Hey everyone, Randall here. I kept true to my word about writing again, and yet here's another chapter. I was surprised that it worked out so well. Seeing as how today is a special day that….well….I've never had the opportunity to witness. You humans should be considered lucky.
Anyway. It felt…..right to post this chapter today. As…heh….surprisingly it has to deal with the matter. I hope you enjoy this. And I hope you see the connections. After all, this gives you an insight to the situations our kind is in, and what we…well…they're….trying to do about it. Anyway. Enjoy.
Cool. I'm watching for ya heh heh.
Chapter 18 Comeith The Reptiles
Things went down hill after we got everything. Heaving eh….home….felt longer than it was. One of the good things I guess, if not only, I liked was that Bellfree always let us stay home, even if the task took only an hour or two. Like I cared, at least I'll be in my bed instead of in a text book for hours.
(NS)
When we arrived, the place was pretty much empty. The visit itself took around three hours, so there still wasn't anyone here. Ah….peace and quiet….little of that in my life. I simply just wanted to get some sleep. If you believe the person who invented school wanted it five times a week, then maybe they got all the sleep they wanted back then….
In short, dead tired.
I got in quick when we came to the door, Bellfree and Dilfert couldn't care less. I remembered to keep a firm grip on the pills bottle in my hand. Nothing much, just vitamin pills. Dimitri felt I would need them, no argument here.
(NS)
"Oh….boy….".
I planted my stomach onto my bed first, wrapping my hands around the welcoming pillow. To me, a bed was a thing everyone would need. Just lay down and relax. Always said people spend years of their life sleeping. Knowing how hard I was going to work as a scarer, I felt I should get those hours during my younger years. Heh.
Without a care, I just slept. Thinking….
I was slightly angry with myself. Though my life I'd always had unanswered questions. Who were my parents? Who were they? Where are they? Why was I placed here? Am I really….alone?
I opened my eyes, turning fully on my back, looking at the ceiling, arms at my sides, my hands gripping the cloth of the mattress.
It was always something I thought about….and feared. I never could stand let downs, even humiliation, publicly. What? Fungus? He probably wouldn't help me with a ten foot pole. I'm braver than he is, and you can put that on a plaque!
Still……going to see Dimitri made me want to think. I could have asked him about mom…..dad. But I always never bring it up. Did he even know? Did…..did I even want to know? I guess I always questioned that, even though I didn't want to. It's one of those questions that would make or break a person.
They could be the loving caring parents I always dreamed, pictured of. Or did they……did they intentionally put me here? If that was true….if it was….no….I didn't want to even think of that.
I want to….I guess I wanted to find them on my own. A personal matter, that didn't need assistance. I guess it was my stubbornness talking. Perhaps it was one of the many reasons I didn't like talking about it to anyone else.
Maybe Dimitri didn't know anything at all. He's know me for years, sure. But that doesn't mean he knew my parents. Still……who does? Heck….I'm their own son and I don't know anything about them!
Guess it was something that always bugged me. Memories….I don't think I still had any of them with me. I had said that I waited for them, and they hadn't shown up. So it was time that I had to find them. Even if I had to do it myself.
I broke out of thought when I noticed that my hands were scratching the mattress cover. I almost thought the tops of my finger cups were red, but I must have been mistaken by it. Still…
I leaned up, looking at all my hands, seeing if I had actually dug in to them on accident and cut them, but no…..they were the same but……but….
Was I…..Was I angry?
(NS)
I later found myself agitating tapping the desk in my second period. Yesterday had gone quick. I got allot of sleep as well as the quickest to get something to eat. After another walk, I got what I missed from first and second period. As expected, I didn't miss much at all.
I was wondering if Strife was going to come at all. He may have taken the day off to heal to an injury or being talked to by the kid's parents. Or probably arrested if the cops were around. Regardless, I waited. Even when class started, I kept peering up at the door from time to time to see if he'd walk though. He never did.
