I can't believe I was doing this.
Trudging along behind Tenley, I kicked my feet across the dirt and rocks we followed from the small concrete slab of a station I looked back at with a grimace.
Reverting was going to take time. I knew if I rode to the end of the line and did everything as I should have to end up at Mistigo Forest, I'd be torturing myself as I waited for it to take over.
Who knew how long that would take? Days? Weeks? Maybe months?
What a waste of money. I could have had something to myself others than a bag of muffins I decided to rummage through and pull another from.
"Want some?" I broke it in half and held it out.
She stopped so I could catch up to her, walking beside me now.
"Thanks" she smiled "all I've had is dry steak and hard potatoes from a packet. Train food is not the greatest."
Well, at least she could afford it.
Dragging across my bag to drink out of the dripping bottle, the flavour tingled through my mouth, awakening my taste buds.
Shit, that was good!
I kept drinking as she talked.
"Mama Jude will pick us up from the newsagency" Tenley spoke as she looked down at her phone that had a little blue eyed charm swinging from the top "oh, I can introduce you to Byron! He's always so full of energy and excited to meet new people. He works with Mrs Linds there."
Full news-agencies still existed? Didn't they all shut down when information became more available on our phones and through ads?
I just nodded, wanting to keep my mouth occupied so I didn't need to talk to Tenley too often. It already looked bad that I followed her off the train; I didn't want the idea of anything more than us being acquaintances to brew inside her head.
I just needed somewhere to stay for a little. It was nothing more.
"He's the one who gave me this little evil eye" she showed me the swinging pendant like I didn't already notice it "he might give you one too."
I finally pulled from the drink and swung my bag back onto my back.
"An evil eye?" I scoffed at the wide-eyed layered charm "no thanks."
"See, its supposed to repeal evil, not actually be evil" she explained to my skepticism "he's into stuff like that."
"A piece of plastic is supposed to do all that?" I lifted a brow, smirking.
"Well, it's ceramic, but, yeah...."
She smirked too as she rolled it between her fingers, letting it drop again.
"If he thinks it works, then I just let him go with it. It makes him happy."
She grinned. It seemed this Byron guy was a close friend.
Well, so much for keeping my mouth shut. Might as well pry while I was here.
"This Byron..." I began before biting into my muffin "why don't you just have him as a partner? Save travelling everywhere?"
She giggled, turning to me as she also ate. She waited to swallow before speaking though, unlike me.
"Oh, it would never work" Tenley gently dismissed the question "he's a dog, I'm an ape; we aren't compatible."
"Says who?"
She glanced across, looking at me like I was stupid.
Maybe I was. I didn't know anything about partnership other than all the different ones I had seen forming and dissolving at Paragon over the years.
Love didn't come to me. The closest I had been to it before my fleeting one with Lumi was being tricked by Elgress to following her into that blue-flowered cave.
I had been such an idiot. I should have been more careful.
Now, love was painfully distant and broken. I could try and make it work as long as I was able to speak and operate a phone, but once I was wild, it would be shattered all over again.
Back to being alone, like I was up in that chandelier before she came along...
"Dogs can't have children with people other than dogs. That's like trying to put a dog with a cat, or an ape with a bird; it's not going to work."
I get it. How painful that was. So, if Lumi ever wanted kids....
Maybe it was better she'd find someone like her out there in the city?
"But, hybrids are part human" I pondered, mainly to myself "so, it would work, wouldn't it?"
"Oh, I wouldn't recommend it" Tenley grimaced "too many deformities. I heard one time that a cat had a baby to a rhino and it came out covered in horrible, thick blisters all over its body because the skin didn't form properly. The face was split down the middle. It had tendrils where there were supposed to be arms and legs. It would just be too cruel to leave something like that in pain."
"But, it could work" I noted.
That look again, more accusatory now.
"I wouldn't put anyone through that torture. Not even for a baby. It's inhumane."
"It is" I agreed.
"Species with species" Tenley bought her hands together, biting her muffin "no mixing."
"It sounds so.... old school" I remarked.
"It is what it is" she shrugged "be glad we don't need separate areas or homes like we used to. Urgh. Like livestock."
"Well, we are animals" I reminded her with a little giggle.
"And I don't shit in a paddock like one" she commented, smiling again "at least, not yet."
"Eww!"
"What? You'll do it too! Unless you think toilet paper grows on trees?"
"Funny thing about paper and trees..." I began, laughing when Tenley tried to shove me but missed completely as I stepped backwards to avoid it.
She reminded me of Lumi. I didn't ring her to ask how she was after Barley begged me to.
I'll do it when we get to this news-agency and I can think clearly and have somewhere quiet to talk without breathing down the phone. Right now, we had to focus on the empty road, the sun, and the town stretched out somewhere ahead. Also, I don't think she'd appreciate hearing Tenley in the background. Lumi would get the wrong idea.
So many things. Why did it feel like it was getting harder out here to keep the peace than in there?
What was I going to eat once the muffins ran out? Was this 'Mama Jude' going to feed me, or put me out to pasture with the sheep?
Was she nice? Did I have to watch my words around her? Do anything different so I didn't upset her?
"Uh, so, how is this Mama you've got?" I began, trying to find a way to bring it up without being too offensive "I'm not going to be sleeping in a tree outside, am I?"
Make jokes. Make light of it all so i didn't seem too concerned about my welfare.
Anything had to be better than Paragon, right?
"Oh, she's not my actual mother" Tenley replied "she's just the one who decided to take me on. She was one of those hippy types who broke into places to rescue animals when she was younger. Got into heaps of trouble. Her last stint was helping me. I've lived with her since."
