This chapter is still introductory to the concept, the action will come, I promise!
Chapter 2: Minority Vote
Wanda POV.
I was in the kitchen doing some baking some bread with with Magnolia. Her attitude towards me lightened over time, we even spoke now and again but I still felt strangely uncomfortable around her.
"Wanda?" She said lightly while kneading some dough.
"Yes?" I sounded nervous, did she notice?
"I have found it hard to become angry with you, you are who you are and I'm not sorry for hating you, but thank you. Although I can't promise to be friends with you, I can promise to be polite, you have a done a lot for us… what I'm trying to say is I am grateful for you, I have kind of, accepted you." She was all of sudden quiet as if regretting what she had just said.
"Your welcome." Simple short, I'd rather not say more, just incase I somehow offend her.
A loud groan came from behind. It was Sharon, her attitude never seemed to change much since I was in this body, she managed to be able to talk in front of me but never acknowledge me.
"Now, now Sharon it's true, even you can see that right?" Magnolia said trying to defend her last words.
"It can give us our world back and still have to repay for what sh… it did." Sharon said harshly.
"Things could have been a lot worse Sharon, I'm not saying be friends with her, I'm saying just let it go, no use in keeping a hatred, it'll eat you up."
"I don't care, it's still a worm, a dirty parasite in an innocent girls body, its still a filthy parasite, in fact I hate it more, they started taking our men. Ian is so stupid" That cut me very deep and my veins filled with hot lava. She wasn't finished, and she finally addressed me for the first time. "Oi, Parasite, do you think Ian loves you? He loves what you do in that body, bringing him food, he's using you, and if he does love you, well you might as well shove another of your dirty worms into his neck because he's as good as dead to me. Disgusting."
The lava was all over my body coursing through my veins slowly but viciously about to erupt.
"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK ABOUT IAN! HOW DARE YOU JUDGE ME! YOU WERE MORE WILLING TO SEE A CHILD DIE THAN FOR IT TO USE MY MEDICINE! AND FOR WHAT! PRIDE? TAKE A GOOD LOOK IN THE MIRROR BEFORE YOU CALL ME DISGUSTING!"
She stood in shock, along with Magnolia. Ian was standing just a few yards away with the same face. Oh no… lava cooled into guilt, this was not in my nature, this was not why Ian loved me. Tears came crashing from my eyes and ran as fast as could through the Y shaped tunnels and found the infamous storage cave.
I curled up crying and aching thinking over the scenario trying to force myself into believing that it went much better, but that failed, re-living the sound of my anger made me cringe with horror. I pictured the riots from the TV and re-hearing what I said I the hotel room "We become more and more human everyday."
My racing mind shifted to Ian, he had seen me angry, he wouldn't want me ever again after this, how could he? That wasn't the Wanda he loved, that wasn't the Wanda he ever thought existed.
A familiar voice greeted me with a soft arm around my shoulders. It startled my train of thought and made me tingle with adrenaline.
"Wanda, it's OK" Mel said. "Sharon had it coming, and if I was there she wouldn't of gotten away with that without a black eye" the image made me grimace, I didn't want to be the reason for a fight between family. "Sorry I wont mention any violence… You know, I have been inside your head long enough to understand exactly what you're thinking" She was smiling, trying to comfort me, but she was also right. "You're probably thinking about what Ian might think of you mostly, and how you have disgraced yourself somehow"
"I have disgraced myself Mel."
"You shouldn't think like that. Wanda this is only natural, Sharon insulted you and Ian, in all honesty, I think you might have made Sharon realize when you mentioned the medicine thing. She didn't speak to anyone, she didn't even boast about getting a reaction from you, so that's a plus"
Mel moved her hands to lift me up from the ground and we walked together back to the kitchen, Mel always knew the best things to say, of course she did, she knew all my train of thoughts with great accuracy, she knew me better than Ian. She knew me like a sister.
In the kitchen people had great smiles on their face, Jamie's face lightened up and gave me a huge hug as I walked in.
"Well done Wanda!" I was shocked with his praising for my anger, but I let it pass, I hugged him back. "Would you like to play soccer with me and Michael?"
