I didn't notice I'd fallen asleep until a bird shit on my shirt. I yelp, fall over, and immediately knew I had to put the cloak on now. Damn birds. But at the same time.. now was a good time to strike.

I walk into the citizen base. It doesn't seem as rich as ours, but we were running out of food by the second and they had twice the people as we did. The city was bustling with activity.

I was going to be as quick as possible, but basically as soon as I walk in, I step on fucking glass and it cuts my foot. Damn. Now I'm bleeding. Clearly I couldn't have been quick then. Kira would kill me right now. Who even leaves glass out anyway? I cover my eyes with the cloak, just now remembering I lost the contacts. Fucking great.

Anyway. Time to continue, I guess. Trying to ignore the pain and the shit. And also trying to give myself a tour of the somehow still fancy and sunny as hell Citizen base.

In a way, I was kinda having the time of my life here. There was so much more shit here than at the Newcomer base, and I wasn't getting touched by Kira every four seconds. One part of her that did bother me. She didn't know what "please don't touch me, I don't like it" meant.

I was walking around, stealing some food or some shit (and also in awe that they had a flower shop, last time I got flowers for Kira I literally accidentally picked up poison ivy and couldn't move my hands for a week). My foot was getting worse, but no way I was focused on that. I wasn't even close to the middle—I needed to take more things.

I walk into a nearby store. Holy shit, they have milk and eggs here? Maybe I wasn't entirely a disappointment- Kira would be pleased if I came home with milk and eggs. I should steal this. Another thing to plop into the bag.

What else should I steal. Hm... oh, those are Kira's favorite crackers. I don't really care about what I want. Kira deserves to be happy, since she's sick and better than I am. I put it in the bag, and then the bag tears. Holy shit. I am out of luck in all departments. I frantically leave and sigh.

Tears were in my eyes, but I wasn't about to let them fall. I couldn't be that much of a mistake to society. My shoe had already soaked up as much blood as it could muster, and it was now trailing. That's shitty. If I escaped, I'd have to hop on one foot. I'm probably half these citizens' size, so already slower. Is it still too late to shoot myself? I do have a gun in the smaller satchel I brought.. no. I can't allow myself to leave Kira like that. I'm so selfish.

I see a couple of people walking, talking about the shitty newcomers and how much of assholes they were to do this. Pff. If only they knew. They didn't even know we had a torture room. Speaking of- I'm 100% getting thrown in there for doing this. I may be the stupidest person alive. How am I still alive?-

I got closer to some people, and then someone said, in the most creepy and disturbing ass voice, "Who's there?"

I run. Fast, like I wasn't already bloody in the foot and had totally eaten in three days and totally hadn't given Kira all our remaining food. What? No! That was silly. That's exactly why I did it.

I whip my head around and the creepy fucker's behind me. Shit. If anyone asks, I'm Kira, not Vea. Kira, not Vea... the real Kira would literally kick me if she found out I used her name as my fake one. But she did it on a mission too. And it was my deadname, which is even worse! Yeah, payback!

The person was basically right behind me, so I veered off in the sharpest left turn I've ever done in my life and hid. I had to pretend I was a child now. Great. I fucking hate children. And I'm a horrible actor. Stupid, stupid Vea. Gemma would surely slice off my foot, although, what if I was dead before she could?

I whip out the gun but watch as the person and their tall ass friends (Pff, nerd) split up to find me. No way. Had I really fooled them? But then the person stopped. Oh that's shitty. That's so shitty.

I prepare my best 'lost, scared, bored child' voice and prepare myself to throw up about how awful it was later. Or throw up because of stress. Then again, what the hell would I throw up? I poked my rib gently as I tried to become more stealthy.

"I know you're here..."

Now what in the Reese's Peanut Butter FUCK was that?! This bitch is like that one creepy doll Kira couldn't stop showing me pictures of but shorter! Then again, there's a good chance fae were taller than I was.

I poke my head out and prepare the most gut wrenching, horrible child voice, "Awww, you got me! I just wanted to play hide and seek!"

"Well, come on out, then"

No you fucking cowboy ass bitch- I mean- of course I will! I come out, and put on some sunglasses. If I die this bitch is not seeing my ugly eyes.

"I just wanted someone to play with me..."

I internally cringed, hard, and shed a few tears from how bad it was, but honestly? It sold my act even more, so I didn't care.

"What about your parents? Where are they," fae pondered. So they were short. Well that's relieving. But it could also be my worst enemy.

"Oh no... I lost them again," I cry, disguising my yelp as a cry from the HORRIBLE pain in my foot.

"Do you know where you live? I'll bring you to them."

