Do you want a new stomach? [Open]

[Kayla]

Trust. Facing him again, she returned his fleeting glare. ”Well now, do you not ask for something right now? You do not have to voice what you want out loud to show you want something.” Her gaze softened though at the mention of letting him go. Sighing, she brought herself closer to cage and rested her forehead against the bars lightly so that it did not leave a mark when she pulled back again. ”If that is what you wanted then… yes I would. I probably would not smile sweetly, but nevertheless I would let you go.” Though she had more to add on, she did not continue talking, having hear him talk again.

She stepped back and raised her head. She listened, no expression visible on her face but the showing that she was registering his words. She did not know why exactly she looked away, but she did have a clue as to why, but she was not going to go tell him that. Even going to school her self confidence was low, no matter how much she broke out of her shell during high school- which she had graduated early with her grandparents’ ill health. But… did he say soup? She moved her right arm around her stomach again at the mention of soup. Some nice minestrone would taste so good right now. ’Darn, I should have eaten before I came here.’

She took a break now this time, not answering him again or more so right away. Though when he was talking again, she could not help but look into those green eyes, those pretty green eyes that held so much hurt and anger. She flinched at what he was saying. It must hurt so bad, her own heart felt like it was being constricted at his words. She never knew her mother or her father; she was left to be raised by her grandparents. Then a thought struck her and she studied him. ”You are out for revenge. Revenge does not work, sure you may be satisfied for a little while, but soon you will end up wanting more and more until nothing is enough. Why…” She had cut off briefly, after saying so much. ”Why can’t you just let it go and for once believe that someone views you more as just a Gifted- a slave?”

It must be hard for him to believe this, but she could get into her logic and philosophy some other time. Right now, she stopped him from talking and motioned to let her finish. ”Don’t let your mother have the satisfaction of seeing you in this miserable state.” Maybe is mother was dead, then perhaps some thought they watched over them from some higher place, but whatever, surely it might have struck somewhere and perhaps her reaction and words were not what he wanted… oh well.

[Cursico!]

How beautiful, I am more than Gifted to her. Its a date! Cursico smirked, I just hope she doesn't expect me to pay as I've never had money in my whole life. Not even tips when I worked in that bar, so many ungrateful people, I was a good server so long as I wasn't trying to shove glass bottles down their throat...
Standing, he stalked as close to the bars as he could get without touching them. "Revenge will remain sweet so long as your kind exists. After than I might as well just kill myself. My life is worthless anyway. Bad slave, bad citizen, badlife." He licked his lips, elongating his tongue to almost the length of a wolf's while he did it, "Only the thought of revenge itself makes me carry on. Otherwise I simply cannot see the point." His smirk grew into a grin, pointed teeth glistening dangerously in the light, as if they enjoyed biting as much as he did. Teeth were designed for that afterall. Cursico had no plan to kill himself even if the entire world became an empty expanse of space, but suicide was such a gorgeous subject to touch on.
Sighing and shaking his head at the same time, he decided he didn't feel like answering about his mother. Cursico couldn't be bothered to explain just what Corsica had done to him, and how much he'd love to kill her above all else. The core of why he individually was a slave. If only he could have been born with the knowledge he had now, then he could have gone elsewhere and lived 'undercover', if not peacefully.
Peacefully from my point of view of course. Everyone else will be dead. When I get out of here, I can try and track Corsica down, maybe keep her alive in my basement just for the irony of it. After five years I wonder how sympathysing she'll be, or furious.
Cursico ran his little finger up the bar to eyelevel, idily tapping beats on the metal. "Not miserable, just not human." He argued in a flat tone, his less-than-human eyes glinting with bored amusement.

[Kayla]

”And you’re the one who chooses to be bad- to view yourself as bad.” So it was blunt yes, but she was growing tired of standing and talking to Cursico if he just viewed it as nothing. Though, he was talking back to her in a more civilized conversation, so perhaps maybe it did mean something to him and not just nothing. She had to still admit though that his talking now was much better than his ‘kid-talk’ earlier. Though, he was much cuter in that state- but she would never admit that. It was hard for her to talk to others around her age or so since she was so used to taking care of her grandparents.

Though, her curiosity peaked as she heard the rhythm on the metal. Her gaze moved to his finger on the bar, studying it as those beats melded together. No matter how trivial it was still music and that was one of her loves. She smiled slightly at that, wondering perhaps if he ever had a chance to try out any musical instruments or perhaps just listened to music. Oh goodness, her thoughts were making her sound like a psychiatrist. Now her fingers itched to play those notes on her violin back at home. Sighing, she heard his words and her small smile turned into a sad one.

