A/N I finally decided to write a story on Thrax's childhood. I'll also continue through "Almira's Story", showing his POV on meeting Almira. I don't own Thrax; he belongs to Warner Bros. I DO own his surname, his family, and other characters you don't recognize from Osmosis Jones.
DNAngelFangirl: Thanks :D And happy holidays to you too.
Devilgirl123: He has indeed.
Princess LaLaBlue: Thank you :) I'm glad you like this. I like adding details to my stories.
Chapter 7
Life continued on normally. Thrax tried not to cause fights or get into as much trouble for the sake of avoiding the whip. But he somehow always seemed to cause trouble in Hamilton's eyes, whether it was fighting back with Hamilton, or even accidentally knocking a bottle of beer to the floor from a shelf.
Thrax had been whipped so many times; the wounds were beginning to leave ugly crisscrossing scars across his back. They were most prominent on the upper and middle parts of his back, but they snaked up to his shoulders and up the back of his neck. He realized this when he pulled on a regular sweater and happened to look over his shoulder in the mirror. His hair could cover the scars that were showing, but Thrax wanted to be sure they were totally covered. So one Saturday, he went to a clothes store and bought the best article of clothing for his situation: a turtleneck sweater. The one he liked best was smoke-gray. Not only did it cover the scars on his neck, he thought he looked pretty good in it.
When Elaine asked why he was wearing a turtleneck, Thrax vaguely gestured at the back of his neck. She nodded in understanding. Amelia had thought he looked funny in a sweater with a tall collar. Hamilton either didn't notice the difference, or didn't care.
The killing tests continued on. Ed was at the top of the class because he was the quickest to get back, and the mouse he infected died the quickest. Thrax was right behind him; Riley was in third place.
Riley never cared for being at the top of the killing chain; she was just happy Thrax finally asked her to be his girlfriend. She bragged about it to her friends after he made the decision; they were both happy for her, and were a little jealous. Riley also rubbed it in Herman's face, since he wanted her to be his girlfriend. This made him hate Thrax even more. Thrax couldn't care less; he already had a list of people who hated him, albeit short.
Even though his girlfriend didn't mind not being the best virus in school, Thrax was the opposite. Ed always gloated after killing tests that he was the fastest, deadliest and best disease; even when there were no killing tests, he rambled on about how deadly and feared Ebola was. It was irritating Thrax to no end; not to mention it was putting a strain on their friendship. With Ed bragging about his species, Thrax no longer wanted to be around him. Ed didn't seem to care anyway.
One morning, five years after the abuse had begun; Thrax was sitting in the living room, thinking deeply. He was currently wearing his favorite gray turtleneck sweater, along with black sweatpants and boots, and a new article of clothing: a long, black trench coat. It was a special coat that used to belong to Joseph when he was infecting bodies before he met Elaine. It was special because it had special pockets where Joseph put his feet in, stretching the coat so he could glide in the wind like a flying squirrel. It was a popular way to travel in the Muerja family. Elaine had given Thrax the coat after he turned seventeen years old so he would be set for the future.
Elaine often brought up the notion of becoming a tame virus: a vaccine. She used to infect and kill people, even after marrying Joseph. Before she realized she was pregnant with Thrax, she saw a little boy crying over his dead mother, who the female virus had just killed. It was then she realized how many people she was hurting, despite not infecting them. She had stopped killing once she realized her pregnancy, but also had decided to stop killing altogether.
Thrax had been baffled the first time he heard the story; he always assumed that a virus had to kill, as it was in their nature. "Most viruses do kill, my children," Elaine had said to Thrax and Amelia. "But some choose to be vaccines. They help the Immunity to keep a body healthy."
"Are there any Red Deaths who're vaccines, Mama?" Amelia asked.
"Sadly, no. Very rarely does a Red Death decide to become a vaccine."
"Would it have to do with the fact that Red Deaths're scarce?" Thrax guessed.
"That's right." Elaine said. "And those Red Deaths want to keep the notion that all viruses kill."
Thrax fingered his blank chain, recalling his mother's words about him becoming a vaccine. She always said whether he decided to become a vaccine, or follow in his father's footsteps and become a virus, she would always be proud of him. If that was so, why did she seem so keen on him becoming one of the Immunity, especially when her first husband died with that job?
"Thrax?"
He turned to the voice, smiling softly to see Amelia looking up at him. "What's up, sis?" He greeted in his now semi-deep and mature voice; it was softer than Joseph's had been.
"How's your back?"
He sighed, squirming at the thought of those scars tattooed permanently on his back. "It's fine." He answered, closing his eyes.
"Are you gonna have those scars forever?"
"'Fraid so, sis."
Amelia climbed onto the couch and snuggled into her big brother's side. "Sorry."
Thrax opened one eye, smiling. "Ain't yer fault," He said, laying an arm around her shoulders. "It's that bas-er, I mean, it's Hamilton's fault."
"Why's he so mean?"
"I wish I knew. But at least he don't hurt you…right?"
"No," She shook her head. "He doesn't hurt me. He doesn't like me."