"But, shouldn't you be....?" I circled a hand to try and get her to realize my point before I spoke it "....in a shelter or zoo; something like that?"
She was endangered. Surely someone realised something so rare was missing from where it was supposed to be?
"Oh, she didn't tell anyone she took me" Tenley shrugged happily "the others were released and I was put into a little car and bought here. I sat in the bit where the feet go. I can't fit there anymore."
Wait....
"Isn't that kidnapping?" I frowned now.
She thought for a little, shaking her head.
"I don't think so if I was already there to be grown for my fur. Mama Jude saved me."
Did she? Or was Tenley so far into Stockholm territory that all of this was just the perfect life for her she didn't want to ruin by getting cluey.
"What about your fur now?"
"It grows...." she replied with a little laugh and confusion on her voice "she doesn't shear it off, if that's what you are getting at."
"It's not" I just sighed, not wanting to turn it into an argument.
"Mama Jude is very nice" Tenley tried to reassure my skepticism "she is. She's not going to skin you when you are sleeping."
"Great" I let my hands flop "now I'm going to be thinking about that instead!"
"Sorry" she laughed back, seeing my smirk and continuing to laugh at it.
I missed Lumi already.
"Hey, cheer up!" Tenley shook my shoulders and pointed ahead "look! We are almost there!"
The rusted corrugated iron roof of a building was bobbing into view. Atop it, a small metal rooster changed direction with the gentle breeze, peeling above it all. Spotted brown bricks looked diseased from the black holes dipping into them. The ones along the little concrete path running alongside the store were broken and jagged, housing weeds that flourished.
There was the top of an old bent tree opposite the roof that had braided silvery leaves hanging down like curtains. The trunk almost resembled water the way it was frozen in movement the way it strangled itself.
A sign was nailed into the tree trunk that twisted beneath it, skewing the message painted onto it.
There was the figure of someone eagerly standing out the front of the store, on the dirt and gravel we trudged up.
As soon as their face peeked into view, they let out a yell and began limping towards us as fast as they could.
"That's Byron" Tenley giggled as she leant across to me "just be gentle with him."
"Is he going to do the same to me?" I eyed the dog hybrid hobbling along so eagerly.
Their entire right leg was missing from just below his buttock. Billowing green pants flowed around the thin metal leg that was visible through the sheer material shining from the sun streaming down onto it.
Was that the leg from a chair being used as a prosthetic? Or maybe the handle of a broom? It even had a black rubber stopper on the end that was scuffed into a new shape entirely.
His brown ears flopped with each limp forward. The beads around his neck crackled. Around a fabric belt, an evil eye slapped the metal leg, ringing with each step. He had more of them bunched on his right wrist. The left was bundled with multicoloured gumnuts.
Byron had a white muzzle that split up the middle of his face. Speckled with small brown spots, the rest of his body was covered in the white speckled fur from his jaw downwards.
It looked like a coat covered in morning dew. It was kind of pretty.
"Moo Cow!" Byron held his dark pawed hands wide when we was closer "oh, I missed you!"
Moo Cow?
I snorted, pressing a hand to my mouth to hide the laughter there.
"Stick!" Tenley giggled and rushed over to hug him, being spun around in an awkward circle "how are you?"
"Getting along" he slapped the metal leg, his brown eyes sliding to me before his grin grew sly "who's this? You found one?"
Tenley followed the gaze and snorted. Byron's slender tail was wagging.
"This is Nisha. He's just staying for a little. I didn't find anyone, Stick."
He was visibly disappointed when he glanced to me again. His tail stopped.
"I'm Byron" the dog shifted so he could hold out a hand I shook, feeling his long, dark nails wrap around my skin firmly "we can be great friends."
The tail began again, slowly. Easily readable. This guy wouldn't be able to hide anything.
And what was with the weird nicknames? It seemed a little personal for someone who was just a 'good friend'.
"This is for you" he pulled off one of the bright blue and white eye bracelets to slide it onto my wrist "to keep the bad stuff away."
"Could have used this much earlier" I joked, seeing him smile too "thank you."
"And one for you" he slipped one onto Tenley's wrist, staying there a second as he fixed the eyes to look up at her.
Yeah, something was going on between these two.
"Come!" Byron caught himself and brightened as he pulled from Tenley, sweeping an arm to gesture for us to follow his limping self now on the lead "I made jilungin tea! It'll help you sleep after such a stressful day!"
I could tell he was talking more to Tenley than me. Either way, I wasn't going to be accepting drinks from a stranger I didn't know the motives of just yet.
"I'm set" I showed him the drink bottle I took another long sip from.
"More for you then, Moo Cow" Byron grinned.
"That's a cute name" I smirked to Tenley, putting on my sarcasm "and Sticks? How did you guys get those names?"
Byron giggled, turning on his leg to face me while walking backwards.
"Well, Tenley has these pretty patterns, like a cow" he smiled at her "and we really love cows, so she's Moo Cow; in a good way, of course."
"Funny" I peered around at the empty landscape "I don't see any around here...?"
"Oh, they're further out" Byron flicked his wrist as he turned back around "I should take you to see some while you are here! Their little wet noses are so...."
He made an excited noise, causing me to giggle.
"And Sticks is because of his leg" Tenley explained now "it looks just like a stick. Works as well as one too."
"Hey, one day I'll have one of those fancy ones with a working kneecap" Byron added wistfully "then I'll be back to my running days."
He sighed happily.
"You were a track star?" I piped up, amused.
Both Tenley and Byron burst out laughing. He only stopped long enough to wipe his tearful eyes.
