The Stalker (The Midnight Series)

Chapter 6: Heart

1

One decision a few weeks ago, caused so much travesty. A world full of bad decisions, sometimes under circumstances, sometimes for thrills. More or less, we all don't know the full weight of our decisions. The same goes for good decisions. It can make someone's day, helping them succeed, achieve, and be awarded for being alive and well today. These are the most memorable of all.

2

Apple Bloom was not well rested, and could not shut her eyes for a second of all that she said before. Big Mac decided to leave the room, thinking of what to do. Upon leaving the room, Apple Bloom was clinging onto Big Mac like a leech.

"Apple Bloom?" Big Mac asked, as he looked down at her, holding onto his arm. "What are ya doin?"

"Ah can't let go." Apple Bloom admitted, looking up at him with her saddened eyes. She looked too exhausted, and miserable that he couldn't look away. "Ah don't want ya to leave me."

"Am not goin to leave ya." Big Mac enlightened. "But, ya need rest."

She looked down at the wooden floor, and shook her head. Big Mac saw that she was resorting to her extreme child-like behaviors. She would often do that whenever there was an argument, or whenever there was conflict she didn't want to deal with. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do, besides let her come along wherever he went. It wasn't the way most teenagers should cope, but it was what she could manage at the time.

3

As Big Mac continued the day, she stuck right by him. She stopped holding onto him, and just stood at his side. There wasn't much to do, so they spent the majority of the time watching TV. They didn't plan anything for dinner, so Big Mac thought something that was easily done. He wasn't skilled in cooking, and he couldn't ask for Apple Bloom's help given her mental state.

He went into the kitchen, and heated up the oven. He didn't see Apple Bloom walk in the kitchen with him, so he assumed that she was finally resting on the couch. However, as he placed food in the oven after it was preheating, he turned around, and saw her standing right behind him. Big Mac jumped seeing how silent she was, no sound of her breathing or hearing her walking along the floor. He was unsure of how to take this situation, it was something he never dealt with before.

"Apple Bloom?" Big Mac asked calmly and with concern. "Are ya okay?"

Apple Bloom smiled, and nodded. However, her eyes never changed. They were still watery, bloodshot, and overly tired. The eyelids were darkened, and about ready to collapse. Big Mac sighed, and continued on the rest of the evening, making sure he kept an eye on the food.

Luckily, the food was cooked quickly, and they both sat down at the kitchen table to eat. Apple Bloom was not picking anything up. She just stared at the food, as if she had no idea what it was or how to eat in that matter.

"Apple Bloom... eat." Big Mac requested, as he was chewing his food. He was unsure of what was going on. Big Mac grew frightened of her in this state, maybe he was imagining her the entire time, maybe he was dreaming of this, maybe Apple Bloom was lost? He took a piece up to her mouth, and she took a bite. She had to be fed like a baby. This was the worst state he had ever seen Apple Bloom, it would normally go away after a while, but this was almost feeling like it was permanent, and that was exactly what he feared.

After they were finished, the day grew thin, and Big Mac had to make sure he fed the animals. He also remembered to park the truck inside the barn, in case it rains again.

He washed up the dishes, and he started to feel his arm throbbing with pain. The time Applejack was practically crushing his arm when she was upset about telling Rarity everything, was piercing his mind as was the pain in his arm. Apple Bloom stood silently at his side, but wasn't responding in the slightest. As if she was just an empty shell that followed his every move.

4

Big Mac drove up into the barn, and parked the truck. Apple Bloom watched as he came in through the opening driveway. He got out, and she immediately latched onto him once again. As she was holding onto his arm, he felt the pain surging back into him.

He grunted, and slightly pushed Apple Bloom off his arm. She was shaken, and stood away. He didn't mean to hurt her, he just couldn't take the pain.

"Am sorry..." Big Mac pleaded, he went over to her, but she resisted him.

With Apple Bloom still in the midst of her traumatic state, Big Mac had to continue on without her. He remembered the time when they worked together, and got everything done within minutes. It was nothing when Applejack was there to help. It felt so empty, and broken. If only they could work something out, they would have still been there for each other.

He picked up a couple stacks of hay, but as he lifted up to his highest point. He immediately dropped it, and fell to his knees. His arm was completely sprained, and felt an intense shock through his arm, all the way into his finger tips. He inhaled and exhaled heavily through his teeth, trying to mask the weeping in his throat.

