Chapter Ten: Promise

It's been a couple of days since Mrs. Belle's death. The whole building feels empty... doesn't really feel like a home anymore. You try your best to keep the place clean, but you spend most of your time in the living room just lying down on the couch. Just like right now. You just... don't feel like doing anything at all.

Sometimes you think Mrs. Belle is going to come to sit down in her rocking chair and tell you a story or something. Or if she's going to come out of her room and tell you good morning. Then the clock from the clock tower strikes noon and the bell rings for a few seconds.

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Y/n: (Sighs)...

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The last time you were in her room was when she passed away, and you haven't been in it since. You haven't gotten much sleep either. You don't know how you're going to keep moving forward without her, as you just figured she'd be around for years.

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Meanwhile...

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Main Owl: As our fair maidan mourns the death of her non-biological mother, our anti-hero Rattlesnake Jake has been busy helping the crooked mayor with his plans. But that does not mean he does not think about her while he's working. If fact, even while still being a terrifying monster, he has a... soft spot for the woman.

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Rattlesnake Jake uses his intimidating stance to force the farmer to willingly sign the papers into selling his farm. The mayor gives the farmer a check before the farmer gets up and makes a run for it so he doesn't have to be anywhere near Rattlesnake Jake anymore. Another successful business meeting.

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Mayor: Almost all of my problems are taken care of. Well, I still need that ranch Beans have.

Rabbit Henchman: Do we really need it? We have every other land there is boss.

Mayor: That ranch, believe it or not, is where the heart of the new city will be. That ranch has over a hundred acres of land. Perfect for new homes and businesses alike.

Reptile Henchman: And if she ain't wanna sell that ranch?

Mayor: Then I'm sure we can soon come to an agreement.

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Meanwhile...

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You sigh again as you continue to look up at the ceiling. What is there to do now? You know you can't lie around for the rest of your life. You're just... not really motivated to do anything.

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Y/n: She wouldn't want me to be sad...

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You finally get up and head out the front door. Maybe some fresh air would make you feel better, so you sit down on the wooden stairs and just take a deep breath in. Looking around, you see a couple of townsfolk walking aimlessly around, doing nothing in particular. Then you see the male rabbit doctor walk towards you.

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Doc: Howdy miss, mind if I sit next to ya?

Y/n: Sure.

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He sits next to you.

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Doc: So uh, how ya been?

Y/n: I've been alright.

Doc: Now I know it's been hard since her passing. But just know that we're all here for ya. The townsfolk here are trying to be more together, ever since that so-called sheriff gave our hopes up.

Y/n: Yeah, but at least all that hope he did bring out some smiles on people's faces. Even if it was only for a moment. At least that feeling was genuine.

Doc: You're right about that. I just wish we could have those feelings for a longer time. It was nice believing that there was a hero in this town. Just like a storybook. The hero comes in, befriends the locals, and saves the day. That's... what I guess we were all hoping to have. But instead... we ended up with a fraud and deadly predator in this town.

Y/n: Rattlesnake Jake?

Doc: Yes ma'am. That snake will only be the death of all of us if he gets hungry. Well, that is until the mayor says something about it but... I never understood why he would need a predator to come when he's already bought up almost all the land. It just seems... odd.

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You wanted to defend Jake, knowing that he isn't really a bad guy, let alone a monster. But then again, you feel like you're the only one in this whole town who's seen the other side of him. The good side that even Jake doesn't believe to have.

While Doc was talking to you, someone else was watching from afar. Watching from one of the windows in the mayor's office, since the building is facing every building in town. Rattlesnake Jake couldn't help but notice you talking to the male rabbit. While the rest of the men, including the mayor, had already left the office. Jake stayed and continue to watch you.

He rattles his gun rattle in anger, as a warning to the male rabbit who obviously doesn't hear the metal noises of his rattle. Quietly hissing, he forks the tip of his tongue out to get your scent again. He just continues to stare daggers at the male rabbit until he finally realizes what he's doing.