"No, no! I was one of the many who chased the runners" he chipped in cheerfully "until I was dragged between cage bars and...."
Another noise, more brutal this time.
"Byron was the worst one" Tenley agreed, smiling at him "no-one could outrun him and his floppy ears."
Wait.....
"And you are happy about this?!" I gasped in shock "you....you're just talking like this whole thing is just a great memory for you guys!"
"Ah, good times" Byron stared off with a smile "you know, when Jude came to get Tenley, I was going to go to a farm that night. They said my missing leg was no good with the cages, so I could live it up on the farm. I think hers was the one they were talking about. I'm really glad I went with her then. Her farm isn't what I expected, but I like the room and sheep, especially Nettle."
"Nettle was the lamb" Tenley filled me in, focusing on Byron again "she'd be old now, right?"
"Just had two of her own not long ago" Byron held up his fingers and rubbed them against each other "August and Sunday, because of the times they were born."
Tenley gasped. Byron grinned. I was still trying to figure out why they were going to allocate one of their best runners elsewhere to 'live it up'.
Was a 'farm' an euphemism for something else? I hadn't heard the term before at Paragon. Or was it simply just a place to retire their best workers?
And Tenley was ok with this? She was awfully close to someone who used to make sure she could never leave her cage.
"He looks shocked" Byron whispered loudly to Tenley, taking pleasure in my blank stare "it's ok, Nisha, honestly."
"It is" she added with a shake of my shoulder "that's in the past."
It was just all so weird. A life-changing event just swept aside for friendship...
Was this how easy it was to forgive out here?
No, it couldn't be. These two were just very, very odd.
Was it too late to walk back to the train station and keep going to my next destination?
"Already trying to escape" Byron joked as I peered back behind me at the concrete slab in the distance "cute."
I saw Tenley's concern when I returned my gaze to the front in defeat. She avoided my eyes as her smile slid away. She tried to play it off as a joke with him.
I dropped mine in embarrassment at being caught out. I had to be more subtle, especially with Byron. It seemed nothing escaped him, even now.
Keeping my eyes down, I followed along quietly.
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We arrived at the news agency that Byron pushed aside the beaded curtains of. I stopped at them, seeing how aged they were, before stepping in.
A small round glass table sat by the front window. Edged with black metal that hadn't been cast properly, one of the bent legs was propped up with a wad of cardboard to keep it from tilting.
Old magazines were stacked on one side. A fake plant in a plastic grey pot had a nice coating of dust across the once-green leaves.
"We're back!" Byron called out through the shop "Moo Cow is here!"
"Oh, you've got to stop calling her that" a woman's voice scolded him somewhere within the tall metal shelves stacked with all sorts of papers and magazines. There were a few down the other end sticking essentials.
A head poked around the shelves, halfway down the long rows. Curled brown hair clumped around her ears when the woman beamed and shuffled out with arms wide.
She was a larger lady. Red smeared across her nose and cheeks like a permanent blush. Tied into a brown apron that had a ticketing gun and old orange duster poking from the pocket at the front, she seemed quite comfortable doing odd jobs while waiting for anyone else to visit the empty store.
"Oh, Tenley" the woman crooned as they hugged "I haven't seen you like this for a little."
"It's been a minute" she joked back, stepping back as the hug ended "clothing is always a bit weird."
"These suit you" the woman smiled as she looked Tenley over, stopping when she saw me, her smile breaking again cheekily "and who is this?"
"This is Nisha" Tenley held as arm out so I could take a tiny step forth "he's from Burrside."
The woman's thin brows lifted. They looked drawn on. She gasped.
"My! Such a long way! Welcome to Tennembee!"
I forced a smile back, still uncomfortable.
"Thanks."
"He performed on a chandelier" Tenley added "he was one of the Stars at Paragon. Nisha has Leucism, and likes.... uh, well.... performing."
I peered across, confused. What else did she have memorized about me? It seemed a bit more by the way she stopped herself so suddenly.
"Well" the woman blew out her breath "a famous Star...."
"I wouldn't call it that" I shrugged "the others were more popular than me."
"But to do stunts like that!" she gushed "that's impressive work! It takes talent and bravery to do stuff like that. I could never...."
Oh. She.... she thought I was.... talented?
I felt kind of bubbly inside, giddy almost; like a child being praised. This was a nice feeling I let envelop me.
"It was a good show" I smiled as I babbled "oh, you should have seen my performance! We had this one part where you had to drop down through the chandelier and hang below it with one hand!"
"There'd no way you wouldn't just fall" Byron piped up now, interested. The wagging increased, slapping the counter behind him. He noticed and moved from it meekly.
"I did, just once" I grinned "but I was saved by our newest bird star. If he didn't, I reckon I'd be dead on the seats below. It's a really long way; probably about five of this shop stacked up."
Another gasp from the woman. She even put her hands up to her face.Tenley's wide eyes were on me. Byron's tail wagged as he waited for more info.
They actually were interested in me. They wanted to listen to what I had to say.
But, I could be boring them. They had things to do that I was taking them from...
"It's silly" I brushed it aside "and I'm obviously fine."
"Yeah, but, what else did you do?" Byron looked to the others as if he were waiting for them to prompt me to keep talking "you can't just leave it at that!"
"You....want to know?"
He nodded, his ears flopping with the enthusiastic movements. I giggled at it, Tenley also holding laughter.
"I'll leave you kids to it" the woman grinned, smiling at me "glad to have you here, Nisha."
"Thank you, Miss."