”What defines ‘human’, what defines ‘gifted’- humans could get tattoos of the codes on their necks as well and we would more than likely look alike.” Though, she would not get into that and how the codes on their necks would not work and why humans would want to get a tattoo like that, but she was hoping he saw the point. Suddenly feeling rather stiff, she reached her arms up above her head and stretched them, her back, and flexed her stomach. What she did not expect was her shirt riding up a bit and cool air hitting her skin. Quickly, she put her arms back down and crossed them over her torso, a sheepish smile and an ‘oops’ on her lips.

She realized then that her hunger was starting to turn into a headache. Perhaps to lighten the subject now that he seemed calmer than before, she got his attention again saying ‘hey’. ”Are you hungry? I can go out and get something to bring it back; I haven’t eaten in a while so… yeah.” She decided to leave it like that, a bit awkwardly she realized when she heard her stomach growl for food, but he might have not heard that.

Would they allow her to bring food here though and give it to him? She was human and everything so why should they care anyway? She could easily say something to change their minds about not wanting to give him the food- if he wanted anything. She suspected it would be rather rude to go out and get something for herself and not for him if she were to come back and eat and still talk to him. Maybe their meeting was coming to a close even if she did not want to leave him yet.

[Cursico!]

Right, like the bar codes are what gives us our power. He thought critically, although his mouth remained still in silent refusal to say those words. It seemed pointless when he knew what she was getting at, even if he looked very different from humans when he changed forms. Maybe someone could do an experiment on a normal human with a bar code to see just how long it took people to realise they had no isolating power.
He glanced down at her stomach when he stretched, although not out of any real interest, that is until he saw how embarassed she was about it. It was alien to him why she'd be upset about a little bit of stomach, wasn't like she was a fat fuck with a sweaty overhand. Uuugh, then it would be a problem. He shook his head to himself in exasperation, just another of those little differences, not that he was considered normal by anyones standards, not even his own.
Cursico abruptly stopped tapping as soon as she offered him food. Now that was unexpected, he couldn't even guess why she was even still around despite him being... well himself, but... Food!? He stared at her like she was insane, mouth drooping slightly before his pessimism sank back in and quickly reshut his mouth with a click.
Maybe she's looking for a way to get away from me without feeling guilty... Or she's going to come back and eat right in front of my cage. It sounds like such a typical damn human thing to do. Then again... She could be... It couldn't hurt to see if she actually brings something for me...
Sleath narrowed his eyes in suspicion, not allowing himself to believe she'd be so giving. After a while of wondering what her motives could be, he brought the words to reply "Urm... Sure, yeah... Thanks. I think." He frowned at his own words. Why should he bother? They fed him here, if not generously then at least to keep him mostly healthy. I just want to see whether or not she'll do it. Cursico reasoned to himself.

[Kayla]

’Oops’ she thought as her stomach growled yet again, a flush starting from the back of her neck and to her ears. Even though he could not hear it… there was always a possibility and it bothered her just because the sounds she thought were weird- if not funny at times. You know what- she was just making things worse for herself. Her arms remained over her torso though as she thought, waiting to see if he did anything or said anything more.

The next thing she knew, his tapping had stopped and she looked up at his hand, a brow rising at his reaction to her brining up food. She chuckled slightly as his mouth dropped a bit and then shut. What? She was not that cruel to not offer something if she was going to get something to eat. She could not help herself and grinned as her mind cheered: see, see, see! Though when his eyes narrowed, she blinked, her smile fading as she dug in her pockets, not brining a purse with her (she didn’t really carry a purse anyway).

”Uhh…” she began to say as she found her cell in her left pocket and her money in her right. Brining her right hand from her pocket, she used her left to go through it. Five fifty. Five fifty… that’s all she had? One five and two quarters- well she was never one to carry much with her anyway. She glanced back up at him after counting through her money. ”I don’t have much for something fancy, would fast-food work for you?” She felt kind of embarrassed not being able to offer him more than just fast food like those greasy hamburgers. Ugh. Though, some chicken tenders or something sounded okay.

”Any idea what you want that would be rather cheap and whatever drink you want?” It sounded like she would end up going to McDonald’s or whatever, get a burger and fries or something, and a soft drink. She looked up at him curiously, should he even have sugar? She shrugged to herself. ”I was thinking chicken tenders without fries and a soft drink. I could get a larger meal and split the chicken tenders with you. I’ll give you the drink too if you want.” Because she did not think he’d be up to sharing a drink with a human- let alone her. It would be interesting though.