"Son of a bitch!" Big Mac screamed, as he held his arm, unable to move.

In that moment, Apple Bloom saw him grunting in pain, She snapped out of her state and went down to help him.

"Big Mac!" Apple Bloom yelled, as she ran up to him.

"Apple Bloom...?" Big Mac whimpered, he looked at her. She was worried. Apple Bloom took off into the house, she picked up an arm brace that was piled in a box in the bathroom. She ran back out, and she covered his arm slowly to not make him feel pain. "Thank ya." Big Mac cried, as he laid down his arm into the rest that hung over his shoulder.

"Am sorry." Apple Bloom apologized, as she got up and looked at Big Mac.

"It's alright..." Big Mac said, as he got up. "Wanna help?" Big Mac asked, as he held up one side of the stack.

"Of course!" Apple Bloom said, she held onto the other and brought it to the gate together.

As the time past, there was one job left to do, and that was too feed the pigs. Apple Bloom hated going inside the gates, but she wanted to make it up to Big Mac for his arm injury. She took it upon herself to do so, as Big Mac stood and watched over for her.

The pigs were scattered across the field, the place was always muddy, and there was room outside the barn to drop their food into a feeding bin. She also had to replace the water in their buckets. She held up the heavy, sludgy canister of the pigs' food inside, and had to walk all the way out into the open field to drop it inside the bins. The worst part was that she had to walk through the incredibly muddy pot hole the pigs loved to lay in.

She walked in barefoot, and closed the gates. Big Mac was watching her, and was praying she could do it. Apple Bloom walked for a couple minutes into the field, and she was starting to feel the exhaustion weighing on her. Carrying the heavy canister was making it worse, and could barely move. She looked out to see how far she was from the bins, and she was about halfway to it, barely stepping right into the muddy trail ahead. She couldn't stop, and if she were to accidentally drop it, it would cause the pigs to awaken and attack for a taste of their food. She looked up again, she was sweating, having to continue walking through the sinking pothole and carrying something that was dragging her down further. It felt almost too impossible.

As she looked ahead, she saw something that wasn't there before. Over in the distance, among the trees and over the fences. She saw a shadow figure. Her heart started racing, as it looked familiar, and was not too far from where she was standing.

Apple Bloom took one false step, and accidentally stepped onto one of the pig's tail. It screamed, awakening the others. The pig dashed, and it threw Apple Bloom off her balance. She tumbled down into the mud, and spilled the canister of food all over. The pigs could smell it, and they rushed over to her. Seconds later, she was being trampled over and mud would trap her in with it covering her face. She heard a faint cry calling to her. As she was closing her eyes, Big Mac ran out to her, crying out for her and holding out his hand. But, before she could see what happened, she sunk deeper and the darkness enclosed her.

5

Apple Bloom awakened in her bedroom. Big Mac was shocked to see her shoot up from the bed. Almost seconds after he had pulled her out of the mud. She was still dirty, but from what she saw, it appeared she was wiped up a little bit. Big Mac sat beside her on the bed, he was covered in mud as well, and was laying down a dirty towel. He looked at her with relief, but was a little concerned.

"Are ya okay?" Big Mac asked, he spoke softly, and could hear the crushing feeling in his speech. Apple Bloom looked away, not saying a word. "Are ya hurt?" Big Mac continued, but she was not responding.

He held up his empty hand out and tried to hold her shoulder. But, she flicked her shoulder and his hand was wiped away. He knew she was upset, and couldn't do much of anything about it. He examined her, and it appeared she was not bleeding, nor was she bruised. Surprisingly, she was okay, but not feeling that way.

He sat up closer, and wanted to share something, but her attitude said otherwise.

"Ah should have left..." Apple Bloom spoke softly, as she began to tear up again. Her words were as broken as Big Mac's. "Ah would have avoided hurtin ya..."

"It's okay Apple Bloom..." Big Mac responded. He cleared up his throat and was speaking deeper. "We all should've just listened to each other..."

Things would have been easier for them, but they all resorted to hurting each other, separating themselves even further than before.

"Yer not disappointed in me...?!" Apple Bloom asked, as she cried out.

