The Tenson family, all except for Kate who had not been seen so far that
day, sat around for breakfast. The atmosphere was awkward and everyone was
feeling uneasy.
James's wife sat tight-lipped and occasionally attempted at light
conversation, her voice high and stumbling over her words. She soon gave up
and contented herself with tidying everything in her reach, hands
fluttering. It was a Sunday and no one was really sure of what they should
do with themselves all day. The two children present had been warned firmly
that they were not to tell anyone of...of the unfortunate circumstances at
present, until further notice. Apart from this, no one had spoken much
since they had got up. There was too much to say, and no one was willing to
say any of it.
After everything was cleared up, Shannon had bolted for the door and gone to town. While both his parents were busying themselves sufficiently, Edmund went to see his sister.
She let him into her dim room and then sunk to the floor, looking pathetic and staring fixedly at the wall opposite. Edmund joined her. Nothing was said but a few meaningful looks conveyed both his sympathy and her gratefulness for this. Finally he looked up at Kate and asked cautiously
"So, what do you think'll happen now?"
Kate shrugged, still not looking at him. She had no idea.
"Mum's told us not to tell anyone." He continued. "But it's not as if they can hide you forever is it?"
"No. Maybe... maybe they'll pretend I'm still normal. I don't think that'll work though. And Mum won't even look at me."
"Mmm." Edmund bit his lip, "Do you think... will you be able to stay here?"
Kate looked away, she didn't think so somehow. A sudden pain in her throat stopped her from replying. This was really it; nothing could ever be the same again. Edmund scooted closer to her side, and she leant into him slightly. Maybe her little brother wasn't such a pain after all. A feeling of helplessness washed over her and she squeezed her eyes shut. Her hands reached to his back gripped his T-shirt softly. Feeling Kate begin to shake weakly beside him, he pulled her gently closer to him and she let him. Then Kate was hugging him back tightly and the cheek resting on Edmund's forehead was soon wet with silent tears. Rocking her gently, his resolve to be strong in front of her failed and soon his face was as wet as hers. For a few minutes they stayed there, cradled in each other's arms, both giving as much comfort as they were receiving.
Disentangling herself from her brother's embrace, Kate looked at him and laughing half-heartedly whispered, "Look at us. A right old pair." She found his hand and gave it a soft squeeze. "Thank you." A weak smile.
They sniffed and wiped the drying tears from their faces. Edmund's brow lowered into a determined scowl and he stated "I won't let them take you away to one of those horrible places they have," He turned to give look her directly in the eye. "I'm with you." I'll never let her go. Never.
They were standing up now, still clinging to each other, feeling closer than they ever had before.
They parted and Edmund let a faint smile cross his face as he saw that his sister was looking almost happy. He moved to sit down on her bed, with a look that Kate couldn't understand.
"What?"
"Um..." How can I say this? Should I say this? "Can...can I see the claws?"
Kate blinked, taken aback at this. But tentatively took her hands out of her pockets and let him see them. She came a bit closer and he swallowed loudly as if bracing himself for something. His eyes were wide and she could smell the fear coming off him, but the hand that stretched up to touch her fingertip was steady. He traced the line of her finger and turned her hand over, palm up, so he could see them better. She retracted them slowly and his mouth dropped open. Then he said something that Kate had never anticipated.
"Cool."
It was low, almost a whisper, and one glance at him told Kate that he was serious.
"WHAT?!"
"I think they're kind of, kind of cool." He repeated calmly. Kate still looked gob smacked, so he added. "If they didn't treat...mutants so bad, I think it would be wicked to fly or...or um..." He thought for a moment "or never die or be able to talk to people through your head and stuff." He was burbling now, but it made Kate feel better anyway.
"Thanks." Another smile.
There was silence for a second and then Kate heard a faint call of "Edmund!" from downstairs.
She turned to Edmund who hadn't heard more than a muffled noise, but he saw that Kate thought it was important.
"Mum wants you. You'd better go."
Edmund opened his mouth to ask how she knew it was his mum. Then his brain started working. He realised quickly that claws didn't have to be the only...developments. He closed his mouth, feeling a new respect for her. Her head turned to face him, eyes asking him why he hadn't moved. He got up and mumbled a 'see ya' before leaving to go to his mother.
The door shut with a little *click* and her room fell silent. Kate sighed and collapsed onto her bed, all she could do now was wait. There were so many questions. So little certainty for the rest of her life. It was nearly too much. But that knowledge that someone still needed her, that he had accepted her, kept the hope alive. And she needed him so much right now. There was nothing left for her to do, so for the next few hours she lost herself in a book. Everyone has their own escape, and this was hers.
*~*~*
Edmund reached the table, where his parents and sister were sitting around. His sister looked less than ecstatic, his dad tired and his mother as if she was about to blow a fuse any second. He sat down warily, something told him that this wasn't going to be good news.
Mrs Tenson nodded to Mr Tenson and he cleared his throat.
"You all know how the situation stands up to now. And we have decided that the best course of action would be to send Kate to an institute."
