17 Freak Girl

Becky was new here. A recent member resided in the dormitory for just a day. As people heard the news, they hastened to its location. The little girl moved by the stream of people and covered her right wrist. She walked modesty as if someone was looking and that person would punish her if she committed any unintentional wrongdoing (which she could not know exactly which ones were wrong). Facing the TV screen, she raised her head to read the message. It wrote,

The relocation date has been scheduled on 7th August 3012. Please leave your belongings in your room and wait for the call in the main hall at 6 PM.

Notes: Bags are not permitted.

“What does ‘relocation’ mean?” The boy with red hair and a lot of facial freckles spoke. He came with a pretty girl. The two of them moved forward to the frontline. Becky saw only the girl’s back because she might not be a little child but had a petite body. Although she turned fifteen two months ago, she did not grow any taller and her size did not make her look cuter; in contrast, it attracted no friends but bullies. From school to asylum and this mysterious place, the bullies still loved to threaten her.

“Move out? But to where? Oops, sorry,” the pretty girl apologized as she accidentally elbowed Becky’s head. “Sorry, I can’t see you.”

Of course, you don’t. Becky was always invisible and she was familiar with it. The tiny girl bowed her head, “It’s alright.” Her voice sounded like a whisper. Her eyes observed the beautiful girl. Becky could see one side of her face; she had a superb adorable face. Becky bit her lips. Every girl wanted to possess that kind of face, the appearance of divinity. She did not understand why God had a slight pity for her. In place of giving her more intelligence, more beauty, or more love, God gave her the curse. He loved his children without equity. The girl in front of Becky was the example of God’s favorite children.

Most people seemed to know each other already. They grouped together. They had friends. Becky looked around. There were hundreds of people, quite a lot. She was never good at befriending people. It might be because she came from Castimonia, a district in Lone Alley State which was very renowned as an extreme conservative cultural society. A faraway land where people lived and remained the old unique tradition. The other people regarded the Castimonians as pre-historic people, without a developed mind. Becky lived there with her family of eight members and a flock of sheep. People were substantially religious including her parents. She was the freak of the village; therefore, only sheep were her true friends. Another big reason, she had the ability to make people annoy her. As a result, keeping the distance from people was the best idea.

Owing to her tininess, Becky was capable of getting out of the crowd easily. Without understanding the message on the screen, the girl specifically focused on her wrist. She tried so hard to strip off the wristband which attached to her since staying at the asylum. It was made of plastic but was too endurable. She once tried to use the knife in the cafeteria but its lack of sharpness could not cut the wristband off. Apart from her nature, Becky was too embarrassed to ask for help because when they saw the wristband, they would look at her as if she was unorthodox. It shamed her painfully.

It’s impossible to take it off. Becky gave up. I have to live with it for the rest of my life. She did not know where to head to. There were many facilities but Becky had too much fear to explore.

“Becky, you’re here?” The boy with chocolate-colored eyes blocked her way. They had met the previous day and it was not pleasant. How could this boy make his own pact within twenty-four hours? His peers were boys nearly to his age. The authority said they were the last lot. “I told my friends you came from an asylum. They want to know what kind of place you resided?”

He knew what kind of asylum she departed from. He already knew wholeheartedly. Observing his outfit, his shirt was clean and neat, contrasting with her plain white-yellow dress. Actually, it had never been her clothes but her uniform. His leather shoes had no trace of dirt while Becky wore the old green ballet flat shoes. A prep boy he was. Plutax, the name he had told her. The boy grabbed the girl’s right arm.

“No!” She resisted but he grabbed her arm so tight. Without permission, he read her name on the wristband aloud, “Becky Quinn, Mental Asylum under Castimonia Administration Office 3. Oh, guys, she’s a mental patient!”

Becky covered her face trying so hard to pull her hand back from him. Plutax loved to see Becky’s tearful cry.

“Don’t do this!”

“You’re insane.”

“She’s mad? She has a mental disorder?’

“No, she’s mad. She’s a psychotic patient.”

