Note from Author.
**WARNING**
This story is a work of fiction and does CONTAIN ADULT & VIOLENT SITUATIONS. Some of the characters USE COARSE LANGUAGE. Please be aware of that before you read this story.
Due to the very generous nature of a couple of special people, my latest endeavor has been edited. As I said I'm not a professional, I like to do this for fun.
So I would like to thank Mr. Mike Regan, Mr. Evan Mayerle, and Mr. David White for taking their time to help me make this a better story.
Thanks guys.
*Author's note: Tabitha in Eric's timeline is about 3 and Sabrina is 22 in this time line and story Tabitha is 6 and Sabrina is 25. *
****Disclaimer****
All characters that appear in this story that have appeared or have been mentioned in "Sabrina On Line the comic strip" by Eric Schwartz are the copyright of E.S. Productions & Eric Schwartz and are used with his permission.
The characters Chris Foxx and Dexter are the copyright of Chris Yost and are used with his permission.
Character Thomas Woolfe is the copyright of Michael Higgs.
Character Lee Evans copyright of Mr. Evan Mayerle.
The characters Max The Black Rabbit & Zig Zag are the copyright of Malcolm Earle and are used with his permission.
Other characters mentioned in this work of fiction are the creations, ideas and situations of the writer.
This story is based on Copyrighted characters and situations created by Mr. Eric Schwartz, Chris Yost and Malcolm Earle but is not intended to represent or be a part of the Sabrina On Line Universe Created and drawn by E.W.S. Or the Sabrina Online Story written by Chris Yost and Sabrina At Algonquin. Written and drawn by Malcolm Earle A.K.A Max The Black Rabbit.
Sincerely Mark White
Happy reading……and now on with the show.
Chapter 5: Lost but not forgotten.
Approximately 20 Years later:
US : Present Day.
Endora pulled the car into the shopping plaza; she was surprised to find it relatively empty. Might have something to do with the fact that it was 98 degrees in the shade. She put the car into park and let the cool air from the air conditioner wash over her. It was a pleasant feeling, Well can't stay here all day, she thought.
Endora thought it would be nice to have Sabrina, Amy, Thomas and little Timmy over for dinner. However she was out of a lot of things, so groceries were now number one on her list. She passed by an alley as she headed towards the grocery store and heard a crashing noise. She looked down the short dark passage and saw a figure sprawled out on the ground. It looked as though the fur had tried to walk but crashed into the wall instead, then fell to the ground. Endora felt the need to do something but wasn't sure what. She went down the alley cautiously and approached the fur lying collapsed on the ground. "Are you ok? Can I help you?" She asked, trying to assess the situation. The figure's back was turned towards her and there was a horrible odor emanating from somewhere. She wasn't sure if it was from the fur, or the alley.
Endora bent down and gave the fallen figure a light push. Her action triggered a moan from the figure. Endora thought it best if she turned the figure over. As she did she was shocked to find herself staring into the face of her daughter! Instinctively she knew that this wasn't her, this young woman's face was far to thin. But it still was a shock, it was as if Sabrina had lost fifty pounds or so. She quickly got over her initial reaction and tried to find out some information about her. "Miss can you stand?" She tried to help the femme up, all the while staring. In some way, down deep, she could have sworn that she knew this female skunk.
"Huuunnnnngry, fooood." The skunk femme said in a voice almost inaudible, then she fell unconscious in Endora's arms. It was obvious to Endora that the woman needed medical attention and quickly. This had to happen today, didn't it? Endora thought, then sighed. She couldn't leave this poor girl here, she had to take her to the hospital. First she thought she would try to pick her up and if that didn't work she would have to get help. She tucked her arms under the young fur's body and lifted. She wasn't as light as Endora had hoped, for someone so thin she seemed to weigh a ton. She was glad the car wasn't too far away.
