Breaking the Brush Men

by L. S. O'Dea

  CHAPTER 23: Glick

  As soon as the lights went out, Glick stood and stretched. “You sure you want to try the vent again today?” It was a waste of time. He’d said it again and again but Bumpers wouldn’t listen.

  “Yeah.” Bumpers stood. “It’s moving. You saw me. Last night, I almost made it to the other side.”

  “If you say so.” From what’d he’d seen, Bumpers hadn’t gotten any farther than before.

  “I don’t say so. It’s what happened.” Bumpers was pissed now.

  “Let’s just go and get this done.”

  Bumpers turned to Flea. “We’ll be back before the lights come on.”

  “Okay.” She stood. “I’m going to harvest some more eggs.”

  “Why don’t you wait. We’ll return early and I’ll go with you.”

  “That’s what you said last night.”

  “And I would’ve come back but I almost made it through to the other cage.”

  “I’m not waiting any longer.” She turned and started down the bush.

  “Wait.” Bumpers hurried after her.

  Glick sat down, stretching out on a branch. Ah, today he’d get to rest.

  Bumpers popped his head through the leaves. “Come on.”

  “What? You don’t...” By the look on Bumpers’ face, now wasn’t the time to argue with him. “Okay. I’m coming.” He followed his friend through the branches.

  “I’m gonna kill her,” muttered Bumpers.

  Flea was already digging at a new mound.

  “Flea, you should’ve waited for us.” Bumpers dropped to the ground and pushed through the leaves.

  Flea screamed as something large and almost see through dropped from the sky.

  “Flea!” Bumpers raced toward her.

  “Help. I can’t get out.” She was pushing at the fine netting that covered her body.

  “Stay still. I’m coming.”

  Glick hesitated at the edge of the bush. That net didn’t appear by itself. “Bumpers, stop. Get back here.”

  The lights came on. Topper and Stink were in the cage, dressed all in black. They must’ve snuck in when the lights went out.

  “Run! Run, Bumpers.” Glick hid in the bush. “It’s a trap.”

  “We got one.” Topper trotted toward the net.

  “Find the other one.” Scottsmoor was outside the cage, speaking through a small vent that was now open.

  “Okay. Okay.” Stink walked around, a net in his hand.

  Bumpers skidded to a halt. “Flea.” His eyes darted to her and back to the safety of the bush.

  “It’s over there.” Topper pointed at Bumpers.

  “I got it.” Stink shifted direction, net in hands and ready to throw.

  “Bumpers, run,” yelled Flea.

  “Come back.” Glick slipped behind more leaves. “Hurry!”

  Bumpers jumped, racing to the side right before the large net hit the ground.

  “Dang. Missed.” Stink trotted to the netting and bent, gathering it up. He stood between Bumpers and the bush.

  Bumpers turned and fled in the other direction.

  “Catch him. Don’t let him get away!” Scottsmoor pounded on the glass.

  Topper and Stink hurried after Bumpers.

  Glick’s eyes met Flea’s. He should help her, but then they’d be after him.

  She shook her head the best she could while weighed down by the net. She wiggled her shoulders and squirmed, but the thin cloth was too heavy. She wasn’t going to get free on her own.

  Glick wanted to help but his feet wouldn’t move. His heart raced and his legs shook but other than that his body was still.

  Bumpers stopped at the edge of their enclosure. The other Brush-Men were smashed against the glass, clicking and clacking. They wanted those Guards.

  This was his chance. No one was paying any attention to Flea. The door to the enclosure opened. Scottsmoor strode forward, carrying a large, plastic jar. The Almighty stopped inches away from Flea and bent, scooping her and the net that held her into his hands. He placed the cloth over the container and shook. She fell, hitting the bottom of the hard plastic with a plop. Her screams echoed through the cage.

  Glick couldn’t even move to cover his ears. He was frozen, useless like the bush that protected him.

  Flea whimpered as she crawled to the side of the container and managed to stand, her one arm barely attached to her body.

