Abnormal Norman 38: A Tale for Gilda's Trust

Abnormal Norman 38: A Tale for Gilda's Trust

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Be Derpy

City Streets

 

>You ran alongside Gilda as you went to the location Lyra sent you to pick her up.

"I hope she's alright."

>"You've been saying that for the past five minutes. It won't change anything!"

>As you ran, you went by a location that had little to no signal.

"Lugnuts!"

>You raised your phone up high and tried to find a signal.

>Gilda stopped by the corner to catch her breath.

"Come on!"

>Signal is slowly coming back, but the speed is that of a snail.

>The phone can't connect to Lyra's signal, must be something on her end.

>"Hey gray! What's going on?"

"Lyra's phone's gone out of range!"

>"Oh for the love of..."

>You move in circles, hoping to manually catch up to the signal.

>Hummmm....

>You move to the east. Looks like this direction is getting a stronger signal.

"Come on, Gilda!"

>"Slow down, woman! You'd lose the signal faster if you kept running."

"Fine."

>You and Gilda briskly walked through the streets.

>Focused on the phone, you bump to a brick wall.

>Following the signal, something on the road blocks you and Gilda.

>"Shit, cops!"

>Police are still investigating and cleaning the area where the battle between Lyra, Brad and that giant rhino-lion thing took place.

"Wha- ACK!"

>Gilda yanks you by the one-way alley.

>"Damn, we can't go through there. Too many cops."

"Wait, I lost the signal!"

>You circled around again, focused on your phone.

>With your concentration, you lost sight of what's infront of you and bumped on a wall.

*DONK*

"GYAH!"

>You fall to the ground, buttfirst and head aching.

>"Our only weakness! Brick walls!" Gilda joked.

>She looked around as if she was in a familiar place.

>"Hey, I think I remember working here years ago."

>You looked around. The place was familiar to you as well.

"I know a shortcut!"

>You went to the dumpster by the wall and tried to move it aside.

>Gilda saw and helped you out.

>"Hold on, gray. On three. One, two, THREE!"

"HUUGGGRRHH!"

>Man this is heavy.

>You and Gilda managed to push it aside.

>Behind it was still a brick wall.

>"Now what?"

"Hold on."

>You tried to regain some memories of the place.

>Knocking on the wall, you try to feel something out of place.

*KNOCK*KNOCK*

>"What the hell are you-"

"Shhhh..."

*KNOCK*KNOCK*

>There it is!

"FOOUND IT!"

>You pushed the foreign brick aside, unlocking a hidden hole by the wall.

>"Whoa, gray! Never knew you knew such secret places."

"Never did I know I'd use these again."

>"Huh?"

"N-nothing."

>You went in and down the hole. The signal seems to be stronger underground.

>Lyra said she was in a sewer, or so you think from what you've gathered from her weak voice.

 

>Inside the hidden hole, a few dusty lightbulbs lit the way.

>They seemed to be powered by something, but what?

>Gilda took her phone out to light the floor. The bulbs were getting too dim anyway.

>Walking along the path, voices were heard.

>"Shh..."

>Gilda went ahead to scout the place.

>She leaned by the corner, looking for the source of the mumbling voices.

 

>>"Man, these places stink!"

>>>"Hey, the point is we change the oil in these generators. What if our fellow Viri Scientia were cornered by those accursed Saint's Bro?"

>>"Well it would be their fault!"

 

>"Viri bastards?"

"H-Here?"

>Gilda looked a bit closer.

>They were barely armed. Seemed like rookies made to do grunt work.

>Gilda, without a second to spare, charged in and tackled them both with both arms rised to her side.

>>"WAH? GRUUMMPH!"

>As they fall to the ground, Gilda immediately started to knock them out with her punches.

>One of the grunts tries to stand and make a run for it.

>You look around the place. It's too familiar for you.

>At long last, you realized when you discovered this place.

>You went to the side and activated one of the hole's traps.

