Chapter 9
It's been three days since the explosion happened, and three days when I first found this turtle creature passed out and wounded on my balcony. I've been taking care of it for the past three days. Changing it bandages and cleaning it's wounds. I pray that they won't get infected.
I sit here on the armrest of my couch. For once, I have nothing to do. All classes are cancelled for the rest of the week and the bakery is closed until the windows are fix. Unfortunately they can't come until a few days from now. So it'll be a while before I can open up shop again. To help pay the bills here, I've taken up another job. I now work in a market just a few blocks away from where I live. I help with the cash register, stacking boxes in the back, and sometimes help the customers or work in the bakery. Everyone does a little bit of everything there. It's not much, but it's a job.
Toby lays underneath my dangling feet. His tongue hanging out of his mouth, panting. He lays on my oval carpet in the centre of my living room. We sit here together and wait. I'm not sure for what though. We wait for something to happen or for someone to come knocking at our door. Or maybe we're just sitting here thinking. I always wonder what's on Toby's mind, what goes on in there.
I almost get lost in my own thoughts, I almost made it to my dreamland, until I hear movement. I glance down in a hurry at the turtle. He's stirring in his sleep. Beams of sweat are starting to run down his forehead. A look of discomfort are etched across his face. He seems scared, or worried. I want to comfort him, but I don't know how. All I can do is watch. Then he gasps. I'm taken aback as I stare at him. I wonder if he's finally awake but I'm scared to call out to him.
Slowly, he moves. He shakily lifts his hand right above his face. I wonder what he's doing. His mouth parts open in fear, he looks as if he's ready to speak, but no sound comes from his mouth. This time, I feel like I should speak. I know I should.
I don't want to startle him, so I start with a simple, "Hi." Do I sound nervous? I think to myself. I hope I don't sound as nervous as I do on the inside.
The turtle is shocked and he tried to scramble up. His arm reaches for something behind his back, but nothing is there. I immediately think of his swords. But due to his movements he ends up falling off the couch. He let's out a shriek of pain.
"Hey, you're hurt." I inform him and quickly kneel down by his side. I grab his arm in attempt to steady him. His head shot towards me in fear and I let go. It's odd how much emotion he can show even without his eyes. I mean, they're covered up in bandages after all.
The creature's breaths speed up and I can tell he's or...it's scared. I don't even know if he can talk, but I try to comfort him anyway.
"It's okay...I'm not going to hurt you." I reassure him and take hold of his arm once again.
The turtle takes some deep breaths but finally, he speaks.
"W-who are you?" His voice his horsed and it sounds as if it hurts him to speak. And now, judging by his voice, I can tell it's a boy.
"M-My name is Nicole." I let my voice shake a little. I try to get control over myself. This was no time to be scared, "I'm going to guide you back to my couch now."
At first it looks like he wants to pull away, but after a moment of hesitation, the creature nods. I help him stand up, he quickly learns to put no weight on his bad ankle. I catch him as he almost falls. With a couple of small and weak steps, he finally lays back down on my couch.
"I'm gonna go get you a glass of water, okay?" I tell him, making sure to speak clearly. He gives a hard dry gulp but nods his head. I quickly scramble to the kitchen and get the cup of water. I return just moments later, I make sure to place the water directly in his hands, knowing he can't see. He didn't say anything in return. He gripped the water cup tightly with both hands and took a few sips.
"T-thank you." He spoke after he was done drinking.
"You're welcome..."My voice trailed off as I realized I don't know his name, if he even has one. I wanted to ask him, but I thought it was to soon. He must have a lot of questions.
"N-Nicole?" As he spoke my name, it sent chills down my spine.
"Yeah?"
"W-where am I?" He asked the typical question everyone does when they first wake up.
"You're in my apartment," I answered at first but by the his titled head, I knew I should give more detail, "In Paris, France."
"Paris..." He echoed my words with a whisper. Unsure how to react.
"Can I ask you something now?" I wondered. He gave a nod of his head, though still seemed unsure about anything, "What's your name?"
At first he looks surprised at my question, but I have no idea why. Then, he answered me.
"My...name?" He reflected on the question. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke, "My name...is Leo."
"Well, Leo. I think you were caught in an explosion that happened a block or two away from here. I found you passed out on my balcony. You have a deep cut along your eyes and you're right ankle is burnt. I think I found some of your stuff outside too. Did you use to have a brown shoulder bag?"
Leo looked at me for a moment, hanging onto every word I said before responding.
"Yes, yes that's mine." He sounded rushed and eager to get back.
