that there were good people in the world. People who kept promises and weren't greedy. It was like nature was mocking him for believing that someone like her could be good. Not only that, he started pondering if she had been just a dream; some vision that looked like Beanpole to haunt The Lorax of the past. She hadn't been a dream when he looked at the cabin she shared with him. So until he sensed that Truffula Valley was whole again, The Lorax stayed hoping he'd see Creek again.

"You're a good kid Creek," he said to himself one evening watching the stars come out. "You're a good kid. So are you Brook."

Why Chloe never came back was not revealed to The Lorax or his friends. He had been right about people talking of Natalie's fight. When Natalie and Chloe got back to the street that led to Natalie's apartment a police car pulled in front of them. The police had been looking for them. Before Natalie's frazzled brain could comprehend what had happened she was forced against the cold metal of the car and handcuffed. Chloe was too and both sat in the back as they were sent to the police station.

Both were handcuffed to a chair as they were investigated. Natalie had been reported for her drunk ranting and fighting. Chloe had the same charges for the fight along with the packet of cigarettes she had in her backpack. Both ladies had forgotten their baggage. It turned out that Chloe had bought illegally sold cigarettes. Chloe didn't know they were illegal; they were just cheap for her to afford.

Natalie looked furious the whole time the police asked them questions. She complained that she had two babies to look after and that she didn't start the ruckus. She was defending herself.

"What's happened to the economy huh?" she demanded. "Suddenly we have no free speech?!"

"It's not that my lady," said Chief Horst.

"Don't call me that!" snapped Natalie.

"One of them reported that you were defending The Once-ler," said Chief Horst wanting to get to the point of the arrest. He sat back watching the two ladies. The Once-ler was disliked everywhere.

"I was not defending him!" said Natalie. "I hate him!"

"You were last night," said Chloe quietly. "Everyone heard you."

"Yes," said Chief Horst. "All the witnesses have said you were screaming and crying about him. Do you know him? Is he really your father like they've reported? You also knocked a tooth out of a man."

Natalie kept her mouth shut and crossed her legs. If her hands weren't cuffed she would've crossed her arms too. Chloe tapped her heel against the floor, anxious for what awaited them.

"Well?" Chief Horst asked again. "Is he your father?"

The twins didn't answer because they weren't sure what to say. All those years of being an Edmundson was all they truly knew. They didn't know if they should reveal their real identities. Because neither of them answered, they're real birth certificates were searched up while they were allowed one phone call. Natalie called Aiden to come get her and knowing Chloe wouldn't call him, asked if Aiden could find Max.

"Just drop Veronica at one of the neighbors, find Max at the restaurant he plays at, I think it's called Pryor's Place and let him see Chloe. He just asked her out for a date."

"It'll be okay Natalie," said Aiden. "We'll get you out." Then he added quickly. "I love you."

Natalie felt her heart beat at his last words. It had felt wonderful to hear. She hoped she'd be cleared out soon. She wanted to see Veronica and Alicia so terribly. She also knew who Chloe called.

"Mom?" came Chloe's whimpering voice. "Mom I need you!"

"Chloe?" asked Marie. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"Can you come get me and Natty?" cried Chloe. "We're in prison!"

Natalie dreaded for when her mother would show up because she'd have to expose the whole truth. She'd have to mention she had kids of her own now. Marie came as quick as she could. She had driven nonstop from Palmer to Gellar. Chloe had never been more relieved to see Marie than ever. Both had been in tears upon seeing each other behind glass, but Chloe was taken away.

Marie was shattered to see her girls in jail and confused to why. She couldn't believe Natalie's temper had gotten the worst of her. Chloe smoking illegal drugs was just as bizarre to believe. She saw the shame in Natalie's eyes when she looked at her daughter. No matter what her daughters did she would always love them.

Max and Aiden were already there. Both of them concerned for the women they admired. Neither knew what they could do as they waited for an answer. They were pleased to meet Marie and were amazed to see where the twins got their good looks. Well, except the dark hair and smile.

"I see where Natalie gets her lovely eyes," said Aiden when he introduced himself to Marie. Yet the meeting came to a halt when they met with the police chief. He met with each of them individually.

"You're their mother?" asked Chief Horst.

"Yes sir," said Marie.

"Then may I ask you a question they wouldn't answer?"

"Yes sir?"

"Are they related to The Once-ler?"

"I-I…" Marie started. She feared what they would do to her daughters.

"Then I'll ask you," said Chief Horst who was getting impatient. "What is your last name? Is Edmundson your maiden or marital name?" Marie didn't answer. "I see. Then at least what is your maiden name?"

"Finnegan. Marie Vanessa Finnegan."

"That will be all…for now," Chief Horst said darkly.

Marie's name was searched and somewhere among all the legal documents in the world was her wedding certificate. There was the ultimate proof along with the birth certificates that they were Once-ler's. Finally Natalie and Chloe confessed to their old last names. They knew something bad was going to happen to them for their honestly. Some sort of impending doom that hovered over their exhausted brains kept them busy. There were papers flying all over the city about them.

"I knew Chloe smoked, but I didn't know they had illegal stuff inside," said Max when he was asked questions. "I'm sure Chloe didn't mean to do it. She's like a little animal; innocent and childlike. I've known her for two years, going on three."