Edmund inhaled sharply, his father shot him a warning glare, which Edmund ignored. He stood up sharply and half shouted.
"No! You can't shove her in one of those places. You're all so blind! She's the same as she was before, you just can't..."
His father stood up, eyes blazing. He was a man under a hell of a lot of pressure, he was not going to let a 12 year old have any part in this decision. He was so close to have everything come crashing down around him, that he couldn't afford to even listen to him right now.
"EDMUND!" The words shattering Edmund's courage like a brick through glass.
There was a moment of silence, followed by the sound of Edmunds knees folding, not entirely of his own free will, and the chair taking his weight. Edmund's dad started breathing again and carried on where he had left off.
"It will all be dealt with professionally and arrangements are being made to get this over with as quickly as possible. There is no need for any of you to be involved at any stage, and are advised to stay away from – from Kate." He had switched into work mode. It was easier to say like this, easier to act as if none of this was personal. "She will be taken away tomorrow. There will be no discussion."
To Edmund's disgust, both his sister and mother were looking relieved at this. He felt sick.
"No!" He had got over the shock of being shouted at, and was angry enough to keep shouting . "You're wrong. You're the monsters, not Kate. I hate all of you! You're-."
But his father was already at the door, and made no intention to stop. Edmund finally ran out of steam and stared, horrified, at his father's retreating back. His sister was moving towards the door too, but stopped to whisper "Good riddance" in his ear, each word seeming to sting like whip marks.
Edward lost it.
He spun round, snarling at his sister. She stepped back, suddenly regretting her remark, and he went forwards to close the distance between them. It happened quickly from then, Edmund felt his arms flailing of their own accord, hands grabbing at Shannon's clothing. He shook her and then, letting go of her top, his hands closed to fists and he was suddenly punching any bit of his sister he could reach. He shouted incoherently. Hitting her again and again, just wanting to hurt. Shannon squealed, her brother was smaller than her but her attempts at shielding herself failed miserably against his building rage. Hitting her again and again, Shannon's cries almost drowned out by her hysterical mother, standing on the other side of the room, calling for her husband.
Mr Tenson came, and succeeded in finally pulling Edmund from his sister. He shoved him up against the wall, arms pinned behind him. Edmund panted heavily, he just wanted – he didn't know what he wanted. He couldn't see what he had done, but he knew that the stickiness on his hands was blood.
Shannnon hurt all over, stomach throbbing and nose bleeding profusely. He had probably broken her nose. Bastard. Her mother fussed her and mopped her up, letting her husband deal with Edmund.
Edmund was marched to his room and forced in, door slammed shut behind him. Shannon was soothed and patched up. Kate was left wandering what the f**k had all the noise been about and whether she should investigate. In the end she just stayed in her room, listening to the sounds of her family going to bed.
*~*~*
There you are, next chapter. Plz keep reviewing, it means a lot to me.
After everything was cleared up, Shannon had bolted for the door and gone to town. While both his parents were busying themselves sufficiently, Edmund went to see his sister.
She let him into her dim room and then sunk to the floor, looking pathetic and staring fixedly at the wall opposite. Edmund joined her. Nothing was said but a few meaningful looks conveyed both his sympathy and her gratefulness for this. Finally he looked up at Kate and asked cautiously
"So, what do you think'll happen now?"
Kate shrugged, still not looking at him. She had no idea.
"Mum's told us not to tell anyone." He continued. "But it's not as if they can hide you forever is it?"
"No. Maybe... maybe they'll pretend I'm still normal. I don't think that'll work though. And Mum won't even look at me."
"Mmm." Edmund bit his lip, "Do you think... will you be able to stay here?"
Kate looked away, she didn't think so somehow. A sudden pain in her throat stopped her from replying. This was really it; nothing could ever be the same again. Edmund scooted closer to her side, and she leant into him slightly. Maybe her little brother wasn't such a pain after all. A feeling of helplessness washed over her and she squeezed her eyes shut. Her hands reached to his back gripped his T-shirt softly. Feeling Kate begin to shake weakly beside him, he pulled her gently closer to him and she let him. Then Kate was hugging him back tightly and the cheek resting on Edmund's forehead was soon wet with silent tears. Rocking her gently, his resolve to be strong in front of her failed and soon his face was as wet as hers. For a few minutes they stayed there, cradled in each other's arms, both giving as much comfort as they were receiving.
Disentangling herself from her brother's embrace, Kate looked at him and laughing half-heartedly whispered, "Look at us. A right old pair." She found his hand and gave it a soft squeeze. "Thank you." A weak smile.
They sniffed and wiped the drying tears from their faces. Edmund's brow lowered into a determined scowl and he stated "I won't let them take you away to one of those horrible places they have," He turned to give look her directly in the eye. "I'm with you." I'll never let her go. Never.
They were standing up now, still clinging to each other, feeling closer than they ever had before.
They parted and Edmund let a faint smile cross his face as he saw that his sister was looking almost happy. He moved to sit down on her bed, with a look that Kate couldn't understand.
"What?"
"Um..." How can I say this? Should I say this? "Can...can I see the claws?"