  “Gruntshit.” Scottsmoor put the lid on the jar, silencing her. “Did you catch the other one? This one’s damaged.”

  “Almost,” said Topper.

  Bumpers was cornered. Instead of hiding in a bush, he’d gone to the vent between the cages. His teeth were bared as he pushed on the stick with everything he had, but it wasn’t budging. It wouldn’t. The Guards moved closer. Glick tried to yell, but his voice had left him too. They were going to catch Bumpers and take him away like Flea.

  Bumpers looked up, a big grin on his face as the smaller Brush-Men on the other side began pushing on the stick, helping him.

  “Yes!” Glick’s throat opened as he fell to his knees. Bumpers had been right all along. The Brush-Men would accept them.

  “That’s it,” said Bumpers. “Push. We have to open it.”

  The metal creaked. It was moving. It was finally moving, but the Guards were too close. Topper reached for Bumpers, his large, gloved hand, blocking Glick’s view. Glick crawled forward as Bumpers darted away, breaking the stick in his haste, but the other Brush-Men didn’t stop. They grabbed the metal, pulling on it. Yellow blood dripped from their hands but they only worked harder.

  “Move out of the way.” Bumpers raced toward the vent, jumping into the opening.

  Glick’s heart hammered in his chest as Bumpers slid between the metal but Stink’s hand grabbed his foot.

  “Let me go.” Bumpers slapped at the Guard.

  A Brush-Man grabbed Bumpers’ arm.

  “Get his hand. Bite him,” yelled Bumpers.

  Another Brush-Man grabbed his other arm.

  “Hey. Ouch. Get the Guard.” Bumpers screamed as more Brush-Men latched onto his arms. Their claws digging into his flesh.

  “They got him. Nothing we can do.” Stink dropped his hold on Bumpers’ foot.

  Bumpers’ agonized cry echoed through the cage as one of his arms tore away from his body. The Brush-Man with the arm, jostled into the others in his haste to flee with his prize. Bumpers fell, free for the moment. He turned, scrambling out of the vent, but the other Brush-Men were right on him. Some tugged on his legs, other crawled over his back. A few even began heading for the opening, but Bumpers was moving fast. Fear and pain making him almost fly through the vent.

  “They’re trying to come through.” Topper stepped away from the glass, his eyes wide with terror.

  “Close the vent.” Scottsmoor hurried for the door. “Hold them off while I close the vent.”

  The two Guards began slapping at the Brush Men who were slipping through the opening. Topper used his finger to shove Bumpers into the other cage.

  “No. Let him out.” Glick tried to yell but only a whisper escaped.

  “Help me keep them in there.” Topper took off his shoe and blocked the opening.

  Bumpers scrambled to his feet and charged the vent. He elbowed a Brush-Man but there were too many. He ducked his head and ran, knocking the Brush-Men out of his way. He headed for the bushes. He’d be safe in the bushes. The others skidded to a stop as a much larger Brush-Man scooped Bumpers into his hand. Bumpers bit down on the creature’s finger but the larger Brush-Man stuck Bumpers into his mouth and chomped, biting him in half. Bumpers hadn’t even had time to scream. The Brush-Man chewed and then opened its thin mouth and tossed the rest of Bumpers inside before turning and slipping into the foilage.

  “The vent’s closed.” Scottsmoor tapped the glass.

  “Got it.” Topper moved his shoe, sliding it back on his foot. Two Brush-Men dropped to the ground. Stink stomped them, twisting his leg and b
reaking the creatures into pieces.

  CHAPTER 24: Glick

  Glick lay in the dirt, staring at the other enclosure. Everything had happened so quickly and yet, every second replayed in his mind in slow motion. Bumpers was dead. Flea was captured. He was alone.

  “Where’s the other one?” Scottsmoor asked the Guards as they left the cage.

  “Ah...He went in with the others,” said Topper.

  “He did what?” Scottsmoor’s face was flushed.

  “He slipped through the vent.” Topper glanced at Stink.