"I also found two swords on your back." I told him, once again he said those were also his. Next I explained to him about his mask too. And how now it's safely placed on my dresser and all cleaned up. Then silence fell over us. I recapped everything that happened from the moment I found him to now in my head, thinking if there's anything else I need to tell him.
"W-why can't I see?" He asked me, fear taking over his voice as his body began to slightly shake.
"I have bandages wrapped over your eyes, you should be able to see once I take them off." I explained, though it didn't seem to comfort him. Leo looks sad, or worried, or distracted, or something. But none the less, he nods his head and silence falls over us once again.
I don't know what to say or do. I know I should be comforting him, but how? It's clear to me already that he has feelings and he knows how to talk. It's as if he's part human or something. It's hard to say what he is exactly, some sort of Human-Turtle mutant or something. I can't say that the thought of he being an alien didn't cross my mind. He is greened skinned. But I always thought aliens would be...scarier and wouldn't speak english.
I ponder on this thoughts for a moment longer, until I glance up at the clock and realize that I need to go to work soon. I picked up a late shift for a couple of hours.
"Oh um..." I begin, getting Leo's attention, "I kinda have to go to work now...so you should get some rest."
"Uh...o-okay." He stutters as I help him lay down. I put a blanket over him for comfort and make sure he has everything he needs. When he says he's okay, I finally decide to go. I carefully step over a sleeping Toby and make my way out the door.
When outside, I throw my hood up over my head. The airs getting chilly as October approaches. I stick my hands in my sweater's pockets and try to keep warm. I don't do well in the cold. A few leaves of the odd tree are already started to fall from the trees, making my feet crunch beneath me. I suck in a cool breath of light crisp air and you can just tell that autumn is here. Sooner enough it'll start snowing and winter will come. While I do hate the cold, I must admit that winter is really pretty.
I arrive at the store about 15 minutes later, yet somehow I'm still slightly early. I head straight for the staff room to hang up my coat and check the schedule to see where I'm working. When you first walk in the store, the meats and produce are to your right, the fruits and veggies are straight ahead of you and to the left is all your other basic needs. Kitchen stuff, snack foods, clothes, etc. And finally, the staff room is in the back of the store, right next to the bread and bakery.
I open the door and hang up my deep red sweater on the provided coat hanger. The staff room is rather large and comforting. It's creamed coloured walls adds a certain warm atmosphere in here, and not to mention we have two couches and a mini fridge. It's more like a staff lounge if you ask me.
Posted on the bulletin board is everyone's schedule. It has a list of jobs for everyday of the week and a list of our names. Today, I get to work at the cash register. It's an okay job, not my favourite but it's not the worst. But if I like it or not, I make my way to the check out which is to the right of the main doors.
Business is always slow around this time, but I still get a few people shopping everyone once in a while. They come in the check out line, I always ask if they found everything they need, but usually in French. Then I scan their items, bag them and tell them to have a good day or night. It gets boring after a while. Doing the same thing over and over again. Just scanning one item after another. Eventually my thoughts get too loud to ignore. Oddly, I find myself thinking about Leo.
I wonder if he's okay...did I make the right choice by leaving him alone? What if he wakes up? And what if he needs something? Who will get it for him? I should have got someone to look after him...but who would? Who can I tell about a giant turtle living in my living house? I can't tell Marie, she can't keep a secret. She loves gossip to much. And she's the only other person who I really talk to other then Mme. Babin. And she's in Germany right now. The only one there is Toby.
Toby...I hope he's alright with Leo being there. I hope Toby doesn't attack him. He wouldn't do that, Toby is a nice dog. He's sweet to everyone he meets, as long as they don't give off a hostile tone. Leo doesn't seem to dangerous. Then again...he came in with two giant swords. I wonder what he does for a living, if he even has a job. Or where he comes from, or even what he is? I wonder...
My thoughts get interrupted as I realize I have a customer. I don't know how long they've been standing there, but they don't seem to angry. Hopefully they just arrived so they didn't catch me getting lost in my thoughts.
"Bonjour." I greet them in French, it is Paris France after all. Then I ask the mandatory question if they found everything the were looking for. Of course I also say this in French. When they reply, I start scanning the items she chose and bagging them. The grey haired lady, wrinkled with age, pays me and takes her grocery bags. I do this a few times before I get a break from late night shoppers and just get to stand here, thinking to myself. Asking myself why.
