The Next Morning
The girl tossed and turned in her sleep, running away from the monster that haunted her in her nightmares, trying to escape from its screams and horrors. She had woken up painting, crying and sweating. She pinched her arm to see if she was really awake, or if it was another nightmare waiting to haunt her. I'm awake, I'm alive, I'm okay… she thought to herself as she laid back down in the bed. She shot back up realizing she wasn't passed out on the floor or in an alleyway or tied up in a closet like she usually was. She was on a mattress, with a black hoodie being used as a blanket. She looked around the room, the flooring, and the walls even the roof was made out of metal or wood, there were clothes, some pieces of trash and some comic books laying on the ground. She got up out of the bed, and looked at the desk supported by concrete blocks. Comic books, a shitty old laptop and a lamp were placed on the desk fairly organized; there were some drawers that she dared not look into, not knowing what could be in them. For all she knew, she was in a house or a shack that had just supported itself and kept the rain out. She thought to herself as she looked around the small room, where am I? Am I at some guy's house? At least I don't hear Jake yelling at me, or he could be passed out, or he's just waiting for me outside of the room. Oh shit, this is not going to be good... she came across a broken mirror leaning against a wall beside the bed, she looked at herself, she was still wearing a pair of jeans with holes and rips in them, but she noticed she wasn't wearing the tank top that she remembered being ripped that very night before, instead it was a black t-shirt that was a bit large on her. She took off the shirt and threw it to the bed, she looked back to the mirror, expecting to see dried up blood and bruises, but instead, bandages covered her body where it hurt the most, she looked at her wrist that had been wrapped up with a piece of cloth, she removed it to look at her wrist. It was sore, like it was sprained but she didn't care about that. She ran her fingers delicately over the scars on her wrist, she shed a tear thinking about the times she had done it, the most recent one was from the day before.
A large flash of lightning suddenly brought her back to reality, a crash of thunder quickly followed. Another clash could be heard from another room, as if someone dropped a metal sheet. She quick put the shirt back on and the sweater she'd used as a blanket, and quietly opened the door, leading out to another large room. Again, the whole place was made out of wood or metal, but in fairly good condition. The room she was lead off to looked like a living room, there was a couch, a table, a few chairs and a bean bag. Trash was scattered across the unfamiliar room, the TV had been switched on to Spike, while a small stereo hooked up to a MP3 played a song. Walking slowly into the living room, she saw a man in the kitchen, she should have been scared at the moment but, she stood there, starting at him, his back turned away from her. He mumbled the words to the song playing, quietly, but loud enough for her to hear his hiss. His slick black hair reached his shoulders; he had a brown hat on, along with a white wife beater with orange and black strips across his stomach. He seemed to be in his late teens, but the only thing odd about him was his skin color, it was green, like a gardener snake or something. He looks familiar, have I seen him before? If I could see his fac- Another crash of thunder made her jump back and knock over an empty beer bottle.
"Finally awake?" The teenager turned around to face her.
"Uh- um I'm so sorry I didn't know that someone was here." She stood in the same spot as he came closer to her, with a soda in his hand.
"It'ssss fine, I'm just glad to see you're okay." He came close enough to her for her to see his face clearly. His eyes were a pale pink with black slits, almost snake like. They intrigued her; like they were a movie and she couldn't look away. Then it hit her, he's the one that saved you last night.
"Are youss okay?" he startled her back to reality.
"Yeah, I'm fine, just sore." She paused as she rubbed her wrist. She looked around the place for a couple of seconds, "Um, do you mind me asking, but, where are we?"
"Oh, yeah I guessss I ssssshould explains, we're at the Townsssvile Dump, you were about to be uh-"
"Raped,I know that part and you saving me," he blushed a little as she crossed her arms.
"Yeah, sso I brought you here, my friend Arturo fixxxed you up, you looked like you were about to diesss."
"And that guy?"
"I have no ideasss, I left him back in the alleysss, I wassss more concerned aboutss youssss."
"Oh, well, thanks." She replied as she stared into the boy's eyes.
"It'sss no problem," he said, he stared back into her green eyes, looking at the small amount of innocence left in her. He jumped a little when the girl came up and hugged him, he hugged her back for a few seconds, he could feel her face dig into his chest and the warmth of her body, keeping him warm. She let go of him and he did the same.
