"Portsmouth, New Hampshire! Oooo population 21,956. A lot smaller than the last city. Should be easy to get through." Reverend said out loud.
The group of 5 made their way past the towns welcome sign. It felt like it been days but only had been less than a few hours on foot through the night.
Eff rubbed his eyes, it had been the first time in a long while he felt what exhaustion was. He couldn't help but feel like this long on foot trek had shaved a few years off his life. The body he had coveted so long now felt too pathetic for him. Yawning, Eff stretched his arms upwards and grumbled out, "Ahhh let's hope. Either way I think we should enjoy this?"
Dboy scowled in response to Eff's words, "Enjoy this?-"
"I agree!" Shmee perked up, "I've been very curious ever since you all mentioned the riverbed incident on just how humans mingle in a regular society."
Dboy grumbled, "Enjoying it or not, it's no difference than watching apes fling shit at each other."
"But that's the best part! I would like to see all of their day to day activities." Shmee responded smiling as he skipped ahead looking around towards the houses and buildings in the distance as the group walked near the main road into town. It had been decided new supplies like backpacks and clothes were needed amongst them, especially with Sickness whining throughout the night how badly her clothes became torn up after almost getting killed by Dboy.
Walking now into a main road, the group passed by small business windows from restaurants to antique stores. Dboy hated the reflections as he noticed how his peers would like to periodically stop and gawk at their stark human appearances but knew they couldn't make a scene. Gaunt, pale, sunken, lanky, dirty, ragged...was a few words to describe themselves. It was a wonder how they have not been chased out of town yet due to looking like vagrants that lived in the woods.
Dboy then saw a town pole clock come into view. Squinting upwards the time read, "4:45 AM." It was still early in the morning and that the sun hadn't come up yet.
"Could anything be open right now? We're still by the coast, the open waters got me wet & frostbitten here. We gotta find something soon." Reverend said shuffling his hands together. It was true, their malnourished bodies only fueled by the Voices own mind power had been through enough and were only going to shut down any moment. The cold sea air was merciless and although Dboy can read the look of angry anguished on all their faces, he felt calm. The closet things he could get to the sweet release of death were pleasures. Still, something in Maine had to be see. Once and for all.
"Let's go down this street it looks like the lights to that building is still on." Eff pointed a block down towards an old new-england style building that beamed a warm orange glow through its windows.
*ring ring*
The sound of a small bell tolled as the front door of a sleepy library opened. It had just opened 45 mins ago letting in weary people of the streets inside its paper bound walls. Many people from different walks of life seeking temporary shelter came into the library until the sun was fully out. As far as anyone could tell, the group of 5 people looked no different. Just in need of help like everyone else.
"Oh wow, what a place." Shmee said in a low whisper as he took off his jacket. The warm air fully enveloped their decrepit bodies as the doors closed. Looking around, many drifters sat at communal tables. Some quietly chatting, others playing cards, and some eating prepackaged food from the small cafe inside.
A cheery voice suddenly rang out next to them behind a register, "Happy you all have joined us!" Exclaimed a small, bald man with a clean shaven face, "My name is Lester, please take a seat, we have some coffee and plenty to read until the sun comes up." Lester smiled warmly at the eldritch abominations as they curtly smiled back. Dboy saw how quickly Shmee entertained the man and began to spun him his tale.
"Why thank you! This is a beautiful library you have here. My friends and I have been travelling to meet some old acquaintances up north in Maine but we decided our usually hobby, hiking, would make quite the adventure. Haw! We forgotten about the cold so, so many times!"
Lester hacked a cough laughing, "Ohhh you're not the first, and definitely won't be the last, I got some folks here who travel in vans, encampment groups, hell, last week a community I think it was a nomadic commune something or another came by our town and squatted for a while. Please, make time to relax a bit while you're waiting."
All taking a seat now, Dboy began speaking in their minds. A familiar ring they all knew too well Dboy was about to speak telepathically.
"Lets not be making friends here you bastards, we need to find some supplies and clothes and get the hell out of here."