"What are you going to do to them?" asked Aiden when he met with Chief Horst. All three were interrogated for how the twins acted around them. "I know Natalie shouldn't have been having so many drinks, but she's not a bad mother! She never drove drunk or hurt her babies."

"We'll let a court decide that," said Chief Horst. "I'd find someone to take care of her kids. She may not be out for long time. Some doctors want to examine them as well. This is a unique case."

"May I ask why it is unique sir?" questioned Aiden.

"Word has gotten out about their lineage," said Chief Horst. "People aren't buying it, but they are afraid of them now. One paper has called them "The Terrible Loons." Some doctors from The DeWitt Asylum want to see if they are demented or not."

A court session was called in days later. Aiden brought Veronica for Marie to meet and Natalie to see. Marie was thrilled to see her granddaughter. She wished she could see Alicia too, but she wasn't being allowed to leave the police station.

The court session went terrible. It wasn't only because of the girls' acts; it was also because they were now labeled as insane menaces. The public couldn't believe the girls were related to the once famous entrepreneur, but feared they had a psychological problem because of their confession. Natalie's harsh words came back to bite at her when the little client at the law firm showed up. He was still furious over Natalie's words about his farm land. Natalie grew even more angry when he lied saying she punched a hole in the wall. By the time Natalie was asked about her side by the attorney provided for her and the opposing side she was already doomed. Her truth about her outbursts and wild behavior said enough that she had a problem. She hadn't lied.

"I hate that man," Natalie thought. "I hate that tree hugger!"

Chloe's wasn't any better. Nobody believed she didn't know about the illegal cigarettes. Aiden, Max and Marie spoke up. Out of all, no one spoke more than Marie for her girls. When asked about her relationship with The Once-ler she didn't lie either. She regretted more than ever she never went with him on that journey! All this could've been prevented!

"How exactly do you know this monster?" questioned the accuser.

"I know him because I'm his friend…and his wife."

That put the jury in a tizzy! Now Marie was being called demented. They had no proof that The Once-ler had an object of affections. She had to be lying. Natalie's honesty about her outburst, Marie's twenty-year marriage, and Chloe's admittance that something called The Lorax existed called dire attention.

Nobody believed in The Lorax. He was an old folklore to them. Not every city knew of him. It depended perhaps on how bright or clueless the people were. To Thneedville, elders remembered seeing the "Lorax Approved" sign for the Thneed and hippies who protested for trees. Palmer and Geisel knew nothing about a Lorax. Gellar had old books of folklore with him in it, but none found proof of him.

The only ones who never heard of the news of the family were Thneedville and The Once-ler. All over though, it was on the televisions that the little family was beyond crazy. The public complained they'd be a threat to society whether it was true or not! So the choice was made. No bail or jail for the twins. They'd be sent to The DeWitt Asylum for the rest of their lives. Marie would be sent to a separate one. It had an effect on the dear ones.

Max quit The Rengeration. He didn't have any more music in his soul with Chloe gone. He never found another loved one. His heart would always beat for Chloe Once-ler, the inspiration for his life. He lived a lonely life in Gellar as a waiter in Pryor's Place.

Aiden loved Veronica and Alicia as if they were his own. He promised Natalie he'd take care of them and so he did. After Natalie was taken away, he adopted them. Apparently, the babies weren't a concern to the public. They could be molded and remade. Aiden married a woman three years after the court happened so the girls had a mother. The good thing was that Veronica and Alicia (who survived her infancy) had a happy life with their parents. Neither was deprived of blessings.

The ones who felt deprived were The Three Once-ler's. Natalie and Chloe still in the same clothes they wore when arrested said goodbye to their mother on a rainy night. It was a horrible night. Neither knew where the other was going. Natalie didn't know exactly what she could say to her mother after she had told lies to her and never told her of her grandchildren.

"Mom," said Natalie when they hugged goodbye. "I'm sorry I never told you those things. I'm really sorry. I love you and I'm-I'm sorry!"

"I know," said Marie. "I know you are. I still love you with all my heart. I'll never stop loving you." She pulled her back and kissed her cheek. She blinked back tears. "Now don't be afraid of anything. There's always hope even in the bleakest moments. You and Chloe stick together."

"I promise," said Natalie. Then she was escorted from the room they were locked in and shoved off into a van.

"Mom I'm scared," cried Chloe. "I don't want to go to an asylum! I'd rather die!" She clung to Marie, barely noticing the starts of grey at her mother's golden roots.

"I don't want you to die," said Marie holding her. She slipped her jacket off and put it on her daughter's shoulders. "You have to be brave Chloe." She kissed her cheek too, damp with tears. "Stay with Natty and you won't be alone."

"You will be!" sobbed Chloe. "I want you with us!" She was baffled at how her mother was staying so calm.

"Chloe," said Marie. "I will always be in your thoughts. Even now, you need to be optimistic. Do it for me…and your Dad. He'd want both of you too."

Chloe stopped whimpering and nodded. She would for her parents. She wouldn't disappoint them ever again!

"I won't let you down Mom," said Chloe wiping her eyes. "I love you and Dad too."