"So, Townsville dump, green skin, noticeable lisp?" she said with a suspecting tone in her voice.
"oh ssssshitss" He rubbed his eyes as it came to the reality that she knows who he is.
"So Snake from the Gangreen Gang, saved me. Wow…"
"Yeah, now keep your mouth ssshut, I got a reputation to up hold." He joked.
She gave a little laugh and smiled, reliving small fangs, "Ok, I'll keep my mouth shut."
"Hey, are youss hungry?" he walked into the kitchen with her following closely behind.
"Yeah I am, what you got?" she asked as she jumped on to the countertop to sit.
"you like meat-loverssss pizza?"
"Hell yeah! That's my favorite!"
"Mine too," he put some slices of pizza in a small microwave that Grubber and him had fixed, "Ssso, you know who I amsss, who are youss?"
"Annastasia." She replied.
"Beautiful name, it ssssuitsss yous." He said in a flirty tone.
"Well I must say, your nickname suits you, Snakey." She teased him, while Snake just stuck out his long tongue, as she laughed again.
"I like your laughsss, itsss cute." He said as the microwave beeped. Snake opened the microwave and gave Annastasia her pizza.
"Nah, I kinda hate it, it's too bubbly for my tastes."
"You sssshouldn't hate something of yours. It'ss yoursss and yoursss alone."
"That's really deep. I didn't expect that from you." She took a bite of her pizza.
"A lot of people don't, but sssseriousssly, don't tell the guysss, I have a reputation to up holds."
"Don't worry about it." Another clash of lightning startled Annastasia.
"Sssstorming like crazzzy out theres." Snake took another bite of his pizza, "I hope the guysss get home sssoon."
"Where are they anyway?"
"We were sssssupossse to rob a sssstore today, but I sssstayed behind to make ssssure you were ok, but they went off to rob the ssstore anywaysss. They left about 2 hoursss ago."
"When should they be back?" she said with concern in her voice.
"In abouts a half hour." Another crash of lightning startled Annastasia, "Are yous ok?"
"Yeah, lightning kinda scares me; I just need something to keep me distracted."
"Hmm, like video gamesss?"
"Fuck yeah, what you got?" Snake took her free hand and lead her into to living room, he put is pizza down on the table. And by table, I mean a piece of wood supported by concrete blocks.
"We have, Call of Dutyss, inFamousss, Mortal Kombat, Batman Arkham Asssylum, and City."
"Ok, Mortal Kombat sounds good right now, throw it on." She took a spot on the ratty old couch as Snake turned on the game, tossed her a controller and sat down beside her.
Meanwhile at a local store…
Ace and the rest of the green teens had just finishing robbing a store. "Alright, and don't you call the cops!" Ace held the door open with the rest of the guys running out. As soon as everyone was out, Ace came back in, grabbed a couple packs of smokes and ran for it.
"C'mon guys! Let's get back to the dump!" Ace screamed as he bolted down the street into an alleyway. The rest of the gang followed carrying bags of junk food and booze. Arturo held onto Big Billy's shoulders as the big green cyclopes ran with bags in his hands. Grubber ran ahead of the gang towards the gates of the dump.
"Grubber ya lunatic!" Ace screamed as Grubber jumped a passing car and climbed the fence. Ace slid over a hood of another car. Billy ran across the street when he saw no cars coming.
"Ey, Billy you just killed the moment!" Arturo complained as he covered his head with a magazine.
"Sorry Arturo." Billy ran towards the fence. He stopped right in front of the fence put a bag down and grabbed Arturo.
"BILLY WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Billy without hesitation threw Arturo over the fence with ease.
"Billy!" Arturo landed in a pile of garbage near Ace and Grubber, "EH! Someone help me!" Ace grabbed onto Arturo's leg, "Thank you Ace." Billy showed up carrying the bags of food.
Ace let go of Arturo's leg and let him hit the ground. "C'mon, let's get back to the hangout before we get hit by lightning!"
"But what about Snake's little friend senor! Hehe" Arturo chuckled.
"Oh yeah, boys, Snake's got himself a little girly-friend in there, so what eva you do, embarrass the fuck out of him." Ace chuckled, as the rest of the gang joined in laughing. "But seriously guys, let's make sure she's alright, but NO ONE! Finds out about her, ok?"