[Cursico!]

Cursico cocked his head to the side, trying to work out what she was saying, considering he'd only ever eaten Fast food in those far off days when he'd lived with his mother, though he couldn't really remember what he'd eaten or what it was called, let alone prices... He blinked slowly, the chicken bit was easy enough to understand, but why were the drinks soft? Were you supposed to melt them before drinking or something? If she'd used another term he probably would have understood, but considering the most contact he'd had with types of drinks was in a bar where people went there to get drunk, not enjoy anything they put in their mouths.
I think her offer is actually genuine... I take back that she's a common human. Maybe there's a bar code under that hair? Well now, I can't say I like the other Gifted, not like it really makes any difference. Hmph. I still hate her, I still hate them all! No matter what she does it doesn't change anything, no it bloody well doesn't. They're always just trying to use me.
Cursico sighed, running the hand he had been using to tap on the bars to run through his hair, as if it would help cool his thoughts. "I hope you realise I have very little idea what you're on about." He shook his head in exasperation, "Option one is there an option one? Splitting chickens sounds messy." He knew it wouldn't be whole chickens, but he couldn't resist saying something like that. When in doubt, add a sprinkle of humour. Whole chickens did sound fun, but that was definitely not what the average citizen would want for a meal, too much blood and feathers.
Cursico dropped his hand back down to his side as his mind picked up on something. If she didn't have much money on her... she wouldn't then be able to buy him. Now that was a bitch! Made him want to turn back into a wolf and resume bashing his brains against the bars.

[Kayla]

At the tilt of his head, she stopped what she was about to say and instead returned it with her own look of confusion. Mentally, she slapped herself upside the head and groaned. Stupid Kayla, just stupid, way to go. Sighing, she placed the money back into her pocket, putting all but one quarter back. She closed her fingers around it as it rested in her palm. She was unsure what she was doing, but she held it in her palm and placed her hand by her side, looking at him.

She watched as he ran his hand through his hair. He spoke and her eyes widened. He confirmed her suspicion. Her cheeks flushed and she only laughed genuinely when he spoke about splitting chickens. ”No no, not like that... trust me.” Deciding she had to at least add something. Her grin remained as she stopped laughing. She nodded a bit before placing her hand between the bars, setting the quarter in the cage- a promise she would be back. She quickly moved back around and headed out. A call over her shoulder; ”I’ll be back.”

Stares came from the other humans as she left the building, not really phased by that anymore. She had to laugh at the fact though that she sounded like the terminator. Laughing once more, she decided to walk to the nearest fast-food place, which couldn’t be that far. She did not want to be gone for long and let him think that she left him. The whole purpose of leaving the quarter there for him was her promise to come back. Her palm though had probably left the coin warm and she bit her lip at that thought, unconsciously wiping her palm on her jeans.

She arrived to the nearest place in no time flat. She stood in line, ordered a small coke and six-piece chicken nugget/tender meal. ‘To go’ she had told the lady at the register while she packed the small order of nuggets in the bag and handed her the coke. She had already paid her five dollars and quarter, only getting a penny back which was currently in her pocket. The service counter was off to the side as she made her way over, getting napkins, ketchup packets, and two straws (just in case). She held the cardboard-like drink cup in her left hand- the bag in her right as she began to power walk back.

She entered the sad place again with food and made her way over, only slightly breathing harder than before. The place had kind of been farther away then she first thought. ”So… what I miss?” She kind of felt like to at least great him somehow other than saying ‘hey’. She moved to the place of the cage that they normally used for food- thinking it was the best way to hand the stuff over. She somehow managed to slip the drink through first before handling with the bag. She took out a straw (hiding the other one in the bag), two napkins, and managed to shift those through again. People where looking over, but she was slightly less worried by it now.

Taking the container out that held the chicken; she placed the bag on the ground next to her. Carefully, she opened the lid and smiled at the food- she was hungry after all. There could be three for them each. She placed the box near the opening, letting him choose first. Well now, could this get awkward or what? She still was not sure if giving him coke to drink with all that sugar and carbonation was good either. ’Guess we’ll just have to see.’

[Cursico!]