Not third, not lunch, not even forth. I felt like taking the back way. Maybe Lan was at the park again, maybe I could ask him where he was. Passing through the doors, I hardly got onto the steps or touch the rail before I was caught.
"I though you always took the front exit". I half turned before he finished. Strife was up against the wall near the vertical brick wall leading down, bordering the end of the steps. He did have his backpack, but then again. Why?
I felt a little awkward, but went along with it. "You didn't come so….I thought Lan would know where you were and well…." was all I could mumble out. Could you blame me? I didn't have really good social skills at the time. Still don't I think.
He smirked, kicking himself off the wall to get off, coming off, I noticed something. He had no scars, no cuts, not even a bruise or two from his frond to the tip of his tail. He was unscathed. It was strange. He must have had experience, a good doctor, or something.
"You alright there Randall?". I snapped out when I noticed him to my side, hand on the guard rail. He seemed alright. Much to my relief, thought…less to my curiosity.
"So um…..what happened?" I asked. Honest question. Strife smirked again, this time, seeming amused at the question. "Lets just say those boy's will consider a different sport to fave….". I think it was a joke, probably, but I didn't get it at first. I simply chuckled, trying to get it. I guess I was right that he and Lan had taken care of it, though not without a stern talking to by the kid's parents. I use the term kid largely for such monsters, sure you'd understand. Couldn't imagine what it was like, Strife's parents were away, so they couldn't help him out. Hmph….then again, yeah….I know what it's like.
"Hope you didn't go eh….too far….". I was concerned, which he noticed. He brushed a stray frond, grinning. "I don't think they'll be messing with us for a while….". He seemed pretty much pleased with himself, as if he took them out, without a scratch, and got away with it. Hmph, a reptile getting OUT of trouble. Heh, thought I would never see the day.
Strife was looking down at the time, seeming to think of something. "Hmm…so…you heading home now?" he asked. I tilted my head, and whispered a "if you can call it home".
"What?". He had great ears that I couldn't see. I felt I better reply. "Yeah….theyd get worried if I stay out you know….". I half lied. I didn't say "my parents", though the one's I were talking about didn't so much as worry about me as the would a dripping faucet.
Strife nodded. The light on my scales, as well as his, were being darkened. Looking up, clouds were coming in. It rains allot around here I guess, or maybe it was just warming up for winter. Ehh….never wanted to remember that…..or think of it. Strife looked up to notice it as well.
"Oh…too bad….was gonna get Lan and head out to Bernies for a cola….wanna come?". Your probably asking why there was a….uhh….soda shop around here. Diner really. Well there was a town around here. I never dared go there since it would cut in my time to get from where I go.
How do I know? Well once and awhile, one of us goes to the store to get everything for the week, when the car doesn't work for Bellfree and Dilfert, or if the delivery is on the fritz. Anyway.
The offer was tempting, and he was a friend, but I couldn't. "Ehh….sorry S…..David….I can't". I was worried he'd wonder what the heck was so important, but he didn't seem to mind that much. "Suit yourself…" he said, coming off the rail.
I hope he wasn't mad. Here I was, being worried as heck about him, waiting for hours, and he shows up without a scratch. For all hence and purposes, I should be the one who's mad.
Anyway, he started down, but stopped midway. "I'll get'cha something when I come tomorrow…you know…don't want you feeling left out…." he offered. I was surprised. I had no money….well….yet, and here he was offering. Now that was a friend.
I was going to take the offer, but didn't want him knowing where I lived when he came to….I guess "deliver" whatever it was.
I managed a smile, I had to turn it down. "Umm…you don't have to….I gotta lot of work to do anyway David…." I said, re-adjusting my pack. It wasn't an excuse. I did have work to make up, and was sure he had too.
He grinned, starting down the stairs, waving a backwards by. "Tomorrow….".
(NS)
I started back, in pure thought that time. Tomorrow would be Friday. Now that I think about it, I was a little curious at how Strife and Lan actually got away with it.