"Ok Ace, but why are we helping her?" Billy asked.
"I-I, I have no fucking idea.." Ace pushed the door open, and walked inside.
"Well hey there little Snakey!" Ace walked over to Snake, he knocked his hat off his head and started giving him a noogie, messing up his hair.
"Hey Ace." Snake sighed.
"HAHA! I WIN!" Annastasia cheered as she got up and danced, then coming to realization that the rest of the gang was back, "Oh, yea, I won. Hehe, hey guys?"
"HI! My name's Billy!" Billy came up to the girl and held out his hand.
"Hey Billy, my name is Annastasia, or Stashia." She reached out and shook his hand.
"You're really pretty." Billy said shyly.
"Aw thanks Billy." Grubber came up to her and spit some raspberries at her.
"Grubber ssssayssss, hi and nice to meet you." Snake translated for her.
"Nice to meet ya too Grubber." She said as she shook his deformed hand.
"Hello Señorita, my name is Arturo." The little green teen came up and shook her hand.
"Hi, you're the one that fixed me up last night right?" she bent down so they were eye to eye.
"Yes." He replied.
"Thanks, seriously man." She smiled at him.
"It was no problem, but I would like a hug in return." He smiled at her. She gave a look that said "really?"
"Alright come here," She hugged him quickly, and got back up after. Ace approached her next.
"The name's Ace, leada of these losers." He said proudly as he took her hand and kissed it. She started to blush as his little mustache rubbed against her hand.
"Hey, I guess I should thank you for letting me stay here huh?"
"Yeah a little, so how you doing? Injury wise anyways." He asked her while looking at her wrist that he was still holding, looking at the scars.
She pulled her wrist back and grabbed hold of it, "I'm ok, some of the bandages are kinda lose, the one on my arm is really bloody, and my ribs still hurt."
"Well sit down Senorita!" Arturo pushed her to the couch, "Let me help you!"
"Ok! OK!" She laid down on the couch as Arturo began unwrapping the bandages.
"So uh, how'd this happen?" Ace asked her.
"whole story or what happened last night?"
"Let's go with whole story, sounds more interesting," He grabbed a chair and sat down, leaning on the back.
"Alright, a couple of months ago, I ran away from home, Mom was a drunk, daddy ditched me, and my brother died years before, so I ran off to Townsville. I didn't have much money, so when I ran short, I ended up pick-pocketing, one say I pick-pocketed this guy, he caught me, I told him I was sorry and my story, he took me in as a guest in his apartment, within no time, he started getting, uhh, sexual, he did things to me, and I couldn't leave cuz I had nowhere to go, so I just putted up with it, until last night. I ran off, he tried to catch me, and then Snakey here saved me. And now I'm here."
"Wow, nice background story." Ace chuckled.
"But, you's ok now right?" Billy asked her.
"yes Billy, I'm fine, OW!"
"Lo siento…" Arturo muttered as he continued bandaging her up.
"Arturo, ssspeakss englisssh pleasssse." Snake interrupted, ""Annassstasssia won't underssstand you!"
"It's okay Snake, I speak a little Spanish, Está bien que Arturo." She replied fluently.
"Nice Spanish señorita." Arturo said while wrapping her bandages over top of one of the exposed wounds.
"muchas gracias." She replied.
Man, she's had it hard, running away, being abused, and now hanging out with us. Snake thought to himself.
"Alright that should do it, does it feel better?"
"Yeah it does, thanks Arturo." She moved her arm a little and got up.
"No problem, just let me know when it starts to hurt or something. It could be messed up after."
"Will do, thanks for letting me stay here."
"No problem," Ace spoke up, "As long as Snake doesn't mind you staying in his bed." She looked over at Snake who'd been staring at her for the past few minutes.
"It'sssss no problem. You can ssstaysss here asss long asss you want." He shrugged.
"Thanks guys, this means a lot, I promise I'll try to help out around here." She smiled at them, showing off some fangs.
"No problem, and don't need to help out," Ace said, "just if you wanna join us in robbing places, beating up some people and stuff. Hehe" Ace chuckled as he grabbed a soda from the fridge.