Cursico picked up the coin, rolling it between his fingers curiously. Why in the world were such things even worth anything? Enough of the bloody things were supposedly worth him, that didn't go down well. He watched Kayla's back retreat into the crowds, then hiding the coin behind his hand for anyone who could want to take it from him, measley as it was some people just liked to keep a distinct money difference between Master and Slave.
Why had she even left it here in the first place? "How peculiar." He murmured, tapping the edge of the coin against his teeth, resisting the urge to start chewing on it. Cursico went back to his corner, putting his back against the 'wall' and spinning the coin around on the floor. Sleath ignored the few people who tried to make contact while he was left to himself. At that moment he had no patience for anyone other than the strange woman that was making him wonder about his own views on the world. She wasn't like him, and yet... The werewolf shook his head, and murmured under his breath, "If everyone was like her..."
Cursico slouched back, wondering on a world with a bunch of Kayla's living in it. Maybe he'd be a different person then. Really? Cursico wasn't sure if he liked the idea of being someone else, he liked how he stood against slavery when so many else failed. Then again... maybe he'd be happier if he didn't get so frustrated at his position.

”So… what I miss?”

Sleath looked up, catching the spinning coin before it could drop. "Just what I've done every day for... Urm... Whatever, you get the point." He shook his head dismissively before noticing the smell of the food, immediately lifting his head so to catch it better.
He wandered up to the edge of the bars, picking up the drink, turning it around in his hand in vague curiosity while he asked Kayla: "Why'd you leave this?" He held the coin between two fingers while he was then torn between the drink and the chicken she held just behind the bars. "Ur... Thanks again." He murmured awkwardly, passing the coin across to pick up the chicken thing, holding a drink in the other hand. He studied them both for a while before deciding the food smelled too good to leave, and set about nibbling his way around the edge of it, pupils dilating like he was on drugs.

[Kayla]

Apparently while she was gone, he made use of the coin she had left behind. She smiled seeing him spinning it. Stopping it though before it dropped. She nibbled on the inside of her lip, thinking and gaze resting on the coin. Though he began talking and she glanced back up at him, letting her lip free. If you could not tell, it was a sort of habit or quirk for her. ”Yeah… I get the point.” A nod would have done it, but perhaps speaking was not bad either. When he lifted his head, she smiled, seeing that the food had caught his attention.

’Why’d you leave this?’ Huh? She blinked, looking at him a bit confused thinking he meant the drink since he seemed to be turning it around in his hand. She had ‘oh’ moment though when the coin appeared between his fingers. To be honest, there were a few known reasons. One, to promise him she would be back, two… perhaps something to entertain him while she was gone? The first one was the most leaned on purpose. In response, she just shrugged. As he went to hand it through, she shook her head. ”You keep it.” It was just a quarter to her anyway, nothing too much.

She watched as he took a piece of chicken. She giggled before taking one for herself. She ended up having to hold the piece using her lips and teeth as her phone went off (as in a couple of peeps) in her pocket. Balancing the box in her right and holding the chicken between her teeth, she wiped her left hand on her jeans and took her phone out. A text… she flipped the phone open… Her grandparents wanted her home before curfew- a reminder. Making a sound like a grunt, she put the phone back in her pocket, grabbing her chicken piece with her hand again and holding it as she chewed.

She swallowed. ”You know… you can try the drink.” Just don’t go on a sugar high, she wanted to add, but didn’t. She should have gotten a small drink for herself, but she did not have the money at the time. Oh well, she could get a drink when she went home.

((Sorry, got to go and do homework before running over town for dance.))

[Cursico!]

Cursico finished the contents of one hand, licking his fingers free of grease, then sucking them once all of it seemed to be gone, eyes half slitted in appreciation at the taste. Having the bland food that slavers deemed fit to feed their subjects made the good stuff so much better.
He jumped at the phones ring, much like someone caught in an ill deed, fingers dropping guiltily from his mouth. Aftera hint he remembered the drink in his hand, and noticed her lack of a drink. Why would she get me one but not her? He watched her curiously for a while, but couldn't see any great reward for what she was doing. Well, he couldn't just take it all... he didn't want to be beaten by a human afterall.
Taking a long draught of coke, wincing at the fizzy taste he hadn't counted on, he slipped his hand through the bar, holding it back out to Kayla, coughing from the after-fizz in the back of his mouth. "I think my brain is burning." He complained, pinching the bridge of his nose. After almost coughing it back up through his nose, Cursico decided he didn't like the dark brown 'soft-drink'. Sleath sniffed, then let carefully go of his nose, rubbing beneath it like he expected himself to get a nose bleed.
"I think I'll try acid next time." He grumbled, coin trailing between his fingers as he went back to playing with it. "So, what was the call for?" He indicated one hand at the pocket where the phone was hiding, finding he was actually curious rather than processing emotions as he saw fit.