“It’s the same, is it? She has a mental disorder.”

“Being mad is a disease?”

“Leave her! You’re such a naughty boy.”

She saw the boy in a green sweater, taller than Plutax but not considered as tall. He was probably a few years older than them. The boy pushed Plutax away from Becky. She was quick enough to hide behind his back.

“I talk to her not you!”

“This is bully! Grow up, boy!”

That boy took her out of the scene. She watched the way his walnut hair stood firmly on the central head as he styled his hair Mohawk. He wore glasses too; they looked very old. Becky heard Plutax curse him behind their back.

Plutax was one year older than her. Sixteen of his age, they arrived at the same time. He introduced himself and narrated his long story until she almost dozed off. She thought he was nice at first and they could be good friends but as he saw her wristband, the reaction changed. He turned out to be a bully monster like those in school.

The life savior paused and turned to face her. “I’m Rami. You’re Becky, right?”

The girl shyly nodded. Seeing him closely, he was too young but there was something that made her think he was still older. Might be because of his mature look.

“You don’t have to be afraid of me. I just came here yesterday. Can you tell me what this place is for? And what does it mean on the screen?”

“I don’t know…I just came here yesterday, the same day as you, in the evening,” she replied, scared that he would be displeased because she knew nothing.

“It’s alright. Okay, so you’re the last lot. I arrived here last morning,” he said like comforting. Rami examined the wristband and tried to take it off without judging. The same result, the plastic was too sticky. However, he made her feel at ease.

“It’s so sticky…Hey! Yeah, you two, can you help us?” The boy called the redhead and the pretty girl Becky met at the front of the cafeteria. She tried to stop him but it was too late. The two seniors walked toward them. She guessed that they were around seventeen or eighteen years old. Becky lowered her head, hiding behind Rami’s back.

“Can I help you?” The redhead asked and smiled kindly and his female friend did the same until she saw her blue eyes which made her immediately shiver.

Those blue eyes were the same scary eyes in her dream. It had a dark-blue rim around the iris with deep-ocean color and dazzling light inside. That face too, though, in the dream, was blurry, but it was similar to the radiant one in real life. It was the dream that made her family put her in the asylum because Becky kept screaming at night. They said she was born with a satanic curse, impure and sinful. Because Becky’s dreams usually turned out to be true; the curse that she had never wanted it. And those blue eyes, even now they shone the warm amity, she knew they would turn into ice someday. Becky dared not to trust this older girl.

“Don’t be afraid of us. It’s alright. Do you need help?” The beautiful girl tenderly comforted. Her sound was gentle but Becky hardly relied on the sweetness, because sweetness always lures people into the trap. Therefore, the girl with the copper hair was still unmoved. Rami grabbed her arms and explained to them. They had not demonstrated any bad reaction but willingly tried to help.

“I think my friend can help you,” the beautiful girl suggested a name, Ben.

Rami, still holding her hand, took all his interest in the other girl. They followed them somewhere to see the one who could cut the wristband off. And Rami kept staring at the pretty’s back who walked ahead of them. The two seniors were chatting but did not invite the youngers to join.

“If anyone can beat Wade’s meanness, I nominate Ben,” the redhead said. “Remember? Wade verbally attacked him and he said, ‘Is there any red spot on my clothes? I’ve never worn red things. Why do you keep attacking me?’ From that day, any time Wade is upset, I see him transforming into a bull.”

The beautiful girl chortled. “I replace meanness with sarcasm. He’s very good at it.” Wade’s not his rival.”

“Ah, yes. What did you talk to him at the basketball field? I see he stopped annoying you since then.”

“Tell him the truth.”

“It’s good to see you guys never quarrel again.”

“Trust me. I’m the one who feels at ease.”

Becky and Rami kept their silence. The boy and the girl led them to the swimming pool where some people were diving in it. The girl with the blonde hair swam in her bikini but when Becky looked closer, it was her lingerie as she saw the lace on it. Becky’s eyes surveyed the others; most boys wore short pants instead of swimming pants. Only the redhead and the beautiful girl wore the casual outfit. The older girl shouted to the male brunet. As he emerged from the water, Becky saw the most striking face, the most handsome creature she had ever seen. He could beat all the stupid boys in her school. This young man possessed stunning amber eyes. His naked top body induced Becky’s eyegasm.

