13
Dennis led me further down into the zoo. The halls were dark and the lights above them were very dim. He entered a large room with four washers and three dryers inside. I noticed numerous rows of laundry baskets in the back. Each one was a different shape and color. On the front of each one was a name: Patricia, Hedwig, Barry, Dennis, Jade, Orwell, Mr. Pritchard, Luke, Norma, Ann and Mary Reynolds, Heinrich, Goddard, Bernice, Polly, Rakel, Felicia, Ansel, Jelin, Kat, B.T, Samuel, and Ian.
My eyes widened on each basket. There were clothes in each one. The only two I noticed were not here were Kevin and the Beast. Dennis didn't seem bothered that I was looking over the baskets. He just opened the washer and began sorting the clothes inside.
"Kevin doesn't have a basket?" I asked.
"Kevin is always resting. He wears whatever we are wearing." Dennis answered mechanically. I looked over at him now with curiosity.
"And the Beast?" I asked. He paused for a moment before continuing to do the laundry. He had glanced in my direction but did not look at me entirely. I tilted my head at this and slowly walked over to him. He placed the clothes in the laundry before pausing as I neared him.
"You don't like him do you?" I asked lowly and he tensed a bit.
"I don't particularly care for him." he admitted lifting up some laundry detergent and pouring half a cap size of soap inside. I watched him pour the soap inside.
"Why not? He's here to protect you all right? To protect Kevin?" I added, and he inhaled some.
"Patricia says he is what we all wish we could be every day, the monster we all hide deep inside us. He is the pain we all wish we could show to each other to be accepted." he said. I tilted my head some.
"But what do you think of him?" I asked. I mean Dennis has to find his food and make sure they don't escape. He had to deliver me, his child hood friend, to be taken by him. If anything he is the zookeeper to the animal inside him.
"I think he is necessary." Was all he replied with closing the lid of the washer. He looked at me from top to bottom before scowling. "Now your feet are dirty. You need a shower." He took my hand and I did not resist. He led me back to my room but he did not come in. I just stared at him now, confused.
"What's the matter?" I asked and he shook his head.
"You don't need me for this." he said. I looked down in thought of his words before nodding.
"Alright." I replied. I wouldn't lie, I had thoughts of asking him to join, but I didn't think that was wise right now. I closed the door and heard it lock from the outside and I moved to the bathroom to wash off. It was nice of him to take me out. I know it may be a while before I can go out and actually walk around, but I felt I could do it. If I can get Patricia to trust me entirely, maybe she will think she has power over me to believe I wouldn't run off the first chance I got.
As I was clean, and dried off, I opened the door to see a familiar brown coat wearing personality turning to me. I was stunned to see who it was.
"Ansel." I replied lightly, and he gives a polite smile and nod of his head.
"Teleya." he acknowledges with the same soft tone. His eyes remain connected to the ground as if to not wanting to be rude, from staring I guess. I grab my towel from the towel rack and wrap it around my body before stepping back into the room.
"Dennis let you have the light?" I asked. He finally looked up at me and nodded.
"Yes, I asked him to." he said and I was visibly stunned.
"Why did you want the light?" I asked. I should have known the answer, he wanted to probably go out and walk and look for more apparel ideas to bring to life.
"I wanted to see you." he answered. I lifted my head some now and nodded.
"You wanted to talk?" I asked. He nodded and then eyed the room as if looking for something. I immediately knew what he wanted. I smiled and moved over to the desk where his sketch book was. I moved over to it and lifted it up and handed it to him.
"Got some ideas you want to sketch?" I asked and he nodded smiling more once he took the book.
"Yes. I wanted to sketch them out before I forgot them in the darkness." he replied motioning his head at my desk. "May I?" I nodded.
"Of course. I need to get dressed anyways." I replied. He nodded.
"I will not look." he said and moved over to the chair to sit down.
