by L. S. O'Dea
“Come on.” Charlie pulled at Glick’s fingers, attempting to peel them from his clothes. “I have to go.” He tugged again, but Glick held firm. He sighed. “Promise, you’ll behave.”
Glick nodded, smiling.
“I’m going to see a friend and she’s...Well, she’s very dangerous.”
Glick’s eyes drifted to the cage of Brush-Men. He was familiar with dangerous.
Charlie’s gaze followed Glick’s. “Alone she’s more deadly than they are, but I don’t think she could kill them all.” He frowned, his brow creasing in thought. “Maybe. She’s superfast and super deadly.”
Glick wasn’t sure he wanted to see anything that could win against the Brush-Men but he definitely didn’t want to be alone.
“You’ll need to do whatever I tell you. I don’t know how she’ll act toward you.”
“I’ll listen to you. I promise,” he said as he nodded.
“I can’t believe I’m going to do this.” Charlie shook his head. “Go to the bottom of my pocket. We can’t take a chance of the cameras catching sight of you.”
Glick slid to the bottom. It was dark down here, but that was okay because Charlie’s heartbeat pulsed steady against his body. Charlie started walking. The door opened and the Guard turned, locking it behind him. Glick straightened a little, eager to take a quick peek into the unknown. This was his first trip outside of that room. He crawled upward, slowly. He shouldn’t but he may never have this chance again.
Charlie’s finger skimmed across his pocket. “Keep moving and we go back,” he whispered.
Glick sat, leaning against the Guard’s warm chest. Charlie was no fun at all.
CHAPTER 21: Glick
Glick tapped his fingers against Charlie’s chest. This was taking forever. How far away did this friend live? Another door opened and closed. This must be it. He crept upward, tensing with every swing of the Guard’s arm. He shouldn’t but he had to look. Another inch or so and he could see. He kept moving very, very slowly.
“Hey Fersia,” said Charlie.
Something big fell, making a plop sound. The next second, or maybe even faster, claws clicked across the tile. Glick stopped moving. No Guard, Almighty, Servant or Brush-Man made noises like that.
“I brought a friend today. He didn’t want to be alone.” Charlie touched his pocket. “Glassick, you can come out now. It’s safe.”
Glick wasn’t so sure about that, but he had to see. He shifted upward, just enough for his eyes to peek over the cloth. Every instinct screamed for him to get as far away from that thing as he could. It was large, black, and hairy with claws on its four legs and huge fangs protruding from its face.
“Fersia, this is Glassick. Glassick, this is Fersia.”
Glick forced himself to raise his hand and wave, his arm trembling so badly it looked like he was trying to fly. Fersia didn’t move, but her black, glassy eyes were focused on him.
Charlie reached into his pocket. “Come on, get on my hand.”
Glick hesitated. If Charlie threw him at that thing...No, Charlie was his friend. He had to trust him. He crawled onto the Guard’s hand.
“I’m going to put you over here where it’s safe.” Charlie walked across the room and gently pushed Glick onto the floor by a red line. “Don’t cross this. She can’t reach anything on this side.” He tapped the floor.
Glick hopped a few times, to get farther on the side of safety.
Charlie straightened, turning toward the monster and heading across the room. “What book do you want me to read today?”
Glick grabbed Charlie’s pants, but he couldn’t stop someone as big as the Guard. Instead, he was dragged closer and closer to the giant spider. “Stop.”
Charlie scooped him up. “You need to stay back here.” He walked to the line on the floor and put Glick down again.
“Don’t go.” Glick latched onto the Guard’s shoe.
“It’s okay.” Charlie pried Glick’s hand off his lace. “Fersia is my friend. She won’t hurt me.” He pushed Glick a little farther behind the red mark. “Stay.”
“You need to stay with me.” Glick didn’t want anything to happen to Charlie and that creature did not look friendly.
“You promised you’d listen to me.”
“That doesn’t count.” He’d made that promise before he knew how stupid his friend was going to be.
“I’ll be fine.” Charlie straightened again and walked toward the monster.