"It's football!" Michael replied with a teasing tone in his thick london accent. Michael was a Londoner who moved to America with his family shortly before the humans started to realize what was happening, we found the 16 year old hiding in an abandoned house, back then he looked like he was close to death, but now with a good supply of food and water he looked very healthy, with brown hair and bright blue eyes.
I shook my head still uncomfortable to speak.
"Aw… Please Wanda!" He said with teasing puppy dog type eyes, as much as I couldn't say no. I really wasn't up to it, I could do with some sleep.
I smiled and shook my head once more.
"Oh... OK." He said with disappointment, is that all I have been doing lately, disappointing everyone? First Ian, now Jamie.
"I'll win either way" Michael came back with in a even more teasing manner.
"Your football skills are as bad your teeth" Jamie said again in the same manner. They both laughed at the 'racial' joke, yet I still never seemed to get the amusement. Michael didn't have bad teeth. Michael and Jamie ran off jokingly punching each other and firing more 'racial jokes.'
Even with people smiling at me and rewarding me with praise I still felt personally embarrassed and extremely worried to what Ian will think. My eyes searched every one as I moved to help Magnolia with the bread and dinner, Ian wasn't there but yet that slipped my mind as Magnolia still greeted me with a smile, although she said nothing, she smiled… why? This sent more worry down me, I didn't know how to react to it.
I sat down with Mel and Jared as I ate what was left of the cooking, I saved food for Ian but he was no where to be seen and everyone was leaving for bed.
"You OK Wanda?" Jared asked.
"Yes… where's Ian?" I replied.
"Wanda, he's busy doing something he wouldn't say what it was until he spoke to Jeb he said"
That's a point, Jeb and Doc were missing from dinner as well.
"Wanda stop worrying about it OK, Ian is not angry with you" said Mel to try and cheer me up, she read me very well. "Although I'm surprised he didn't speak to you before he went to see Jeb, he knows how paranoid you get."
Those words felt like an insult but I know Mel wouldn't of meant it that way. I suddenly felt defensive, I wasn't paranoid, just worrisome.
"I'm going to go to bed. Good night" I said to Mel and Jared and I headed off back to my cave, I was very tired, very exhausted, but I knew I wouldn't get much sleep if Ian doesn't come back. What could he be doing?
Ian's POV.
Wanda was half awake when I crept onto the cot with her, I wrapped my arm around her a pulled close to my body and kissed the back of her neck on her scar, it was my favourite place to kiss her, it felt to me like I was showing her affection rather than her body.
"I love you Ian, I'm sorry about earlier" she said almost whimpering, I pulled her as close as I could against me.
"Wanda, don't be sorry, I love you too." and in attempting to fall asleep I went through all the reasons that I will bring up tomorrow in the tribunal.
The next morning I had told Wanda that we needed to go to a tribunal and that involves her both. She was very worried and her soft hands gripped tighter as we walked towards the rec room. I'd decided not to tell her everything because she may not agree with what I bring up, her disagreements are completely different to human ones, she doesn't include herself a thinks too much about other people, to catch her off-guard she wont have enough time to lie about her reasons and she will be forced to speak the truth. I hated the slight deceit against her but it was all for her own good.
"Ian, I don't understand, did we do something wrong?" She asked me with big eyes an expression I find very hard to resist.
"No, we didn't this is just something that I want, for both of us. I want us to be happy."
"I am happy, I'm with you." Her words forced a reaction that I could not control, a kiss. A reaction I got often of course.
In the rec room everyone sat down confused and anxious to find out what this was all about, these faces will soon change, and most likely for the worse, I knew this was a long shot but I think I have the right reasons to persuade Jeb, and that's all I have to persuade.
"OK. Ian has put forward a request, as usual, one person speaks at a time, we will do a vote and of course you know the last rule, I have last say." Jeb said. "Ian, you explain."
Standing to face everyone I was suddenly overcome with fear, I was nervous, how would I explain this properly? Only those who go on raids will know exactly what it's like, the soul stereotypes still exist in most of the minds here.
"I…" it was hard to say, Wanda grabbed my hand and laid her hand on my back. "I want to request that Wanda and I, leave…" there was a large lump in my throat, peoples reactions were even more confused. "To live in... on the outside, in a house." Now they looked angry.
Wanda's POV.
The words seemed surreal, I let go of Ian's hand, my emotions bubbled up I felt the need to double take, did he say that? No he didn't?… He did, didn't he? My emotions let go in a shriek that filled the room with large reverb.
