The Beings

Lita looked into the murky water and found her body. She reached deep into it and pulled Rue up from the top then grabbed onto her waist. Pulling her on board, Rue's eyes were closed, which was for the better because she was caked in murky water and mud. Lita looked for a response but the witch just lay there.

The she-wolf inched closer, poking Rue's side because she was breathing harshly "Fuck!" the witch expressed, which made the she-wolf sigh in relief and Lita giggled.

Raye watched Lita move for a water bottle. "don't open your eyes or move," she chuckled while she threw water on her face, causing her to jerk in front of them.

She sat straight up. "Lita!!!" she exclaimed, wiping her eyes.

"Rue!!! don't wipe your eyes!!!" she shouted firmly before crouching down next to her with a towel and more bottles of water. 

Rue wiggled as Lita wiped her clean and Raye watched the scene with a smile on his face "My hair!!" She shouted "It's gonna go home" as she squeezed her afro between her fingers.

Raye crouched down beside her. "I got this," he announced while reaching for a bottle of water.

Raye's fingers ran through her hair, circling each coil while he twisted her hair. It was soft but not like silk, but cotton candy or wool. It was like a touching cloud, with no feel but gentle curls swirling around his finger which made him want to grip it. To actually feel it but he reframe and rather just nearly twisted while adding beads from his hair, Lita wiped her legs and arms as much as she could. 

Raye's fingers moved through her hair, and she cried out in pain. Raye shook his head, but Lita knew he was being gentle. 

Raye kept twisting the strays of her hair until she gasped again, she began to move but he held her head straight "I am not pulling that hard, you're acting as if no one has done your hair before" She was still for a moment, Raye looked at Lita and she was visible more uncomfortable.

Rue crossed her arms and pouted. "No one has," she said. "The orphanage said it was an unnecessary expense." Raye's heart ached at the thought.

Raye looked at Lita, who gave him a blank expression. He began oiling her scalp. "my mother, she used to braid my hair, filled it with beads and turquoise strings," she huffed, frustrated at Raye's rambling.

She lifted her hands defensively. "ok, prima boy, throwing your perfect family in my face. " Raye felt her eyes roll, which only made him smile.

Raye pulled her head back "I am saying is enjoy this, there will be plenty more" She rolled her eyes again which made him poke her sides, and sweet gigglings erupted from her lips, Raye finished out her twists "done" I lean down to kiss the top of her head which made them all freeze. 

Raye's eyes widened while Lita sat back on her hands with a smirk on her face, an awkward silence filled the air for a moment before Rue stood rapidly "O…k" she rubbed her pants, getting more of that stuff on her hands "Thanks for the…hair" she moved nervously "I am gonna go change" she hurrying towards the lower deck.

Raye stood, ready to follow her, but Lita grabbed his arm. "she's good" and crouched down before the fire.

Staring at the door she left through, "Did you know Rue is an orphan?" Raye asked. Lita exhaled as she stroked the fire.

Leaning back on her hands "She isn't an orphan, but she grew up in an orphanage" She shook her head while Raye joined her around the fire, which was in the middle of a curved couch "Rue is complex" she pointed to the lower deck "she has been through it but give her time, she will open up to you" Raye shook his head with a bitter smile on his face.

Lita laid down next to the fire "holding back information about Rue that I didn't know you would stoop low just so you could win. " Lita sat up rapidly. "Typical." Raye clicked his tongue. 

She smirked, "That is not my story to tell, it is hers, now that your ego is bruised, I will take some rest" She shivered before, letting her hat fall into her eyes "Oh, and burn, Rue's clothes, thanks" she shifted in her position.

…

The orange glow of the light that shone in the bathroom, Rue leaned against the sink after she had changed her clothes. With her head down, crunching up the sweater that hung loosely on her body, before crossing her arms around my waist and leaning my head down. Pushing back the memory of Raye's voice and his kiss. It wasn't sexual or needy; it didn't make Rue's stomach flip or her arousal twist; it just made the witch feel warm. Cozy, like someone, had twisted her up in a blanket and given her a hot drink. It made her want to sink into his hold.

Rue shook the memory away and replaced it with his privileged life. A mom that does your hair and a father who inspires you. What a luxury. Rue bitterly pouted before casting the thoughts and leaning forward to pick up my clothes. 

…' Don't touch those'… a voice sounded behind Rue. She turned around to find no one until the witch looked into the mirror. There stood her mother, clear as day…'I sure know how to pick them'... A smile pulled at her cheeks, parting to reveal white teeth that blended with her white locs and emotionless white glowed over her galaxy eyes. 

Rue's eyes fell on her angelic ropes and moon markings, "Mom" her mother giggled.

Opening her arms to accept the witch…'Hi, baby'... she cooed, but Rue just rolled her eyes.