Fersia slid a notebook through the bars. It stopped when it hit the Guard’s feet.
“Where’d you get this?” asked Charlie. “Did McBrid bring it to you?”
Fersia pointed to the other side of her enclosure.
“There’s a House Servant in there,” chirped Glick. The young male was lying on a bed, his face pale and eyes shut. When he woke, he was going to be quite surprised to discover he was an offering for this monster.
“Another mate.” Charlie glanced down. “We all hate this but McBrid has to keep doing it.”
Fersia’s long, black leg stretched toward him, but Charlie didn’t even flinch. The monster tapped the book and the Guard bent, leaving his neck and body completely vulnerable. It was exactly what the creature wanted. She was going to attack and the only friend Glick had would be dead, just like Bumpers.
“Stop!” He hopped to the line but froze as Charlie straightened, notebook in hand. The monster hadn’t moved.
The Guard opened the book. “These are good drawings.” He flipped the pages. “Where did you get them? Did McBrid draw them?”
Fersia tapped the left bar.
“No. Then who?”
Fersia pointed at the Servant in the other cage.
“He drew them?”
Fersia tapped the bar to the right of her door and then her torso.
“He made them for you?” Charlie’s brown eyes were huge in his round face.
Fersia tapped the right bar again.
Charlie flipped another page or two before looking up at her. “It was nice of him to do this. Maybe, you should give him a chance.”
Fersia hissed, her large fangs clacking together. Glick didn’t think. He just ran in the opposite direction, dragging his injured leg behind him. He stopped when he was safely under the counter, cowering in the shadows.
“I know, Fersia but if you give him a chance you don’t have to be alone all the time.”
Fersia clacked her fangs again. Glick trembled but Charlie didn’t move. The Guard was even braver than Bumpers. He could be brave too. He could. He forced himself to step out of the shadows.
“I’m only suggesting you get to know him,” said Charlie.
Fersia waved her leg in the air, slapping the left bar repeatedly.
“I’m sorry, but you can’t go back, Fersia. You’ll never be a Servant again.”
One hairy leg was even with his face as it reached toward him. This time Charlie leaned away but his feet held firm. The claw on the end of her leg hovered near his cheek for one long moment and then she shifted. She brushed the bristly wire of her limb along his face and dropped her leg back to the floor.
“I know you don’t want to hear it”—Charlie’s voice was a little breathless—“but maybe you should make the best of what you have, of who you are.”
Fersia skittered to the back of her cell, her claws tapping eerily on the tile.
“I’m sorry.”
She turned away, curling into a large, black ball in the corner
Charlie walked to the cage and sat down, leaning against the bars.
“Get away from there.” Glick had been wrong. Charlie wasn’t brave. He was stupid. Turning his back on that monster was crazy, but she didn’t move.
The Guard opened the notebook. “This drawing is of the Council Building downtown. I’ve seen that place.” He looked over his shoulder at Fersia. “We weren’t supposed to be in that area because we were strays but Louis and me, we went to see the sights one day. It was pretty awesome.”
&nbs
p; Glick wanted to see that. He’d never seen anything but these rooms. This one wasn’t much different than the one he’d been in his entire life, except for the giant spider. He moved closer but stopped at the red line. She may be in a ball now, but she was fast.
Charlie flipped a page. “This is the jail.” He trailed his finger across the paper. “The Mile of Fire. I’d love to see that one day. I mean up close.” He laughed. “Not too close, of course.” He stared at the paper. “We could see it from the city but from that far away it’s only a red haze on the horizon.” He turned another page. “The forest.”
Fersia stood, wrapping her legs around the bars of the cage, and climbed, her claws silent as she made her way to the top of the enclosure.
“Charlie, look out!” Glick hopped back to the safety of the shadows but the Guard ignored him.
“I’ve seen some of the forest. I love it out there. No Almightys.” Charlie frowned. “Not a lot of food either. Well, not anything Louis or I could catch.”
The monster hung from the ceiling, creeping silently toward his friend.