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Y/n: Do you think that the mayor hired him for a specific reason?

Doc: For fear and dominance, is all I can think of. But then again... the mayor doesn't have any power over him. So there's not much the mayor could do if the snake gets hungry. Hmm, best to stay inside from now on.

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He does make a good point. Jake is still a snake, and like all snakes, they need to eat. You don't know how often he needs to eat. And when he does get hungry... is he going to attack and eat one of the townspeople? It's an uneasy feeling you feel right now, remembering that even if you're good friends with him, he's still a dangerous predator.

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...Later That Night...

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You stand on the balcony watching the stars in the night sky. You honestly don't know what will become of this town. You don't know if you have to move, but... where would you go? This town is the only place you know, and you don't know where the next town would be. If there's another town.

You then hear a familiar rattling sound and that's when you see Jake slithering from the side of the building and now in front of you. He raises himself up to your level but keeps his distance.

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Y/n: Hey Jake...

Rattlesnake Jake: What's wrong?

Y/n:(Sigh)...Well...

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Should you really tell him about what you've been thinking? About him needing to eat prey? Or maybe you should tell him about something else.

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Y/n: I've been thinking that... with the food and water running low and the new town isn't complete yet. I'm not sure if I have to move to another town. But I don't know any other town. If I leave, I'll get easily lost and... yeah.

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An expression of concern flashes across his face as his eyes widen a bit. But then he gets an idea, so you won't starve or run out of water. He knows where there's more water and food than what the townsfolk are aware of. He gets a little closer to you and you unconsciously flinch your hands back from the railing. It was a small detail you thought he wouldn't notice, but he did.

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Rattlesnake Jake: There's something else on your mind?

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You stare into his eyes for a few seconds before looking down at the ground. Should you bring it up? Well... regardless of if you want to talk about it or not, he is what he is. And he gets hungry too, just like you and everyone else. You do trust him... but... it's like you're having doubts.

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Y/n:...How...how often do you need to eat?

Rattlesnake Jake:...Once every couple of weeks.

Y/n: Y-You're not going to eat any of the townsfolk, are you?...

Rattlesnake Jake: No, not here.

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All you can do now is stare back at him and wait for more of his response to that sentence. You're glad that he hasn't eaten anyone in this town, but you also wonder where exactly he goes to get his next meal.

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Rattlesnake Jake: I head out, beyond the desert. Come right back, that's it.

Y/n: (You sigh in relief) Okay, I believe you.

Rattlesnake Jake: Were ya scared I was gonna eat you?

Y/n: Not necessary... you had plenty of opportunities to eat me and you didn't. You even try to save me... I guess I was just worried about the people here. But I also need to understand and accept the fact that you need to eat too. It's okay, really I understand.

Rattlesnake Jake: No, I need ya to know something.

Y/n: What is it?

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He takes a couple of seconds to think about it, thinking that there's a part of you that thinks he's going to eat you. But he's sure about when he says...

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Rattlesnake Jake: I need you to know that I will never eat you. You don't gotta be scared of me.

Y/n: Promise?

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He usually makes deals, not promises. Unlike the deals he has made with others in his life, promises are more easily broken. But for you, he's willing to make that promise.

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Rattlesnake Jake: I promise Y/n.

Y/n: (Smile) Thanks Jake.

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...The Next Morning...

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During the early hours of the morning, there is a knock on your front door, causing you to wake up. While still wearing your white nightgown, you head downstairs thinking that it must be Beans knocking on the door. Letting out a yawn as you open the door, you see a basket on the porch right in front of the door. In the basket, you see two glass bottles filled with water, cans of food, and some weird-looking fruit. At least, you think it's fruit.

There is no note, but you smile as you take the basket inside, knowing that it had to Jake to give you this. You sit in the living room and open up one of the cans to eat.