Just gonna say it once: review please. It would be really nice to get a review.
I did not like the Test Village.
It wasn't the residents of the Test Village, whom I was growing attached to. No it was the heat, the sand and the ever present small of blood. The two weeks I have spent here have been nearly unbearable because of those three elements, and one surprise element. You'll learn about that…
I liked the mutant family, well some of them, most of them. I sympathized with their abandonment of society and its proper ways. I liked Pluto and Ruby, Big Mama and Papa Jupiter. Cyst and Goggle talked to me more so than the others surprisingly, although Goggle tended to get shy after a few moment of conversation. The twins were sweet, and they were attached to me more often than not. Big Brain didn't like me, but whatever. I was creeped out by him anyway. I hated Lizard, to a point (he was the surprise element I was talking about). He didn't say anything to me, he avoided me on a regular basis. But that was just it, I would prefer him to get mad at me for nothing. It aggravates me when people ignore me, but isn't that just like any 24 year old? I think so…I hope so.
Onto the heat now. I hate the heat immensely. It made me sticky and shiny and smelly. I couldn't take as many showers as I wanted to, but being outside was better than being inside. I hated confined spaces, and being outside mean there was at least a breeze coming through every once and a while.
I wasn't allowed to leave the village, Cyst made sure of that. Limp or not, that bastard could run. Not like I've tried to run, no I just watched him chase off a coyote that tried to get to Mercury. I just want to go get my clothes at least, no one would go do it for me, and no one would let me go do it. I just wanted to change out of my bloody clothes.
I hated the sand about as much as the heat. It made walking unbearable when a sand storm came through, and even when the wind was weak the sand managed to blind me somehow. I was always dusty, if only the sand would soak up sweat, then I wouldn't mind it so much.
Now the second worst thing about the village was the ever present smell of blood and rot. It was always present around a shed near the main house, you could see the blood oozing into the walls at the bottom. Ugh it was like the time I fished a dead bird from the storm drain, and being a curious kid I took a good strong whiff. I threw up all night and then my mom screamed at me a lot more than usual afterwards.
But the one thing I hated most of all, the one problem I couldn't fix with a shower or a day outside. The one problem Ruby or Pluto couldn't fix with a smile, the one problem no amount of play time with the twins helped. The one problem I hated most of all was the crying and screaming, the uncontrollable laughter and giggles. It had started up the third day I had been here. I was cleaning the kitchen that night for Big Mama because I didn't quote: "Want to be a bitch." I had rinsed the final plate and wiped my hands dry, smiling at the normality of the moment.
Then the screaming started. It was one of those screams you hear and think some ones being killed or some ones in so much pain that's all they can do. I had fallen to my knees, held my head and screamed. There was no pain, no horrible scene behind me. Nothing. The sudden urge just took over and I wailed like a banshee. Lights in the hallway clicked on, Big Mama and Ruby rushed in, followed by a wild eyed Lizard and a groggy Papa Jupiter. They all stared, Big mama and Ruby by my sides as I screamed into the floor.
The only thing that stopped it was Lizard jerking me up and tossing me out into the desert sand. The cold air silenced me quickly and I curled into a tight ball, whimpers escaping my lips at the freezing air. I could feel his steel eyes on me without even having to look up at him and that truly frightened me.
"Lizard, you get her in here now ya hear?"
Lizard had grumbled at his Mamas insisting on me being brought I and jerked me back up, tossing me onto the floral couch before he stormed upstairs again. I just stared at the stairs he had escaped up, my body shaking not from the cold or the shock of what just happened, but from the way I felt when he touched me. It was rough, his skin, but it was gentle, if that made any sense, alongside his rough handling.
I stared up at the sky for a moment, wishing I was at my Grandmas. I'd have my pills; I'd be lost in a state of white planes and angels. I was shaken from my reverie by a grunt and whimpers of pain. I turned my head to my left, seeing Lizard and Pluto walking towards me. Pluto was staring down at his cradled hand with pain on his features. I stood slowly, dusting the red sand off the back of my thighs.
"What is it?" I asked when they stopped in front of me.
Lizard grunted and turned around, avoiding my eyes. "Hurt is hand. Want ya ta' take a look at it."
