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Prompt #12: Monsters - She knew better than anyone that the worst ones were the ones that looked human.

Words: 713

Sometimes, being a Reader could be a royal pain in the ass.

River rubbed her temples as she passed through the wayport station. All sorts of unsavory thoughts pressed against her mind, ranging from the harmless daydreams of the common man to lecherous fantasies of the deranged. Lies, lust, greed, hatred, and pain swirled through the air like smog, making her skin crawl.

"River?" Kaylee's concerned voice came from her left shoulder. "Honey, you all right?"

The Reader grimaced. "Feels like I'm walking through smoke and offal. Everything's filthy, all the thoughts are filthy." Her hands rose and her fingers wriggled like worms around her head. "Crawl in, then crawl out, tickle and wriggle, wriggle and giggle. But there's no giggle."

"Do you want to go back to the ship?"

River shook her head. "Wanna see the menagerie. See if all aliens are cow fetuses." Both girls had a giggle at the memory of Simon's revelation of the last freak show.

The air in the menagerie wasn't much better. In addition to the thoughts of the milling crowd, River could hear the disjointed thoughts of the captive animals. Herbivores munched on plants as thoughts of Freedom mixed in with blurry images of open plains or thick jungles. Prey/hunt/kill dominated the predator section, but it was thought in the sluggish way normal with beings on heavy tranquilizers. The simians were little better, thinking of baser desires that made River very uncomfortable.

The worst thoughts came from the genetically-altered mutant section. Two-headed elephants, winged cats, horses with fangs, and other fantastical creatures that could never appear in nature outside a laboratory. River flinched and fought to keep her mental barriers erect, but she could still hear most of what they were thinking. Everything was oddly colored, sickly green and blood red, and twisted and just entirely wrong. Her stomach churned, threatening to rebel and dump her last meal on the promenade.

"River?" She barely heard Kaylee's voice over the roaring in her ears. "River, let's get out of here. Just walk - "

Someone knocked into her, sending the girl sprawling to the ground. The shock made her barriers drop, opening her mind to the thoughts of everyone.

Poor girl. What a shame.

She's awful cute. Shame she's not alone.

What a pair. Maybe if I offer to help the little one, I might get somewhere with the sister.

What an embarrassment. Why is she out in public?

Too bad. She would've been a good shag.

Poor child.

If only there weren't so many people around, I could whisk her away and -

"Came as quick as I could."

"Cap'n!" Kaylee's thoughts ran almost as fast as her mouth. Cap'n is here. Cap'n can help us get back okay. "She started hurtin' when we got in here. I couldn't get her up alone."

River felt strong arms lift her into a cradling hold. She snuggled into his chest and scrunched her eyes shut. "Too many wolves, too many snakes. It's too loud, I wanna go home."

"We are, Lil Albatross." Mal's thoughts were rapid-fire quick, like his draw and his wit. Too many people here. Can't risk someone sendin' a wave for medics. "Run along back to Serenity, Lil Kaylee. Tell the Doc I'm bringin' his sister back with a mighty big brain pain."

River heard the thoughts around them change dramatically.

Who is he?

Is that her father?

Where has he been?

It's about time. Pick up that embarrassment.

What a caring man. I hope he's her father. Too old to be her brother.

Damn, lost my chance. Oh well, there are other lambs.

River shuddered. Mal tightened his grip on her and murmured, "Relax, River. We're almost there, I promise."

The press of thoughts thinned the closer they came to Serenity. River sought out the familiar peace of her spaceship home like a child grasping for her favorite blanket. Soon she felt Zoe, Simon, and Inara's presences clustering around her. Together the crew brought her to the infirmary. Bright, cold, and clean, but not scary.

Serenity was safe. Serenity was home.

Her home repelled all monsters.

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