Sorry I've not updated this in weeks and weeks. I really want to but stuff keeps coming up :( Hopefully I'll have the time to get Chapter 6 done as soon as I can.
Swimming in Rapture
Chapter 5
Themis, Rapture 1955
Shuffling down the bleak halls of Raptures cavernous Themis, Joyce is shaking as her nervous jitters and twitches get the better of her. She never enjoyed going to school, she had always been laughed at and made fun of since she started. But today she was especially upset; her Mother had taken her Electro-Bolt Plasmid from her before she'd been given the chance to use it. Why is Mommy being so over-protective?
Joyce turns a corner a starts heading down a large class roofed corridor, soaking up the blue sunlight. Walking down it a group of kids cough deeply and mimic Joyce as she walks by and some even tug roughly at her small leather satchel. Causing her to lose balance and almost fall.
"Guys stop it." She mumbles. Staring at the floor and not the faces of amusement and mockery. This sends them into an eruption of laughter as Joyce continues to pull at the satchel. Struggling to think through the insults and laughter, Joyce can barely get it out of her classmates grasp.
"Please…" Joyce suggests as she gives up in her struggle. She stares at the floor in embarrassment. A boy pulls harshly on the satchel and Joyce almost falls again. She enters into a fury of angry twitching as one of the kids pokes at the inflamed lump on her belly. After a few minutes of pushing and pulling the group of kids let go.
"Okay, let's leave her be." One of them says.
"Yeah, it's getting old." says one of the girls. The girl Joyce recognises as her partner in science class. Feeling too awkward to walk away Joyce just stands there and starts tapping the floor with her shoes.
"S-so are you guys uh… Are you guys going to Ryan Amusements?" Asks Joyce, anxious to leave. The EVE Hypo in her bag attracting her minds attention. That would cheer her up. One of the boys grins at her question.
"I'm not, but Anna here wants to be Ryan's amusement if you know what I mean." The girl, Anna, punches him on the shoulder as the others laugh.
"Let it go Danny," she laughs. Joyce strains a laugh of her own and edges away, trying to resist the urge to needle herself in front of these people.
"Well uh… I gotta go. See you later I guess," says Joyce as she walks down the corridor to her next class. It was only when she was about to turn a corner when she heard them mimicking her again.
Mercury Suites, Rapture 1955
"Mommy can you sign my permission form please?" Joyce asks. Poking with her spoon at her soggy uneaten cereal. She didn't feel like eating lately. Instead she starts to bite at her nails and looks up at her Mother who is washing the Lynn family dishes.
"Sure honey. I just need to finish up here and then I'll see right to it." Says Rosie, cleaning the food stains from last night's dinner. Joyce admires her Mothers strengths. Juggling the life of sustaining a family and being able to become a successful artist in the fast growing markets of Rapture. So inspirational. And she especially admires her navy blue dress.
"Thank you Mommy." Says Joyce with a smile. "By the way you look lovely in your new dress Mommy."
"Oh why thank you Joyce." Says her Mother, looking down at herself.
"Your Father bought me it last night on his way home from work. He has a wonderful taste." Her Mother pauses for a moment, looking at her only child with a look of sympathy. She twitches and pulls off her yellow rubber gloves.
"You know what?" Her Mother says sharply, pulling out a chair to sit opposite Joyce.
"Yes Mommy?" Chirps Joyce.
"I feel really bad for… You know taking away your Electro-Bolt the other day. I know how much you and your school friends are getting into Plasmids and I know you won't do anything silly with them because you're my daughter and… Well I can't say I don't enjoy the occasional splice. And new Plasmids are bring the best splices isn't that right." Rosie smiles. Joyce tilts her head at her Mothers approach to Plasmids. Quite unexpected.
"Um… Yes M-Mommy. So am I… Am I getting it back?" Replies Joyce.
"Yes of course honey. But I'll have to buy you a new one." Smiles her Mother, who gets up from the chair. Joyce goes back to poking her breakfast, her chest tightening at the thought of going back to school for another day. Her Mother pulls her rubber gloves back on.
"I better get these dishes done before your Father gets home." She says. Suddenly stopping to look at Joyce.