>The escaping grunt was immediately electrocuted by the ladder's trap mechanism.

>>>"GZGZGZGGZGZZZZGRAAAAAG!"

"Ahh!"

>The man falls to the ground, incapacitated.

>Gilda looks at you with such disbelief.

>She then angrily charges to you and pins you to the wall.

>"Y-YOU!"

"Wh-WHAT?"

>"You know too much about this place. The secret entrance, the traps, the location..."

"G-Gilda!"

>"TELL ME! ARE YOU ONE OF THEM!"

>Her voice brings a chill down your spine.

>Her eyes filled with wrath as she looks at your eyes.

"N-NO! I...I SW-"

>"Tell me...RIGHT NOW. ARE YOU WORKING FOR THEM?"

"GILDA! I'M...I'M NOT!" You say as tears of fear and nostalgia falls on your face."

>"THEN GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER. WHO ARE YOU AND HOW DID YOU KNOW THIS PLACE!"

"I...I...ACK!"

>You literally pissed in fear as Gilda holds you up the wall.

>Gilda took pity and released you from her grasp.

>"Lauren Faust..."

>You slowly sat down because your legs couldn't handle the fear.

>Gilda shakes her hands, dusting them off.

>You just wipe the tears from your eyes as you stopped yourself from leaking urine.

>"Look, just give it to me straight."

>You complied.

"*sniff* Y-yeah..."

>You had a hard time breathing.

>Gilda looks with regret.

>It's as if she scared a little child.

 

>"Derpy..."

"Years ago when I was just a kid, my *sniff* my mum was suffering from cancer. My dad left us when I was...well I couldn't remember when but..."

>You wiped away some of your tears.

"Being something of a feather-brained girl, I got in with the wrong people, made friends with the wrong group of girls.

>Gilda sat down on the opposite end.

"Got me into some illegal stuff. Muffs, or Muffinphetamine."

>"Faust...you...you were..."

"Yeah, it was me. I was one of your gang's top customer."

>"God..."

"Overtime, I started ti get sick from my addiction. To the point where I started to argue with my mom."

>"She was...?"

"She was angry when she found out, but I wasn't in the right mind to care what she said. I ran away. Went missing for two days."

>"What happened?"

>You look at her with your eyes trying to remember.

"Well, look around. In two days, I learned alot about the streets. Hidden getaways such as this was taken for granted, and I used them wisely. Hell, even knew where the trap switches are."

>"You couldn't have lurked around alone."

"You're right. I wasn't alone. In my first day as I ran away, I met a homeless woman, about your height, but clearly crazy."

>"Who was she?"

"Her name was Screw Loose. People around called her Screwy. She was an addict, but she was kind. During my first night out, she gave me a jacket since that day was raining, and she seemed to be normal at first."

>"What happened?"

"Hours went by, I went to know her a bit better. An addict of muffs, she used to be a carpenter. When we were talking some more, a bunch of officers and doctors came in the alley and tried to subdue her. They weren't prepared."

>"Prepared?"

"Screw Loose did some street fighting fueled by her own muff-induced adrenaline. When more of them showed up, she took me by hand and ran away with me, showing me some of the tricky paths' hidden holes."

>"Like this?"

"This was the first hole she showed me. Went down that ladder, activated the traps and escaped through where we entered. We finally settled down in another alley, telling me stories of the city's hidden underground, gangs like Saint's Bro and Viri, stuff like that."

>"Then what?"

"She offered me some muffs, to which I happily accepted, but before I smoked them, I looked at her and what she's been through. I asked her if she has a family. She said she forgot. Told me they hired those doctors and wanted her for her superior intellect, stuff like that."

>"Then you realized she was going crazy, right?"

"Yeah. She was *cough* insane, but I managed to stay with her for another day. Told her my story. Interestingly enough, she was shocked at how I treated my mother. Said that I should go and make amends and then she realized she was offering muffs to a kid, so she took the muffs she gave me."

>"Were you smoking it yet?"