"And I love you just as much," said Marie stroking her hair one more time. She watched her youngest being led out and held back her sadness as she thought of the heirloom she had put in her coat pocket and put on Chloe within purpose. It would help keep her and Natalie strong. Marie, still beautiful in her forties, thought of the three people she loved the most as she was led into a separate van.

Chloe put on her bravest face as she was led away. She still kept it as the van drove through the night. Her thoughts kept having images of her childhood and the photos she had of her father.

As they were led off into a tall building in the darkness Chloe felt something cold in her mother's coat pocket. She knew what it was, but dared to not show reaction of the shock.

In the building, dull and grey, they went. They were sent into an office and checked in. A nasty grinning old man looked at them along with a nurse. He didn't give a welcome and he was the head doctor.

"The girls are psychotic," said Dr. Pates. "That's all that matters." That's all he said to them.

"How so?" asked a nurse. Maybe it was rhetorical.

What the doctor said was not worth repeating, but Natalie's face was red enough to show her burning anger to the fools. Chloe trembled, afraid she would be killed or be put in a windowless room. She didn't want to be upset at Natalie. Getting angry wouldn't solve anything, but she felt like Natalie has started the whole issue.

Chloe's anger only got worse as she and Natalie were pulled away into a clinic. Natalie was sat first in a chair and her hair pulled in a ponytail. Chloe shook when she realized the nurse, Nurse Ryan, took a pair of scissors.

"No!" cried Chloe as if it was a knife. Her cries did nothing, but move her away from the wall she was ordered to sit at. She received a slap from Nurse Ryan who glared at her.

Nurse Ryan cut Natalie's waist length hair in three snips. Natalie gasped feeling the sudden weight gone. Her head felt light. Horror sank in realizing that her hair, which only received trims at the ends, was very short.

"You're next," ordered Nurse Ryan to Chloe. When Chloe sat in the chair, Natalie looked to see that her hair was tossed in the garbage. What a waste!

"You could've donated it maybe!" she snapped.

"Quiet!" demanded Nurse Ryan. She fingered Chloe's hair. "Yeesh! Look at this rat's nest! The scissors won't cut this easily!" So she got out the second choice. Chloe's spine cringed when she heard a buzzing. Nurse Ryan shaved Chloe's ponytail away. She threw it in the trash too.

"Another waste," thought Natalie.

Poor Natalie and Chloe looked almost like men with their short hair and both felt as tiny as bugs under rugs without one of their signature looks. The short cuts didn't look cute in anyway. It was all to avoid the outbreak of lice. Natalie was stunned to see in the minuscule mirror her hair. She felt like she could cry without her precious long hair. She never wanted to cut it, not matter what trend came along.

Natalie and Chloe were led into another room where hanging on pegs were grey jumpsuits with number tags sewed over the side pocket. Nurse Ryan handed them to the appropriate person.

"What size shoe are you ladies?" she asked.

"Ten," mumbled Natalie who was embarrassed by her height. Chloe nodded to agree and pointed at herself.

"Ten?" said Nurse Ryan. "Good grief! I hope we have boots in that size. Strip down and change." She left the room, locking the door with the many keys she held.

Natalie exchanged her leggings, short floral dress, bracelet, earrings and Doc Martens for the jumpsuit. She would never get to wear that pretty dress of blue flowers again. Chloe, who still wore her sock hop performance outfit changed too. Nurse Ryan found a size nine boot for them and the girls squeezed their long feet in. It was length, not width that was the problem.

Natalie and Chloe were led to a room, more like a cell with one narrow window, for them to share. It had bunk beds attached by chains against the wall. There was a sink across them and nothing else. The walls were of cinder blocks. A steel door closed behind them. Chloe hid the trinket Marie quietly gave her under her pillow. She had put it in her mouth when Nurse Ryan came back. Natalie took the top bunk like they had when teens. There they both sat in the dim room, wondering what would happen next.

In a few minutes they were lined up outside of the dining hall. Then the nurses started a roll call of numbers. Natalie looked at her jumpsuit and knew she'd be called.

"19197174?" called a different nurse. She looked with beady eyes at everyone from her seat. She sat at a decorated table where her kind sat for meals.

"Here," answered Natalie checking her number.

"12200304?"

"Oh, here!" shouted Chloe realizing it was her. She waved her arm as if it was roll call in high school.

The rest of the patients, some twitching, muttering or tapping their fingers against their sides stood still. They groaned when the cook came out and yelled "Breakfast!"

"What could be bad about breakfast?" whispered Chloe.

They found out because breakfast was served. Chloe nearly felt like vomiting seeing it was porridge and water. It was barely warm and clotted. Chloe could eat anything except the porridge! Natalie didn't care of temperature for food and devoured it. After breakfast they were led outside to march about the grounds, but it wasn't long enough. The patients were sent back indoors and in a gloomy room. There were only board games, some pieces missing, to do. Natalie and Chloe did a few rounds of Checkers.

Around noon they had another meal. This one was less appetizing. It was some bowl of cooked meat with a slice of bread. Butter, very sour smelling, was optional to spread. Still, hungry Natalie and Chloe ate their portion. After the lunch they went into the same room and tried playing Chess. It was difficult because Natalie hadn't played in a year and Chloe never learned.

