The Crimes We've Committed

A Jellicle History

Chapter Two – Familiar Voices, Forgotten Names

Falling. The rush of air against your skin, the rush of emotion, panic.

Falling. It's true what they say about your life flashing before your eyes.

Falling. It's actually not so bad, after you get used to it. You could fall forever if it wasn't for-

Impact.

Rumpelteazer awoke with a start, her face smashed against the hard concrete. Odd, she noted, as she didn't remembered- falling.

As she thought the word, there was a temporary rush of memory. Afterwards, everything was gone. She remembered remembering, but not what she remembered.

"You alright?" She jumped, turning. As she turned, she felt relieved. It was just Mungojerrie.

Wait, She thought, standing up and walking over to him in spite of herself. Who's Mungojerrie? She was so confused. Her head throbbed and she shook it.

"Who are you?" She asked finally, in a forced voice. Her body willed her not to say it, but she spat the words out as fast as she could, and as soon as she did the tension was over.

"Teaza', it's just me. Mungojerrie." He said, offering her a paw. She recognized the voice, but…

"No, your name is... Ja- ja…" She stuttered, her tongue not moving to her will.

"Jerrie?" He offered, helping her up.

"No, Ja… ja… Jeff? No. Ja… ja…" He shook his head and laughed.

"You should lay down, Sallie." She jumped.

"What did you call me?" She demanded, stopping dead in her tracks.

"Teaza'… Is that not okay with you?" He asked, suddenly worried.

"No… no, it's fine." Rumpelteazer said, biting her lip.

ooo

"Juno!" Freya called, leaning over her ledge to get a better view of her new cat-subjects.

"What is it?" He asked irritably, walking over to her.

"I think something's wrong. The new memory is lapsing." She said, watching as the two black and orange striped cats talked.

"No, it'll be fine. It'll set in. The first few days might be rough, but it'll be okay." He assured her, watching as well.

"I'm not sure, Sallie seems really bad." She said, pointing to the girl cat.

"Some might not take it as well as others, but they'll get used to it."

"As you say, Juno." Freya said with a bow.

ooo

"I got dinner, Victoria." A voice called out. Victoria lifted her head up off her current bed. She had a horrible headache.

"Did you steal that?" She immediately demanded of her brother as he offered her a piece of chicken.

"I've never stolen anything in my life." Mistoffelees said, slightly shocked. Victoria thought for a second.

"Sorry, I don't know what came over me." She offered, taking the chicken.

"It's alright. Everyone's been a little off today."

ooo

"Town meeting tomorrow." Demeter reminded her sister as she straightened their den out.

"No, that was a few days ago." Bombalurina reminded her absently.

"No, Bombalurina, the Ball is tomorrow." Demeter said, giving her a concerned look.

"The… ball? Right, of course it is. I thought you said something else." Bombalurina said slowly, standing up.

"Oh. Well, come help me with this, it's so messy." She fretted, trying to mend a cardboard wallboard.

"Demeter, dear, we live in a rotting cardboard box. It's always messy." Bombalurina reminded her, moving to help with the wall nonetheless. Demeter pushed up a flap of soggy paper. The print was still legible, and Bombalurina took the chance to flaunt her skills in reading human words. "Morgan Industries." She said simply.

"Mhmm?" Demeter asked as causally as if somebody had called her name. Bombalurina's nose twitched.

"Something weird is going on." She murmured to herself.

"What?" Demeter asked, looking up from her word now.

"I asked you why we were tiding up." Bombalurina covered quickly, sitting down again. Demeter blushed noticeably.

"Munkustrap is coming over to visit." She mumbled so quietly that Bombalurina almost didn't hear her. The red queen smiled vaguely.

"We're re-walling our box because Munkustrap is coming to visit." She poked at Demeter, laughing quietly.

"Try not to make me sound like an idiot." She squeaked, finishing the wall up.

"When have I ever done that?" Bombalurina asked her golden-furred sister as if offended.

"The last time Munkustrap visited-"

"There was a fly on your forehead!"

"And the time before that-"

"It's not my fault your mouse wasn't dead!"

"At the last ball-"

"He tripped over me!"

"And that one time we all went mousing-"

"Anyone could have mistaken that thing for a mouse!"

"I think I've made my point." Demeter finished crossly, folding her arms over her chest.

"Okay, okay, fine. I'll just leave while you two talk." Bombalurina said, feeling beaten through and through. Demeter gasped and made a face.

"Oh, no, Lurina, please don't! I'd make a fool of myself!" Demeter mumbled, hiding her face with her hands.

"More than I will?" Bombalurina asked bitterly, turning back to her sister.

"Yes." Demeter squeaked, peaking at Bombalurina through her fingers.

"Why do you keep inviting him over if it's so hard for you?" She questioned, settling down on her bed again.

"I don't," She groaned, sitting next to her sister and curling up by her side. She always felt warm with her sister to protect her. "We're both on the Youth Council. Kind of like the elders-"

"But not old. I know about that." Bombalurina said with a nod. "Why didn't you tell me?" Demeter shrugged. There was a stinging silence between the two of them.

"Bombalurina? Demeter? Are you guys home?" A voice came from outside.

"Yup." Bombalurina said, letting Munkustrap in. "Although, I was just on my way out."

Demeter's stomach tied itself into the tightest knot she could imagine.

"Oh, alright…" Munkustrap said, moving aside so the red tabby could leave. Demeter's face hadn't relaxed and she was sure she looked like an idiot. "So, we need to talk about…" He began, taking a seat on an old book they kept for something of couch. Demeter realized she probably should be listening, but took the speech as a chance to stare into his eyes.

ooo

Grizabella pushed on the hard, cold ground, willing herself to get out of the puddle she was currently sprawled in. She was separated from her tribe, forgotten, lost, rejected. On top of all of what she was before, she was now ugly and weak. She was not sure what exactly happened, but she felt as if she had been ravaged by angry pollicles. She hurt- everywhere. She felt as if her knees would give in at any second, but something was telling her to keep going. Keep… moving…

It was these memories. They haunted her. She knew they were there; she just could not summon them. Perhaps she was too weak to manage even that. She would collapse at any moment, she was sure, but she instead kept… moving. She kept speaking.

"The graceful ellipse of memory, the graceful collapse of memory, the graceful lapse of memory, the graceless lips of memory…"

She repeated the passage over and over, as if it would gain some meaning once she had said it enough. However, for now, its only purpose was to keep her… moving…

ooo

(Chapter two up! And yay for you, Victoria. You got all the ones you guess right. Much love to you for you kind comment.)