"Oh, Miss!" she gushed again as she shuffled off for the shelving again, pointing at Byron "you could learn a thing or two from this young man!"
Byron smirked, waiting for the woman to disappear so he could drop his head towards me, raising a paw to cover the side of his mouth as he whispered.
"I called her Curly Chip because of her hair. She didn't like that."
Snorting, I pushed down the amusement and tried to remain serious.
"That's very mean" I spoke, trying not to laugh again.
"I cut it down to Curly now. Eh, it's not my thing, but Sheryl likes it."
Curly. Jeez, what was with the funny nicknames?
"Just don't give me a weird one" I told him.
"Yeah... sure, Nish" Byron replied, grinning, as he straightened again.
That didn't sound promising at all.
"I've got that tea out the back, if you want some still?" he offered Tenley before me "I had it steeping before I came to get youse. It'll be nice and strong."
"I'll take some" Tenley brightened.
Tea that made people fall asleep? That made me far too nervous to even take a sip of it.
"I'll pass" I smiled apologetically "I've got to make a phone call anyway."
"Ah, well, reception is shit around here" Byron shrugged, flicking a finger to the door "the tree across the road is the best place. The higher the better."
Was he suggesting I climb the thing? Just to talk to Lumi?
Well, I didn't want her thinking I had hung up on her if I did cut out. And climbing was what I was good at.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFrp61Xuf5
Grinning and promptly leaving, I trudged across the road I checked anyway, remembering that there was no traffic out here to do such a thing anymore.
There really was nothing out here. Up the road were a few more tiny shops along this pathetic strip of concrete footpath. Up in the mountains beyond were speckles of peoples homes glinting back.
I don't think there was such a thing as a neighbour out here. Already, it was so much more different to the rooms pressed together at Paragon.
Leaning against the tree, I swung my bag around to grab out my phone and roll down to Lumi's number. Keeping an eye on the slither of signal available and hearing how broken the ring was, I saw the pit of the trunk was only above my head. Without shoes on, I could easily grip onto the wood and scamper up to the branches jutting from it.
Well, looks like I was going for a climb.
Pressing the phone to my ear with a shoulder, I kicked off my shoes and socks to nestle both around the back of the tree so nobody would take them.
Hearing the phone drop out, I crammed it between my teeth so I could get a run-up to the trunk and the distance I needed to snatch my hand around the base of the pit.
Hauling one leg upwards, I pressed the bottom of my foot against the side of the left branch. Pushing up the trunk, I scraped my knee into the pit that was layered with dead leaves and old rainwater. Seeping through, the filth quickly fouled up my clothing and made me groan at the cold grime.
Now up on the pit, I could stand. Ringing again, I saw my little slither had grown by a fraction.
I still needed more for a stable call. Peering out to the left branch leaning outwards, I mouthed my ringing phone again to crawl out onto it.
Hearing my phone drop again, I weaved around obscuring branches and leaves to perch down halfway. Grabbing the branch running above me for stability, I saw how high up I now was.
It wasn't the chandelier, but I could still do some serious damage if I fell onto the rocky road below.
Right. Third time was the charm.
Signal was at a whole half portion of the triangle when I rang again. The trilling was stronger and didn't cut out.
My heart lifted as it kept ringing past the point the others had dropped. Soon, there was a breath on the other side.
"Hello? Nisha?"
Had Lumi run for her phone? Or had she really been crying that much? She sounded different.
"Hey, it's me" I smiled.
"Oh!" she breathed outwards, sniffling "about time you rang me."
"I got told by Barley I should" I grinned "he said you've been listening to the soundtrack on repeat. Practically begged me to talk to you."
"Well, I'm not turning it off" she chuckled, sniffling again "how are you?"
"I've been better" I kicked my feet as I talked "I'm currently sitting up a tree to have enough service to talk to you."
"What?" there was rustling as she moved on her bedsheets "where abouts are you?"
I checked the shop below as if it had the answer. All I saw was Tenley and Byron sitting at that little table as she spoke to him. He had a paw resting on her hand.
Just friends? I didn't think so.
"Tennembee" I pulled my focus back to Lumi "a little bit from Mistigo Forest. That's where I'm heading once I get a little more wild. It sounds like a nice place."
"Tennembee?" she frowned back, jostling again "hang on, I'm putting you on speaker. I need to see where that is."
"It's a bit of a trip" I chuckled when I heard her muttering to herself as she segmented the name she typed "the train out of Burrside took forever to get here. The station is just a slab of concrete. There's really nothing here."
"But you like that, don't you?" Lumi asked "otherwise you wouldn't have picked that place to stay."
Making an uncertain noise, I leant forward on the branch to help stretch my back.
"It's just somewhere away from everything."
Lumi sighed, understanding.
"Did you find it yet?" I prompted.
"Yeah, it's...." she blew out a breath, tutting "there really is nothing there! It's got some news-agency, a small supermarket, a horse shop, and lolly place further up. I don't even see an op shop or fuel station anywhere. The place is a dead-end!"
"At least the others won't find me here" I added hopefully "and I'm opposite that news-agency right now. Apparently it's the only place around here that gets enough service."
"That's rough" Lumi smiled.
At least she didn't sound so sad now. I just wish I was there to make it better.
"I miss you already."
"I... miss you too" her voice strained back "I just... wish you didn't have to go."
"I could always come back?" I chipped up.
"No" she replied glumly "it's better that you are out there. If you did come here, it'd only be a matter of time before Bruce sent more people after you. It wouldn't be right."
"I just feel horrible" I pulled back, slouching "we didn't get to go to that lookout together. I got that talking-to by Barley for nothing."