"Is this going to be every day?" asked Chloe when she moved a pawn.

"If it is," said Natalie. "I'd rather be back in that court room listening to the tree hugger whine in his squeaky mouse voice."

Dinner was the worst the twins had seen all day; a cold boiled potato, with half frozen mixed vegetables, a rock hard biscuit and bitter tasting strawberries. Chloe never thought she'd reject any food until that day. After eating, they were sent back to their cell. Dr. Pates paid them a visit.

"Enjoy your day ladies?" he said with a mocking smile. "Since you're the only new ones here, know this! This is your new home and you won't leave it!"

"Want a bet?" thought Natalie grimly. She was up for the challenge of breaking out.

Six days later, the girls were rounded up for showers which were nothing more than a tiled room with thin curtains for privacy. The water was ice cold. There were no decent towels; they just put different jumpsuits on. The twins started wondering if jail would be better. Chloe was frightened enough knowing the whole asylum was co-ed and so was the shower. Thankfully, her eyes and body were spared from any sights or possible offenses.

When Natalie thought of it, there were people that could be classified as insane. Truly there were ones that counted, but they didn't receive help. Nothing got better for anyone. The abuse continued. Natalie hated the one nurse who did calling every morning. She nicknamed her Queen of the Leprechauns because she was so short. Natalie did everything she could to stand up for herself and Chloe. It only got her in deeper trouble.

Chloe started having a quick temper after weeks of being tearful. She could no longer bear the asylum, still finding it hard to believe such a place existed! Out of her grief, she became brooding and the brooding led to being bitter. She felt bitterness towards Natalie for getting them in the whole mess. She didn't want to speak to her which led to awkward moments before sleeping.

"This is your entire fault," growled Chloe one day as they marched around. She had also had a rough night of sleep so she was cranky anyway.

"Mine?!" yelled Natalie. "It's always mine isn't it?! You always need a scapegoat!"

"Scapegoat?" screeched Chloe which startled Natalie. She slapped Natalie's arm. Natalie slapped her back. In seconds, they were on the muddy ground in a fight. Patients screamed at the horror which hadn't happened before to them.

"Oi!" yelled Queen of the Leprechauns. Her real name was Nurse Birdie. "You better break it up before I slap your hides!"

Chloe jumped up and stayed still in the line. Natalie crossed her arms and glared at the four foot woman. Then, being the arrogant person she was, Natalie squatted down so she was eye level and pursed her lips.

"You…don't…scare…me," said Natalie smugly. "Queen of the Leprechauns." Her remark got her a slap on the face and Natalie was sent into the discipline room.

The discipline room was a closet with a barstool in pitch darkness. Natalie wasn't afraid of the dark, but she felt betrayed by Chloe. She thought Chloe would always be sweet natured.

"Guess not?" she thought. "We have to get out of here! I've got two daughters to look after, I need to see Mom again and I need to tell Aiden I love him after all! I'll make things right!"

Weeks became months, and months became years. Natalie said she'd look after Chloe and she would keep her promise. That included, in her mind, finding an escape. Slowly, she and Chloe were losing themselves. The treatment, the numbers for names, the poor conditions…it was pure torture. How could a place like it be run in modern society?

The Dewitt Asylum was surrounded by a concrete wall, a small drain with a tunnel covering it, which lead out into a river. The river had a bridge over it. The building was set on a hill in a secluded countryside. Hair was cut when there was a case of lice. There had been upon the twins' arrival. No sheets on beds, upset stomachs and poor hygiene. Natalie and Chloe's hair grew so they looked less like men, until the scissors and shaver came back out.

Another form of torture was beating them with a ruler on the hands and wrists. Nurse Birdie was the worst. She seemed sadistic to them all. She made it especially worse for Natalie whom she had formed an enemy with.

The last time they called each other by name, they were smacked by Nurse Birdie. Soon, Natalie and Chloe were just numbers, occasionally, Sis to each other. After two years of being locked up, with the same routine, Natalie felt hopeless for being released. Chloe kept her hope to herself since both sisters rarely spoke to each other. Natalie hated seeing Marie's trinket out. Chloe tried thinking their father would come save them. It was all folly.

Doors were locked, dogs sniffing out if someone tried running for the drain and windows bolted. There seemed no chance of getting out. Dr. Pates had to be right. They would never leave until Natalie noticed something under Chloe's bunk bed.

Natalie couldn't sleep and stayed on the floor staring at the wall. She noticed a crack in one of the bricks. Out of boredom she touched it. A tiny grain fell from her fingertip. Then Natalie pushed her palm against the brick and it wiggled.

"Hello?" thought Natalie seeing it move. "This is a loose one. I wonder if we could get it looser."

Natalie plotted it out in her head. If she and Chloe, yes Chloe too, could get the brick out and move more they could squeeze out. There was no other room next to them except the beginning of the hallway. They could run off at night. Hands though wouldn't work well enough. They needed something sharper.

"Maybe I could steal a knife?" thought Natalie. She did do it after all. She stole a small steak knife from their table after dinner as all retreated for their cells.

"Sis?" said Natalie later that night. She shook her awake. "Get up! I have an idea to get out!"