Footsteps approached them from behind. Thrax quickly looked over his shoulder, relaxing when he saw Elaine. "You're gonna have to go to school sometime, Thrax," She said. "It's the final killing test of the year."
"One that Ed's probably gonna win." Thrax growled moodily, standing.
"No, he won't, Thrax!" Amelia said, standing up on the couch. "You're gonna win!"
"Amelia, don't stand on the couch." The little virus obediently sat back down, smiling innocently. "But she's right, Thrax, maybe you'll win."
Before he exited the house, Thrax paused. "Mom, can we talk? About you-know-who?"
Knowing what he meant, Elaine said to Amelia, "Sweetheart, say goodbye to Thrax and go play in your room, please?"
"Okay, Mama." She jumped to the floor and hugged Thrax. "By-bye, Big Brother Thrax."
Chuckling at the nickname, Thrax hugged her back. "See ya, Amy."
Smiling, Amelia skipped off to her room. "Now, what do you want to talk about?"
"I've been thinkin'," He said, spinning the chain around his right wrist. "Why can't ya just divorce Hamilton? It ain't a crime to."
Elaine sighed; she had a feeling this was coming. "Thrax, I've thought about it, but it wouldn't make a difference; he'd still be here, and he'd still hurt you."
"At least he'd be outta the house an' away from us."
"I know, but what if you're walking to or from school, and he grabs you?"
"I'll kill 'im." Thrax shrugged as if it was no big deal.
"Thraximus!"
"Mom, he deserves it!"
"I know, but you can't just kill him! You think I want my son in jail for murder?"
"Better than in the hospital or worse, dead!" Thrax shouted.
"Thraximus Red Muerja, you listen to me-"
"No, you listen! I am gettin' sick an' tired of bein' treated like a disobedient animal, an' of gettin' whipped so much, my entire back's one big scar! Are ya such a coward, you wouldn't even kick out the bastard that's beatin' yer son?"
"Thrax!"
"I hate you!" He screamed. He stomped out of the house, slamming the door so hard, it bounced back open. When that happened, he kicked it shut and stomped down the sidewalk to school.
Elaine felt both angry at Thrax for shouting at her like that, and hurt that he said that he hated her. He had never said such a thing in his life to her. She slumped into a chair, tears of hurt running down her cheeks. Deep down, she knew he was right to accuse her of cowardice; she couldn't even kick Hamilton out of the house for fear he would continue to hurt Thrax.
By the time he got to school, Thrax was still angry, though he had cooled down a bit. He felt guilty for screaming at his mother, and he certainly regretted saying he hated her, but he knew he was right about her being a coward.
Those thoughts disappeared as he heard a painstakingly familiar voice yelling, "Yo, Thraxy! Wait up!"
Growling, Thrax snapped back, "Don't call me 'Thraxy'!"
"Hey, what's got your chain in a twist?" Ed joked, laying an arm across his shoulders. "The ol' bastard again?"
"Ain't none of yer business." Thrax said, shoving Ed to the side. "Don'tcha have yer fans to get to?"
"Don't be that way," Ed frowned. "It's not your fault Ebola is the top killing virus."
The Red Death virus began to get pissed. "Maybe you ain't the top killin' virus; Red Death hasn't been fully discovered yet."
"But until it is, Ebola is deadlier than Red Death." With that, Ed strutted into the school.
Thrax struggled to keep his temper and prevent himself from attacking something or someone with his claw. When he got especially angry, his claw seemed to have a mind of its own; it glowed so hot, it was actually white in color, and steam would emit from the tip. When Thrax got his anger under control, he could dim his claw.
"Thraxy!" Riley came trotting up to him from behind; she was wearing one of her favorite tight red dresses with a slit in the side, revealing her upper leg.
"Riley, don't call me that." He sighed bitterly, stepping into the school. "I'm not in the mood."
"Bébé, what's wrong?" She cooed.
"Ed, that's what. He's got such a big ego, it's a wonder his head hasn't exploded."
"There's time to beat him in this killing test," Riley whispered in Thrax's ear, making him freeze. "Just kill more than one mouse. After all, it's more than killing one the fastest; it's about how many mice you can kill within the time limit. You'd be able to do it with those pretty beads you collect." She stroked his right wrist. "And when you prove you're the best virus in school, I'll be waiting." Kissing his cheek, she sauntered to class, earning glances and wolf-whistles from male classmates.
Thrax stood there in silence until the school bell rang, making him jump. Wiping the white lipstick stain from his cheek, he considered what Riley said. Watch out, Ebola. There's a new deadliest virus in school.
A/N First new chapter of the new year :D Happy new year everyone :D
This chapter shows why I think Thrax prefers to wear turtleneck sweaters. He can wear any kind of sweater he wants; why turtleneck? (not that I'm complaining) So I decided that his scars travel up the back of his neck a little, and his sweater covers them up well.
I think the usage of the coat to glide is one that runs in the family. Not all viruses are the same; not even in the species.
I wanted to have a little brother/sister scene with Thrax and Amelia, since we haven't really fully seen Amelia in this story; only glimpses of her.
With the tension in the household, there's bound to be family arguments.