"Thank you." I replied removing the towel and pulling my bag from the corner and rummaging through them. "So tell me about some of your ideas?" I pulled out a blue and white stripped dress. It was old, but nice to wear indoors. I lotioned my body and just slid the dress over my head.
"I thought of you in a beautiful garden in a nice veil of green. Flowers growing up your legs to show you are the root of all that is beautiful in the garden." he said. I smiled at the thought and slowly sat down on my bed.
"You thought of that?" I asked. He nodded, and I just stared at the back of his head. He had a pencil in his hand and I could hear the light scraping noise of pencil on paper.
"Yes. Ever since Kevin saw you that day, you have become my inspiration for many of my creative ideas." He said. We didn't seem to say anything else, both of us were content with the quiet as he continued to sketch. He must have been used to the quiet since it has just been him down here. I just listened to the rain falling from above. Low rumbling from the thunder kept me calm and at peace.
"Beautiful. Come look." he said, and I moved from the bed and stood behind him. I looked over his shoulder and he held up the book to me, looking up at me to gauge my reaction. It was colorless, but it was me, standing in a garden filled with beautiful trees and flowers. My face was so defined, my curls long and spirally. I was smiling and my eyes were vibrant as if content. My shoulders and hands and legs were peppered with flowers and I was in a nice gown, I could imagine colored green. I looked at Ansel with a gentle smile.
"It's gorgeous." I replied.
"Thank you. Now it's time to bring it to life with color. Want to come with me to get my supplies?" he asked. I nodded thinking that going anywhere would be a blessing.
"Sure." I replied. He stood up and we both moved from the room. As we entered the hallway, a noise made us both pause in our movements. Numerous noises were heard down the hall and even above us. It was laughter, male laughter.
"Fuck this zoo man!" I could hear a muffled voice say. Someone was here, no people were here. I looked at Ansel and he looked at me with a pained look. I knew he had to go. His head leaned back some and his eyes fluttered close for a split second. His body began to arch forward as he pulled his jacket off. I took a step back as I realized Dennis would not be returning, but someone more sinister.
And if that timing wasn't bad enough, three men came through one of the doors from the stairway. They were young men in their twenties. One had a cigarette in his mouth and another was carrying a pack of beer.
"Woah who the fuck are you?" one of them asked. By now Kevin had removed his shirt and coat and kicked off the loafers he was wearing. A low guttural growl began to emit from him as familiar veins began to spread over his chest.
"Take a look at this freak!" the one with the beer laughed as he took one of the cans off the pack and immediately through it at Kevin. He was just standing straight up, when the can connected with the side of his forehead. My eyes widened at the action, my hands covering my mouth in shock. The Beast just stood there, the can of beer falling to the ground. It didn't even phase him. There was no injury or cut to his head where the can landed.
The three men must have just come here to goof off. The Beast let out a low snarl, his tight body flexing some.
"Woah man let's get out of here!" another said and the three took off down the hall. The Beast and I watched them take off down the hall and slowly, his eyes turned on me and I just looked up at him not sure what to do or say. But one thing was for sure, if they got out, they could tell someone we were here.
"If they reach the surface and escape… they'll tell people I am here, and they will take me away." I announced. The Beast's eyes darkened even more and he just turned and started with a brisk walk before he took off into a full dash down the hall after the three men. I don't know what possessed me to say that, to take part in the obvious death of these three men. Maybe it was because they hurt Ansel- they hurt Kevin, and it upset me. Maybe one of them would get out and send for help. But that was only wishful thinking.
Author's Notes
Hey yall, so soon Teleya will be meeting the other personalities, if you all want to give an idea for the personalities who aren't mentioned in the movie feel free to leave me a message or even a review whichever. I already have personalities for Patricia, Hedwig and Dennis (of course) as well as the Beast, Barry, Jade, Orwell, Pritchard, Luke and Norma, Ansel, and Ann and Mary Reynolds. So if you want to give an idea to the others to see in the fic let me know.