"What?" growled Chloe. "Let me sleep!"

"Sis down here!" said Natalie. "Under your bunk!" Natalie climbed down and found the brick. She started scraping the knife against it. Chloe peeked under and rolled her eyes. "Help me out Sis!"

"With what?" yawned Chloe. "I'm tired!"

"We're getting this brick loose," said Natalie. "We're going to escape out after we pry some loose!"

"Will it work?" asked Chloe starting to sound like her old kind self. She had a small smile grow.

"If you'll help me," said Natalie firmly. She was going to win the war with the doctors and nurses who said every day they wouldn't escape.

So Chloe climbed off and took a turn filing down the cinder block's side so they could get it out. Every night the turns repeated. They only did it for an hour since sleep was precious. There was no sleeping in at the asylum. It took months to move the cinderblock. The girls lost track of time since no calendars or holidays were celebrated. They couldn't tell which day was their birthday, but they knew the seasons quite easily.

Finally, they got the block out. The only problem was that they couldn't see very well on the other side. It was too dark. Both wondered if there were rats. No rats appeared except around the dining hall.

"We'll have to make it bigger Sis," said Chloe miserably. She was hungry all the time because of the poor food.

"I know," sighed Natalie. "We'll just have to keep going. Just be happy nobody is bright enough to see their missing a steak knife." They kept it hidden under the bunk bed.

So another long process of getting a brick loose proceeded again. It was a tedious task. Sometimes, Chloe dozed off, slowing down the work. They moved one, two, and three until they had a row of five blocks pushed out. It was too narrow to crawl out of. They would have to move more. The solid bricks never fell after one moved. On and on Natalie and Chloe worked an hour each night on their cinderblocks.

Soon after they made a whole patch of blackness Natalie tested it out. She slipped her legs in first and felt under her feet wooden beams. Then she slid the rest of her body in. She stood up and found the ceiling couldn't touch her head.

"What's in there?" asked Chloe.

"I can't really see," answered Natalie. "I'm going to walk ahead. I'll count the paces."

"No," said Chloe afraid Natalie would get lost. "Stay here."

"I'm going in Sis," said Natalie sternly. "I'm seeing where this goes." She started walking. Carefully she avoided the softness between the beams fearing they would break. After about twelve paces she hit the wall.

"Anything?" Chloe called.

"Sshhh!" ordered Natalie. Maybe an echoing could be heard. She walked back to the space. "I found the wall, but I don't think there are any loose bricks."

"Let me see," said Chloe eagerly. She crawled in and followed her sister's trail. She felt the cold brick against her outstretched hands. "So did you think of how to get out this way?"

"No, I didn't," grumbled Natalie. "It looks like we have more filing to do."

"How long will this take?" asked Chloe.

Neither knew, but kept on filing an hour each night. They would unstack their bricks, crawl in shifts and file. Then they would crawl out and put the bricks back in case anyone came in. It was all a process that became a habit for them. There were no more questions or doubts; they just kept going with the filing of bricks.

When they got one free Chloe peeked out and felt a wintery air. Since they were on the first floor, if they had to jump after moving more blocks they wouldn't get wounded. Not as much as their souls felt.

"What exactly will we do once we get out?" asked Chloe. "That drain hole may be covered up."

"It won't be," said Natalie confidently. She was wrong!

After getting halfway with the brick filing with the asylum wall the doctors had iron bars set up in the drain. Natalie knew no file would work. There had to be another way. She couldn't see the bars to estimate how wide they were, but if wide enough they could just slip out.

Then it was Chloe who had an idea to help with the escape. Out in the yard was a tool shed with old supplies. When they got the brick wall opened up one of them could sneak in and find out what they could use.

They did have a delay because there were points both felt sick, too sick to move. It was easy to say that neither maturing women cared about the bricks when they were queasy and aching. It seemed like the food was getting worse and slowly killing them.

"How many more do we have to move to get out of the building?" asked Chloe one night after they had a horrible meal of overcooked meat.

"Let's play safe and say seven up and seven wide," mumbled Natalie. "It will be easier to climb out of."

"What about those dogs?" asked Chloe.

"They'll be in their kennels," reassured Natalie. "Besides, we're on the other side of the yard remember? There's a likely chance they won't hear us or anything from here."

"I still don't know about this," sighed Chloe. "I don't know how long we've been in here, but this dirty place is making me sound old."

"We're getting sick more often than old," said Natalie. "Don't you want Mom to be proud of you?"

"Yes. Yes I do." Chloe wiped tears away thinking of her mother.

"So do I! So we will escape for her."

"Dad too," added Chloe.

"Yeah, whatever you say," muttered Natalie and she turned over clutching her stomach.

The filing continued until they got a space pulled out. Chloe crawled out first, feeling adventurous again, and ran for the shed. Inside were garden tools, a lawn mower, flower pots, and a saw. The saw could work.

"A saw?" questioned Natalie. "I don't know if will work."

"Who knows?" said Chloe. "You said the cinderblocks would work and they did. This will work too!"

So since it was Chloe's idea, it was Chloe who would climb out of the building's new hole and try sawing the bars down. It was more laborious than tiring. She felt exhausted by the time she dragged herself back to their secret passage.