"ARE YOU CRAZY!" I shrieked with shock I made a few people jump. But I could see they completely agreed.
"Wanda, we can't stay here, we find humans on almost every raid -"
"Stop right there Ian, No. We can stay here." whispers around me begin to increase in volume like a music fader, getting louder the reverb of the voices made everything confusing echoing thoughts in my mind.
"Now, now one at a time." Jeb was trying to calm everyone down. "Ian you say your part, Wanda I'll ask for yours, and I'll pick who speaks next."
Ian turned to me and grabbed my hands, it was hard to grip his hands when I was angry with him, an emotion I've started to get used to, but it was hard to stay angry with him. Thankfully.
"We can't stay here, after the restaurant incident and after what you said made me realise how easy it would be to live right under their noses, we do it regularly on each raid with no problems and with no fear, I don't see the difference from that to permanently living on a neighborhood, in fact it will be easier, we will make friends, soul's will trust us, wont doubt me, they would know I'm human and forgive me if I accidentally let myself go." That caused a group stir, and I had to agree with the group on this one.
"Wanda it's your turn." Jeb said with a poker-face.
"There is a massive difference Ian, it was fine at the restaurant and that excuse is fine when we need it, but permanently Ian? What if you were asked questions about your upbringing, it will be a great conversation starter for my kind, and you will have no answers, it will be suspicious and the group needs me here to do raids."
The thought of living in a house with Ian was extremely tempting, so tempting that my mind began running through retaliations to the argument I'd just voiced.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. What is he thinking? What am I thinking? This isn't even worth a tribunal there is no way I'm doing it, I'm needed here, they all need me here. I can't leave them all.
Before I realized it, Jeb had chosen Mel to speak next.
"Wanda, You are not needed here as much as your thinking, I can do raids, I know all about the different worlds you have been on to make conversation, to get us out of situations, I am a better actor than you are, and they fall for you every time. Now answer these questions truthfully." She seemed very serious, but she is also right, but still, there are too many 'what ifs' to go along with this. "Wanda, will the souls believe your excuse from the restaurant again?"
"Yes" I grudgingly say.
"Will the seekers take Ian knowing that excuse?"
"No" again I could already feel the defeat.
"Would Soul's accept you two in a residential area, knowing that excuse?"
"Yes"
"Do you want to live with Ian like that?"
"No." Mel was right, I am a bad liar, a very bad one. Everyone could see it.
"I rest my case right there, all souls are bad liars, if there was a problem Ian could sniff it out and they would be safe, if that is even likely." Mel said in a persuasive tone, I couldn't tell everyones facial expression they were all stiff.
"Sharon." Jeb picked the only hand that was up.
"Now that's unfair! She's completely biased and doesn't even understand enough about souls to have any say." Jared screamed.
"My rules, Sharon, go ahead." Jeb said in defense, although his tone suggested that he wouldn't take notice of Sharon. I on the other hand was scared but also happy, because she was useful, she would say exactly what I want her to, never thought that was possible.
"As much as I'd like to see the back of that worm, I'd rather see it burn to death than being sent off to tell the seekers where we are and put us all on a plate for them." Not quite what I wanted her to say, but still enough to sway others my way or at least give it a second thought. But my hope was in vain, rather than expecting to hear people in agreement I heard angry grunts towards her.
Ian tensed harshly, a look I've seen before, whenever any new human looks at me the wrong way or insults our relationship the same look appears rushing through his body. He was about to burst, I went to grab his hand and hug in comfort to stop him, which usually works, he knows how much it pains me to see him like this, but I was late, he moved forward pointing his finger at her.
"Thanks Sharon for that intelligent enlightenment. How can we let Wanda, the soul that spent two years waiting for this moment, this opportunity to give us up to the seekers. Wow, what a plan, She fooled us well." Ian shouted in sarcasm. People laughed at the retaliation. I shuddered, My Ian was angry.
"OK, enough, vote." Jeb ordered.
"All those in favor of Wanda and Ian leaving?" It was obvious what the majority was. Of course, no one would be comfortable with this. Only Jared, Mel, Trudy, Doc and Ian had their hand up, not even Jamie, he didn't even speak, I felt a slight pain in my chest, as much as I agree with the majority, it still felt like he distrusted me.