She started to be uneasy. These people were similar to the bully gang in her school. These types of people who god loved the most ruled the school and they were always dangerous and mean.

“Your sister, Oslo?” The one who was called Ben asked the redhead when his eyes caught her. “What can I help you, my Bambi?”

My Bambi? It was the name he called the beautiful girl. His piercing eyes gleamed on the “Bambi” girl like a wolf aiming at attacking the prey.

The ‘Bambi’ knotted her brows and hugged herself. “Stop calling me, Bambi.”

“How about Babe?”

“Just call my name.”

“Nuh.”

Becky looked at her feet when he turned his gaze to her. She dared not to look at him with her own eyes because his stare made her feel smaller. His bullying aura expanded more than the others. This one was the older and the finer version of Plutax.

“Can you take her wristband off?” The one who was called Bambi asked him.

“Exchange with? Just kidding but if you’re serious I love the exchange.”

Within an instance, he pulled her hand without gentleness. Becky felt hot to the bone as his eyes scanned the letters on the wristband. Ben looked up at her face, expressing a strange and domineering gaze that pressured her. He seemed to think something for a while. A few minutes later, the wristband fell from her arm. It had been cut with something she had no idea of. Becky hurriedly picked it up and collected it in her pocket, intending to throw it away somewhere else.

“Thank you?” The young man bent his head and stared at her with a demanding look.

“Tha…thanks.” Her voice shook.

As he took his eyes off her, she could breathe.

“Job done! Take off your clothes and jump into the pool,” he persuaded the beautiful girl wrapping his hands around her shoulders. “Bam…Alexis? Satisfied now?”

“No, thanks. And don’t do this,” she replied while wearing off his arms. The way she spoke revealed how often he had done it. Her name is Alexis.

Alexis switched her attention to talk to Becky. “Alright, there’s no problem anymore. I’m Alexis. This is Oslo and Ben. And you guys?”

Becky did not need to answer when Rami played the lead role. “I’m Rami and this is Becky.”

“Fourteen?” The man who took off the wristband asked.

“I’m not fourteen. I’m sixteen,” Rami hurriedly replied.

“No, I mean the girl.”

“Fifteen…” she whispered back.

“Ah…the second Minnie,” Ben said. She did not understand what he meant but it might be unpleasant.

Becky could see Rami seem eager to enjoy with these people as she saw his brown eyes gaze at them as if waiting for an invitation. And once they invited him, the boy accepted right away. He dragged her with him as if they were sister and brother or stayed together for a long time. The new member still feared Alexis’s blue eyes so she was stuck with her newest brother and tried not to talk to that girl. Alexis probably noticed her unintentional unfriendliness so she gave up and talked to Rami instead. The boy, who acted as her guardian, could not conceal his proud smile. She was lovely anyway; it was not strange to see Rami’s reaction when he was just a boy.

They sat near the pool. Those who were swimming in the water came to the edge. On the ground, a large-sized man and a small girl joined the group. Both wore casual outfits. He came with a small girl who made Becky feel at ease. Their names were Noel and Minnie.

The new girl examined Minnie for a long time as someone told her they were the same, but she found no similarity between them. Noel and Minnie had darker skin and ocean eyes but Becky’s hair was copper and her skin was palely fair.

“Your sister?” The blond teased Becky and Oslo. His red hair was darker than her and he had more freckles. Moreover, her eyes were dark green not brown like him.

“Two new members…why don’t we sit in a circle and introduce ourselves by names and what your status is?” Ben suggested.

It was the last thing Becky wanted to do. She expected no one would agree with him. However, nobody disagreed. They sit in a circle near the pool. The other two girls emerged from the water, toweling themselves, but the boys just sat, and let the air dry their bodies.