I realized I wasn't watching where I was going. Less we forget, another person smashed into me without fair warning. Simply put, somebody ran into me, so essentially it wasn't my fault. Something judged into my chest as I was hit. I had a little recoil, but regained. Looking regretful at first, I got a good look at who it was, and felt unwilling to apologize. Holding my chest, I looked him over, he was familiar.
A reptile. About as high as me, one or two inches shorter give or take. He resembled a sail-fin lizard you humans call. Green scales with dark splotches. Two feet, two arms. Four claws as fingernails, same for his feet. His eyes were blue. He had small spines down his back going down his long yet stable tail. And lastly, what was judged into me, was his most notable feature, a long lens camera. Think a Yashica Electro 60's model in your human world.
He regained his balance, seeming regretful for RUNNING into me. "Oh jeez! Sorry! Uh….Hey! Randall that you!?" he asked, his young boyish voice giving in.
Fans, I want you to meet Vinnie Garrison. You all don't know him. But you can all judge from the camera around his neck that Vinnie was into photography. Well….reporting really. His father was one, as you all remember the article in the hospital?
Vinne was always a pain. Don't get me wrong, he wasn't as bad as Winooski and Fungus, when he got to that annoying stage, but he still was one. His father was part of the, simply put, "Reptilian Rebellion". It was a sort of union against racism, I don't know. Vinnie always wanted to get any new members he could and to make others join the cause. Again, like his father, Vinnie wanted to dig up the extent of bias toward our kind. It was a good cause really, and it did have to do with me but……..anyway.
I met Vinnie years ago in middle school. There he was part of the school's newspaper. Although it was short lived when he photographed a search of another reptile's locker, who initially got suspended. Didn't know why actually. But Vinnie's claims were denied, despite his good efforts. Vinnie WAS a fellow reptile, but he was annoying.
I still held my position, waiting for an apology that would really never come. "Wow Randall! It's been years! How ya been? Is that school treating you right? How's the other students for you?". There he went again. Honestly, he and Fungus could get along really. Vinnie sometimes went straight to business, something I relatively didn't like at that time, especially when it was MY business.
"Vinnie….what the heck are you doing here!" I yelled agitated, trying to loom over him. Everytime something hit me, it felt like knives really. If you could imagine what getting hit by Sullivan or rusted metal was like!
Vinnie seemed to get it. He didn't apologize, big surprise, but he knew he should get down to business with a fellow reptile. Vinnie DID poke into other's business, but he never did it with out kine. We were always slatted as murderers, thieves, conmons…..but others, like Vinnie, knew everyone else did more than that.
"Oh heh….sorry….I uh…shouldn't have uh started like that….so…umm…..how ya been?" he asked. Well he did apologize….but then again, I didn't want to get on paper, so I just discarded it. "Don't you've got a murder to take pictures of?" I said, moving past him. I know it may seem un-thoughtful to just up and leave someone you haven't seen in years but….Vinnie was an exception, just watch.
"Oh come on Randall! You read what my dad wrote right! How was it?" he asked, hurriedly rushing up to me, his tail flickering up and down as he did. Honestly, a while from now, I would feel sympathy for Vinnie. His father would, I think it was a few months, maybe a year or two, that his father would be fired from his job.
"It was good….ok Vinnie…fine…" I mumbled, trying to lose him. "Well see! See! So um….you joining because of it?". I stopped. "Join what?" I asked, eyeing him. He instantly held something straight in my face. I swear, it would have chopped off my eyelashes if I had any. I backed away slightly.
"The "Slay the Madden, Save the Dragon" Union! SMSD for short heh". I looked over the thing. It was a membership packet. Complete with a form, pin, name tag, bumper sticker, and….is that a mouse pad in there?
"What in the…". He tore it away from me before I could finish looking. "The leader of the Rebellion is forming a new union for….well…..what he say's the younger generation!" he said, sounding like an advertisement on T.V.