Rue Crossed her arms "What are you doing here? How did you even find me?" She waves it off before picking at the witch's reflection's clothing.

Her face frowned …." I am ever present, so it wasn't finding you, even though this whole mission is an obvious set-up.".. Rue scoffed as she raised her hands in surrender …" but if it helps you bond with them, then I am happy but you gotta get a move on, bond intimately and rescue that prince or whatever"... the witch shook her head in disbelief.

Rue faced her mother, head on "There is no bonding, we are never going to bond 'intimately'" She lifted her fingers into quote marks "I am not yours to give away, you severed that right when you left me at the orphanage" her mother gave her a look of pity.

She caressed Rue's cheek, which made her involuntarily close her eyes. "your walls are crumbling, careful" her mother whispered as a knock sounded on the bathroom door. Rue turned towards it then back to her mother and found her gone. 

Rue swung the door open to find Raye, hunched over in the tiny space "I need your clothes" She turned to reach for them but he grabbed her hands, "nope" he scooped them up with a broom and scoop before disappearing upstairs. 

Rue's shaken body from the memories and appearance of her mother. She straightened her body before following the massive man to the deck. 

They floated by houses that bobbled up and down on the murky lake, where people walked about their lives. It was the most normal-looking place they have come across until Rue saw it. Massive beings stood behind trees, alongside buildings, and behind low walls. It made her heart drop. Seeing this sinister being creeping about the world, watching the children and just existing in the space. It shocked Rue to her core until they passed an open field where one lay lifeless.

Three others gathered around the corpse, head bowed and their face covered, a smaller being moved towards a fallen one. Clothed in red, she touches the grieving hands but no reaction from the mourning bunch. Rue turned to Lita but found her fast asleep on her back and Raye burning her clothes. 

Rue rushed to his side, his face tightened in disgust. "why are my clothes burning?" Rue whimpered at the floating burning pile "Aww…I liked that top" he grunted while staring at the pile.

"I will buy you a new one," he growled, which made Rue. want to attack him, but she let it out.

He moved to a curved couch and plodded on it, exhaling, "What is this place?" she looked at the figures covered in red, they had multiplied and began pushing lifeless giant corpses into the lake.

Rue intentionally sat next to Raye, snuggling into his side, his breath hitched in response "The city of the dead, that is what Lita calls it" he grunted before pointing to the massive beings "Those being fuel this world, they don't live long so they push them into the water to creature life, apparently, toxic for us but a lifeline to them" he mentioned as she nodded softly, moving deeper into his side "are you ok?" He whispered, in the softest voice.

Rue shivered. This world made her body nervous "I don't know" he frowned but before he could ask, the lake came to a stop.

Lita sat up from her slumber and gasped, stood to her feet, and stretched. "well, here we go, everyone off. " Rue watched the she-wolf as she jumped off the boat.

The sun set as we traveled through the village, which seemed normal, with people going about their days. While sinister being lounged behind walls and doors, their faces pale as day and smiles as sharp as the horizon, they didn't say much and smaller beings didn't seem to notice them. It was like they were part of the scenery. She felt a sense of sadness, and sorrow like their whole existence was to provide without receiving anything back.

The night came so fast; it was like she stepped across time. Lita grabbed Rue's hand to get her attention. The witch looked at Lita before her eyes landed on the beings. Suddenly tears fell from her eyes. The against was hunched over, holding themselves shivering in this night, shying away from Lita's light. The images made Rue sick to her stomach; they were so neglected, so fragile even though they stood higher than buildings. Rue didn't know she had paused in her track before Lita and Raye's faces appeared before me. Raye wiped her tears away while Lita held her hand, begging the witch in voiceless words to keep moving.

The world was void of sounds, not even the giants made any noise. They just stared at Rue, pleading with their eyes and shivering with their bodies. 

"Rue!!!" Lita's voice rang like a bell. "we gotta keep moving sweetheart," Raye grunted next to her in frustration.

"Let me carry her. " Lita lifted her finger at him.

With a stern face "No, we don't know what's next, we need to keep moving" Rue realized the world was falling apart again.

In a fragile voice, she didn't recognize she spoke, "Sorry, I…" Rue took a step forward and her shoes rustled against something. Rue looked down to see red poppy flowers, and she looked up to find a black sky and an eye for a moon.

"Shit!" Lita expressed, fumbling with her bag, Raye fell lump at Rue's side and Lita right after.

Rue took a step back in fright. Their body looked lifeless and her emotions were already all over the place. For the first time, she didn't know what to do and her only instinct was to run. She turned to leave, but a woman stopped her. She recognized her white locs even though her face was covered and her head bowed, her hand was raised towards Rue, a silent signal to stop, and before Rue could speak, she was hit with darkness.