“Can I add more one condition? If you’re the risk, tell us what your ability is,” the blond said. Broad shoulder and hot body, he and the blonde-haired girl (who wore lace inner wears) leaned on each other. These hot blonds might be in a romantic relationship.

“Noel, you’re the first.” The amber eyes stimulated the large-boned man. The new girl muted her voice observing them.

“Ah…I’m Noel and I was sent here with my sisters declared as the Suspect...”

Becky listened to them with eagerness. The familiarity with a lot of people had never existed in her life. At school, no one allowed her to sit with them. The more years passed, fewer numbers of friends, and in the last year of her study before being sent to the asylum, she sat alone.

The girl learned that Minnie’s sister was called Tessa. A divine beauty with exquisite dark skin she was, whose physical appearance surpassed her younger sister, had shining gray eyes and a confident personality. She had a strong character that Becky felt like she closed the door of welcoming. In addition, Tessa could attack people with sound.

“She’s a banshee. Do you know Banshee?” The amber eyes made a joke but it did not sound like a joke but sarcasm. Banshee was one of many ghosts Becky feared to death every time she closed her eyes at night.

“Ben, will you get sick if no one scolds you?” Tessa’s brother asked.

“Yeah, he will,” replied the tall young man who sat next to the amber eyes.

Becky also learned that Ben was the Risk and he could manipulate objects; this was why he could destroy her wristband. Apart from his handsomeness, he had a sardonic mouth but most people rarely showed signs of frustration. Some even felt amused.

The one who sat next to Ben was named Alex and he declared that he could vibrate things and make a shockwave. Rami asked him to show it and before he could end the question, his thin body was mystically pushed out of the circle. “Okay, I won’t ask anymore,” he murmured while crawling back to his place. Everyone laughed.

The gorgeous blonde next to him told them that she could boil people from the inside.

“That’s scary. I’ve never known that” Tessa told her friend, her right hand placed on her chest. “I thought you’re a suspect.”

“She can make you hot. Why don’t ask for that?” Ben had not stopped teasing her. Some laughed but the target did not. Becky hoped they fought so the conservation would end before her turn.

“Next, the team from San Bosa,” Ben guided his hand to Alexis. He seemed to favor this one.

“Okay, I’m Alexis and I was sent here as the Suspect.”

“Why?” Rami asked.

“I’m not the Risk. This rule is not for me,” replied she.

“Yeah, I want to know too. You guys have never told us. Wade, you never tell me,” Sarah turned to her partner. He bit his lips with eyes fixing on Oslo and Alexis.

“It’s not interesting.”

“Spread it out!” Minnie urged them. “We want to know.” Regarding her abrupt gesture, Becky felt a little bit odd towards her when thinking of Ben’s suggestion. We’re not alike!

“Alright, we were in his party, Wade’s party, and a friend reported the police about the H01 case. We were arrested and convicted as the Suspect.”

“That’s bad,” Sarah massaged her man’s shoulder. “It’s similar to Noel and Minnie. How could they prove that they’re suspects? Because they’re siblings? And you? How did they reason it?”

“I have a very good memory.”

Suddenly, it was silence and then they roared laughter.

“Heehee, no, I’m not laughing but…(covering her hand) sorry. Is that the reason?” But Sarah failed to stop her bell-like laughter.

“Oslo…you?” Ben moved to the redhead with a funny smile on his face.

“Well, my calculation is fast…thinking fast.”

The laughter roared louder. Becky hugged herself close. She was the only one who did not see it amused.

“Wade? How about you? Is it because you’re fast temper-changing?”

“Shut up. It’s because of her damn gooood memory and his bloody faaast calculation.”

Becky saw Rami use his punch hitting the floor and laughed as though he was dying. Ben and Alex did not conceal their funny laughter at all. The Thomas just gave a light smile but they tried so hard not to reveal it. Except for Minnie, she just watched people with her keen eyes.

“Shut up!” Wade used his hand to bail out the water. It reminded her of an angry bear.

“Stop! Stop! It goes to my eyes.” Sarah shouted trying to stop her boyfriend.