"No, I couldn't. I kept looking at her like a mirror. Like something I would've been if I had continued on."

>"I see..."

"I told her I'd go back to my family if she went back to those doctors. Obviously she declined. I tried to talk some sense into her for hours on end."

>"Did she do it?"

"She half-heartedly agreed when I told her there were lots of muffs there too, like lolipops for the good kids who go to the dentist. Hours later, she, *sniff* was back to the hospital, under the belief that she'd get muffs soon after her 'treatment'."

>"Huh."

"The last thing she said to me as she sat down by the wheelchair was that I quit the stuff and go donate some of it to her if I have some. She was probably joking and knew that my whole 'lolipop' thing was a sham. She wanted to be cured as well, but her own body had betrayed her more than she could have hoped."

>"Man, that was something, I guess."

"After that, the doctors phoned my mom, but she was already back at the hospital, so my neighbor, Carrot Top went in to pick me up."

>"Your neighbor? The garden girl."

"Yeah, she acted like my aunt. Felt like she and my mom had something special, but that was beside the point. I underwent treatment from all the times I used muffs and, years later, I was back to being normal, memories repressed and saying no to drugs, that sort of thing."

>Gilda looked a bit sad.

"During that, I looked up to comic books. Old ones that had them PSAs to 'NO TO DRUGS' or those G.I. Joe shows. Now I'm a bit in to them, as you may have noticed."

>"Well shit, that was heavy."

"We all have our little secrets. I just didn't want to tread back to that one."

>"I'm sorry I...I didn't..."

"No, it's alright."

>You turned the ladder's trap off."

"At least you know something about your roommate."

>"Hey, I'm sorry."

"You just sa-"

>"No, I meant, with the muffs, with this...Those muffs were partially cooked by me, probably. I probably sold lots to you back then."

"We were both young, and stupid. We have the future now."

>You climbed out of the hidden hole. Gilda followed.

>Up back at the main roads, out of the crime scene.

>"I never knew you were part of Saint's Bro history. Sorta."

"Hmm..."

>"Listen, sorry that I was a bit, distant with you back at home. I wasn't really used to strangers. I used to just hang out with my gang, but with Norman and these superhero shit. How'd he even get them?"

"He has this ring that...I don't really know either. He just tells me cryptic things."

>"Huh. Same with Nolan."

>Gilda raised her fist to you.

>"Hey, we good?"

>You just let out a slight smile and bumped it.

"Sure. Let's go find Lyra."

 

>Ten minutes have passed and you've finally reached the spot.

"Great, she must be under this exact spot."

>A distant voice is heard, like some sort of mating call. It keeps going on and on.

"Do you hear something?"

>"Sounds German..."

>>"LYYYRRAAAA! LYRAAAA WHERE ARE YOU? LYYYYYRAAAAAAA!"

"Err...that sounds like...Octavia?"

>Octavia shouts out Lyra's name like some lost child. As she does that, she manages to reach you."

>>"LYYYRRRAAAA! LYYRAAAA? LY- Oh Derpy!"

>She comes in and gives you a big hug.

>>"It's so nice to see another friendly face in this hour. What are you doing here?"

"I was...you know...taking a nice walk out?"

>Octavia then notices Gilda.

>>"Who's she? Wait, weren't you that girl from Lyra's couch the other day?" *

[spoiler] See Issues # 29-30 [/spoiler]

>"Whatever."

"That's not really..err...what are you doing here yelling for Lyra?"

>>"I got a call from Lyra in her weak voice. She sounded really hurt."

>She got a call from Lyra? Why?"

>>"I wonder what happened to her? She was asking for you herself, then said wrong number."

"Oh...Ah well..."

>The jig is up.

"Okay, I admit, we came here looking for Lyra too."

>>"Why the need to hide it?"

"We have some...issues that we'd rather not make public. Sorry if I'm a bit blunt."

>>"I understand. Her life is not my life, and I'm cool with that."

>Oh good...

"Swell!"