Why? Why did I take him into my house. Why did I drag a six foot giant, armed, turtle. He had freaking swords for crying out loud! And yet I dragged him into my apartment? Why did I do that?...I stood there for a moment, sighing. For I know why I let him in, I know why I helped him...He was hurt. That's just it. Why do I always feel the need to help things that are injured? I hate when I hear them cry out for help, all alone. That feeling of desperation, that feeling of loneliness. When you crave just to hear someone's voice, knowing you're not alone. Why do I hate this? Why do I always help, knowing I can get myself in trouble? I'm no nurse, I hate the doctors, and I get queasy around blood. So, what's the reason why? People say I'm of good nature and have a kind heart, but there's got to be more. There's always more. I never find a straight answer when it comes to why? There's a reason, and then there's the reason. A deeper reason.
I sighed as I rubbed my temples, attempting to stop an on coming headache. I was thinking to much. And why bother if I'll never get the answer? Why do people even think at all? Well I know why we think, but...why? Why not just live in the moment and think after? Why do we think about what we're going to say? Where we're going to go? Why do we think about our future? And ponder on the past? Why don't we ever think in the present? Why don't we ever do things as we think of them? The instant we feel bored, why don't we immediately say "How 'bout a movie?" Why do we think first? Think about if we want to watch a movie, think about what movie we watch?
I laughed softly at myself as I realized that I was thinking about thinking. Maybe my imagination is just too big.
Hours passed and finally my shift was over. I packed all my things, ready to go. With a few goodbyes to some of my fellow workers, I walked out the door. Then I froze as I realize I have to walk home at night. I usually just call Marie to come pick me up, but she wanted to be left alone tonight. Plus I worked extra late tonight, just past 11 pm.
I gulped and threw my hood over my head. Standing here worrying won't get me home any faster. So I begin walking. I have nothing on me to function as a weapon. No hang bag, no pepper spray, and no keys. Last time I defended myself with using the keys to my apartment. And I have to say, I felt somewhat proud of myself once I thought about it. I'm not the strongest person or the most skilled in fighting. I'm terrible at self defence, so to beat off some guy who was taller and bigger then I am, I couldn't help but feel a little glow of pride.
I'm halfway home, I'm almost there. Just another block and I'll be home. I must say I've been walking a little faster then I usually do. I just want to get home as soon as possible. I can't ignore the fear that's making my stomach churn forever. I pick up my pace a little more as I hear voices behind me. I'm too scared to turn around, but from what I can tell they're pretty far away.
After a few more feet I finally make it back to the bakery. I shiver underneath the cold and quickly open the door. It's a little weird seeing no windows and just tarps, but the repair man should be here soon. Within the next few days at least.
Once I lock up the door, I headed up to my apartment. I walked in, shutting and locking the door behind me, and sure enough, I was greeted my silence. This was unusual for my apartment. I was half expecting for Toby to come running to me, but then I remembered he was asleep by the couch.
Leo! His name screamed through my head. For a brief moment I almost forgot that he was staying here. But now I only wonder if he's asleep or not; last time I left him, I told him to get some rest. He seemed pretty tired and worn out, so my guess would be that he'll sleep through the night.
I walked down the hall and glanced in my living room, sure enough Leo was there sleeping. A small wave of relief washed over me as I released a breath I didn't know I was holding. This whole night I've been worrying about Leo, I couldn't get him out of my head. I tried to concentrate on different things but always seemed to fail. So eventually I just let myself worry. So when I came home and saw him laying safely on my sofa, I had to admit I felt happy.
After another moment passed and I was sure that Leo was fast asleep, I made my way to my own room. I took off my jacket and threw it on my dresser. I flopped down on my bed, resting my head against my pillow and closing my eyes, not even bothering to change into some pyjamas. I was too tired, not to mention I have cooking class tomorrow too. So I needed a good night's sleep.
After an hour of tossing and turning, I gave up trying to sleep. Sure enough, Leo was keeping me awake. Not because he was making sounds, I just couldn't stop thinking of him. I always do this, I worry to much. So many questions were going through my mind. Like, how long would he be here? How long do I have to take care of him? What if I don't do a good job? What if he dies on me?
I gave my head a shake at the ridiculous thought. He seemed fine today when he woke up, so he should be fine tomorrow. I just hope his wounds don't get infected. I wouldn't know how to treat them, how to react.
I sighed and rolled over on my side, trying one last time to go to sleep. I did manage to fall into a light sleep, but one question always remained in my mind. Just how long will this mutant turtle be in my life?
Hello everyone! So...I'm not dead, and I'm not giving up on this side story! It's summer vacation for me so hopefully I'll work on the fanfiction more! Sorry for not updating, I'll try my best to get the next chapter updated soon!