"Where is your Father by the way? He's been so late everyday recently." She says, looking out the kitchen window to the city under the sea. With its towering buildings lit up in a mirage of colours and lights. A very hypnotic thing to look at. Joyce shrugs for her Mother.
Mercury Suites, Rapture 1955
"Oh my!" Joyce groans as the EVE gives her a jolt of refreshment. It runs like electricity through her veins and muscles. Sadly for her, it's only after she's taken the EVE that she thinks of a lot of good insults against her rude classmates. Only after her unnatural high takes over and removes a layer of depression from her back can she feel the confidence to stand up herself and…
"Joyce! Your Father needs to use the bathroom!" Her Mother calls.
"Uh yeah..." Replies Joyce, accidently letting the empty EVE Hypo fall from her lap and onto the floor. It smashes instantly and shards of glass fly off and cut into her feet, which she immediately lifts up onto the toilet. She winces in pain as she attempts to stop the bleeding with her hand.
"Just coming Mommy." Says Joyce wiping sticky blood from her feet, wondering what she should do with the shards that have spilled across the bathroom floor. Sighing, she looks down at the blood soaked glass beneath her. Not bothering to move. Her feet feel numb as the little amount of ADAM in her system tries to repair her wounds, but it's not enough.
Feeling light-headed, Joyce can only catch one thought in her brain. I need more EVE. I need more EVE. Mommy took mine. She peaks down at her shards… And sees what she's looking for. A glowing blue liquid still attached to the glass.
"Joyce darling! Your Father will be late for work!" Her Mother calls again.
"I'll be out in a minute Mommy I'm sorry!" Calls Joyce. EVE! EVE! EVE! Smiling, Joyce bends down next to the shards and tilts her head at them.
"I better be quick or Mommy and Daddy won't let me see Mr Cohen." Joyce giggles at the mixture of glass, blood and EVE. She aims her head only inches above the mess. And she giggles again.
"No one would want to see me if they ever see this."
Giggling, Joyce starts to lick at the shards of glass. And the little amounts of EVE that she gets only makes her want it more. She cuts her tongue and mouth but doesn't care. Every cut only makes her feel better. Every drop of EVE only makes it feel easier. She starts rubbing her faces on the floor. Breaking the shards into smaller and smaller pieces.
"JOYCE! OPEN THE DOOR RIGHT NOW!" Joyce's Father screams from outside, causing her to jump. Why is Daddy so upset? I know him and Mommy have been fighting recently but—
Suddenly, with a large crash, Mr Lynn smashes into the bathroom. Angrily, he stares down at his daughter. Watching with a face of rage as fresh blood runs down her mouth. Hearing sounds of protests from Rosie Lynn, Joyce becomes very anxious about what's going on.
"Daddy I… I was just… I broke a bottle… I'm so sorr-" Joyce falls to the floor as her Father throws a fist into her cheek. She whimpers and looks up at him. She can see the veins on his forehead become larger and red.
"Ow, Daddy why did you-?" He grabs her by her shoulders and starts shaking her violently.
"DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE!? HUH!? DO YOU HONEY!?" The scent of drink and EVE from her Fathers mouth quickly enters Joyce's lungs. She coughs, trying to avoid coughing in his face. But fails. He punches her again.
"Daddy stop it! I don't have any…?" Joyce curls up into ball on top of the mess she made. Crying and crying. Her Dad spits on her face and runs out the room. Screaming for ADAM and EVE.
Frozen, Joyce forces herself not to breath. She keeps her eyes as shut as she can. Not daring to move. Not wanting to move. Not being able to move. She feels her cheek become swollen and numb. She can't figure out what's just happened. Daddy hit me. She can't understand why. After a moment she realizes that she's shaking. Her chest feels tight and she struggles to breathe.
A sharp cold sensation hits Joyce. On the forehead. She doesn't move but knows what it is. The Lynn family bathroom had been leaking for quite some time now, even after repeated fixes. Another drop lands on her forehead. A drip. And a drop. Drip. Drop. She waits for her Mother to step into the bathroom to help her. Drip.
…
Drop.
Mommy? Where are you? Come here…
…
Drip.
Mommy I'm bleeding. Where are you?
...
Drop.
Please come over here Mommy. I'm so scared…
Drip.
Drop.