  “Araldo, help me.” Scottsmoor strode to the table. “I needed that one alive.”

  “Sorry, sir,” said the Guards.

  Glick sat up. He had to help Flea. Bumpers would want him to do that. Expect him to do it. He climbed as fast as he could to the top of the bush. He crept to the end, making sure to stay hidden by the leaves. Scottsmoor put the container on the table. Flea was in the corner, trembling.

  As soon as they left, he’d help her. But how? She was out there and he was in here. They’d spent days trying to find a crack or crevice big enough to squeeze through. His eyes drifted upward. The vent was still open, but it was so high. There were no bushes close to it and there was no way he could scale the glass. They’d tried that when Bumpers wanted to check out the top of the cage.

  “I shouldn’t bother to ask but did the little Brush-Man manage to get away from the others?” asked Scottsmoor.

  “No. He almost did, but one of the bigger ones got him,” said Topper.

  “There was nothing we could do,” muttered Stink.

  Scottsmoor leaned down, studying Flea. She was curled into a ball, her knees to her chin. She stared up at the Almighty, eyes wide with shock—either from the pain of her broken limb or the heartbreak of seeing Bumpers die. Scottsmoor shook the container, causing her to slam against the sides.

  “Stop it. You’re hurting her.” Glick jumped forward but stopped. He couldn’t let them see him.

  “That one don’t look so good.” Topper tapped on the side of Flea’s new cage.

  “It’s losing a lot of fluid.” Scottsmoor placed the container on the table.

  A large pool of yellow goo surrounded her and more dripped from her arm. She slid downward, collapsing on the bottom of the cage.

  “She needs to eat”—Glick shook the branch—“or she’s going to die.”

  “I think it’s dead,” said Stink.

  “Hmm. Doesn’t matter.” Scottsmoor pulled on a glove.

  “I thought you wanted them alive?” asked Stink.

  “One of them.”

  “Ah...” Stink looked at Topper. “You have one.”

  “Yes, but the most important thing is to discover why they didn’t die from the poison. The only way for me to do that is to examine the tissue.” Scottsmoor stared at each Guard. “There’s no tissue left of the other one, correct?”

  “No.” Stink shook his head, smirking. “That one is shit now.”

  Topper’s laugh was cut short by Scottsmoor’s stare.

  “Any more questions, or may I continue?”

  “Nope. Go ahead.” Topper punched Stink’s shoulder. “We won’t interrupt again.”

  Scottsmoor opened the container, putting the lid to the side.

  “This is your chance, Flea. Run. Get away from them.” Glick held his breath but she didn’t move.

  Scottsmoor picked her up by her leg.

  “Stop it! Put me down! Please!” She waved her good arm, but the Almighty ignored her.

  “Bring me the mounting supplies,” said Scottsmoor.

  Topper went to the cabinet and came back with a box. He placed a small square of cardboard on the table. Scottsmoor dropped Flea in the center of the board. She flipped onto her belly, trying to crawl away.

  “Faster, Flea. You have to move faster.” Glick’s hands trembled, making the branch shake.

  “Pins.” Scottsmoor held out one of his hands and picked her up with the other. She latched onto his finger with her teeth.

  “Yes!” yelled Glick. “That’s it. Fight him. Tear him up.”

  Unfortunately, her teeth must not have made it through the glove because the Almighty didn’t even flinch as he gently placed her in the center of the cardboard. Flea lay, trembling as she stared up at her captor. Scottsmoor’s other hand moved toward her slowly. Light flashed on metal.

  “Get out of there, Flea.” Glick screamed. “He’s got a pin!”

  When Scottsmoor was an inch or so away, his hand moved fast, jabbing the pin through Flea’s good arm. She screamed, kicking and squirming. Scottsmoor grabbed another pin from Topper, placing this one through her leg at the knee.

  “Stop it. Please. Stop hurting her.” Glick wanted to turn away, to hide. He also wanted to race into the other room, save her and kill them all, but he did nothing.