"All those in favor of Wanda and Ian staying?" The room filled with hands including mine. I sense of relief filled over me. Hopefully this will be the last of it, I'm staying right here, where I am needed. But I knew Ian to well, this will upset him for a long time before he can settle it in his mind. I couldn't blame him, it was a nice feeling to picture it, but that's all it was a fantasy.
"Right, my turn to speak." Jeb said readying his voice, I forgot about Jeb, my crazy friend Jeb, no, surely Jeb could see this couldn't work, my heart was racing. "I agree with Ian, Wanda, we are overcrowding and we don't need you as much as you think. We can still get by very well. But." He paused, the suspense was agonizing, but my heart seemed to relax on the 'but'. "I'm still not comfortable with Ian leaving, I don't trust that he has thought it through properly." Now I was very relieved, but surprised that our audience was not reacting to what Jeb was saying. I gripped Ian's hand he looked at me in pain, I hated that face, I wanted so badly to replace it with a smile. Jeb sighed then proceeded "On the next raid, you two can leave us. I agree with the minority here. That will give you enough time to think it through."
There seemed to be a shared sigh, a confusing sigh, were people happy? Or angry? I couldn't tell. Ian's face relaxed into a big smile, it was an expression that loved. My emotions fluttered from frustration to happiness, I was happy this fantasy could be reality, but I was frustrated, how could Jeb agree with Ian? Surely this couldn't be good, but as I tried to come to some conclusion to prove my point, I realized I couldn't.
After we got our chores done for the morning we had a late lunch due to the tribunal. Everywhere I went people hugged me and with great concern said "Wanda I will miss you." It was nice to feel such love and it upset me because I would miss them too, but I expected everyone to be angry with me. To hate me.
Sat down next to Ian who eat with one hand and put his arm around the over stroking my back in a soothing motion, it sent shivers around me, this cold yet so pleasurable feeling put my mind at rest, I imagined feeling this lying on a sofa watching TV cuddled up to Ian. Or lying in bed each with our own lamp getting stuck into a good book. Jamie broke my train thought with a tone in his voice suggesting he was very upset.
"No. I'm not hungry." He scowled to the plate that was handed to him.
"Manners Jamie!" Mel hissed back.
My expectations were vice versa, I expected Jamie to be the one hugging me and missing me and everyone to be the angry ones. I felt very guilty all of a sudden to where my thoughts were leading to but I couldn't help it, did Jamie not trust me? Does he agree with Sharon?.
Jamie never looked at me but as afraid as I was to get his attention I had to try.
"Jamie, I'm sorry, but I promise I will still be the same Wanda, I wont join the souls completely, I wont… send a seeker." I tried to ease his anger, but he looked up at me and scowled, my heart was racing and I felt my eyes water, he didn't believe me. He does agree with Sharon.
"What are you talking about?" He said in the same tone.
"You agree with Sharon, that's why your angry you think it was the wrong decision. To let me leave." I explained, I was crying now, Ian grabbed my hand, and I heard Mel mouth something to Jamie. When I cleared my tears I could see Jamie's face. Pained. Upset. Blood-shocked eyes.
"Wanda, no, I don't agree with Sharon" He hissed. "I'm angry because I don't want you to leave. Your my best friend! Everyone that put their hand up was being selfish. We don't want you to leave because we will miss you!" He tears streamed slowly down his face one eye at a time.
"I don't want you to leave Wanda, but I want you to be happy, I think this is perfect for you." Mel said in a soft tone.
"You could do the same too you know, anyone here could live in a house and act like a soul, and no one will suspect anything!" I screamed out, I hated feeling upset, I don't want to leave these people and most of all it was them that deserved to have a life me and Ian were going to get.
"One day, when the overcrowding becomes worse, Me, Jared and Jamie will leave, were all talented at acting like Soul's, we can do it better than you!" She teased.
I thought about it for a moment, if I was born human and Souls never existed, how me and Mel could of been best friends from 1st grade. Jared would of been the school heartthrob and Ian would of been my college love, the one you end up marrying and being happy for the rest of your life with. I imagined, dinner parties, going to each others weddings, birthday parties, having a job. I was imagining a life, that my human family should be living now.
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