"Of course not... It wasn't yer fault. Am the adult, ah should have handled it better... it's my fault." Big Mac admitted. Apple Bloom looked down to the floor, and saw her pants still muddy but was starting to dry off. "Now... ah even don't know if Applejack would listen to me... if ah asked her..."

"What if ah go, will ya be okay with it?" Apple Bloom said, as she looked up at him. Big Mac was staring down at the wall. He didn't know how to respond. She looked back down, and tried to think of what to say.

"Yer such a soft, sweet little thing..."

Apple Bloom looked up at Big Mac, and he wasn't paying any attention. She looked away, and maybe he was thinking if he would miss her being there with him. If she was able to sleep on her own, she would have been fine, but she didn't know if she could. She didn't really like sleeping in Big Mac's room.

"But, ah like it when ya lay with me... cuddling together... feelin yer soft skin on mine..."

Apple Bloom was breathing harder, and looked up at Big Mac again with confusion and anger. She was devastated that Big Mac would say that, given she was slightly cleaned off before she woke up, with the dirty towel on the floor. What did he do to me? Apple Bloom thought. She started feeling sick, and discontent with Big Mac saying stuff like that. Maybe that one lady they met at the park had reason for blaming Big Mac. Maybe he had done something to Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle too? There had to have been a reason why he knew so much about them, maybe he was in on it as well?

"Ah don't think ya should be sayin stuff like that to yer little sister, Big Mac?!" Apple Bloom responded, her tone was fierce and was still distorted with sadness.

"Say what?" Big Mac asked, as he was confused on what she said.

"Ya think ah like to lay next to a stinky, sweaty old man?!" Apple Bloom yelled, and Big Mac was shocked to hear Apple Bloom say that to him.

"Well look, am not comfortable with it either. Ya came to me so you can sleep!" Big Mac argued. "Ah was only tryin to help!"

"Oh yeah?! What would happen if ah fell asleep?!" Apple Bloom got up, and faced him as she was stationed in the bed. "Who knows what you've been doin to me?!"

"Apple Bloom?!" Big Mac looked at her, he was saddened by her words, and felt crushed to hear such things. "What are ya accusin me of?! Ah would never do that! Yer my little sister!" Big Mac tried reasoning with her, but she was getting even angrier at him.

"Ya think a lady is goin wanna big sweaty blob?!" Apple Bloom yelled louder, and it pierced his eardrums. "Who likes sleepin with little girls?!"

Big Mac was silenced. He looked away.

"Apple Bloom..." Big Mac began to cry, and as Apple Bloom saw him, unable to move. She took off at the door, she took the key out that was hanging out of the keyhole. She closed the door and locked it from the other side.

"Apple Bloom! Apple Bloom!!!" Big Mac yelled, as Apple Bloom heard him pounding on the door and crying. "Open the door!!!"

"Am sorry Big Mac... this is for yer own good!" Apple Bloom suggested.

6

Apple Bloom went down the stairs and she kept hearing Big Mac through the door, but the TV came on, and the sound of the TV was much louder. It started playing a song which she was unfamiliar with. She walked down to see what it was saying.

"Sweet dreams are made of this, who am I to disagree?" The TV spoke, and the rhythm of the song continued. "I traveled the world, and the seven seas... everybody's looking for Apple Bloom!" Apple Bloom saw her face on the screen, she freaked out and started to hyperventilate. Chills encapsulated her entire being, and she couldn't think of what to do. She couldn't handle the situation, everything was turning against her, and no one was there to help. Who can she trust anymore, if the entire world was out to get her?

She walked away from the TV, it was still playing that song, it was ringing in her head, and it was all she could hear. Why is this song haunting me? She cried to herself. She put her head down, and try to cover her ears from the sounds that were getting increasingly louder. She couldn't mask the sounds, and just heard "some of them want to use you, some of them want to be used by you. Some of them want to abuse you, some of them want to be abused."

Why? Apple Bloom asked herself. Why me?

Big Mac's door swung open, the force of the door came tumbling down from its hinges. Apple Bloom screamed and ran out the front door. Big Mac had to use every ounce of his strength to open it, but it was to make sure Apple Boom wasn't going anywhere on her own.

Apple Bloom ran out to the front lawn, and she saw a large shadow figure running after her. Apple Bloom glanced at the barn, and ran for it in that same direction. She didn't look back, as she felt that figure's presence coming ever so closer to snatch her away.