She carried the young femme to her car and carefully put her in on the back seat. The young female skunk wasn't wearing very much, just a blanket and a very old pair of shorts that were hardly decent. She also had a vile stench emanating from her, she mustn't have had a bath in a very long time Endora noted. Now she was sure it hadn't been the alley. The blanket the female skunk had on fell away and Endora stared at her markings, they matched Sabrina's. It was uncanny, how could this be? Most skunk markings were unique to the individual, to have two the same was almost unthinkable. Well she would have to worry about that later, right now she needed to get this woman some medical attention. She had an old blanket on the floor of her car, it was much better than what this woman had on, so she removed the blanket and discarded it. It was partially responsible for the horrible stench. Good riddance, Endora thought.
She knew the main entrance to Mercy hospital was out of the question, the only thing available would be their clinic. Most hospitals had one, it took the ones in with no insurance coverage and the homeless. She also knew it would be a waiting game for sure. So much for dinner, that thought didn't please her, at all. She put her car around the back and carried the woman in. To her surprise there wasn't a soul about.
"Hello anyone here?" She called out praying someone answered. Endora knew she couldn't carry this woman too much longer. She still smelled vile and it was turning her stomach.
Then a friendly voice answered back. "Yes, one second." Endora sighed, great! She put the young girl in a chair close by and waited for the person behind the voice. About a minute later a lady badger came out into view, she was tall, slim and very attractive. More on the model side than a nurse or doctor. "What can I do for you?"
"I think this woman is suffering from severe malnutrition, can you help her?" She came over and almost fell over from the stench. She opened the young skunk's eyelids and checked her eyes.
"Is she a relation of yours?"
"No." Endora said shaking her head. "I found her in an alley, she was calling out for help. I just couldn't leave her there."
"I see, alright you are in luck, I have some time to see her. Please follow me. My name is Dr. Ellen Parrish."
Endora put out her paw and gave the young Dr.'s. a shake. "I'm Endora Mustelidae, nice to meet you."
The young badger smiled, "Nice to meet you, too. If you would, bring the young woman along and we'll see if we can find a gurney to put her on." They found one in a small room, not too far away. But Endora was really curious as to why there was nobody about. "Ah… where is everyone? I expected this place to be packed."
"This section of the hospital is under repairs, that door should have been locked. You were lucky to find anyone here at all."
"Well thank you very much for seeing her, I'm not really sure how much longer she would have lasted without some sort of treatment."
"Looks like you're her guardian angel." She smiled as she took a tongue depressor out of one of the medicine cabinets. She did some standard tests and found a few abnormalities. All the while the young skunk remained unconscious.
Endora saw the strange look on the young Doctor's face and questioned her about it. "Is there something wrong?"
"Well aside from the fact that she smells horrible." She made a face. "Her temperature is very high, that's not usually a good sign. There are some other abnormalities as well."
"That doesn't sound good, is there anything you can do?"
"I'd like to do an x-ray of her chest, just to see if she has a lung infection or not. Could you assist me, since there's no one else here?"
"Sure, tell me what to do." Endora was even more concerned about this mysterious female skunk. She prayed that she was going to pull through, she didn't know why she was so attached to this stranger. It was as if fate had brought them together and now she was her responsibility, she had to see this through. The x-ray proved to be the biggest surprise of all.
Dr. Parrish came into the room with the strangest look on her face. "I think you better see this Miss Mustelidae."
"Just call me Endora." She smiled at the lady doctor.
"Well, Endora we have a very unusual patient." The Doctor said puzzled.
"Is that good news?"
"In a way yes. Come and see for yourself." She turned on the light in the X-ray viewing machine and the young skunk's X-rays appeared.
Endora peered at the X-rays looking for what the doctor had thought was unusual. She wasn't a doctor but the X-rays definitely didn't appear normal. "I'm not too certain but these sure look strange, but then again I don't know what I'm looking for either."
"I can understand." She picked one of the X-rays and pointed. "See here, her chest cavity is mostly empty, these darker shades on her sides, and below are her organs. They are all misplaced."
That was indeed strange Endora thought. "Could that be why she is so thin? She cannot digest things properly?"
