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 Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:49 pm
"They don't tell anyone straight off unless you ask. A lot of people are too scared to... I know I am." Amaya then looked from Chubbs then Anjali and back again with a sigh. She really, REALLY didn't want to do this. Chubbs seemed like a REALLY nice guy... she didn't want to crush whatever hopes the lie they had given him created. But like she had noticed before, she was the only one around with changes to prove her point.
With a deep, heavy sigh, Amaya's shoulders visably slumped and she curled tighter into a ball. "Whatever they told you to get you to come here was a lie. They're just raking people in with false jobs and promises so they can make you vanish. The immunization they gave you was fake... it's actually a starter to a process that... changes you into an animal... see?" She went to raise her foot from the sand, but stopped short, burying her head in her arms and forcing it up so he could see.
Amaya just wanted to cry, but couldn't bring herself to as she curled her long, disfigured toes in front of him to show they weren't fake. "You can even pull on them and my scales. Their real. I'm turning into some kind of lizard." Her voice was muffled by her knees, but she kept from looking up. Green eyes didn't want to witness the look of dred or his reaction after realization hit.
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Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:53 pm
Anjali felt suddenly very guilty indeed about leaving it all to Amaya, and she quickly got up to lay one hand on the girl's shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. "It's true," she said, defensively, almost glaring at Chubbs, daring him to call Amaya a liar when it had obviously taken so much for her to say what she had. "Even though you can't tell with me, because I haven't reached that point yet... it's true. There are others in the village who are further along, Chubbs... you can see for yourself..." Her voice trailed off, and she merely squeezed Amaya's shoulder again.
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Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:05 pm
Chubbs listened, and listened well, and blinked. That was some joke they were telling, he knew if he looked at any time that he believed them and asked " really?", they'd laugh and points and say " fooled you".
He raised a brow, turning people into animals? but how? He looked down at the clawed feet of Amaya, it was too good, it was there, in his face. How could it be? Why didnt people stop this?
It hit him, when he spoke to Jolieete, they were really stuck here andhe joked about it. It was all too much to sink in at once, it felt so damn unreal, yet Colche and Amaya just slapped the truth in his face.
He keeped looking between the two girls, waiting, hoping now that they were joking, his face wearing disbelief. Amaya though seemed upset, she almost sounded though she would cry. And Anjali, she looked angry at him, for what?, not knowing what was going on?
He bit his lip, he didn't want people upset, it's the worse thing to see. Chubbs did what he thought was best for now, hoping that under the circumstances, it was the right thing to do.
And he got up and hugged them both.
" I'm sorry"
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Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:10 pm
Amaya's body shuddered and she wanted nothing more then to dive into Anjali and bawl her eyes out... but for now her eyes were dry, unable to get a single tear.
Then Chubbs hugged her and uttered something she had heard a lot of recently. But this time it... it was...
She face scrunched up and she hugged him back, burrying her head in his large shoulder and grasping the back of his shirt in her clawed fingers, bursting into uncontrolable tears.
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Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:13 pm
Anjali was surprised at the big man's reaction, to say the least - but she allowed the hug for a few seconds, before gracefully stepping aside and leaving it all to Amaya. The younger girl needed it far, far more than she did at this point.
"I'm sorry," she said, meaning the apology for Amaya and Chubbs both, as she hovered awkwardly nearby.
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Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:25 pm
Chubbs looked up at Anjali, seeing her move away. Maybe she didn't want it, but it's all he could do to express himself. His eyes got a bit watery, he felt a little rejected. Amaya though hugged him back and he looked down at her. She was crying and he didn't want her to, he wanted to make it all better.
He sniffed, swallowed hard, and finally took a breath. He wrapped his arms about the girl and petted her back. It still felt so unreal, but what he saw before him was, not the scales, but the tears. Chubbs' mouth openned, he wanted to speak, something that'd help, something that'd make her not cry anymore.
He took a chance, wishing his good natured humour might cheer her up a bit.
" At least ya better looking than me?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:28 pm
Through her tears she managed a smile and coughed between them, an odd form of laughing she had developed whenever she was crying. After sniffling a bit, she finally broke the hug, using the palms of her hands to wipe at her eyes. "S-Sorry... I c-cry too much." She was still trying to speak through sobs, the last bit of tears falling from her eyes.