"I hate metal!" thought Chloe when she hit her stiff pillow after an hour of trying to cut the metal.

Around the time it was winter, Natalie argued with Chloe to not go out. They had no coats or other sources of warmth. So she had her sister forget it until spring thaw came. The bars would've been frozen anyway with Chloe's sawing.

Both aged as the years passed. The duo rarely saw a mirror. They looked twice their age. Dark circles under their eyes, bruises from any abuse they got from rulers whether they were bad or good, and skin getting sickly pale. The raven hair they had since being babies became grey. More like salt and pepper for a color. Their voices became fragile. Their bones stuck out. The only nice thing was that no lice cases had broken out and their hair had grown out very long.

Everyone was the same save for the doctors and nurses. Those working people never seemed ill or out of shape. Natalie and Chloe heard of some patients who died. Though they never bonded with anyone and stayed close together they felt sympathy for others.

Chloe finally got the bars cut one summery evening. Maybe it was August, still neither women were sure. Natalie saw that with the bars cut and hidden from view of the tunnel they could make their run.

"We escape tonight," she said proudly.

"What will we do after that?" asked Chloe. "No, wait. I know land better than you."

"I can admit that," agreed Natalie. They both had gotten closer after being imprisoned for a little over thirty years. They were in their fifties.

There had been many times Natalie wondered of her children and what they were. Now, they were a fading memory. Almost like a dream that she questioned whether it was real or not. There was nothing she could do for her family and it was the same.

"We'll find someone good to help us," said Chloe. Her hope was rising now that they were almost gone. No more metal, stone or coldness. Chloe's desire grieved for all of nature to be under her feet and to smell fresh air, not the staleness of the building. She needed it to live! What would she do without it?

At midnight, they assumed, Natalie and Chloe pried away their entrances in the walls, raced down as stealthy as they could and leaned against the wall. They checked the open land around them and then Chloe ran first for the tunnel.

"Good thing there are no lights glaring from the roof," said Chloe as she waited for Natalie to join her.

Chloe moved the broken bars and they crawled out. They were on the other side and able to run away…if only some of the nurses weren't out for a smoke break. Chloe and Natalie froze on their knees seeing the two nurses.

"Dr. Pates!" hollered one of them. "Two escapers! Call the dogs!"

The other nurse grabbed Natalie, but she was a foot shorter than her and was pushed down. Chloe and Natalie ran for their life to the bridge a couple of yards away. The dogs were woken up and they bounded at the runaways. The doctors came out too after having a little party of alcohol.

Natalie and Chloe panted and coughed as they ran for the bridge. There they stood on top of the bridge like cornered rabbits amidst a hunting pack of dogs. Natalie looked down and then at Chloe. She became serious and grabbed her shoulder. Chloe gasped from her grip.

"Do you trust me?" said Natalie sharply. Chloe nodded quick to answer. "Then hold your breath!"

"Wha-" started Chloe, but she was cut off by her screaming as she plummeted down into the river.

Before Chloe knew it, she was pushed and falling down into the still river below. A cool temperature touched her filthy skin. It shocked her as she was surrounded by water. She hadn't been completely enveloped in any liquid for years. Memories of swimming and waterfall jumping came back and she moved. She kicked her arms and legs. Chloe did the frog kick as she focused ahead. The dogs barked and howled.

Natalie raced down the bridge for the wood, hoping she could distract them from Chloe and she could shake them off to rejoin her. She didn't get close enough. One of dogs got up close and bit her ankle. Natalie went down with a scream and hit the ground. She felt the cold metal of cuffs on her wrists. Inwardly bellowing, she was dragged back to the ward. Her escape had been of poor planning, but at least Chloe had been freed. She was put in a different room and kept handcuffed to the bed at night. It would be a long time before she saw Chloe again…

Chloe was followed by the dogs on the bank and Chloe didn't look back. Suddenly she was midair and fell down into a deep pool. Bursts of bubbles scattered from her body's impact. She opened her eyes the best she could underwater. The dogs grew confused and jumped around. She was officially out of bondage like the characters in stories she used to love.

Chloe went down the river letting the waves take her over, but after being indoors for so long it felt sensational to be in the cold water. Chloe moved her arms and kicked her legs to keep on paddling. Her head stayed above to breathe.

"Don't stop swimming," she thought. "They'll find you! Keep going!"

Chloe kept going for about a mile and then climbed up on one of the rocks. She sat upon it and looked at her surroundings. There were trees around her. The lovely green trees and a pebbly bank was a striking contrast to the concrete walls she had been behind of. Chloe looked down the rest of the river as it vanished from her sight.

"If I go on land they may find my tracks," thought Chloe. "In water I may be safer." she glanced down at the current. "It just may work. There's no harm in trying to keep swimming until I reach a safe point. And who knows? I may find something better to eat."

Chloe looked down at her jumpsuit and tore off the numbers sewed on. The tag was crumpled up and she tossed it on the bank. That would throw them off. They'd think she ran for the woods after being carried downstream. Free of being called 12200304 she slid back in the current and swam again.