Lumi snorted, sniffling again.
"Yeah, well, he's an idiot. The douche got himself beaten up for us though, so I guess he's alright."
I chuckled with her, smiling.
"Are you ok? Barley told me that people came inside the house."
Lumi sighed. She repositioned again.
"Yeah. It was a bit scary with them just barging into the rooms and all that, but they didn't do much but talk shit. Lydia was the most scared. I think her crying set something off in Barley, because he didn't attack the others until she started. He's being punished by having to scrub up all the blood he left behind in the kitchen area."
Blood? Was there weapons? Or was Barley really just ignoring my warning to stay out of trouble and raking his claws through anything that wasn't his family?
It did sound like him. And Faris being so angry with him over our phonecall did make more sense now.
"But you aren't bleeding?" I worried now.
"I'm fine" Lumi reassured me "we all are. The only one who is worse off is that big idiot."
"That's good" I smiled now, relieved.
Barley could hold his own. I knew he'd be fine, even after a few cuts and gouges. He had survived a knife attack that left him half blind; he could handle a few agitated co-workers.
"Maybe I can come see you when Bruce isn't in charge of Paragon anymore?" I suggested now.
Lumi made an unsure noise, really dragging it out.
"That could be a while, Nish" she replied "and who knows if the person who replaces him won't be any worse? We can always message and video call each other. Why don't you show me this tree you are supposedly up right now?"
She was teasing me. Her tone made it sound like she also didn't believe I scaled it just for her.
I'd do anything...
"Alright" I pressed the camera icon and held out the phone for her to get a good look "do you see it?"
Her grainy face pulled up, freezing. The voice, however, gasped and continued.
"Holy shit!" she laughed "are you really in a tree, you monkey?"
"Jealous?" I laughed back.
"Oh, absolutely" her head moved a little, freezing again "you really are a moron, you know that?"
"For wanting to talk to you?" I scoffed back, grinning "I'm the most stupidest person out there."
She laughed along with me. Right then, even with the frozen face, it was as if she was here with me.
"I'll take a photo for you" I panned the camera upwards so that I could get a clear view of me in the tree, clutching the branch "how's that?"
"So good it'll be my new wallpaper" Lumi retorted.
I wouldn't put it past her to do that. I took the shot and saw it add to my mostly empty album in the bottom corner.
Smiling at Lumi's face, my eyes were drawn past her and to the small white car rocking over the road ahead. Behind it was a plume of red dirt that also dusted the car, making it more maroon than white.
"Shit, I've got to go" I deflated instantly at seeing the occupant was a lone woman "I'm staying with this person called Mama Jude for a bit. She's just turned up."
"Sounds like the leader of a cult" Lumi joked.
"That's what I thought!" I gasped back, giggling "or serial killer. She has a farm with sheep."
"Oh, sounds so shady" Lumi laid it on thick "can't turn your back on those obviously dangerous sheep."
"Well, you'll know where I am if I don't message you later" I continued "in the meat freezer, beside the lamb chops."
Lumi giggled, freezing again. Her face was unflattering, making me snort at it.
"That's morbid."
"I know."
The car pulled up under the tree. I saw the woman's head lean forth to look up at me before she exited and promptly strolled into the store. Instantly, Tenley ran into her arms. Byron held back, smiling nervously as the woman began to speak.
She looked stern. Her hand ran over Tenley's back as she spoke, her face not forming an expression past 'annoyed.'
Did she have to drive far to get here? Was she irritated I was up here instead of ready to go?
"I've got to go" I sighed again "for real this time."
"Well, don't forget to send me your selfie" Lumi bubbled back "and ring me tonight so we can talk more!"
I glanced back at the woman and her stiff stance.
"I'll message you" I decided, knowing she probably would blow up if she heard me talking while others were trying to sleep "and I'll send the photo."
Lumi smiled, it growing sad again.
"Hey" I began, brightening "do you have the link for the soundtrack you've been listening to?"
Lumi frowned, nodding. She froze again.
"Send it to me so we can listen together" I grinned "I can listen to you sing again."
Lumi unfroze to instantly burn with embarrassment. She gave a little smile, giggling, before freezing again. I took a screenshot of her cute face to save for a background later.
"I'll talk to you later, ok?"
"Ok" she managed to mumbled out "bye."
"I miss you" I chimed in, watching her burn brighter before I hung up and was promoted to rate the quality of the call.
Lumi was so adorable. Just seeing her swelled me with happiness as I quickly sent her the selfie and was greeted with a reciprocated link.
"Nisha" I heard my voice being barked from the store "it's time to go."
It was Mama Jude. Her hard expression reminded me of the hungry one Tawn often trained on me. I searched her exposed brown arms for scales, just to make sure.
"Coming" I replied meekly, before starting the climb down to my shoes and socks once more.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEgR9LJPoD
"You'll be sleeping on the lounge if your arrangements aren't mutual" Mama Jude explained as I sat in the back seat and Tenley remained silent in the front when we left Byron in a cloud of dirt "and I expect you to pull your weight around the house. I do not run free board for anybody."
I wasn't expecting her to. It sounded like she was punishing me for not wanting to sleep with her adopted daughter.
"I will, Miss."
"Jude" she replied sharply "or Mama Jude. Nothing else."
"Yes, Jude."
She really was another Bruce. Already, I didn't like her.
"Tenley, your room is the way you left it" Jude turned to her briefly "get some sleep before dinner tonight. And don't go drinking tea from that boy again. You know it makes you far too tired."
"I will, Mama" she yawned back "I just needed something to help sleep."