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Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:31 pm
"You have a right to cry," Anjali said firmly to Amaya, then smiled at Chubbs. "Thank you for your kindness, sir. I hope this won't be too much of a shock." Of course it would be. How could it not? But for the sake of politeness, she could pretend.
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Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:39 pm
Chubbs, smiled, but sadly. She had laughed a bit, he was happy for that, for now he'd be here for her till he wasn't needed. He looked up at Anjali, trying his best to listen though his mind was racing. He petted Amaya's back and smiled shyly at Anjali.
" Well ... it is.... I don't think my hearts beating"
He smiled sadly again, always humour to obscure his other feelings. Thoughts kept popping in to his mind, what was this place, what was he to become, why was everyone here? He'd thought he'd ask.
" Why haven't people been told?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:41 pm
Amaya sniffled and smiled at Anjali. She was right... but crying all the time when other could hold it in still made her feel like a weakling. Ambrose had said they all have to be brave... she had to be brave. Of course that was easier said then done since she was actually scared shitless.
To Chubbs' question she shrugged. "I think the staff just likes to give us all the hard work and have to handle all the emotional drama that comes with it." She slumped, but was grateful for the comforting the large man was giving her and it helped her calm down. "I've had to tell... three people, I think."
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Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:47 pm
"And would they have gotten you here if they'd told you the truth - you can't ever leave and you'll be transformed into a beast or plant or god only knwos what else?" Anjali added, gently, then shook her head. "While I suppose it might be interesting to some people... I know I didn't come here with that intention. I assume nobody else did either."
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Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:57 pm
Chubbs slowly let go of Amaya, he felt she may not like him hanging onto her all day, but he listened to her and saddened, Still petting her back for comfort, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a twinkie in a sealed wrapper, it had survived the spill. Chubbs placed it in her hand with a small smile, twinkies made lots of things better.
" I'm sorry.. I didn't know... I didn't mean.. for ya.. to like.. do it again"
Chubbs pondered now on the fact that he was here and that he was going to change. Into what? he had seen two people with different looks. He looked up to Anjali as she spoke.
" There's a girl... um.. a kinda strange girl... no..not in looks I mean"
He couldn't help but blush thinking about the day before
" She was very happy, um... Colche I think she was"
Chubbs nodded, finding it odd he remembered a name. Then he blinked and loooked to them both
" Oh and I meant, ah.. why hasn't anyone..you know... called like police?"
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 12:02 am
The young girl blinked and looked at the twinkie, thinking the gesture really weird but sweet. Giving a small laugh, she unwrapped it and popped one side into her mouth. Her new tastebuds didn't like it very much, but she used to like twinkies and it would be rude to not eat it.
Hearing Colche's name, she perked up. "Oh, Colche?" She smiled. "She's really sweet, I think she was abused before she came here though so... she would seen kind of weird, I guess." The thought of her being sexually abused was still kind of a touchy subject, so she didn't bring it up.
As for his other question, she shrugged. Removing the twinkie once more, she spoke only what she could guess. "They might be paying people off to keep it a secret. What they're doing isn't exactly legal... and we don't have any way to contact people ourselves."
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 12:07 am
"I haven't met anyone called Colche, I'm afraid," Anjali said, shaking her head. "And... well, if anyone could find a working phone, or a radio or any means of communication... we would. But... well." She sighed, then smiled wearily at both of them.
"I'm sorry, I'm getting a bit hungry ... I'm going to head in to get some food from the cafeteria. But it was lovely meeting you, Amaya, Chubbs. My home is in number 17, please don't hesitate to visit if you'd ever like." She inclined her head graciously to them before unearthing her flip-flops and heading back to the village.
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 12:17 am
Chubbs thought about the marks he had seen on Colche and what Amaya said about her, it really did look that way.
" Yeah.. the was um, a lil pushy and a bit over friendly, .. umm she had these scars all over her ..."
Chubbs cut himself short, and stopped the motion of his hand going up and down his fron. He cheeks fired red once more and realised what he was saying. He blessed all things holy that Anjali took the attention as she said her good byes.
" Umm.. nice to meet you too... ermm, sorry bout the hug"
He bit his lower lip, hoping she heard it as she left. Then with a shy smile he turned back to Amaya
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