"So down the river I went," said Chloe to Once-ler. It was in the afternoon when her story came to a close. "I swam against it afraid if I got on land they would find me. I was in the water for a long time. I slept on the bank, found berry bushes to eat from, and was wet all the time. I did nothing else. I think I did it for a week. Everything was going fine until the current got too strong and I went unconscious. Then that's when Mr. Lorax and Ted found me. I don't remember anything, but feeling at peace floating down stream dreaming of good things." She rubbed her fists against her eyes to stop tears. "Then the next thing I know I'm young and safe. Feels like I've been reborn with you."

Once-ler was hunched over the table. He felt miserable after hearing Chloe's story. It only made him feel worse. All the things that happened to his daughters where things he never expected to happen to them. Once-ler felt like it was his fault. If he hadn't been out of their lives things could've been prevented.

"Natalie's still there," he muttered. "Still in that prison!" He sat up and stared down Chloe. His voice became cold. "Where is it at? I'll get her out!"

"Mom couldn't get us out," said Chloe. "If she could have, we would've been out a long time ago. Maybe Natalie got back out-unless they really bolted her up. I don't know where it is. I don't if I'd be able to find the route I took. I passed out remember?" Fear sank in that Chloe wouldn't see her sister again. To not see her sister again, whom she spent every single one of those awful days with would be torture.

"No, there has to be a way!" Once-ler wasn't going to lose Natalie. "Somehow!" He got up and went upstairs. Chloe raced after him. She found him digging in a trunk. "They won't say no to one of the richest men ever…if I can find a good amount!"

"What are you looking for?" asked Chloe.

"Money," answered Once-ler. "They won't say no to The Once-ler if I handed them cash."

"Daddy," said Chloe. "If you went down there saying you're Natalie's father you'll be joining Natty!"

Once-ler stopped searching for what money he had left over; money that his mother hadn't taken for hers. Chloe was right, but he wasn't going to give up on Natalie. For now, he had Chloe. He wouldn't let anything harm her again.

Chloe stood next to his hunched over figure. He would've saved them if he could. Her hope was partially true. Once-ler suddenly hugged her close. Why had the family suffered so much?

"They won't hurt you again," said Once-ler. "Not while I'm around."

As for Natalie she soon became insane for real after Chloe escaped. She stared more at the walls and mumbled to herself. She mumbled things like "She's out. She's a bird. She's free." There seemed to be no chance of Natalie getting free. Her room was sealed off tighter than ever. She smacked the walls and screamed at the top of her lungs causing other patients to complain. Her saneness decreased and she lost her mind thinking of Chloe. Natalie had given up her chance of freedom to save her sister; her best friend that she was born with.

However, a miracle happened. A detective showed up because some teenagers who were rebellious peeked over the wall and wondered what it was. They started asking questions. Then when they got no answers they went back to check it out. It was very odd when they saw the patients marching around. They looked like something out of a creepy movie with how they paced and had glazed over faces. Even they were smart enough to see it. Something was definitely aloof for the building to loook elegant and Victorian age to be a prison. A couple of them called the police of Gellar. They complained something had to be wrong. It didn't seem natural for the people to be acting in a zombie like way. The police sent a detective, only their best to investigate why.

Natalie barely noticed the detective, but if she had paid attention she would've found how familiar she looked. It was perhaps better if Natalie didn't. She would've cried more if she saw the lady with eyes of blue and hair of black; the lady who would've reminded her of Chloe.

"Honest Ma'am," said the aging Dr. Pates. "There's nothing wrong with our place."

"Is there really?" asked Detective Kay. She put a pen in her mouth as she studied the man. The patients were poorly dressed while their caretakers were in good clothes.

"Oh yes," said Dr. Pates lying through his teeth. "There's nothing wrong! We do the best for our patients!"

"Like what exactly?" asked Detective Kay. She pulled a strand of her onyx hair behind her ear.

"Oh I could go on all day about the wonderful things we do!" lied Dr. Pates. "I've been here sixty years. I inherited it from my father! I'm going on eighty and all is still well! Come I'll tell you in my office."

"You may tell me all you like, but I'd still like to check everything myself," said Detective Kay. "I have a search warrant and you will not refuse it. Do you understand sir?"

"Of course," gulped Dr. Pates. There was no swaying in the young lady. "Of course I'll let you. Nice hairstyle by the way."

"Oh thank you," she said. "My husband's a barber and asked if he could try a pixie cut for me. I'll let him know of your compliment."

The doctors and nurses tried acting like they did nothing wrong, but they couldn't escape the watchful eyes of the woman. Detective A. Kay paid attention to the details of the patients. They didn't look healthy or in good care. Detective Kay wrote everything down in her notebook as she walked about the halls. She left with her evidence and quick photographs she took with her cellular phone. The "insane" found it foreign. Poor things had been locked up for so long... It was a good thing she had come in and when she showed the evidence on her little pics there was an agreement that something was wrong.

It turned out that the police, all who were different from thirty years before were suspicious of the doctors and nurses. When Detective Kay left the asylum she phoned the lieutenant and sergeant, who just so happened to be family of hers. She and the rest agreed that something was wrong. From what her keen sapphire eyes saw was something suspicious of the staff and the bruises and scrapes from the patients.