Yes, I live in that tree and I sing to the birds every morning. What type of ten year old knows where they live?! Then again at ten I was like 100% homeless so I wouldn't know. Had the sign that said "PLS DONAT" with the bad spelling from Kira and everything.

"I'm sure I'll find them eventually. I forgot.. I can't remember stuff like that."

That's also half truth. I hate and love being shitty with directions.

The person took a step forward and got even closer to me, and I braced myself to eventually have to kick and cry and beg to stop being touched because it felt like my skin was prickly, warm and I panicked every time someone touched me. The torture room does things to you, believe it or not! Especially when you got thrown in in the middle of the night!

"I can't just leave a kid out on the streets. It's dangerous, especially with all those attacks going on. Those newcomers won't hesitate to kill, even if you're a child."

Oh, how'd the citizens know that was the reason Gemma wanted me dead? Wait. No, it was because I was a traitor for literally being born. Damn, my bad, I lowkey wish I wasn't too, but to hear you say it is a slap to the face, lady.

"I can find my treehouse! I know where that is!"

"Then I'll escort you there," the very persistent person said (was the citizen city really that boring? did this person have nothing else to do?), "I'm well equipped to protect you on your way there. You can never be too careful."

Well doesn't that just beat all, fae motioned to a fucking hammer. I guess I am gonna die today. Welp, bye Kira, I still lowkey loved you and wanted to date you again until about two months ago.

I flinch, shit, why do I flinch so much, and say, "Alrighty!"

"You're bleeding."

Nah, Sherlock, really? I had no clue. Thank you for this groundbreaking information.

"Oh yeah, I scraped my foot while looking for a hiding place.. there's a lot of glass."

"Then I'll carry you to your house," fae said, stepping even closer to my face, which was now flustered because I did not like people being close to me and the fact that fae offered to carry me for some reason just was not happening. Even though I let everyone else carry me. Then, fae said, "Just tell me the directions."

It's a fucking tree, what damn directions? Ah yes, turn right on Cherry Blossom Sunny Apple Street? Were all citizens this stupid, or was this one just brain damaged?

"I can walk! I've been cut before," I say, "but it's that way!"

I pointed to the forest, because, well. Why wouldn't a treehouse be in the goddamn forest?

"It'll get infected.. how old are you anyway? You don't sound much younger than me.."

Kira sounded like she was 18 when she was like eight. Leave me alone- I'm trying to act here.

"I'm ten!"

"You've gone through puberty, I can tell. Stop bullshitting, who are you really."

Damn, I was that tall? Really? That's, like, the best compliment I've ever received.

"Alright fine, I'm a drug dealer who wants your money. No, silly. I'm literally ten years old. People go through puberty young. I'm one of them."

Bullshit. I started at 14 and barely finished now. The growth shit, anyway. I took medicine to stop everything else—illegally, because the government would have a fit if I was non-binary.

"A ten year old that knows about drug dealers? Are you a street kid?"

Well, I kinda literally did sell drugs when I was ten (I was homeless, okay, don't disrespect my drip).

"Yep. Name's Kira," I said, thinking one word. Payback! Then, I continued, "I am genuinely lost though."

"So you are a street kid? Funny, since you said you have parents and that you knew where your treehouse is. Plus, any street kid would know how to navigate the alleyways by now."

I mean, technically yeah, I was a street kid, before Kira and I stole a fucking office building? I'm just now realizing how much laws I've broken. Hot damn.

"The name's Kira. Now I need to clean my foot, so leave."

"As I said before, it's too dangerous for a kid like you to be alone right now."

What the fuck do you mean, a kid like me? Short? Stupid? A mistake to their parents- wait that one was personal.

"Precisely. I'm in more danger with you though and the war crimes you've probably committed with that weapon on your back therefore leave."

I literally said that acting like I didn't commit felonies for fun.

"No no no, you misunderstand. If I wanted to hurt you, you'd already be dead," fae said, "Look, we're both citizens, right? Citizens need to stick together more than ever right about now. And I'm not going to let a kid get killed by some filthy newcomers."

Aren't you the one that looks like they haven't showered in four years? Wait. No. I'm supposed to be nice. Hold on.

"Well I hate my life so I'd rather die. Existing sucks." Now when the hell did this turn into therapy?

"Look, kid, I'm not leaving you alone until I see your parents, okay? Unless you lied, in which case we have some other issues."

Well I'll gladly show you their butchered body parts. Although I was forced to eat my father's arm when I was six otherwise they would've butchered me too. I threw it up after (and I took medicine to throw all of it up) and refused to eat food again for a week and a half.

"Guess you'll leave me alone now," I said before running off. Then, I looked at my foot, "Oh sheeeee- sheep. Do I get treatment for that? Hm."