"I don't think so, it's the way she is made, I believe."
Now that was something Endora wasn't sure she heard right. "Huh? I don't understand?"
"She is one of a kind Endora, something I have never seen or heard of before."
"You mean she's ok."
The Doctor gave her shoulders a shrug. "For what she is, I can only guess but I would have to say, yes. She is fine, although she needs nourishment as you said. I'm guessing Endora but I think she's a laboratory experiment, who got away. I've never seen anything like her in my life and I have seen some pretty mixed up internal organs."
"An experiment? But it's illegal to do that!" This fact was a bit upsetting. How could anyone be this cruel to another? "So, what do you think she is then?" Endora asked with great curiosity.
"My best guess at this point and the evidence of the x-ray. I'd have to say she is a hybrid, part Skunk, part Snake."
Endora couldn't believe what the doctor had just said. "Did I hear you right? Did you say Snake?"
"Yes. Its about all I can guess at without more information." Dr Parrish scratched her head. "As far as I know, we are twenty years away from being able to do something like this, even if society would allow it. Apparently someone did it years ago. I don't know whether to punch them or congratulate them, who ever they are."
"But that would mean to eat she." Endora stopped herself knowing what came next. It was a thought that almost made her lose her lunch.
"Yes, it would mean she has to swallow her meal whole." The Doctor finished the sentence for her. "Did you notice her teeth? All normal in the front but if you look where her molars should be, this hybrid has these sharp slanted points that trap her food, keeping it from backing out just like most snakes." The Doctor seemed to lose herself in thought as she pondered the emaciated skunkett on the examining bed. The skunk intrigued her, but on other levels she felt sorry for this one of a kind creature. Who would do this to one of their own? And for another, precisely, how was it done? The technology and science needed to do this was so advanced, she couldn't believe this creature actually existed. She shouldn't exist but she did.
"Doctor?" Endora said trying to get her attention.
"Huh! Oh sorry my mind was wandering. She is a fascinating creature, sorry I'm a bit awed."
"Is there anything we can do for her? Now that we know what she is." Endora wasn't sure now.
"I can put an IV into her, that should get her back on her feet, but what she really needs is a good cleaning and a good meal."
"Oh!" Endora knew that and she did smell horrible. "Any chance we could bathe her now?"
"For sure and I'll help, this way to the bath tub." They quickly wheeled the young skunk to the awaiting tub.
Later when the young skunk came back she was sparkling clean. Her fur just shone and Endora pointed out to the Doctor how coarse her fur was. Again the Doctor found this very intriguing, she really wanted time to run a lot more tests on her. The doctor got the young skunk comfortable and covered. Then got an IV bag ready, she then put the IV needle into her arm. Her flesh was hard, she reckoned that it was almost all muscle. It took a little longer for her to find a vein.
"So how long do you think it will be before it takes effect?" Endora asked.
"A couple of hours at least, since she seems almost catatonic. I'm glad in a way she was like this, it was easy giving her that bath. She might not have been to co-operative."
"That's true, thank goodness that we can at least do something for her." Endora smiled.
"She'll be ok Endora, she'll be just fine." The Doctor gave Endora a big smile all the while stroking the young girls head.
"Thank you Dr Parrish, thank you very much."
"My pleasure, I'm glad I was able to help. She's a pretty young thing, now that she's all cleaned up." The Doctor noted.
"Yes, very much so." Too much like Sabrina too, Endora thought.
It actually took 3 hours for the young skunk to come around again. By this time Endora had told Warren the whole story and he had arrived to wait with her. When he first arrived Endora took him in to see her. He was a bit startled at first. "She looks a lot like Sabrina honey, almost her twin." He was almost afraid to say it, knowing that their daughter had a twin already. And now that this one had shown up, it was all a bit creepy.
"I was going to say that too, but Warren how can she be Sabrina's twin? She's a whole different species from us."
"Yeah that is the strange part, I wonder if someone is looking for her?"