"Nisha" Jude's steely brown eyes locked onto me through the rear view mirror "is that a female or male name?"
What sort of question was that?
"Male?"
"You don't sound too sure."
"I'm just a bit confused why you want to know?" I replied with a little laugh at how absurd it was.
She huffed, turning her head back to the front wind- shield.
"You sure pick them, Ten" Jude muttered to her daughter who chuckled.
Her eyes were back to me in an instant. She really did move like a snake; too aware and focused. Her eyes were just as dark as one too.
Did I miss the scales? Maybe a forked tongue?
"Tenley tells me you danced on a chandelier for a living."
"Well, it was a performance" I tried to correct her gently, but saw her sour "we all had different things at Paragon."
"You'll chop wood" Jude told me firmly "put those soft hands to good use."
I don't think I had ever done anything like that. I knew the show required stamina and strength, but not focused into labour like that.
I didn't want to make a fool of myself, struggling with an axe.
"Mama" Tenley rested a hand on hers before she changed gears "Nisha is exhausted. He's going to be with me in my room."
Anything to get out of chopping wood and away from that woman. By the sounds of it, she was going to work me to the bone until I decided on the easy route out of her tough love.
Cunning. They both were.
"The wood won't cut itself..."
"And I'll help after a sleep" Tenley offered instead.
"Nonsense. It'll be far too late. I'll do it myself" Jude huffed, jerking the gear again "show Nisha the shed after your things. He needs to know how to clip a sheep manually while he's got the fingers for it."
Another task I had no clue about. Already, the safe chandelier at Paragon was seeming a hell of a lot better than here.
"I'll do that" Tenley just giggled back with a quick glance to me.
I focused back on my phone, flicking through the list of songs compiled together. Slowing down when I saw mine and Lumi's make an appearance, I saved it for later. I was going to need the motivation by the looks of things.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMMGFAwjaC
The farm was smaller than I had envisioned.
Rocking up the dirt road leading past the old wooden fenceline, there was a wooden shed in the bottom corner that had a single tree planted behind it and obscured.
The rest of the land was bare, except for the clumps of white and black-faced sheep steadily mowing through the already short grass.
A little pond was edged with large stones and reeds about halfway up that some sheep drank from. Wild birds stalked the water with long legs for food in the dark depths.
Up at the top was the house.
A small wooden thing, it was as run-down as the shed.
White paint peeled from the top to expose streaks of dark wood beneath it. A thick concrete slab acted as a step up to the green fly screen that had a hole torn down in the bottom corner. Beyond that was another weathered white door with an old iron knocker below the house number; 12.
Bumping over the gridding in the road, Jude drove us to the left of the house where the grass there was flattened due to the impromptu open garage.
"Oh, I missed home" Tenley smiled up at the little home.
I kept my mouth shut. Mine was just a room down a hallway that was half the size of this little thing.
Jude gave a little smile as she unbuckled and got out. I quickly gathered my bag, dropping my phone back in so I could shoulder it again.
"Take a bath" Jude spoke softly to Tenley when she joined her side "I'll get dinner sorted."
She paused for a moment, turning to me.
"Nisha can cut the vegetables. I assume you know how to handle a knife with those tiny hands?"
Ah, there were the demands again, disguised as another jab at my character. At least this task was a much easier one.
"I've held a knife, thank you" I just chimed back, a little too cheerfully.
Jude noticed the sarcasm laid in there. She wasn't impressed, as usual.
"I'm so glad you two are getting along so well" Tenley grinned as she pushed open the door and made her way inside.
Jude glared down to me as she stepped up onto the block. I returned it, knowing full-well that this off-brand version of Bruce couldn't rattle me when I had dealt with the real thing for so long.
The house was immediately open. To the left was what was supposed to be a separate room that didn't even have a door. The whole front wall was only a half, leaving the area exposed to what they had arranged into a living room. The couch I was expected to sleep on was facing a tv so old and thick that it could have been another concrete slab. A makeshift aerial from a wire coat-hanger was twisted into a heart shape that slanted to the right. At least there was a coil rug to trap some warmth beneath it. I could already feel the cold nipping my ankles from between the old boards.
Tenley rounded the room to open another door that was labelled with her name on a childish plaque edged with unicorns and rainbows; faded almost to the pink paint from years of resting there.
She was quick to make her way from the room to another door opposite it on the other side of the house. Slipping inside, I heard her began to sing beyond the wooden door.
"Drop your bag there" Jude pointed to the side of the wall of the closet room she entered "and wash your hands."
Doing as I was told, I saw this was supposed to be a kitchen.
The white fridge was ringed with stains from magnets long gone. A grocery list was slapped on the upper freezer portion, alongside curled photos of a younger Jude with Tenley as a wooly beast.
The iron sink was mostly exposed metal. The white enamel was cracked inside it, slipping shards down the drain when I turned on the squealing tap.
Beside it hung a string of bright blue evil eyes from an old fraying rope. Byron had been here as well.
To my left was a long bench where a peeling microwave sat beside the oven. Opposite that and below the half wall was another bench that Jude sawed fat from the slab of meat she had, plopping the little strings into one bowl while the meat was slapped into another.
"Did Byron get you too?" I toweled my hands off on the hanging cloth below the eyes. I saw colour from the bracelet start to faintly stain my skin a tinge of bruise-blue in the bracelet formation.
"Oh, those horrid things" Jude looked at it quickly before noticing the one I wore "I see you've been branded as well."
There was a little smile. This topic could work to soften Jude up a little. We had a mutual confusion for the eyes.