You or him? I thought, but settled for reaching out to Pluto to take his hand in mine. It was bruising along the back of it and blood oozed black out of his knuckles. I sighed and let go of his hand, taking a cautious step back. I liked Pluto and all but I still feared him greatly. And Lizard, but I couldn't just say that. He would use it against me.
"It's broken; it needs to be set," I mumbled, looking down at the ground.
I looked back up when Lizard growled and stepped back again when he threw his hands into the air, frustrated with his cousin. "You fuckin' moron!"
He swung his fist at the giants shoulder, but hit something much smaller, much softer. I fell to the dirt, holding my cheeks as tears dripped into the sand. Lizard stared down at me in confusion. He had never missed a hit ever it seemed. How had he hit me? I blocked the punch. Pluto hadn't done anything to the brute. Pluto crouched down, not touching me, but running his hands all over my small body while I tried to stand. I hiccupped on a sob and stood on shaky, twig like legs. My cheek was starting to swell.
My eyes met his, wide and filled with more fear than had been there before while his were just full of confusion. Pluto kept up his hand movements while I shifted my weight. "Di…zzy sa-save Pluo." He forced out.
I nodded and turned, hurrying back to the main house. My lungs heaved air into my frail body and by the time I reached the house I was out of breathe, shaking even more than I had been when Lizard punched me. I reached up to touch my cheek while I stood on the front porch, flinching when the surface stung. My plan was: avoid Big Mama and Ruby, Big Brain too and slip upstairs to the shower and then bed. I needed a rest after that. I was exhausted. I cheered silently to myself when my plan worked. Maybe I could plan my life a little better now…
It was late, the sky dark and full of stars. The moon lit the house in an array of blues and silvers, highlighting the dust and footprints along the baseboards. I shuffled through the hallway upstairs, wrapped in an old silk robe Big Mama had given me to sleep in. I held it closed tightly around my chest and stopped by Lizards room. The door was cracked open enough so that I could see him inside on his bed. He was snoring lightly, his clothes and sheets still bloody.
I slipped inside the room, staring down at him silently, my mind warring with my options. Instead of waking the sleeping psycho I bent at the waist, held my hair back with one hand and placed a chaste kiss on his dirty forehead. He stirred in his sleep, but never woke up. I smiled to myself for a moment then lifted my hand up to my cheek, pressing against the tender surface. I could forgive Lizard for hitting me, it was my fault anyway. If I hadn't blocked him from punching Pluto I wouldn't be bruised. I didn't even remember the reason behind blocking Pluto from the punch. What had Pluto done to make Lizard so angry.
Truth be told I knew Lizard was already super violent. It didn't really surprise me that he had lashed out on Pluto. But what did surprise me was that it was Pluto, I mean he's a scary dude. Pluto didn't get upset or anything, he probably would have let Lizard hit him. Was that a family thing? I wouldn't know. But I can't compare this family to any other family because there is no other like it.
I shook my head and walked towards the door, shutting it softly behind me. When I turned around my hand flew to my throat, clenching it tightly when I saw Big Mama behind me. The obese woman had one eyebrow raised, eyes flickering between me and the door.
"What were you doing in there honey?" she questioned slowly.
I liked Big Mama, she was all I could have ever wanted my own mother to be and more. She never yelled at me and readily accepted me into the family when most of their family did.
"Well I just…uh…" I searched for some form of an excuse in my head, but was at a loss for words and reasons.
Big Mama smiled, one of knowing and gentleness. "It's ok sweetheart. No need to explain. I'm sorry for scaring you."
I blushed. "It's fine really. But um, Big Mama can I ask you a question?"
"You just did."
I blushed again. "Do you think I could go up to Jebs tomorrow? I need a few things…a few personal things that I can't find here."
Big Mama caught my drift and her mouth opened into a perfect 'O'. "You'll have to have an escort, and Jeb is terrified of Pluto. So that leaves Goggle or Lizard."
"Goggle," I answered as quickly as possible.
Big Mama blinked but smiled. "Alright dear, I'll have Ruby get you when it's time to go in the morning. But she stays here, ok?"
I nodded. "Yes Ma'am."