"That could be why she was in the alley, she couldn't afford to stay in one place too long. Warren she was so fragile and hungry, I had to help her." She was concerned that Warren was a bit put out with her, picking up this total stranger.
He saw the worried look on his wife's face and he knew what she was thinking. In all the years he had been married he had learned to read her and understood what she was concerned about. "It's ok dear, I would have done the same. You're a good Mother and Mothers look after children; no matter whose they are." He took her paw and gave it a gentle squeeze then they waited patiently together.
Awareness…., thoughts…., odours….., I'm alive……, fuck! Swallow opened her eyes to a room she was not familiar with. But she soon figured that it had to be in a hospital. The needle in her arm confirmed it, she had thought in her self induced weakened state that death would be imminent and welcome but it seemed that fate had interfered once again. She tried to move but found herself sluggish. One thing she did notice right off was her hunger had sedated. Keeping herself on the level of almost starvation had been hell. Now someone had started it all over again. She cursed herself for returning to a populated area. She just now realized that it had to have been self-preservation that had led her in that direction. Her mind had sought out a way to survive even if she didn't want it.
The trouble with being a near immortal monster it is a real bitch to commit suicide. It was then that a lady badger came into the room startling her.
"Easy girl, I'm not here to harm you." She didn't approach further for the female skunk was on the defense with its teeth bared. "I'm a doctor, I've been treating you. Seems you are doing a lot better than when I first saw you."
Swallow decided that the woman obviously posed no threat and put down her guard. "How did I get here?" She said solemnly.
"A woman found you in an alley and brought you here for treatment. You've been unconscious for several hours now."
"Great." She mumbled.
"I need to take your temperature, if I may." Swallow shrugged and let her do her business. "You're a pretty interesting specimen."
"Yup that's me, 'the specimen'." She muttered under her breath.
"Your temperature is still high. Do you know if this is normal for you?"
"Yes, it's normal." She said quietly, slowly withdrawing within herself, she hated living. There was nothing for her in this world, no one understood.
"Oh good, then from what I can gather you're recovering. You're dehydrated though and it will take time for your body to recuperate from that."
The doctor looked sincere, but she had seen sincere in its most evil form. "Thanks, Dr…"
"Parrish."
"Thank you Dr. Parrish. Now when can I leave? She feared the next question. "How much is this going to cost, I very little money." She did have some but it was in her shorts, which she just noticed she wasn't wearing.
"Your at a clinic, you won't have to pay, but your going to have to look after yourself better."
"Understood." She kept her head down, withdrawing further within herself. She always did when around people. No one cared. Soon she would be on her own again in a world that called her freak, monster. She was a prisoner to flesh and it seems Mother had done her best to make it a life sentence.
"Now there are two people out side waiting to see you."
"Huh? Who's here?" Everyone who she cared about was either dead or lost forever.
"The woman who brought you here and her husband." She smiled.
"Why did she stay?" "She said with curiosity.
"She is extremely concerned about your well being."
Swallow shrugged, "Tell me another one lady," Swallow said to herself. No one cares about me, or has had any concern for me in a very long time.
"I'm going to go get them." She left and Swallow sat quietly waiting for…….what?…….Pity?……Swallow guessed that was the word.
"Endora?" Dr Parrish said as she poked her head into the room they were occupying. "Your guest is awake, maybe you would like to say hi."
Endora and Warren entered the small room. The young skunk girl looked much better, her eyes shone which was a good sign. She smiled weakly as they came into the room.
"Are you the woman who brought me here?" Said the young skunk girl in a soft and gentle voice.
Endora and her husband's eyes opened wide, her voice was very similar but not quite the same as Sabrina's. Endora composed herself and answered. "Yes I am young lady, you needed some medical attention."
"I suppose I should thank you," she said softly, "I don't know how I can repay you, I don't have any money." The gown she wore, she found very unpleasant, she fidgeted and tried to make herself a little more comfortable. She tried to cover herself up but hospital gowns really didn't have much to work with.
"It's ok, I'm just glad you're all right, you had us very worried. What is your name young lady?" Endora asked.