>>"Now, her phone's signal  is just around this area, but I don't know where she is."

"She's in the sewers. Phoned me about it."

>>"Sewers? I'M COMING LYRAAA!"

>With that, Octavia ran to the nearest manhole and lifted it up without remorse.

>The manhole flipped up in the air and landed on the nearest car.

>"Holy shit..."

"Yeah..."

>>"LYYRAAA?"

>Octavia jumped into the sewers. You and Gilda soon followed.

>Octavia turned her little electronic torch on and went on shouting "LYRA!" at every step.

>>"LYYYRAAAA!"

>"God, it's like walking with a broken record."

"Give it a rest, she's not exactly 'well'."

>Finally arriving at a certain area, blook drops are all around the floor.

>>"AHH! ACH MEIN..."

>"Whoa. Looks like she's been hurt or something." Gilda says, bumping your elbow, somewhat making fun of Octavia not knowing Lyra's Chronos.

"Err, let's follow the trail."

>>"ALREADY ON IT!" The German girl says.

>You all carefully explored the canals, slowly but surely.

>Footsteps are heard from the otherside.

>>"Oh god, I think it's Lyra!"

>Octavia runs torwards the shadowy figure.

>>"LYRA! LYRA!"

"OCTAVIA NO! THAT SHADOW'S WAY TOO MANLY!"

>"Well, the green girl ain't too big on her front herself."

"Oh shut it for now, Gilda."

>"Hah."

>Octavia ran directly to the source of the footsteps and tackled the guy to the ground.

>>>"G-GAK!"

>>"Oh my goodness, NORMAN!"

>>>"O-OCTAVIA?"

"Norman?"

>"Norman?"

>>>"Derpy? Gilda?"

>>"Norman! Have you seen Lyra?"

>>>"No, I was tracking her...Wait, what are you all doing here?"

"Well, Lyra called Octavia by accident and she called us here too."

>>>"And neither of the three of you have seen Lyra anywhere?"

>"Nope. You were called here too, Norman?"

>>>"More or less." Norman said while reaching for something in his pocket.

>It's Lyra's phone.

>>>"GOTT! IF YOU KIDNAPPED HER AND-"

>"Cool it, German. No use blowing steam and accusing someone in this place. It ain't healthy." Gilda said.

"*cough*" you sarcastically added.

>"Yeah, yeah."

>Gilda pulls Norman away from the angry German.

>She talks to Norman in whispers.

 

>"Tell me you found her and used the phone thing to ruse Octavia."

>>>"I swear, I havent."

>"Crap."

>Norman goes back to comfort the German.

>>>"Look, if it's any different, Brad's gone missing too."

>>"B-BRAD?"

>>>"I tried calling him but his cell's blocked. No missed calls too."

>The news overwhelms Octavia as she faints to Norman's arms.

>>>"Ahh shit. What now."

"Well...j-just bring her back to my house."

>>>"Oh goody, I get to bring an unconscious German beauty to someone's house in public."

>"Well we could always just leave her here."

>>>"NO!"

"NO!"

>"Alright...just saying... Know anyone with a car, Norman?"

>>>"No."

"W-well, I do."

>"Can we trust that guy?"

"We can if we give her a good reason."

>>>"It's Carrot Top, isn't it?"

"Yep."

>>>"Crap. That woman hates me."

"You don't have to join, Norman."

>>>"Oh right..."

"Look, keep on investigating to where Lyra is, me and Gilda will take care of Octavia."

>>>"Alright, alright. I'll see you two in the morning."

>"And keep your locker clean!"

>>>"Will you just bug off of my school? You've given both of us one week detention from a crazy hall monitor!"

>"Not my fault you guys got in trouble."

>>>"Oh bug off!"

 

>Twelve minutes later, Carrot Top arrives at the location.

>GIlda lifts the manhole up and pulls up Octavia's body to Carrot Top's car, much to her surprise.

>>>"HEY! HEY! HEY! What do you think you're doing?"