She ran up to the barn doors, and she closed it as fast as she could, blocking it's entrance. She saw the haystacks that were leading upwards, so she took off and climbed up to the upper platforms that stabilize the barn. She got up on one of the planks and made her way as far as she could to stay hidden from it.

As she was up there, she could hear that figure trying to get in, also hearing it walk around. Even if it was outside the barn, it felt like it was at her side waiting to grab her and hurt her. She kept having that song in her head, the catchy tune and easily recognizable lyrics made it so creepily easy to replay in her head. It felt as if the person who was singing was right outside the barn, singing it to her. She tried to calm herself down, having to keep her breath steady, holding onto the plank with her life, or she may end up falling down almost ten feet above ground.

She heard a noise from outside, and it seems that figure was coming in from the fences. That same fence Big Mac was working on, became loose, and allowed room for it to walk into the barn. Apple Bloom held her mouth with her hand, while the other was holding her entire weight onto the platform to steady herself from falling. She tried to mask any sound coming from her, but she couldn't help but cry and weep under her breath, hoping it wouldn't see her.

"Apple Bloom!" It cried out, as it searched the area, looking around, and knocking over the haystacks. It was so desperate to find her, it wasn't letting up. Apple Bloom took her hand away to give more support, as it was starting to weigh down on her. The moment she did, she accidentally let out a whimper, which made it look up at her. She screamed, and nearly lost her grip on it, but she grabbed onto it as quickly as she could. It came, and tried to reach out for her as it called out her name.

Apple Bloom continued to walk along the narrow plank to the opening of the outside. She somehow made it through, and was up on the roof, having climbed through the open shaft from the plank. She never was up there, but she recognized how unstable it was. She was walking, until she could see the area in front of the barn. From up there, she could see for miles, she saw the school, she saw her friend's homes, and their clubhouse. The trees had blocked it's way from seeing the nearby town, as it rustled with the winds, but she was able to get a glimpse of the park they went to. She remembered that lady, how right she was to fear, but even if they had taken it away, there are more of them. Never ceasing the lost individuals who have their gain in watching the pain of children suffering. How cruel and unfair the world has become.

She heard a creak behind her, it was it. The entity followed her to the roof, and there was nowhere to run but to give into its desire to have her. It reached out to her, but she looked down from the barn. If she was able to get away, it would be to leave entirely. That way nothing will harm her, nothing would use her, and she wouldn't have to suffer the pain.

"Apple Bloom!" It cried out, it held its hand out to give a sense of trying to save her from peering over the edge. "Please, don't do this!"

"Why? So you can hurt me?!" Apple Bloom yelled, her eyes became dry over the salt of her tears, and couldn't let out another if she tried. "Have your way with me?!"

"Apple Bloom... please..." It pleaded. "I know this world is full of bad things... but you don't have to see it that way. It changes you, but never let go of what's important."

"What's that?" Apple Bloom said, as her speech became weakened.

"Your heart... am sorry ah doubted you. You can help so many people if you put her heart into it... the only way you could... havin love and care for everythin..." It cried, as it began to whimper too. "For everyone... even when it seems too hard, and with tougher problems... that's what family and friends are for... they are there for you... every step of the way..."

"But they aren't... they aren't because of me..." Apple Bloom admitted, as she looked down at the ground. She was crying. The salt of her tears burned her skin from so much crying and soreness of her wiping them away. It felt like an endless stream since day one, and nothing could stop it from coming. "We are gone... lost... we aren't together anymore... it's because of me!"

"No..." It cried, it shook it's head. "We would do anythin for you... we'll come back, but only with you... it will work out, ah promise. But only when you are here with us... if you don't, we may never come back. Please Apple Bloom, ah beg you... please don't leave... we need you... now more than ever... please..."

She turned around to look out to the fields, the school, and various homes. Even when the world seems lost and broken, maybe they all were just trying to find a way home. The song from her mind stopped playing. The winds were pulling her way from the edge, and she listened.

Apple Bloom turned back, and reached out to the entity. It reached out to her, and when they felt each other's hands, Apple Bloom saw her brother. He was the one who came to her, and begged for her. He truly cared, and was willing to go through anything for her. She walked slowly, so she could finally return home.

As she stepped, she fell through the ceiling. Within a second, not even a scream was let out, she disappeared through a small hole into the barn.