"Got me as soon as we arrived" I chuckled, holding my arm up for her to see properly "when did you get the row of them?"
"As soon as I moved in a few years ago. The silly boy wouldn't let me enter my own home until he had burnt some white sage and smoked it all around the place. Took days to air the smell out."
She smiled and shook her head, pointing the knife towards me to open the fridge and carry the vegetables there to the other side of the counter where she slid across a wooden chopping board.
Between us was the block with the knives slotted in. She held the handle of the one I should be using.
Looking down, I hadn't seen vegetables in their raw form before. The carrots had long, green tops on them that twisted together. The potatoes were covered in lumps and chunks of dirt, and the beetroot was round and purple, with some sort of knobby growth coming from the bottom.
These were usually cut and washed in the city. Vegetables came in bags from supermarkets and were never these unsightly things. They even had frozen ones shaped into cubes, or slivers, depending on how much you could afford.
These even smelled different. They weren't the familiar sweetness I was used to. These were earthy and kind of woody. They weren't carefully selected for their familiar mass-produced look. Instead, it was taken what you could get out here.
I didn't even know beetroot looked like that out of a can or slapped between meat and cheese. Were all carrots this crooked, or just these ones?
"You don't have any foods you can't eat, do you?" Jude eyes me as I cut the green end off the carrot and plucked the stingy hairs off the side hesitantly before she washed her hands and took over to show me how it was done "Byron is particular. He can't have grapes, avocado, onion, chocolate, mushrooms, nuts, tomatoes, or alcohol. There's a few more, I think, but it made cooking very difficult for someone of his.... nature."
Right. Because he was a dog. I would assume he could eat most of those, due to the human side still being present? He must have been further from that than I expected.
How strange. Was there things that monkeys usually didn't eat that I should be more careful with?
"I'm good, as far as I know."
"Excellent, because we don't grow most of those things out here. There's no avocado toast, wineries, or fancy chocolate bars. You've got to leave your city tastes out on the road if you want to survive around here."
"Ok."
"And that's how you cut a carrot properly" she bent down to pull up another bowl to scrape the segments into and push across "the way you were acting, you think it'd jump up and bite you."
Jude smirked. I took the jab and knife from her so she could keep dissecting the meat.
"How long do you think you'll be here for?"
Oh. She wanted me gone already? I really was running on borrowed time with this woman.
"Uh... until I can be changed enough to leave?"
Her eyebrow lifted at me. She really didn't like that.
"You'll get a job" Jude decided with a nod "contribute like the rest of us. I'm not running a hotel."
Like she had reminded me before. She really was adamant on letting me know I wasn't welcome here. I should have just rode the train to the stupid bus stop a bit further away.
"I can leave if you don't want me..."
"It's Tenley who wants you here" she spoke when I placed the knife down "and it's all very important to her. She decides what to do with you."
Like I was some property? A thing to be punted from place to place when I was an annoyance?
Suddenly, I felt like I was Milk Biscuits again, dancing on the side of the road while the car drove off.
This was like that. I wasn't wanted....
"I'll grab my bag" I tilted my head "sorry to be in your way."
"Nisha" Jude sighed in irritation, looming over me and forcing me to turn and meet her firm eyes "you can stay, but only for a little bit."
But she wanted me gone... I was no use here, or anywhere.
"You don't even like me" I felt myself tearing up as I tried to remain strong "a-and I'm no use to you or her."
"You are horrible at cutting carrots" she looked at them briefly, facing me again "and are far too soft-spoken, but you just need some time to learn. I'd like you around so I can show you some things to help you when you go out there."
I sniffled, wiping my eyes shamefully.
"I'll be cutting vegetables in the wild?"
"God, no!" Jude coughed out in amusement "but I can teach you how to grow your own food and look for what is edible and what will poison you."
That would be useful. I knew nothing about anything past bricks and tar; the lessons I had learned in Paragon about not trusting anyone or believing in hand-outs. That and keeping drinks covered or not to travel alone at night.
There was no ulterior motive for this sudden change of heart?
"I'm still not letting you weasel out of that job" Jude smiled "the news agency can take you in. Byron will teach you well, if he doesn't talk your odd ears off."
Now I was self-conscious about them.
"Thanks" I mumbled back.
"Carrots" Jude flicked a finger back to the abandoned board I re-approached "but wash your hands first, then you can get to scrubbing the potatoes after that. You should always properly wash your food first; lesson number one."
This was such an odd way of showing she cared. It was kind of aggressive; a little demeaning too. Under all the rough and grit, Jude was trying to get me ready for life on my own.
Perhaps this is what I needed?
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqna741rZK
Tenley was quick to steer me from the kitchen and into her room when she re-emerged from the steaming bathroom in fluffy blue pyjamas. Softly crossing the cold floor in equally fluffy socks, Jude allowed me to leave when she saw how happy Tenley was to offer me the distraction.
Luckily, she warned for Tenley to keep the door open, much to my relief and her disappointment. Entering her room, I was instantly hit with the smell of sickly sweet strawberries wafting up from the unlit candle on the dresser beside her bed.
The bed was planted in the middle of the wall opposite, and had a designated window that was concealed behind old wooden shutters.
A patchwork quilt was laid across the bed, puffed and stuffed to make the different colours literally pop from the seamed segments. Matching pillowcases accompanied the spread, making the two look very soft and inviting.
I noticed the bed was a queen, even for one person. She had all intentions of sharing, once upon a time.
My feet found the soft rug first, running along the fluffed fibres made to resemble a crescent moon and star formations inside a circle.