"Swallow, like the bird, Miss..ah" She was a loss for words.
"Mustelidae, but you can call me Endora and this is my husband Warren." She placed her arm about him.
"Nice to meet you both." She said in her soft voice.
Endora could see that Swallow was very uncomfortable talking with them. Just by the way she held her head and avoided eye contact.
They were trying their best but somehow it didn't seem enough. "Do you live around here Swallow? I'm sure there are people worried about you." Warren said, hoping to get some information out of her. As he watched she hesitated in her response, which signaled to him that she was trying to think of something to say. Which may or may not come out as the truth.
"I don't have a home." She bowed her head in shame.
Endora was afraid of that. "I'm sorry to hear that Swallow. Is their anyone we should try and contact, for you?"
"No, I have no one." She said it in such a way that it pulled on Endora's heartstrings.
Endora looked over at Warren and he knew right away what she was thinking. He nodded in silent reply.
"Swallow, we would like you to be our guest for awhile, at least till you are back on your feet."
Swallows eyes opened wide, then she shook her head. "I wouldn't want to impose." Swallow said not really looking at them. "As you may or may not know, I'm not, um, ah… normal. There are things about me that are umm, less than pleasant."
Endora could sense that if Swallow would have run she could have. "You're not imposing, we have lots of room. Please accept our invitation Swallow, we would love to have you."
Swallow thought about it, she really didn't have anywhere else to go and she felt way to weak to say no. In the end she was too tired to fight. She had been on the edge of starvation for so long, now she had been given another chance. "I would love to Endora, thank you both." Tears formed in her eyes, it had been a long time since anyone cared for her at all.
Warren carried Swallow into the house and put her on the living room couch. "There, you just stay put and rest Swallow."
"Thank you, Mr. Mustelidae, for carrying me."
"It's ok Swallow, you needed your rest. And just call me Warren, Ok?" He smiled at the young girl and his thoughts were for his own daughter. "Is there anything I can get you?"
"Some water would be fine, Mr…ah Warren."
He grinned, "That's a girl, water coming right up."
Endora had gone into the kitchen to put away the groceries they had picked up on their way home from the hospital. She saw Warren come in, "How is our house guest?"
"I think she is very happy to be in a home. Her little heart was beating a mile a minute, she is so excited. I don't think she has had anyone look after her in a very long time. However she weighs a lot more than she looks." Warren scratched his head. "I thought she'd be light."
"Yeah, I did too, she seems so fragile, I thought I might break her bones when I picked her up."
Warren smiled. "You know this reminds me of that day at the park. Do you remember?"
"Oh yes." Endora smiled. "That was the day Sabrina got her first taste of what alcohol will do to you. Plus the day was so incredibly hot." Endora fanned her face.
"Yeah, Sabrina loved everybody that day, hahahaha. I couldn't be mad at her, she really didn't have that much but on that empty stomach it went right to her head." He filled a glass with water and prepared to take it to Swallow.
"Yes the next morning she had the worst headache." Endora said.
"I remember that face all too well." Warren said and Endora laughed. She followed Warren back into the living room.
"Here's your.." He didn't finish his sentence for Swallow was fast asleep. Endora saw as well and got a small blanket to cover her. After they got her comfortable they retreated to the kitchen once again.
"Dead to the world." Warren said as he put the water in the fridge.
"She's had a very busy day Love." Endora put her arms around her husband. You know I haven't had a chance to thank you." She said softly into his ear.
"For what?"
"You know exactly what."
"Oh, you mean Swallow."
"Yeah." She smiled a big grin and gave him a big kiss.
"You know this isn't going to be easy."
"Nothing ever is Dear." She kissed him again, and prayed that things would work out ok.
US Present Day : Double Z Studio's
"You want me to go where?" Zig Zag said raising an eyebrow.
"Ottawa Canada." Said Sabrina shyly.
"Why on earth would I want to go there?" Zig was scratching her head.
"For a convention."