Eff glared back at the voice of misery keeping his arms crossed at the table, "Can you relax you scab? We Just got here. Shmee, Reverend, you guys are the more chatty and approachable types. See if any transients here can give us direction on where to get new stuff."
Reverend scowled at Eff, "And why can't you see to it yourself? Does Dboy have a chain tied around your ankle?"
Now staring Reverend down, Sickness sitting between them was the only thing keeping Eff from getting his hands around his neck, "My feet are literally bloody, I'd get doll face here to do it since any man gets happy seeing a pair of tits talking to them, but she's in the same boat as me since last night."
Kicking his shin under the table, Sickness growled in Effs head, "Like your ass could get me to do anything! Reverends right, why don't you go suck some dick-"
Laughing out loud breaking the telepathic connection, Shmee wrangled all 4 voices back into the loop, "Don't start here, don't start here! I'll go looking! You children behave now! Blue can get a thing or two."
Shmee ended the connection and got up from the table smirking at all of them before heading down a corridor of books.
"What's he gonna do? Jerk off in some books?" Sickness whispered in annoyance. Dboy sighed, stressed about what to make of Shmee's words. Looking down at the table before closing his eyes Dboy tried to imagine what it would feel like being buried 6 feet under.
Shmee traced his fingers alongside the spines of many books tucked into the shelves. He carried in the other arm the book he took from Cassie's desk, and tried to imagine what a girl like her would choose. He knew he was in the correct genre section for one. Romance.
He not only thought of the ways the characters Blue and Flora acted in this fantasy but also recognized the primal ways Reverend Meat came into existence. The talk he had with him and Eff in the woods. The way he even was able to get into Cassies head, no matter if it was through Todd's body. Shmee's conclusion of being next to becoming more real was enough to put it to the test.
Picking up a new book, he slid the old tale of Blue & Flora in its place on the shelf. He then looked down at his dark skin that was marred in crude stitches, & a faint hazy mist radiating off him a centimeter above. Lifting his free hand away from the books, his eyes wandered over to a nearby picture framed on the wall. A picture of an orchid with a black background, the light dimming on it just right, Shmee saw what other humans saw. He had an aquiline nose, a bald head, rounded ears that slightly stuck out, a button chin with a v-shaped jawline that framed his mandible in a way that It wasn't too strong but held up. He also saw how his brown eyes would be mistaken for a deep black but the sunlight that was coming in through the windows could make them shine better.
I guess I look quite enough. Haw!
Just as soon as shmee said it aloud in his head his eyes glanced over to a woman next to the picture. And she was staring right at him.
"Oh God he just saw me!"
The woman panicked quickly tearing her eyes away from him reading the genre signs around as if to play it off she was looking for something specific. She could feel her face flustered and her arms full of books tightened while she broke into a sweat. She decided to scurry off into the aisle over hoping the dark & handsome man didn't notice her. Going down the row she fumbled the stack she carried as she pretended to look over the books.
I'm just passing through this town. I shouldn't be even thinking about going for any guy right now! God was he so gorgeous-
"Excuse me miss." A soft voice spoke right next the woman which caused her to jolt in surprise at the man's sudden appearance. There he stood next to him smelling of campfires with stubble outlining near his shapely lips.
"O-oh, sorry you scared me!" She responded as her face blushed a bright pink.
"Haw-haw, I should be the one apologizing. I was staring at the orchid photo framed behind you. I didn't realized how bad of a look it was until you scurried off. I thought for what it's worth I should try to make it right & apologize. I'm sorry that I had frightened you back there." Shmee sold a slightly curled smile with his arms tucked behind his back while his head shyly sloped down to the side. Guessing his appearance of embarrassment paid off.
Tucking and auburn curl behind her ear, her brown eyes met his, and knew he was something quite different.
Softly giggling it all off, "It's okay! I mean we're all tired here, I'm glad I was mistaken haha! My name is Dani by the way, nice to meet you." Reaching out a hand to shake it, Dani felt the man's hand in hers. A warmth like no other, she felt the need to know more about him.