"Well actually there's one place… but nahh you guys wouldn't be interested." She sat down on the floor again and started playing Mortal Kombat again.
"Interessssted in what?" Snake asked her, the rest of the gang seemed interested about what she was about to say.
"Well, I kinda want to go rob that asshole Jake's place, but you guys wouldn't be interested, I mean, he's only got all my money and possessions, with some smokes, video games and booze at his place."
"Smokes?" Ace looked over at her.
"Booze?" Arturo piped up.
"Video games?" Billy asked her.
"Yeah, but I doubt you guys would want to go." She joked.
"HEY! You're talking to the Gangreen Gang! The baddest teenagers in Townsville! We're up for anything!" Ace stood up and took a stance.
"So I guess you guys are interested." She stood up and faced Ace.
"Oh of course we are babe." He smiled at her.
"Alright, we'll head down there for 7, get my shit, and come back, and then you guys will show me your skills." She mocked them.
"Deal, Snake, me and you will head down, Arturo, you're in charge till we get back."
"Si Senor!" He cheered.
"So are you going to stay with us Annastasia?" Billy asked her.
"For as long as I need to, or until you guys get sick of having me around."
"YAY!" Billy gave her another hug, squeezing the life out of her.
"PPHHBBBGTTTT!" Grubber raspberried.
"What did he say?" She asked as Billy let her go.
"it ssseemssss like Billy likessss you." Snake translated.
"And maybe someone else does too heheh." Arturo chuckled quietly. Snake gave him a death glare as Arturo walked away.
At 6:30
After hanging out with the gang for most of the day, Annastasia walked out of the hide out after it stopped storming. Thinking about what's she's learned about the green teens of Townsville, like how Billy has ADD, Grubber could morph his body to be less deranged and more human like, Ace isn't fucking Sedusa as everyone thought and Arturo wasn't legal at all.
"Damn I need a smoke." She muttered to herself as she leaned against the hideout. She searched the jacket she was wearing to see who's ever it was, had any smokes. But all she found was a pocketknife, it was a dark green with something engraved in it, Sanford D. Ingleberry.
"Who the hell is Sanford?" she asked herself.
"That would be messs." Snake popped out of nowhere, he walked over and motioned for the pocketknife. She handed it over to him and started taking off the sweater. "No, keep it on, it'sss cold out, and plusss it lookssss good on you."
"Thanks, so what's up?" She asked him as she leaned back against the building.
"Jusssssssst came out here to ssssee the view."
"The view of garbage and trash?" she questioned.
"No, not thissss one. Follow messs." He started walking down a path as she just stood there. "You comingsss?" he asked.
She looked around and nodded her head. She ran to catch up with the boy. He lead her down past a few busted up cars and stopped at one, he climbed up on top of it and reached his hand down to grab Annastasia's.
"C'monsss, trussst me heres." He smiled at her. She took a hold of his hand and climbed up to join him. The view was amazing, the City of Townsville, and in the distance was an orangey-pink sunset, making the town glow.
"Wow." Was the only thing that could escape her mouth. The view was breath taking.
"Cool huhss?"
"Yea!" he waved a cigarette in her face to get her attention. "Oh, thanks."
"No propsss." He took another out and lit it with a lighter, and tossed the lighter to her. She lit up the cancer stick and took a long drag.
"Oh that hits the spot." She sighed as she sat down on the roof of the car. Snake joined her and leaned back.
"Ssssoo, how do you like the guysss?" Snake asked her after a long silence.
"Awesome, I thought you guys would be all horrible and stuff, but you guys are different." She looked over at Snake who was looking back at her, "especially you, Sanford!"
"Yeah yeah, make fun of messs now, my sssecret isss out!" he cheered out loud. He took another drag of the smoke and puffed rings into the air.
"can I tell you something?" she asked him.
"Sssure, tell." He laid down on his side facing her, supporting his head with his free hand.
"I like the name Sanford." She said, taking another drag.
"You're lyingsss."
"No, I'm not, I love the name actually."
"Why?" he laughed.
"Umm, you'll laugh at me."
"No I won't, tell messs, pleasssse?" She looked over at Snake who was trying to make a cute face for her.