She turned around and looked at her wall calendar. "I don't have a convention scheduled there."
"Well, there is an adult film expo opening in a couple of weeks."
"No, there isn't. I should know..."
"I could arrange one if you would like." Sabrina hoped her boss would go along.
Zig Zag then clued in to why Sabrina wanted to go to Ottawa Canada. "You want to go see your sister, right?"
Sabrina sighed now knowing Zig had caught on to her little ploy, she didn't have much of a hope of it working anyway. "Yeah, but I haven't the money to go. I thought we could kill two birds with one stone. I'm sure you have tons of fans in Canada." She said trying to flog a dead horse.
Zig looked at her perky employee, it was almost impossible to turn down a face like hers. "I'm sure I do Sabrina but is it going to be worth all the work to set this up? I mean, I can't have a show on my own. It just won't fly, plus we would have to organize the whole thing. That's not an easy task, or cheap."
Sabrina looked broken hearted, she thought it might work but she forgot how much work and planning it would take to organize such an event. "Sorry Zig, I guess I should have been right up front with you from the start." She put her head down and really did feel bad. She was trying to take advantage of Zig's good nature and that was unfair.
"It's ok Sabrina, I know your intentions were good. You were just looking out for both of us and my company." Zig smiled and looked at her employee and this odd look came over her face.
"Zig are you ok?" Sabrina was unsure what "that look" meant.
"You know, I think it's time I took a short vacation."
"Huh?" Sabrina was now confused.
"Yeah!" She said with some enthusiasm. "I also think I'll take a certain computer geek along. Think she'd like to go to Ottawa Canada?"
Sabrina's eyes lit up. "Yes!"
"Good, you arrange the flight, first class ok. Let's say the beginning of next week, I'll free my schedule. Is that Ok with you Sabrina?"
"Ok, its super! Thanks Zig Zag you don't know what this means to me."
"Ok now you scoot, I have some friends to call long distance, this might turn out to be a very interesting vacation." She smiled at Sabrina's beaming face. "In fact, this may actually turn into a brilliant marketing idea. As you know, I can't export my tapes to Canada but I can make them there and sell them in their local markets. I need to call Oscar and see if I can persuade him to help me make a video or two while I'm there. Girl, you are brilliant!"
"But.."
"I gotta make some calls. By the way, bring the digital camera with you, I want you to take some publicity shots again, tame this time, I promise."
Sabrina was almost out the door when she turned to her boss. "Zig I don't know how to thank you."
"It's Ok Sabrina, it will be nice to see your sister again. This time I hope it's a little less stressful."
"I hope so too!" Sabrina was praying that it would be. Now she couldn't wait to e-mail her sister with the news.
As Sabrina entered the apartment she called out to her roommates. "Amy, Thomas." There was no answer but she did find a note on the kitchen table. Seems that they had gone out for the evening. Didn't matter she was going to be on the internet anyway. She made herself a sandwich and went to fire up her Amiga. As it connected it detected that she had 16 messages. All from her sister except one, it was from Chris. She decided it was best she check Chris's note first. She knew the others were probably the photos that her sister promised.
Chris's note read, "Hi Sabrina, hope you have seen the photos! You are not going to believe this! I have already sent your sister a note about them. Give me a call when you get home. Okay? Love Chris."
She immediately got her machine downloading the pictures from her mail server. As the first picture revealed itself her mouth was agape with astonishment. She couldn't believe it, she was staring at herself as a taur. The hair on her head was a different style but the face and the markings were all the same. In every photo, she proved that Heather was indeed their twin. How the heck can this be? Sabrina thought. Her sister she had an explanation for but who was this Heather person? This was indeed a mystery and a strange one at that. She printed off the photos and decided it was time for a trip to her mothers. Maybe, just maybe, her mother had not told her everything. She didn't like that thought. This wouldn't be like her mother, but then again she had kept her sister a secret. In her heart she didn't want to ask her but she had to know. She grabbed the photos and her coat, it was time for her to see if her mother had some answers. Chris would have to wait.