((Ooc: My muse is fading, I can feel it. *Twitch*))

[Kayla]

Her eyes glanced over before she answered the phone, seeing him lick his fingers and stop abruptly. Yet, her eyes darted back to the phone as she put it back in her pocket. At of all the grandparents, hers knew how to text and call using their cell phone and phone even if there age was getting to them. She knew they would not live too much longer, by then though she hoped to at least be some-what successful with supporting herself. Sighing, she took another piece of chicken and nibbled on it.

Hearing the ice in the coke shift, she glanced up, seeing him take a large drink. A brow rose, waiting to see his reaction. At the coughing, she took the drink from him and offered the box in her right hand to him if he wanted another piece of chicken. By now he had two more left and she had one more… two plus one equals three! Duh. Ok, so three pieces left and half of them were his.

She laughed at his comment since she couldn’t help it. ”You’re not supposed to gulp it down, you sip it.” For a few words of advice anyway… She watched, it was almost like she was watching a child when they stopped crying with the way he was tending to his nose. Then the mention of acid… ”Acid is way worse. But I get it.” Her years with chemistry stuff and science in general paid off some, but it was not her best subject- more so English and her orchestra class.

She saw the coin again and smiled; glad he could do something with it. He asked about the call and she shrugged, offering him a chance to get another chicken piece if he decided to take it. Seeing him point to her pocket she frowned. ”This sucks.” Blunt and he probably did not know what she was talking about, but she said it anyway. She set the drink and box down, plopping herself down on the ground, legs stretched out. ”It’s so hard trying to talk to you when you’re behind bars…” she trailed off, thinking how it sounded he was in prison, she winced at the idea. ”The call was about curfew.” Perhaps it would change the subject again.

[Cursico!]

He nodded idily, having too much experience with acid to appreciate her comment on it. He self-conciously put one hand over the jigsaw piece from his shoulder, not daring to press down in fear of the pain it'd cause him. Just about the only thing that could stop him when he got worked up was for someone to press into the raw burnt flesh.
Cursico shook his head to himself, happily taking another piece of chicken and biting it in half, smiling happily. The easiest way to a wolfs heart was through its stomach... and that rule applied to Sleath. If he was a cat he could've purred.

"It’s so hard trying to talk to you when you’re behind bars…”

The happy thoughts were smothered by her comment, making the food much less satisfying. He'd almost stopped himself from thinking about his predicament, and lucky him he got himself a nice over-sized reminder. Cursico forced himself to swallow, just about ignoring her reply he'd been interested in before.
"Yeah." He murmured under his breath, talking to himself. He half-turned away, hate reboiling. "Not like there's anything I can bloody do about it. Not unless I can work out how to pick locks." He had had a phase where he had attempted to pick locks with just his nails, which he barely had anymore. Even if he could pick the lock, no one was going to let him just wander out. Cursico noticed the coin had dropped, and sat down in front of it, setting it on its side and spinning it like before.
I wonder if I can bend this thing enough to fit the lock... It must be fairly worn after it being in use for so long... Hm.

[Kayla]

Carefully, her eyes moved to when his hand moved to his shoulder. Odd, she thought before glancing at him again from her perch on the ground. Then again, perhaps she was over analyzing things. Her smile though was real as she saw his appear on his lips, a little laugh in the back of her throat. She liked this Cursico- Curry- person, better when they smiled and were not shooting out waves of anger and hate.

A wince though shot through her when she barely caught the mummer under his breath. Stupid! It was screamed at her in her head and she looked away to fiddle with the hem of her shirt. A look back up only proved to show him half-turned away. ’I just had to ruin it,’ she thought to herself, biting her lip. Time to think of something. Could she distract the owner and somehow manage to get the key or should she work out a deal with him, or would he just accept a small amount of money for Cursico because he seemed like he was not having any luck.

An almost cold sweat broke over her as she got up from her sitting position, nervous about what she was going to do. She went over to Cursico, slipping her hand through the bars and asking for the quarter, her hands starting to tremble a bit. She was after all one to get extremely nervous. A glance around and she headed over to where the presumed ‘owner’ was. Apparently it was him as she pointed over to the cage and stated talking to him. A grunt from him with an evil look and her with a smile on it later, they both were walking over to the cage- him fiddling with the key in his hands.