  Scottsmoor shoved another pin through Flea’s other leg. “Scalpel.”

  Topper handed Scottsmoor a long, thin knife.

  Glick knew what was coming. He should cover his ears, muffle the sounds of her screams and her every short, fear-filled breath but he was the only one left to hear her last words. Flea’s screams turned into whimpers but as Scottsmoor sliced through her abdomen she let out one high pitched screech and fell silent, her head dropping to the side.

  The other Brush-Men began clicking and clacking. Glick stared into his friend’s eyes as they slowly went dim.

  He had no idea how long he sat there but at some point the lights went off. He searched the darkness, making sure no one waited for him in the cage, but the Guards and Almighty had left. Flea was in pieces—some of her in vials and some spread on slides. Glick leaned over and puked but nothing came out. There was nothing left in him—no food, no hope, no reason to live.

  He was alone again just like in the egg sack and he didn’t think he could handle that silence. Not this time. Not when he knew what life should be—filled with friendship and love.

  He stared at the other cage. The Brush-Men scurried about their enclosure as if nothing had changed. This was their fault too. They could’ve helped. Together they could’ve saved Flea but instead, they’d killed Bumpers. He hated them—his own kind—as much as he hated Almightys and Guards.

  He made his way down the bush and across the cage, toward the dead Brush-Men. He’d been wrong. He wasn’t alone. He had hatred to keep him company. He’d wait and watch, hoping that someday, he’d find a way to get revenge for his friends.

  Thanks for reading Breaking the Brush Men. I hope you enjoyed the story.

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  Rage of Rattus Norvegicus

  Chimera Chronicles Volume 4

  CHAPTER 1: Rufus

  Rufus sat with his arm around Prin while their brother paced in the cage. “Sit down, Lee. You’re making her nervous.” He tightened his grip on his little sister.

  “I’m so sorry, Rufus. This is all my fault.” Prin’s big, brown eyes were filled with tears. Even sad she was beautiful with long, curly brown hair, a heart-shaped face and slender build.

  She and her twin brother, Lee
, took after their mother who was a hunting Guard. He was larger and sturdier like their father who was a protection Guard.

  “Nonsense.” Araldo, he loved her and it killed him to see her so sad and scared. She was his baby sister and he was supposed to protect her from things like this...from everything.

  “I never should’ve let Ralphis...”

  “It happens, Prin. Don’t beat yourself up over it.” If he ever got out of here, he’d beat Ralphis up for it. The cur had gotten his sister pregnant and had left.

  “You shouldn’t have run off. That’s what you shouldn’t have done.” Lee glared at his sister.

  “Shut up, Lee.” He didn’t need to deal with their bickering right now. “We’re all in trouble, big trouble and the only way we get out is together. Just like always. So, shut-up and sit down.”

  “No. You’re always taking her side but she’s right. She screwed up big time.”

  Prin buried her face in Rufus’ shoulder and sobbed.

  “Stop, it Lee. She didn’t mean—”

  “She never means to get us in trouble.”

  “No one said you had to tag along after me.” When Prin had run away from their little home in the alley, he’d gone after her. They’d ended up in the wrong part of town at the wrong time and had gotten caught up in a sweep and taken directly to the shelter.

  “I...” Lee opened and closed his mouth.

  “Sit down. It’s not that bad here.” That was a lie. This was the worst place they’d ever been and that included waiting for their execution at the shelter.

  “Those smells.” Prin sat up. “What do you think they are?”

  “I don’t know.” That was the truth.

  “They make the hair stand up on the back of my neck.” Lee sat down next to her.

  “Me too.” She took her twin’s hand. “I am sorry.”

  “I know.” Lee kissed the side of her head. “We’ll get out of this. We always do.”

  “Yep. Always.” Rufus smiled but he had a bad feeling about this place.

  “Remember when that gang of Servants had us cornered?” Lee chuckled. “That’d looked like the end but we manage to outsmart them.”