“Charlie, she’s coming. Look up! She’s right above you!” Glick stumbled forward as if pulled from his hiding spot. The monster was directly over Charlie’s head and moving downward, her long, black legs only a few feet from his friend.
“You’d have no problem finding something to eat.” Charlie turned another page.
Fersia hurried down the bars and reached for the Guard.
Again, Glick didn’t think, he just ran across the floor, ignoring the pain shooting through his injured leg. He had to save his friend. This time, he wouldn’t fail, but his feet froze at the red line. He tried but he couldn’t move. It was like Flea all over again. He wanted to help, needed to help, but couldn’t.
The giant spider-monster’s leg was only inches from Charlie. She was going to grab him and eat him and there was nothing Glick could do to stop it. Fersia’s leg slipped over Charlie’s shoulder, touching the paper almost reverently.
“I know. I’d like to go there too,” said Charlie.
She wasn’t going to kill the Guard. Charlie was safe. No thanks to him. Glick dropped to the floor, wrapping his arms around the knee of his uninjured leg, while the other one stuck out straight. “I’m a coward. I don’t deserve to have friends.”
Charlie turned another page and glanced up. “What’s the matter, Glassick?”
He shook his head, trying not to cry. He should’ve died not Bumpers or Flea. They’d be better friends to Charlie.
“I think he’d like to see the pictures too.” Charlie looked over his shoulder at Fersia. “Do you promise not to hurt him?”
Fersia tapped the pole on the right of the door.
“Thanks.” Charlie faced Glick. “You can come over here. She won’t hurt you.”
Glick shook his head, his sadness replaced by terror. He didn’t actually want to die.
“I promise. You’ll be fine.” Charlie held out his hand. “Come on. You’ll like these pictures.”
Glick’s eyes darted between the monster in the cage and Charlie’s hand—his warm, safe place.
“Come on. She won’t hurt you. She promised and Fersia doesn’t break promises.”
The large spider stared at Glick, her black eyes reflecting the light and showing nothing but darkness.
“Do you want me to come and get you?”
“No.” He stood, putting most of his weight on his good leg. If Charlie realized what a coward he was, the Guard wouldn’t be his friend anymore.
“That’s it. Come on.” Charlie wiggled his fingers.
His body didn’t want to move toward danger, but he forced himself forward, one tiny hop at a time. It was a slow process and he hoped the Guard would blame it on his injuries.
“You’re doing great.” Charlie smiled.
Glick focused on his friend’s eyes and not the hard, glassy stare of Fersia. Before he knew it, he was on Charlie’s leg. He scurried forward until he was on the Guard’s lap. He glanced up at the monster above them and trembled.
“Look at the picture of the trees and forest.” Charlie tapped the paper. “No buildings. No gangs of starving strays. Only birds and plants.”
Glick couldn’t tear his eyes away from the page. It was beautiful. No walls, no cages, no glass. Just miles and miles of freedom.
The three of them must’ve sat for hours but it felt like minutes to Glick. Even when Charlie put the notepad aside and grabbed a book, Glick couldn’t stop looking at the pictures of the forest. He wanted to live there, but not alone.
The door opened and Charlie jumped, hiding the book behind him.
“Figured I’d find you here.” Louis stood in the doorway. “It’s late. You need to come to the dorms.”
“Sorry. Lost track of time.” Charlie cupped his hand over Glick, scooping the little Brush-Man up as he stood.
“What’s that?”
“A book.” Charlie held up the book as he slipped Glick into his pocket.
“I’m not talking about the book.” Louis started to walk toward his brother, but stopped, his eyes darting to Fersia. “What’s in your pocket?”
Glick didn’t need to be told to hide.
“Nothing,” said Charlie.
“I’m gonna find out. You have to leave this lab eventually.”
“It’s Glassick.” Charlie tapped his pocket. “You don’t have to hide. He saw you.”
Glick peeked from the cloth.
“Charlie...” Louis didn’t look happy. “Araldo, help us. Does McBrid know you have a Brush-Man?”
“Yeah. Kind of.” Charlie bent, sliding the books into the enclosure. “Good night, Fersia.”