"I… I always thought that name was sexy as hell! There! I said it!" She fell onto her back and looked up into the sky. They both started blushing like crazy. She thinks my name is sexy? No one has ever told me that…. Snake crawled up to her on his stomach, and looked at her face, "What you looking at?"
"Nothin, I jusssst think itssss cute how you think my name isssss sssexxxy."
"SHUT UP!" she got up and dug her face into her knees.
"Itssss ok, itsss ok, I think it'ss cute." He got up and sat up with her. After finishing their smokes, they tossed the butts into the trash bellow. Over the next couple of minutes, they talked, nothing in particular, but just about random stuff, music, bands, TV shows, and just random things about themselves.
"Are you sssscared?" Snaked asked out of nowhere.
"Scared of what?"
"Going back there, to that assssshole'ssss place. After what he'sssss done to you."
"I'm terrified." She admitted, she looked over at Snake to see him look back at me.
"Well don't worryssss, we'll be there, and if he isssss there, I'll kick hissss assss for you." He said with a smile. She gave him another hug, smelling smoke off of his sweater. He hugged her back tightly. For both it was a moment they didn't want to end, feeling each other's warmth give off onto another. It was a moment worth treasuring. But the moment was soon ruined.
"HEY! LOVE BIRDS! TIME TO GO!" Ace shouted from the shack. They both let go and started blushing, Snake jumped off and help Annastasia off the car. They met up with Ace who had a lit smoke in his mouth, as he waited for them with a duffle bag in his hand.
"Alright, where we going?"
"52nd street, just down a couple of blocks." Annastasia answered.
"Alright let's get down there, steal some stuff and get back, I don't trust Arturo in charge of Billy and Grubber."
"Ok let'sssss go!" The trio headed down the street leading to the apartment building, soon after they left, Snake put the hood up on Annastasia's sweater, he said that he didn't want anyone seeing her with them, in fear she'd get in trouble for hanging around town with the 2 main dudes from the GGG. They soon made it to the building.
"Dis the place?" Ace asked as he stomped out his 3rd smoke he had on the walk there.
"Yeah, room 104, just out back behind the building is the entrance…" She said with fear in her voice, she leaned closer to Snake, he was slightly startled but took the hint and put his arm around her. Ace gave Snake a thumps up as they walked behind the apartment building and found the door with the number 104 on it.
"This is it, but I don't have a key."
"Don't worry about it, Snake is our master pick locker. Just watch the magic." Snake got down and pulled out his pocket knife, he started playing around with the lock until there was a loud click.
"Nice job Snake," Ace patted Snake on the back as he walked into the building, Snake held the door open for Annastasia, she walked in and gave a smile. Snake came in after and closed the door behind him. Annastasia flicked on the light and the place lit up. they walked into the kitchen; it was covered with beer bottles and take out boxes. It was actually worse than the dump.
"ok first thing is first, where's da booze?" Ace asked as he dove into the fridge.
"in the mini fridge in the living room, the games are under the TV and smoke packages are laying around everywhere so you might wanna check some for the ciggs." Annastasia answered as she walked down the hallway.
"Snake, go help the girl out, I'll be look out." Ace said as he threw some games and booze into the duffle bag. Snake walked down the hallway in search of Annastasia, he saw a door cracked open and looked inside. The room inside was a horrible mess, , there was a bed, with some handcuffs locked onto the posts of the bed, some rope on the ground, beside a bloody towel, a few used condoms, beer bottles, some cigarette buds, and a bloody knife. This guy was sick. Doing this to a poor girl, I can't even imagine the pain she went through. Snake thought to himself, he was about to walk but.
"What are you doing?" He turned around quickly to see Annastasia with a bag in her hand full of stuff.
"Uh,.. nothingsss I wassss jussst looking for youss and-"
"You looked inside that room." She finished his sentence completely with an upset look in her eyes.
"Yeahsss…. I'm ssssorryss." He apologized quickly, and took her hand, "It'sss going to be okays." He smiled at her, hoping she would feel better.
"Snake, I-"
"SOMEONES COMING!" Ace shouted down the hallway, he started running over to Annastasia and Snake, "I heard someone outside screaming about Annastasia."
"OH FUCK IT'S HIM! It's Jake!" Annastasia started freaking out a little, while Snake stood there not knowing what to do.