"My name is Blue. It's a pleasure to meet you." And with that, Blue slightly bent down to give a small peck on the back of Dani's hand. Blushing after just trying to calm down, she tried to quickly change the subject to feel grounded again, "S-so where are you heading in from? I don't think I ever seen you around here."
Standing up straight now, Blue leaned into the bookshelf as he started reciting his story carefully, "I came into town early this morning with four other of my friends. We like to travel on foot & planned to visit some long distance friends out in Maine to celebrate our reunion. You see, we go way back, been through a lot with each other. But what about you? Do you live around here?"
Dani in that moment she could open up to Blue, the stranger. She figured out he had a calming presence, there was something special about him and knew he was truly genuine.
"Well, not exactly. I live in my van, I've been travelling for a few months nows I lived back in Virginia actually. But been here camping with other van life people for the past 3 weeks now. I know I should get going soon but this weather has been somewhat manic." Laughing it out, Blue smiled at her showing smile lines around his charming eyes.
"Ohhh I know manic, you should meet my friends! We do need some help getting to know others around this area. I hope you find them just as free-spirited as you..." Gently, he took Dani by the hand as he began leading her out of the row of books, "...and don't we all need to stick together?"
In Dani's gut, she felt the warmth and saw it in his eyes, the sun now settling in in the cold early morning. The radiate beams settling on his skin, as his kind smile made her feel, like the first time in a long while, she could trust a person again.
Clasping her hand around his, she smile and nodded as she walked with him towards the tables.
Dboy blue eyes pierced Shmee's, "What are you doing? Trying to be another stuffed animal for some sad sack of shit again?"
"You know what, I was getting worried you weren't that bright after all Dboy. So relieved you're not an idiot after all!"
Shmee grinned ear to ear staring back an angry Dboy. Their telepathic conversation was picked up by Eff, Sickness, and Reverend all becoming aware they all needed to act human again.
After Dani's introduction to Blue's group of friends, she noticed just how... odd and out of place they were. The two brothers, especially the oldest, Vincent wasn't too friendly and kept glaring at Blue with a type of hatred that was hard to describe. It made her feel really low, but his younger brother seemed to be very interested in Dani along with his friend Roman. They kept asking her questions about her travels and everything she had experienced on the road, it seemed like they were into her adventures and Roman even suggested she should write a book. But the only girl of the group, Devi, sat with her arms crossed looking away outside the window, never bothered talking with her or the rest of the group. Dani wouldn't necessarily describe her the same as vincent, but she worried the worst for her. Was she okay? We're the group of men nice to her? Why did she look so skinny? And the bruises on her arms?
As the conversation went on with Eff and Revrend, Dani began to feel uneasy suddenly. she noticed how still Blue sat next to her staring intensly into Vincents eyes. As if they were saying things to each other without speaking. The feeling of something being wrong became almost obvious, but Dani felt as if she couldn't leave...
Just as soon as the sinking feeling in her stomach was amounting, Devi turned her pale face to Dani slowly and said, "Hey, Dani is it?"
"Y-yeah?" She responded nervously. Now seeing intense green eyes looking back at her.
"You probably have noticed we aren't dressed in our Sundays best. Do you know where we could get new clothes for free? Sleeping in the woods and the weather really has done a number on us." Devi said calmly but stern.
Secretly, Sickness was starting to feel the irritation of her new human skin against her dirty and ragged clothes, "Devi" couldn't take it anymore.
Dani nodded a yes before explaining, "There's a donation center near the van encampment where I and other people live at. The library doors are opening now, I'd be happy to take you all there." Thinking quickly, Dani knew if there was anything wrong between the dynamic of Devi and the rest of the men, she needed to find out for certain before having any piece of mind.
"I wish someone would have done the same for me." Dani thought.
Blue turned his head and smiled at Dani, "That would be lovely! My friend here could finally get a break to recover his bad attitude." He said gesturing towards Vincent.
Vincent scowled back at Blue as he got up to walk towards the main doors of the library, grumbling, "Whatever, shit head."