“Kind of? What does that mean?” asked Louis.
The giant spider-monster climbed to the top of her cage and hung upside down.
Charlie headed toward the door. “It means that McBrid knows about the Brush-Man being out of the cage, but he doesn’t know I have Glassick with me right now.”
“And he’d better not find out.” Louis closed the door behind them. “Go put him back.”
“No. Please. I don’t want to be alone.” Glick tugged on Charlie’s shirt.
“He doesn’t want me to leave him.”
“Too bad,” said Louis. “You can’t take him to the dorms.”
“Why not?” Charlie cupped his hand over his heart, hiding Glick.
“Yeah? Why not?” chirped Glick, holding onto the Guard’s finger.
“If one of the other Guards see him—”
“They won’t. Glassick will stay in my pocket all night.” Charlie moved his hand a little. “Won’t you?”
“Yes. I promise.” He nodded.
“No,” said Louis. “Absolutely not.”
“Fine.” Charlie opened the door to the Brush-Men lab. “I’ll be right back.”
“That’s not fair.” Glick dropped into the pocket and clutched the thread that held the seam together. He wasn’t coming out without a fight.
As soon as the door closed, Charlie opened his pocket and stared down at Glick, holding his finger to his lips. “Shhh.”
Glick nodded and Charlie let go of the cloth and walked across the room.
There was the sound of a drawer opening and then Charlie said, “I need you to stay in your cage. I’ll be back early tomorrow. I promise.”
Glick grinned and patted Charlie’s chest.
Charlie pulled the pocket open and put his finger to his lips for a second before motioning for Glick to stay down.
Glick nodded. He wasn’t an idiot. He had to stay quiet and hidden. He could do that. He’d been doing it since he’d hatched.
Charlie let go of the cloth and walked across the room. He opened the door and strode into the hallway. “Happy now?”
“No,” said Louis. “I’ll be happy when you stop making friends with monsters. They’re going to kill you one day.”
“Fersia saved us.”
“That was one time, Charlie. One time.”
Charlie shrugged. “Once is enough for me.”
Glick stared into the darkness. He wasn’t a monster like Fersia. He was similar to the Brush-Men and they were monsters. They’d killed Bumpers but the Almightys had killed Flea and the Guards had fed more Servants than he could count to the Brush-Men. Okay, he was a monster, but so was everyone else.
CHAPTER 22: McBrid
McBrid sat in the cafeteria stuffing sausage and pancake into his mouth. Last night had been the first time in days that he’d gone home. His refrigerator had been empty except for rotting food. He’d been too tired to go to the store. So, he’d come in early for breakfast. The only perk in working here was the cafeteria. The professor was an amateur chef of sorts and ensured that the food was top quality.
Scottsmoor made his way across the room, tray in hand and sat across from McBrid.
“You’re here early,” he mumbled around a mouthful of food. No one ever arrived this early. Perhaps, the other scientist had spent the night.
“Some of us care about our work.” Scottsmoor spread jelly on his toast.
“We all care about our projects.” If they didn’t, they died.
“Hmm.” Scottsmoor grunted, making his disbelief clear. “Heard you were looking for me.”
“Yeah, I have some questions about the eradication.”
“Everything is in the notes.” Scottsmoor took a sip of his coffee.
“Right.” He didn’t believe that for a second.
Scottsmoor paused, his toast halfway to his mouth. “You don’t believe me?”
“Of course, I do. Just like I passed on everything I know to Parson.”
“Precisely.” Scottsmoor’s blue eyes sparkled as he took a bite of the bread. “Have you sprayed the enclosure yet?”
“No.”
“Why not? If those things hatch...You can’t let that happen. Too many of them and...” Scottsmoor’s face paled. “If they get out, we’re all dead.”
“That’s true for almost everything around here.”
“The Brush-Men are the worst.”
“Please, the Araneas would destroy the Brush-Men.”
“No.” Scottsmoor leaned forward, the hint of coffee wafting over McBrid’s face. “These produce offspring. A lot of viable offspring. They need to be destroyed. There should be safety measures fused into their genetics.”