The police arrested the doctors for the evidence of abuse. They wouldn't last any longer in their business. They had no more jobs. It was likewise that most of them who were old wouldn't be free again. They would pay for the hurt they caused. The police would sort them out, but first of all they had the patients to take care of.

They came out and took the patients out to a hospital to help them heal. All were afraid of the cops, but soon lost it after the kind people helped them into paddy wagons. Some had been a true struggle to convince they were safe. Natalie was the least resistant and screamed in horror at the cops. The lieutenant got her out of her cell.

"Who?!" cried Natalie seeing him. "Who are you?!"

"It's alright Ma'am," he said. "Just call me David. I'm going to get you out. You're free."

"David?" said Natalie dazed. "I had a kid named David."

"It's a common name," chuckled David. He came in and took her hand. She flinched at his touch. "Come on now. No more doctors will hurt you."

"Get your hands off of me!" ordered Natalie.

"It's alright now," coaxed David. He had two kids and knew how to handle them when they were upset like Natalie was acting. "Do you remember your name?"

"What name?" asked Natalie. "Just go away!"

The lieutenant looked kindly at her with green eyes and led her out of the building. She was a tough cookie! No more than his wife was of course, but he was surprised to see such life in one of the patients.

"Let go!" she cried. "Please!"

"It's alright," said the lieutenant. "You're safe now." His thinning auburn hair kept blowing around as Natalie struggled against him.

"No! No! It's a lie!" Natalie fought against the strong arms and screamed. "Let me free! Pleeeaasse!"

"Wait- no!" he yelled when she tore free and raced away from the truck. She ran ridiculously fast, but was caught by the other cop. This one was a woman with dark red hair and dark blue eyes which seemed familiar to Natalie's brain. She was Sergeant Gable.

"Easy ma'am," she said to Natalie. "No need to fight. We're going to help you. Detective Kay figured out you were all in danger. We're going to get you help."

Natalie tugged away the best she could from the tall woman, but the sergeant was just as strong as her. Sergeant Gable was a tough woman and she wasn't going to lose the fight as much as Natalie planned the same.

"No! No!" screeched Natalie. "Let…me…go!"

"Ma'am, please!" said Sergeant Gable. "Don't fight! Just come with us. There are nice people who will help you."

"No there isn't!" yelled Natalie. "You people won't take me!" She broke out of the tall woman's arms and raced off to the bridge since the gates were open. "No one can take me! No one! No one! I hate your mankind! All of you!"

"Lieutenant McCann, call the rest of the squad!" hollered Sergeant Gable. "She's turning loose!"

"Nobody shall take me!" cried Natalie whose insanity had grown over the past weeks.

Natalie kept running. She dared to not look back until she was over the river and in the woods. Natalie didn't know where else civilization would be, but she desperately wished there wouldn't be any more people to stop her from being free. She kept running as fast as her aged body could go. Her breathing grew ragged as she picked up the pace. Her feet thudded against the ground. Her boots felt twice as tight as she raced for her life.

The wood faded away as she came to a road. She stopped and crouched against the side making sure no people were passing by. Not even a car passed. Running had only made Natalie hungrier. Her stomach churned for food. Now she felt starving enough to eat dirt.

"Eat dirt," she mumbled. It sounded familiar. "Eat dirt for all I care. Eat chocolate for all I care! Chocolate! Cake pans! No pancakes! Care for what? Dirt?"

Natalie heard the sound of dogs again. They weren't the feral mixed breeds from the asylum. They were German Shepherds. Natalie sat up and trembled hearing their barks and what she thought was sniffing.

A rumbling sound of something big was heading in her direction. Natalie cowered down and peeked over the road.

As destiny would have it, a truck carrying baked goods passed by. Right on the sides were pictures of chocolate pastries. It was enough to distract Natalie from the fear of a person capturing her. She hadn't seen any sweets in all those years! If only the cops knew she was responding to treats at that point.

The truck was almost past her when she ran after it. The driver didn't notice a mad woman running after his cargo. Natalie leaped in a sudden adrenaline, held on the back until she had struggled it open a crack and slid underneath. She tore open the packages stuffing little cakes, doughnuts, brownies and cookies down her throat.

The dogs lost her scent and the search was on for one escaper. Not for two because the doctors wrote on Chloe's files she was dead.

"Tastes so good," Natalie moaned with a full mouth. "Sis, you're a bird and so am I! We're birds! We're free!" Natalie stretched out her legs and let the truck take her away to the horizon. She didn't know where she was going, but anywhere was better than The DeWitt Asylum.

Author's Note: Sorry this took so long! Don't even ask why life has been tough on me! It's still not like what I hoped to be, but I couldn't bear not finishing the chapter! SpookyFox88, of fan and fic, gemstone108, and Akumu Kagami thank you for the fave! Cloud T. Hollows, Baby Chanel and 913 thanks for the story alert! RobinMakesMeHappy, xxxjetgirlxxx, IgnitingFireworks, IZlover9719 and kaizuko, and InvaderAlison thanks for the alert and fave! Oncie's Sweetheart; a special thank you for inspiration! She gave suggestions for Alicia's middle name! I don't know how drunken people act so pardon if Natalie's not very accurate.30 pages long guys! Longest I've ever written for a story here!