Head of the Rebellion, Mr. mystery. Yes, I'm being sarcastic. The guy was around before I was born, and still hardly anyone knows who he is. The C.D.A. and police force, as related as they are, don't even know who it is. Whomever he it is, they sure have better skills than all of the law enforcers combined.
"SMSD a….?" I said, nodding with each word like one of those sing-a-longs for kids. Vinnie nodded. "Yep all members uh….let me think…ten to thirty!".
I knew that the union, campaign, or whatever you want to call it, was for my benefit, and for any reptile. But it's just I didn't want to get involved. Vinnie himself didn't go to school because he could have been traced as a member, his father more than himself. If I were a member, I could be traced, searched, probably arrested. Not to mention I'd be out on the streets because the orphanage, well any facility, doesn't like the idea of having Union members.
"So are you?" he asked. I just starred at him hard. "No…". I turned, nearly hitting him with my tail, and started again. He was still following me wasn't he?
"But what?! Why? I mean….we're fighting for this stupid racism thing and it's for your….". Vinnie just wasn't one to shut up…..quickly anyway. "No Vinnie….you got that?" I said, sternly, but not harsh. It was surprising to me, Vinnie gave up…….for….about a minute.
I was nearing the orphanage, so I just HAD to get rid of him. I turned around, looking back. Vinnie instantly got the point. "Ok ok fine…maybe you just aren't having a good day…". "Vinnie….please…..I missed yesterday and I got work to do….so if you don't mind!" I said, shaking slightly
Vinnie wasn't as easy to intimidate as Fungus, but he seemed to….switch the topic. "Ok ok…..fine….but um….did you hear about Ricro Gatti?" he asked.
Another one you don't know. Ricro Gatti was a drug dealer. Once and a while he would sell arms, but currently he suspected to be an illegal spice and drug seller. Ricro was the insecure type, sorta….like me I guess, always having the most unsuspected places to hide in. And in the city, there were ALLOT. Personally, I didn't like the guy.
"What about him?" I asked, not really interested, just thinking that it would get him off my tail. "They say he's got a cop on his tail, saying their really close to catching him…." he said, trying to act like a news anchor with a deep voice switch. "So what? It's not like he's going to come here" I butted in. Realization bites don't it?
"What if he does Randall?! It would be a GREAT story to see him caught huh?". Knew he was leading to that. I sighed, crossing both arms. It was really a time waste here. Still, I thought this would be to my advantage. Keeping my same annoyed look, I placed on the act.
"Vinne….do you REALLY think the C.D.A. would find Ricro in that warehouse five miles from town?" I said. I quickly placed a hand over my mouth like it just slipped out my forked tongue. Vinnie took the bait ha!
"Ah ha! I knew you were watching the news and thought about it!". He turned tail and ran. "Horn Office! Here I come!".
When he finally went off, I smirked. Then smiled. Oh jeez, then outright laughed!
(NS)
It was, as said, a short walk back to the Orphanage. I was surprised when I came in. Nobody was here. A slight smile crept on my face, guess I was faster than the bus at rush hour heh. Still….the car was here, which meant that either Bellfree and Dilfert were here.
The door creaked as I opened it, but didn't mind, who would care? I just casually closed it and started for the stair case.
"Where you going boy?". I knew it. I stayed where I was, looking over to see Dilfert coming over from the living room. I wasn't late…was I?
"I was just coming here…" I said, a kind of a whisper, not wanting to get on Dilfert's bad side. Dilfert still came over, making me edge against the sink. "That's not what I saw….". He sounded lightly drunk, not good in any way really. I didn't reply. Dod he see me talking with Vinnie? We weren't that far off, he could have.
He took out his case, taking out a single cigarette, human terms here, and placed the case away, digging for his matches. "You were talkin with another scaliy" he said. I hated it when he used that word. I was honestly scared now. Everyone thought "scalies" talked about what they've done or what they're going to do or meeting in unions. Essentially, it was supposedly a bad thing for us to do. Now what would Dilfert do about that?