>"Don't worry. It's Derpy's classmate. She fainted."

"HI CARROT TOP!"

>>>"Derpy...didn't I tell you-"

"Don't worry, Carrot. This isn't about anything illegal. I'll explain on the way."

>Finally, Gilda sits beside the unconscious German at the back. Derpy rides shotgun.

>>>"So, care to talk?"

"One of our friend got lost and we found her going crazy in the sewers because apparently she had 'sewer fever'."

>>>"There's no such thing."

"Point is, Gilda just helped me find her, no gang stuff."

>"Wait, you told her about me?"

"She...she found out and talked to me the morning before I went to school."

>>>"And I am NOT happy with you living with innocent little Derpy."

>"Look lady, all else here, I don't really send her to do jobs. I'm just her bum friend."

>>>"Any sign of illegal actvities in her house and I'm calling the police!"

>"Yeah yeah."

"Don't worry. I promise I won't."

>>>"You better."

 

Be Lyra

???

 

>In a dim room, sleeping on a couch.

>Ugh, this is...this isn't the sewer.

"GYAH!"

>You woke up to your suspicion. Where am I?

>"Whoa, Lyra! You're awake!"

>You wiped your eyes to see clearer.

>Oh god...

"R-Rainbow Dash?"

>"Glad to see you're still in one piece."

"Ugh...god...wait...where?"

>"In my home. I already sent Pinkie home once I realized you were one of *ahem* Noir-Man's partners."

"What were you doing-"

>"In the sewers? It's a long story. See, when we heard about Gilda being-"

"Wait, you know Gilda?"

>"Yeah. She was, how you say, one of me and Pinkie's old friends." *

[spoiler] See Issue # 31 [/spoiler]

"So what were you doing in the sewers."

>"When Norman was stolen from us * back at the picnic, we decided to confront Gilda today, which was why me and Pinkie were absent."

[spoiler] See Issue # 27 [/spoiler]

"You were absent because you needed to find some Amazon prick?"

>"Actually, it was because Pinkie kept me awake all night and all day long because of her paranoia that Gilda will kill us."

"Let me guess, old gang relations?"

>"More of 'we didn't join and may or may not have tipped of the police."

"Heh. So the sewers?"

>"She used the sewers as one of our playsites. We used to run around, parkour and stuff there. Pinkie, no surprise, was the best of us three thanks to her sugar rush. We thought we might find Gilda there but, we only found you."

"Wow..."

>"So, I saw the news. You nearly got caught."

"Brad wasn't too lucky."

>"Does Norman know about this?"

"Left him a call. Guess he couldn't find his phone."

>"Any news from Brad?"

"No. I just woke up, remember?"

>"Ah, right."

"Listen, thanks for taking care of me, but *UNGH* I need to go."

>"Need a ride? I still got my motorcycle."

"That would be nice. Thanks.

 

>You and Rainbow walked to the garage.

"Listen, about Gilda. Tell your pink friend not to worry."

>"She's calm now?"

"She has other issues in mind, like Norman."

>"What about Norman? Is he in the gang?"

"Yep. Sort of. Brad and Norman are."

>"FAUST!"

"Ahh don't get worked up. I don't know the details."

>"I'm sure Pinkie's still scared to go to school."

"Well, that's her problem. UGh...damn...leg..."

>Rainbow helps you up. to her cycle.

>"You aight?"

"Yeah."

>Rainbow hops on and puts her helmet on.

>You put on the extra helmet as well. Safety first.

"One more thing you should know."

>"What?"

*VROOOMMM*

"Gilda's at Derpy's house."

>"DERPY!?!?"

"I don't know, anyway, that's my repayment for the ride."

>Rainbow looks forward, concerned for both Derpy and Norman.

>You just hung on to her waste as she rides to your house.

>A new day will begin in a few hours.

>You thought on to what adventures will happen soon.

>But the vision of the frightful winter night still haunts you for the rest of the night.

 

End of Chapter 38