Kate blinked, taken aback at this. But tentatively took her hands out of her pockets and let him see them. She came a bit closer and he swallowed loudly as if bracing himself for something. His eyes were wide and she could smell the fear coming off him, but the hand that stretched up to touch her fingertip was steady. He traced the line of her finger and turned her hand over, palm up, so he could see them better. She retracted them slowly and his mouth dropped open. Then he said something that Kate had never anticipated.
"Cool."
It was low, almost a whisper, and one glance at him told Kate that he was serious.
"WHAT?!"
"I think they're kind of, kind of cool." He repeated calmly. Kate still looked gob smacked, so he added. "If they didn't treat...mutants so bad, I think it would be wicked to fly or...or um..." He thought for a moment "or never die or be able to talk to people through your head and stuff." He was burbling now, but it made Kate feel better anyway.
"Thanks." Another smile.
There was silence for a second and then Kate heard a faint call of "Edmund!" from downstairs.
She turned to Edmund who hadn't heard more than a muffled noise, but he saw that Kate thought it was important.
"Mum wants you. You'd better go."
Edmund opened his mouth to ask how she knew it was his mum. Then his brain started working. He realised quickly that claws didn't have to be the only...developments. He closed his mouth, feeling a new respect for her. Her head turned to face him, eyes asking him why he hadn't moved. He got up and mumbled a 'see ya' before leaving to go to his mother.
The door shut with a little *click* and her room fell silent. Kate sighed and collapsed onto her bed, all she could do now was wait. There were so many questions. So little certainty for the rest of her life. It was nearly too much. But that knowledge that someone still needed her, that he had accepted her, kept the hope alive. And she needed him so much right now. There was nothing left for her to do, so for the next few hours she lost herself in a book. Everyone has their own escape, and this was hers.
*~*~*
Edmund reached the table, where his parents and sister were sitting around. His sister looked less than ecstatic, his dad tired and his mother as if she was about to blow a fuse any second. He sat down warily, something told him that this wasn't going to be good news.
Mrs Tenson nodded to Mr Tenson and he cleared his throat.
"You all know how the situation stands up to now. And we have decided that the best course of action would be to send Kate to an institute."
Edmund inhaled sharply, his father shot him a warning glare, which Edmund ignored. He stood up sharply and half shouted.
"No! You can't shove her in one of those places. You're all so blind! She's the same as she was before, you just can't..."
His father stood up, eyes blazing. He was a man under a hell of a lot of pressure, he was not going to let a 12 year old have any part in this decision. He was so close to have everything come crashing down around him, that he couldn't afford to even listen to him right now.
"EDMUND!" The words shattering Edmund's courage like a brick through glass.
There was a moment of silence, followed by the sound of Edmunds knees folding, not entirely of his own free will, and the chair taking his weight. Edmund's dad started breathing again and carried on where he had left off.
"It will all be dealt with professionally and arrangements are being made to get this over with as quickly as possible. There is no need for any of you to be involved at any stage, and are advised to stay away from – from Kate." He had switched into work mode. It was easier to say like this, easier to act as if none of this was personal. "She will be taken away tomorrow. There will be no discussion."
To Edmund's disgust, both his sister and mother were looking relieved at this. He felt sick.
"No!" He had got over the shock of being shouted at, and was angry enough to keep shouting . "You're wrong. You're the monsters, not Kate. I hate all of you! You're-."
But his father was already at the door, and made no intention to stop. Edmund finally ran out of steam and stared, horrified, at his father's retreating back. His sister was moving towards the door too, but stopped to whisper "Good riddance" in his ear, each word seeming to sting like whip marks.
Edward lost it.
He spun round, snarling at his sister. She stepped back, suddenly regretting her remark, and he went forwards to close the distance between them. It happened quickly from then, Edmund felt his arms flailing of their own accord, hands grabbing at Shannon's clothing. He shook her and then, letting go of her top, his hands closed to fists and he was suddenly punching any bit of his sister he could reach. He shouted incoherently. Hitting her again and again, just wanting to hurt. Shannon squealed, her brother was smaller than her but her attempts at shielding herself failed miserably against his building rage. Hitting her again and again, Shannon's cries almost drowned out by her hysterical mother, standing on the other side of the room, calling for her husband.
Mr Tenson came, and succeeded in finally pulling Edmund from his sister. He shoved him up against the wall, arms pinned behind him. Edmund panted heavily, he just wanted – he didn't know what he wanted. He couldn't see what he had done, but he knew that the stickiness on his hands was blood.
Shannnon hurt all over, stomach throbbing and nose bleeding profusely. He had probably broken her nose. Bastard. Her mother fussed her and mopped her up, letting her husband deal with Edmund.
Edmund was marched to his room and forced in, door slammed shut behind him. Shannon was soothed and patched up. Kate was left wandering what the f**k had all the noise been about and whether she should investigate. In the end she just stayed in her room, listening to the sounds of her family going to bed.
*~*~*
There you are, next chapter. Plz keep reviewing, it means a lot to me.