“You guys make me feel like I’m sitting among the serial killers and I just stole my brother’s ice cream.” Alexis sighed. “Rami, please save them from dying of over-laughing.”

“Oh. Me? I was judged as the Suspect but it’s because I tried to hack the government’s system.”

The laughter died out immediately.

“Hacking? How old are you really?” Oslo gasped. At this moment, Becky sat unsettling. They had a better profile than her. If Alexis stole the ice cream, Becky was caught with the charge of trespassing on the neighbor’s lawn.

“Sixteen but I’m a senior college student in computer science.” It was evident that Rami was proud to present himself. Not strangely, all of them were keen to hear his story.

“Cool, boy. You’re cool.”

“Thanks, Ben.”

“Why did you do it?”

He adjusted his glasses. “I always wonder if the government hides something. We live in the world after the post-apocalypse, right? I understand that civilization takes time to rebuild but our environment and technology seemed out-of-date if we compare our lives and those who lived a thousand years ago. Many secret communities are sharing the real information about what really happened in the time back then. I started to access some governmental organization and as I became confident of my skill, I tried to hack the database at the Office of the President but…”

“The secret communities…how can you find them? As I remember from the book, after world war III, people suffered from hunger, a polluted environment, and diseases and the apocalypse followed. Humans nearly died out. In consequence, the civilization lost and the remaining survivors had to start from zero. Is it not true?”

“Half true,” Rami answered Alexis. “In the secret communities, people have not focused on the disaster but the survivors. Do you think who will be the survivors? Poor people? Citizens? No, the survivors must be elites, rich people, businessmen, world influencers, politicians, royal blood, and scientists; I don’t think general people survived. And if they were, here we are, living like laborers, wheel turners. The folks must perish since the first wave and World War III. Rarely of them could make it to the post-apocalypse. And it was a thousand years ago. The technology had been developed rapidly before the first wave but today technology and knowledge are a bit outdated.”

“Damn, this is how the genius thinks. I’m such an idiot college student.” Alex said. “I’ve never doubted it. What I am concerned about is only those behind the chairs. And you’re right. Look at the technology they own here!”

“Where did you find the secret society?” Alexis still paid attention to this topic.

“Some religious groups are not the religious groups. If I can go back, I will give you guys the address and we can join them together. But honestly, it takes time to buy their trust. I’m just a minor member, knowing only they exist.”

Becky wished Rami kept talking so they would forget her.

“I think we have to take time to talk about this. Rami, join our table, please.” Alexis has him a VIP ticket.

“Sure!”

“Damn, I want to go back to my room, change my clothes, and have a serious talk about this right away. Anyway, we have to end this activity properly.” Those amber eyes now turned to her. “Becky, why are you here?”

Why does everything turn out contradictory to my wish?

“I…”

“Can you speak louder?”

If Becky had some courage, she would give him a fierce look but because she was far from braveness. Instead of showing the sign of irritation, the girl tried to volume up her voice. “They call me the Suspect.”

“Why?”

“I see things.”

“Where?”

“In my dream.”

There was no need for dead air. There was only roaring laughter. Oslo and Alexis smiled timidly as if they understood how she felt but they could not stop thinking her story amusing. And when they laughed at her, the temper boiled up. And when her head turned hot, she could not stop the stream of words.

“It’s not funny! Sometimes I see things from my vision. It pops up in my head.” Stop it, Becky, stop talking. “I tell you guys the truth! I dreamed of one of my friends. I was in her body. I saw things through her eyes. She forgot to lock the door and her step-father came inside. I tried to tell her and she told me I’m mad, insane, and freak. I’m not her friend anymore. And he did…come into her room…And she blamed me I cursed her.”

The atmosphere altered at once. The laughter vanished. They did not believe what she told them. Their face expressed the sympathy she despised. The girl cried inside her heart. Why didn’t she shut her mouth? She knew what they were thinking. They thought of the wristband and began to believe that she deserved to be in that asylum and stay there forever.

“You’re a prophecy?”