He came close, TOO close. I felt my fronds coming down on my head. Yep, scared. I'm not afraid to admit it. Hey….I was young! "What were you talking about?" he said, wobbly like. I didn't want to get the short end of this stick. "No….nothing…..he was just…just….". I was hesitating, trying to think of an excuse.
"Yeah sure you are….". I didn't get it, then again he was drunk. "I didn't….didn't do anything" I said, kind of defense…..I guess.
I was slowly edging away, but he didn't give me a chance. Before I could leave, he harshly grabbed my fronds. I tried to hold the scream, but it fell as Dilfert through me down on my stomach. My hands caught me as I met the floor. I turned my head right, then, held with my top hands as Dilfert kneeled down in front of me, a match in his right hand.
"Now you listen boy…" he started, wagging the match at me. "You so much as slip a word or even think of bein with dem other scalies….I'll be wearin that tail of yours as a scarf….".
Dilfert's threats always intimidated. He wanted to cut me up and make suits out of my scales. He was sick. I knew he probably wouldn't do it. But….as the years pass I always start to wonder whether he was lying, or actually….ehh….meant it.
He started rubbing the match slowly across my left cheek scales. "You got that?". I looked at him sternly, angered, but nodded. He did too, but it was a mistake.
In a fluid motion, he threw the match forward against my cheek scales, lighting I. It felt like a red hot poker had slapped me! I could feel the ecto going hot there at the burning. It hurt like heck! I swear….it probably was one of those scars I always kept!
I took it in though, surprisingly to myself, and just looked away. I guess anger can sometimes make you forget things. What you were actually doing, what you wanted to do. Those "happy" feelings that I keep hearing about. Then again, I guess anger can sometimes make you forget pain…..
I just starred at him as he lit his sic kingly desire, wagging the match out. I could feel my scales probably were broke, na, or at least heat slatted. On cue, which seems to happen allot, Bellfree and a few others just came in.
"What's this then?" was all Bellfree said. She wasn't concerned at all, she just want to know what had happened. I didn't answer, but Dilfert seemed reluctant enough to.
"Nothin…just having a little talk with our scaily…." he replied, blowing a puff of smoke in my face, making me cough, and lowering my head like Dilfert was a master and I was a slave….
(NS)
After that incident, the guys readily went to their rooms, Bellfree looked though the paper to find something to eat, and Dilfert went out. Me? I was against the corner well, the door's wall to my right, window's on my left. I was starring at the corner across from me, where my bed and shelf were. My hands were crossed, fronds unmoved, my tail lowered around my first set of legs.
One could tell I was focused or probably determined to do something. Trouble was, I didn't know WHAT I wanted to do. I guess it was a spur of the moment type of thing. I was angry, simple put. But the thing was, I was focused on it. I was angry about being here. In this place. Being around these monsters, about being threatened, beaten, and tortured. I didn't deserve any of this.
I had moments like this, before and after this one. I just wanted to leave it all. Grab my bag and just go. But that's the thing. Where would I go? I had no one to run to. And besides, I would probably be tracked down and brought back here, or find myself in one of Vinne's newspaper articles, dead in the streets. I guess I felt like I couldn't escape.
My growing want to disappear grew. I almost felt something, but figured I should cut my loses. I got up and, without words, took some much needed rest before dinner, holding the burning scar with a spare hand, not talking or getting reactions from anyone, which is what I wanted.
I felt I would never leave this place. And I didn't….but…..not till about a year later thought, but we're not there yet…..
And. That's…well.…how I really felt. I can….still feel that scar, even though I can't see it that well nowadays. Then again….I got more to count.
Vinnie will come back, I assure you. He's not that easy to lose heh.
Anyway. I hope you enjoy what I'm doing for you all, giving you my life in story form heh. I'd like to dedicate this chapter of my life to a special friend of mine. Hope you liked it.
Next chapter….I don't really heh. Oh yeah right inspector….
