For the first time in a long time I felt alone, truly alone since he left. Before I met him that's how I liked it, alone. To be wild and free with no one telling me how much of a freak I am. All I ever known was people being afraid of me. I didn't understand why I was different. All I known is I've always been this way. But when he showed up everything changed. He was different like me, in tune with his animal side. I felt this weird connection the moment we met. So I slowly let him in my life. He is only the second person I've allowed too. He became my everything, my family, my world. I got attached just like I told myself I wouldn't. Then just like that he was gone, leaving me alone.
It took me two months to pick up what was left of my shattered life. Everywhere I went I could see him and smell him. His scent was everywhere and it drove me mad to be able to smell him but not see him. I hated my amazing sense of smell in those moments. Then one day it hit me I knew what I needed to do, leave. Leave the place I called home for the past three years, leave this place of memories. So I bought a cheap ticket for a small spot on this shitty ship and was heading to a new planet to start fresh. All I took with me was my backpack filled with mostly clothes, a few bottles of water and some food.
I had my shivs hidden under my clothes and in my boots to keep them from the naked eye of others. I looked like any normal girl. I matured fast and time I was thirteen I could pull off being eighteen so I could get away with not having parents with me when I did things. Not like many cared if I was alone or had parents. I told myself to act normal like any other human but I wasn't truly human and that I could not help.
I let out a soft sigh when we finally landed on the planet I was headed to, Taurus 1. It wasn't a long trip but enough for me to get an itch to get out of this small cramped ship. Then on top of it there was a really big man aboard who smelt like he has lived in his clothes for years. It overtook the smell of the whole ship and I did my best not to gag.
When I was outside I took a big breath of air and felt somewhat relieved. The smell was better then the man on the ship but still it didn't smell like home. I threw on my backpack and headed into the city.
I walk around looking for a place for rent that was away from the busy side of the city and not expensive. I didn't want to deal with crowds. They weren't my thing, I tend to panic when there's a lot of people and also when I get surrounded or cornered. It turns into a messy sight.
I keep walking and find myself in the bad part of town that I tried to avoid. I see a bunch of older kids around in groups who look like they've seen some bad things and did some as well. I can sense their eyes on me and I keep my eyes averted. I feel the hair raise on my neck and I feel a low growl wanting to escape when a group of guys approach me. They smell like drugs and bad choices.
"Well hello pretty thing what brings you to this side of town?" A tall boy about nineteen asks. I don't answer him and try to keep walking hoping they will just go away. He grabs my arm and whips me towards him. I pull out my shiv that I had in my sleeve and push it to his throat and let out a growl. "DO NOT TOUCH ME!" I yell. I can see the fear in his eyes as I bare my teeth. "Just wanted to talk I swear," he blabbers and I glance at his friends moving back from me. I pull the shiv away and walk backwards not turning my back to them. "Leave me be," I tell them still baring my teeth.
"What a freak," one says and I hear the rest laugh. I glance at the one I had my shiv on and he isn't laughing, just staring at me. Once I get far enough away I turn around and walk away.
It starts to get dark about an hour later and I find an old warehouse to stay in for the night and I can sense there is no one in it. I crawl through the window and look around. There's a bunch of bins and old ship parts. I lay back in the farthest corner away from the door and fall asleep.
I wake up to the sounds of the city and groan. I liked my old home it was peaceful and quiet only sounds were the wildlife that lived there. I finally roll over and get to my feet hoping to find a place of my own soon. I eat a protein bar and drink some water before I head out.
I walk for few hours tell I see a red sign that says rooms for rent. It was a rundown apartment building on the edge of the slums. I read the sign and follow the directions to the building manager's place which is a block away. I walk up to the front door and knock.
I listen as I hear heavy footsteps from inside the house come to the door. I watch as a man around forty opens the door with a gun to my face. I don't even flinch but just smile slightly at him. "What you want girl?" he asks. "I saw your for rent sign and was wondering if you still had a room for rent," I tell him. I watch as he smiles and puts his gun down. His clothes are dirty and he is missing a few of his teeth. "Of course precious, would you like to take a look?" I hate that he called me by a pet name and especially that one, I hated it but I gave him a smile and nodded.
When we got to the building he walked me up two flights of stairs and took me to the far end of the hall and opened the last door on the right. When I walked in I was disgusted. There was garbage all over the place and dead rats. There were holes in the wall and the window was cracked. It was all one open space like a studio apartment and the bathroom was off to the side it had a small shower with no tub and a dirty sink and toilet.
I turned to the man when he spoke. "Rents real cheap and I'll make it cheaper for you if you clean it yourself since I didn't get to the mess." I turn back and look at the place and feel myself cringe. I'm kicking my ass for leaving my home and coming here but there's nothing I could do now and I needed a spot to lay low.
"I'll take it," I tell him and listen as he tells me how much. I back away from him to give me room in case he tries anything as I pull my money out. I feel his gaze on me while I grab some cash out of my bag. "You know there's other ways you can pay your rent as well sweetheart," he says and I look at him raising an eyebrow. I hope he isn't meaning what I think he is. I watch as he gives me this creepy smile. With him looking at me like that makes my skin crawl. "Um it's okay I can pay," I say politely and hand him the cash. I see the smile disappear but he eyes the cash and just shrugs. He hands me the key and tells me when the next rents due. I smile and lock the door when he leaves laying my forehead against the door.
It takes me three full days of cleaning to get it looking okay and not smelling so bad. On the third day I run out of food. I needed to grab some groceries. I lost track of time and it was dark time I left the house to get something to eat. I wasn't afraid of the dark and I could see well in it when I let my eyes change. I grabbed a few groceries from the local corner store and head back to my place.
I was halfway home when I hear the sound of soft crying. It sounded to be coming from a young girl. I whip my head in the direction I hear it. I smell the air and when her smell hit me I feel something awaken in me that called for protection. She smells like vanilla mixed with pain and sorrow with hints of blood.
I head into the alley where she was and set my bags down. I slowly approach a dumpster and I hear her crying get louder. I quietly round the corner and see a young girl a few years younger then me about twelve to thirteen curled in the corner. Thinking of a way to not scare her I softly call out to her.
"Hello are you okay?" I ask. I watch as she jumps up and pushes herself against the wall. She has shoulder length brown hair and big green eyes that hold fear. I notice the bruises on her cheek and arms. "Hey it's okay I'm not going to hurt you I promise," I tell her and this seems to relax her a bit. I don't understand why I'm here talking to her I don't usually involve my life in other people's but I can't help but get this strange feeling of wanting to protect her. "What's your name?" I ask. I watch as she moves off the wall a bit and comes closer to me. "Jackie, my name's Jackie," she says looking me in the eye.
"Nice to meet you Jackie, I'm Shay." I watch a smile appear on her face and see some of the fear disappear. "So what you doing out here so late hiding in this alley for?" I ask. I smell the nervousness and the lie before she tells it. "I got lost and I was scared so I hid," she says. "Not to push Jackie but I feel that's a lie especially with all the bruises on you." I see the fear return. "Please don't make me go back home, I can't take it anymore," she cries.
My protection mode kicks in full force and I do something I've never done. I pull her close and hug her. "I wouldn't make you go anywhere you didn't want, I say, do you need a place to stay I have a small apartment not far from here." I see her nod her head and hug me tighter. I grab her hand and head out of the alley. I grab my grocery bags and lead her back to my place wondering what the hell I'm doing.