Sickness stood alone in Dani's RV as she got dressed. Peeking behind the blinds she saw the rest of the guys talking with Dani's friends. Sickness didn't like the silence of being alone like this and decided to poke the boys minds for a bit.
"Shmee tells us what you're up to? I don't like thinking too much while being amongst humans"
That figures, hes testing out his theory
what theory? i wasnt there to hear it
he believes he can posses any human and take a part of them to become more human, sickness. Thats good news for me and you and eff!
Uhh and how does he expect to do that? I can get it with Todd & maybe Nny and Devi but just any random human with no prior tethering?
You all are wasting your time with testing out this theory. we dont even know if its fully possible because guess what! As long as i'm around none of you will be real, were all tied togetehr this way. I'd rather die this way before beoming any realer to be a full human.
oh shut up!
We wont know until we try it out. Just let me test my theory out Dboy. and if i fail you get to reign control over the rest of this trip sound good?
Like I havent been doing that in the first place you dick!
Sickness broke off the connection. She knew the conversation was ending in insults again and could care less. Standing in a full length mirror. The coat, sweater, thermals and pants sickness layered had her look less skinny and felt more warm. Sickness touched the delicate skin on her face and studied every visible vein that pumped her very real blood. Seeing her human reflection made her hope that shmee's theory was right. If he was, Sickness would do whatever it took to do the same to be fully free.
Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door, "Hi, its Dani, is it alright if I come in Devi?"
breaking out of her trance of staring at herself in the mirror, Sickness replied, "Yeah sure, your place after all."
Dani entered the main RV room and locked both doors behind her. Sickness hearing the door lock hatched raised a brow, "Uhh what are you -"
"Oh! sorry I dont mean to scare you. you see, i just want to ask you some questions if you dont mind." Dani said while she sat down at her small dinette table as she pulled out the other chair for "Devi". Sickness walked over and sat down not knowing what to expect.
Did shmee's plan worked? IS he in her head now?
"Is everything okay?... Did my friends do anything?" Devi asked still apprehensive not knowing what to expect before Dani took her by her hand as a serious expression crossed her face.
"Now I don't want to freak you out just know youre safe here and that all the people that live in this park stop can help you too. Do you need to get away from the men in your group? I couldn't help but notice the bruises on your arms and how skinny you are. I -I just want to make sure since many women, including myself around here know what its like to be in a rough situation and we can all help you."
Sickness couldn't help it, her eyes widened as Dani talked nonsense to her and suddenly she couldn't help it and started laughing.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAH!" Devi cackled in Dani's face. Confused She didnt know how to respond.
Sickness caught her breath as she struggled to say out, "ohhhh dear! oh dear! Those idiots do no such thing. Jesus christ lady that made my day a whole lot better. No you see, my thing is I just don't eat much hard to put on weight for me. And the bruises? We've been travelling so long on foot, sleeping on hard ground, and not to mention falling down a sidecliffe during a mudslide. I just happen to show it more"
Fully composed now sickness finished, "No such thing as abuse is happening here. with the exception of Shmee, the rest of them ive know for nearly my whole life especially reverend."
Slightly relived but confused, Dani asked "whos shmee and reverend?"
Sickness realized she broke a cardinal rule. She forgot what their human names were and quickly made an excuse on the spot, "Haa... oh right they haven't told you their nicknames yet. Well we call Blue, Shmee & Roman, reverend. It's a long story and kind of a deeply personal one. So just please don't mention that to them."
Buying the excuse, Dani nodded, "Oh okay then. Yeah for sure, I wont mention that to them. And thank you for explaining but if you need anything at all at any point dont be afarid to come to me or any of my friends here."
Scratching the nape of her neck, Sickness really wondered if she is such a weak entity that some humans can twist it and think of her as getting taken advantage of by her counterparts really put a dent in the way she looked at herself. In this moment Sickness realized exactly what insecurity felt like fully, and became a part which she would like to kill off.
"I think it won't be necessary, but thanks." Sickness mumbled in response.