”Don’t screw this up.” She mouthed to him, pleading as they walked up and he unlocked the cage, and stood behind the door. She offered her hand to him, a look of pleading on her face, her fingers only slightly trembling at what she was risking and was going to do. You see, she had worked out a deal and things. She mentioned that the owner seemed to be not having any luck with him and that he probably wouldn’t get much money… ‘yadda, yadda’ and worked out a deal. Though all the details she was not willing to share.

Finally just yanking on the shirt Cursico wore, she tugged him closer to her, her mouth at his ear. ”Run.” Desperately, she tried to begin to tug him along as she sprinted off, hoping he would follow her or run with her as she fought towards the exit.

((Sorry it took so long, school work sucks. Hope this longer post kind of makes up for it though.))

[Cursico!]

He eyed her hand as she put it through the bar, and contemplated on tearing it out of the socket. It was very tempting, but there was something in her eyes that told him she didn't just want the coin so she could trot off home. Reluctantly he relinquished her coin back, and watched her walk up to some man he'd not seen before.
A newbie most certainly, anyone who knew Cursico would not simply open his cage. In fact, it hadn't been opened for so long that the rusted hinges screamed as the door swung back. Sleath gaped in blank surprise- who could really be stupid enough to do that? His teeth grew in his mouth, pressing painfully against one another.
Idiot slaver, they all deserved to die! A ripple of white ran down his body, and then a wolf pushed the slaver back with its front paws, while his teeth latched to the space between the neck and the shoulder. Cursico would have liked to make sure that the man would die, but already people were coming towards him, yelling and fighting against the fleeing buyers.
What beautiful commotion from a bit of blood. None of them seemed to consider how running was making him want to chase. Drool dripped down from between his teeth, he could catch them, they were all so feeble and slow! Cursico shook his head, No, gotta escape.
Leaving the slaver withering and spurting blood on the floor, the wolf discounted all else, he'd already wasted time making his decision and the guards were getting closer. Considering the majority were clogging the main exits, he turned to where there was less concentration and started running, glad that the amount of people meant that the guards couldn't shoot at him without risking more panic and hurting their own fickle kind.
Pushing on, Cursico bit anyone who got in his way, or shoved those that wouldn't move fast enough to the floor without a care what happened to them. The side door mostly used by employees to smoke grew in size as he got closer, and then he was out in the alleyway, blood specking his fur. The shouts behind him grew as the guards realised he was going to get away before they could reach him.
So long fuckers. Sleath thought, then fled down the alleyway, flicking through the road on the other side, managing not to get himself run over. Where was the girl? Maybe he could track her once things died down a little, but at that point he just wanted to get as far away as possible.

[Kayla]

The coin in her hand she held on to, not sure if she should bribe the slaver with it or not. It turned out that she just kept it hidden by her fingers as a sort of good-luck charm. She did not think her plan would work, but surprisingly it did. Though, she should have known he would change into his wolf form. Gripping the coin tightly, she ran towards the exits, some of the people getting out of the way or in the way, trying to stay away from Cursico. She was pushed and tripped throughout the whole way towards the open exit. It was the only other one she could go out without others recognizing her as the little devil behind the plan.

Her door opened up into another alleyway. She skidded through, but not before feeling something heavy crash onto her back and see the concrete rising up to meet her. She fell on her left shoulder, the skin being scraped off and her shoulder probably only bruised thankfully and stinging. Rough hands grabbed at her torso as the body tried to regain its balance. Screams broke through her, struggling as she began to fight the man off. A successful hit to the groin area made him fall to the ground. Taking her chance, she ran out of the alley way, biting and nibbling at her lip, tears and whimpers consuming her. Her shoulder was swelling and the area below it scraped and bleeding. She needed to get home and fast.

Her chest burned from all the sprinting and fighting, she was in for a world of hurt tomorrow. She unlocked her door, shutting it and locking it behind her as she moved to her upstairs bathroom. Hydrogen peroxide from the cabinet with gauze and medical tape and set them on the counter by her sink. She took off her ruined shirt and tossed it into the sink, her torso already sporting some brown and blue hues. She held her shoulder over the sink and kept her hair over the other shoulder. She poured out peroxide over her shoulder, whining as it fizzed and bubbled up- it hurt like hell. She did this again and again for a total of five times before toweling it off and begging to wrap it with the gauze. She tapped the edges and gathered a bag of ice from down stairs to hold over her shoulder.

She lay on her bed, her clothes filthy and her hair strewn about with no doubt some streaks of blood dried on the ends. Before she knew it she was drifting.