It was kind of pretty. I could see an astrology theme happening with the round lava lamp bubbling little yellow stars from the blue liquid from atop the wooden cabinet to the right. There was also a tasseled runner embellishing the top where a large jar half-filled with evil eye trinkets was put on display.
Tenley walked over to take off her bracelet and unscrew the lid. I took the opportunity to study the little bookshelf to the left of the bed, alongside a plush deep green chair that had seen better days.
A reading corner? There were surprisingly few books for something specifically dedicated to it. Novelty accessories for the gaming console dominated the area instead, with little handmade nooks of flower fields and small home interiors wedged in where any gap would have been.
My eyes didn't linger on the shelf. Instead, they were drawn upwards to the large corkboard strategically plastered with papers. People's faces printed into the corner of each one, alongside their name, where they lived, and things they liked.
Just past the middle of red crosses through the names was mine. My name, location, and occupation was here. It even had favourite foods being burgers, how I didn't like tomatoes, my favourite colour being that of an orange sunrise, and that I found it hard to trust others. The fact I was caught to be a pet was here. There was a few underlines under Milk Biscuits; my old namesake I let my guard down around Tenley with on the train.
Looking across, I saw her watching me scrutinize the odd board. All that was missing was the red string to really bring it together as a murder wall.
It looked just like that. Was I... was I really going to be offed by this woman who related to me just a little too well?
She knew about me because of these facts. Was anything she said on the train true? And how did she find out all of this? I doubt my personal preferences were on the internet for her to access our here.
There were so many before me. The first was some person called Darwin. Beside that was Jacobi. I saw his sheet had more underlines and circles than the first. There was even two tiny hearts in the corner opposite the photo.
After him was Patterson. Next, Benji. Asher came after, with another heart; followed by Bobby, Jax; also hearted; Keith, and me.
After me was someone called George. Beside him was his brother, Lucas. They were linked with marker scratches across the touching sides of their sheets.
Past Lucas was Jonah, Teddy, Finn, Bailey, and Oscar.
All of them had facts about their lives planned out. None of them had the tiny hearts the others did. Anyone past me was untouched by circles or strokes of the marker.
So, those were her next victims. She already had topics of discussion laid out to get them to trust her, like she did with me.
I could have been where I belonged by now. All of that money was wasted because I believed I was doing something right by myself by following Tenley out to this shithole in the middle of nowhere.
Was she even a hybrid? Could that photo on the fridge also be fake?
"I can't believe you" I scowled.
"It's not as bad as it looks" she stepped from the jar to stand beside me and look up at it all as well "these are people like me."
"As that's supposed to make it better?"
"No" she shook her head "but, it's the only option I have left. Most of these aren't even who they are supposed to be. See Asher? He is a she. Made better money that way."
Looking over the pretty smiling male face, I kept my silent judgement turned on Tenley.
"Jacobi was a gibbon made to look like a spider, and Jax got the snip. The one before you, Keith, was gay. When he said he had something to tell me, I thought that it was he was also a woman."
Tenley chuckled. When I didn't share her lightheartedness, it died off.
"Ah, Darwin was too young...."
I scoffed. Suddenly she had morals about who she wanted between her legs.
"I thought you weren't picky, as long as they are the same?"
Her disgust was obvious again. She stared up at the face with me, scowling across.
"He was twelve. I'm not going to have a child with a child."
Ok, twelve was a little young. At least she also saw where that would delve things into illegal and illogical territories.
"Patterson had a partner" she continued as her finger jumped to him "Benji left town after the night, and Bobby..."
Tenley has a little smirk on her face. She shook her head at him.
"He had no clue what to do, poor thing."
Did I have to know that? Wasn't that a little personal?
And how come Patterson having a partner was enough for her, but me being with Lumi wasn't? Did she think I'd be swayed just because Lumi wasn't physically beside me?
Her eyes slid to me, looking me over.
"Have you had children, Nisha?"
"Kids?" I blinked back "uh, no. Not yet. With all this stuff about different species now, I'm not sure it'd work out between me and Lumi."
"Oh? She's not an ape?" Tenley crossed to her bed to sit on it.
I just shook my head, staring back up at the board nervously.
Did she think everyone had an elaborate plan like this for who they had to love? This was insanely detailed but so absurd.
"Why go to all this trouble?" I gestured to the crosses now "why not just forget the whole differences and just adopt or something?"
Tenley looked at me before letting out a laugh. She sighed through it, snickering at me.
"You really don't get out" she noted "so you think a hybrid could adopt? It'll never be like that. It's either have kids or don't. It's rough being one of us out here."
It was always so easy at Paragon. We were idolised, even by other hybrids. Because we were good at our jobs, people wanted to keep spending money just to get another glimpse. Some even came multiple nights before the turnover to another theme.
No adoption. What else was different out here? Would it have been safer to stay where I was and just turn a blind eye to the whole 'bush meat' situation?
Did they openly encourage hunting of wild hybrids out here? Was the meat Jude hacking into from the kitchen not just simple lamb?
I felt myself tense at the thought.
"I'll show you something after Mama Jude has gone to sleep" Tenley spoke up, softening when she saw I was instantly wary "don't worry, it's nothing like that. I think it'll help you figure out the situation we are both faced with out here."
I doubted it. Still, Tenley wasn't going to give up until she had helped me see things through her own eyes. I guess an uninterrupted sleep wasn't coming to me tonight.
She looked tired now though. I'd keep my distance from her and this horrible board until she hunted me down later.
At least I'd have some time to listen to Lumi before then, and bitterly wish things were different; her up in the car at that outlook besides me as we watched the lights of the city without a care in the world.
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