“I’m not!” She howled at him, Wade. He seemed to be nasty as same as the amber eyes, even softer but still mean.

“Can you predict my future?” Tessa asked but her voice implied ridicule. Becky felt assured that what she primary thought about them was correct. These people were similar to the school gangs and if she stayed longer, they would make fun of her as Plutax had done.

“I can’t predict an event. I just see the incoming one. I don’t care if you guys don’t believe me.”

“Hey, easy—easy.” Rami shook her arms. He was the only one she felt safer with but they just knew each other about an hour ago. How could she assure that he would not turn out to be like them? But because she had no friend except him, wished he could stay.

“Becky? What are those things?” Minnie pointed her finger at the scar on her neck. “Is it bruises?”

“I noticed it for a while. Saw them under your arms too.” Ben added.

Becky stood on her feet.

“Hey. Becky. It’s nothing.”

“I’m not an idiot to sit and make these people bitching at me.”

“Oh...that’s sharp.” Someone said.

“I’m sorry. We’re sorry. We didn’t mean to make you feel that way. They laughed at me too. It’s a joke but not really a good one.” Alexis’ comfortable words did not make her feel better. She knew it was fake. Sometimes, people offered her kindness, saying ‘I understand how you feel or ‘I’m sorry’ but they didn’t. They just did not want to look bad.

“Don’t pretend. I saw you holding a gun, aiming at killing someone. Your eyes were emotionless. Your eyes were cold like ice. I saw it. Don’t pretend. You can kill people. That’s who you are.”

After a long time of muteness, the burst of laughter echoed in the room again. She thought her face was already reddened than her hair.

“Seriously?” Sarah uttered. Although her bell voice sounded perfectly ringing in her ears, the tone destroyed that beautiful sound. She first saw her as gorgeous before now the girl saw this woman as an evil queen.

“Alexis can’t be a killer.” Wade opposed.

“She will. I know you won’t believe it. I shouldn’t say it but she will. Her eyes are dead and she is determined to kill…”

“She came from the mental asylum and Castimonia,” Tessa cut off. “She talks rubbish.”

“Tess, I don’t think you don’t have to be so sharp.”

“Bro, look at how she looked at us as if we’re bad people.”

“She’s young!” Rami voiced trying to give an excuse for her but she did not want it. He made her look childish. You just want to hang out with them.

“Perhaps, it’s her power…to see the future.” Minnie’s words declared a different opinion and caused some laughs again. On the contrary, Minnie did not show any anger like Becky, not even frightened. Her eyes fixed on the other girl and smiled innocently.

“You think Alexis can kill?” Wade countered Minnie. “Tessa’s right. It’s rubbish. You don’t have to worry about that girl, Alex. I mean my friend, not you, Volcov.”

“I know who you mean!” Alex yelled back.

“Alexis, don’t take her words,” Tessa told her friend.

“Seriously, I don’t mind. I want to listen more. Who will I kill?”

Becky began to dislike Alexis more. “You really don’t want to know. You…just play along.”

“I really want to know!”

“Don’t let her attack you alone. I don’t want to be mean but if you can’t figure out a joke and don’t see it’s a joke. You judge us as if we’re bad people. Get away.”

“Tessa!” Her brother exclaimed. “She’s young. Don’t be so harsh. I’m sorry, girl.”

“Why? She can say any mean to us because she’s younger?”

Am I mean?

“I think we’re going too far.” Noel stood up and he rushed to her. The little girl backed away. “Don’t come closer.”

“Hey! Calm down. I don’t do anything. I just want you to calm yourself down.”

As she met his eyes, suddenly, her head started playing with many motion pictures. And then she saw the big man in a pool of blood. She tried to focus on the current situation but her mind defended it. It was a severe headache she occasionally suffered. “Go away!”

“Becky?”

“She’s a freak.”

“Becky?”

The girl had no idea who was talking but the pain consumed all of her body. Then many firearms thundered at her two ears. The suffering was hard to bear. It was like her head would explode. The girl screamed and everything turned dark.