"There's gotta be a way out of this joint! Is there a window or something?" Ace asked as he zipped up his bag and threw it over his shoulder.
"There's the bathroom window, but it doesn't open."
"Good enough! Where is it!?"
"This way!" Annastasia ran towards a room down the hall with Ace and Snake following her close behind. They ran into the bathroom, Ace quickly kicked the small window, sending glass outside; he rolled down his sleeve so it covered his right hand and punch the remaining glass out. Snake threw the bags outside. Suddenly Ace threw a random a punch at Snake in the arm.
"You idoit! I got booze in there!" Ace pushed his glasses up on his face and slid out the window. Annastasia gave Snake a weird look.
"What was-" She was interrupted by a door slamming, "OH shit he's here!" Annastasia started freaking out.
"Don't worriessss, let'ssss jusssst get out of here, Come on I'll help you out the window." Snake picked her up and slid her out the window where Ace helped her get down. Snake then jumped out the window, and picked up Annastasia's bag.
"COME ON! LET'S GET OUTA HERE!" Ace started running down the street as Snake and Annastasia followed behind.
Soon after…
The guys ended up stealing pizza and some beer from a store and everyone sat around and just hung out, listening to music, cracked up some bottles open and started drinking for an hour.
"So you guys had super powers for a couple of hours, but then lost them after going to the bathroom!?"
"Basically! Oh! And that little BITCH Blossom decided to hit us harder because APPARENTLY I stole her powers!" Ace shouted. He had a few drinks and was a bit tipsy. Billy had gone to sleep on the floor again. Grubber passed out after chugging a few beers, Arturo fell asleep on the table, while Ace tried not to pass out.
"So, you know..." Ace mumbled his words, "I think we should just, you know, just take over Townsville! Ya know?"
"Accce. We've triedsss that, it didn't work, remembersss?" Snake said as he took a sip of his second beer.
"Oh, right, thanks Snake, you fucking asshole!" Ace joked around and then sat down in a chair, then passed out. Snake got up and checked his pulse.
"Wow, well that was fun." Annastasia said while taking a sip of her beer.
"Hehe yea," Snake sat down next to her.
"Thanks for helping me Snake. I really owe you." She shyly said.
"It'ssss no problem. I'm just glad to ssssee you're alright." He smiled at her and stroked her face.
"Thanks Snake..." She stared into his eyes and he stared back into hers. Snake rested his hand on the back of her neck, and pulled her closer. She could feel herself bringing herself closer to him to the point where their faces were only a few centimeters apart. "Snake,…."
"Yessss?" he kept looking into her eyes, his stare gave her comfort, as hers gave him comfort.
"I- I- I can't, I'm sorry." Annastasia pulled away and looked to floor. Snake let his hand rest on her back.
"It'ssss okay, I knowss you've been throughsss a lot. I'm ssssorry for russsshing into thingsss." He looked at her with heart felt eyes, as she returned the look; Annastasia gave him a hug, and felt him hug back.
"Thanks for understanding Snake." Annastasia said quietly. And without hesitation gave him a kiss on his green cheek, and looked at him. His face was in shock, his face started blushing a light red, but visible to see through his green skin. Snake was in a moment of shock and tried to shake it off.
"You sssshould getsss ssssome sssssleep. You've been throughssss a lot tonightssss." He stroke her face again before Annastasia got up and walked to Snake's room.
"Thanksss Sssssnake. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Good night."
"Good nightsss Annassstasssia."
Did she just imitate my lisp? He thought to himself as he smiled at her.
She walked into Snake's room and leaned against a wall. She thought about what just had happened today, I met the Gangreen Gang, ran away from another home, and kissed Snake. My god I have a fucked up life. She changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top. She climbed into Snake's bed and thought about how she was going to wake up to another day with the Gangreen Gang.
While Snake was in the living room part of the hide out, he looked up to the ceiling while laying on his back on the couch.
I can't believe myself; I just tried kissing a girl who had just been through so much. I must be some sick guy. But she is something else, someone I could talk to without being judged, someone I could actually fall for, hell I think I've already fallen for her. He fell asleep on the couch again, thinking about how the girl the young teen fallen for is in his room right now, sleeping in the bed of a gangster….