Well my stealing bag broke in a grocery store, so no, Vea! You stupid bitch! I continued to run off, feeling the pain and agony in my foot and really, really trying hard not to cry. I was retreating.. with nothing. I knew I would get severe torture room punishment for this.

"Three more days. It will be fine," I told my now growling stomach, tears still in my eyes. I couldn't even get food for my best friend. I was selfish and so, so horrible.

And boom. Just when I thought this day and mission possibly couldn't get any worse, who do I run into? The creepy doll bitch from earlier! And now I'm panicking, "Oh. Shit shit shit shit shit-"

Kids don't curse! I made a mental note to shoot myself in the leg later as punishment. I deserved it.

The bitch stepped on my foot which was practically wrenching the tears out of my eyes that I still wouldn't allow to ever fall, "Who are you really?"

"Some emo who rEALLY CUT THEIR FOOT THAT PART WAS NOT A LIE," I yelled, panicking, and accidentally slapped the bitch. Well that's just great.

The foot got ground into the wound. What the hell? The bitch wasn't just creepy but sadistic too? "You're not some idiot kid.. what is your purpose?"

My purpose is to never see the light again, shoot myself in every different place before finally letting myself die, and then be someone's family meal for a week, but I totally lie, "My purpose is to leave! I'm leaving!"

Faer grip tightened on me and I felt my skin start to heat up and prickle, which sent me into direct panic mode, which is causing me to silently sob. Just great, "I'm not letting go until you tell me why you're here. Are you a newcomer?"

"Nope. Why are you curious? I just want to leave, god damn it," I yell, my voice now squeaky from the tears but more convenient to convince.

"Oh.. y'know... it's just that this random person who I've never seen before just happened to be running away at the most convenient time. Are you even a kid?"

No, I'm a baby. I'm stupid, weak, and my parents never wanted one. Wait. No- Not in the script. I reply, "Yes, I'm a damned kid."

I'm trying to shut down the active, horrifying torture room flashbacks and wrench myself out of The Bitch's grip.

"Really? Then what're you doing being so suspicious?"

"Trying to get some damned food."

"Well, you should know that the food's being rationed ever since the damned newcomers attacked us. And you're not stealing our supplies."

Well a ration is better than begging for food from the cafeteria and being punched in the nose, have to go to the infirmary because I ended up having a nose bleed for five hours before Kira insisted and took me, and find out my nose is broken and bruised. All because I wanted some food.

"Least you get anything. It's been three days for me," I say.

"And why don't you get any?"

"Cause I'm an afterthought, duuuuh."

"Look, if you're an afterthought, you're a street kid, and if you're a street kid, you would've easily avoided this. Something ain't adding up."

Have you ever heard of being a stupid mistake? Well that's what I am. Repeat it with me slowly—Vea, or I guess I should say Kira, is a stupid mistake.

Then, fae added, "So tell me what you're doing here or I'll break your wrist."

Wicked. Even more touching. I still say, "I really just want food. Really. And while you're at it, can you smash my skull?"

Might as well try? Maybe I'll actually get killed.

"Prove it," fae said, twisting my wrist a bit more, "You look fit enough, not like some starving street kid."

"Don't always assume off looks."

"Looks like some of my friends are coming... I can tell, you're not a street kid," Fae said, "I'M OVER HERE!"

And here come the Mighty Giants. I just accepted I was caught and went limp in their arms—wait that sounds like a romantic novel. Not like that-

"Who. Are. You? You're running out of time, I'm one of the nicer ones here."

That poor bull! The poor bull is working overtime from having to shit so much!

"An FBI agent," I joked dryly.

More wrist twisting. That's just so cool, fabulous and fun, "Tick tock, time's running out.."

"Tick tock, my sanity already did."

Fae broke my wrist, "JUST TELL ME WHAT THE FUCK YOUR PURPOSE IS"

And get killed by Gemma? I wanna do it myself, thanks.

"Damn. That kinda hurt. And I for real just wanted food."

"Okay, let's assume that's true," Fae said, still not believing me, which made me want to kick fae, "Then, who are you. Because you're definitely not some innocent kid, and you definitely didn't grow up on the streets, especially not here."

Well I did sell drugs on the street so that's literally a lie but anyway.

"Mmm, confidential information! Whatcha gonna ask for next? My social security number? My phone number? My soul?"

"You're not in any position to withhold such information."

Sucks to be you, jackass, "Well that sucks, because I'm still gonna withhold it from you."

"I'll move onto your arm next, then your other wrist, your other arm, your ankles and legs. I'll leave you incapacitated and in excruciating pain until you'd have wished you told me sooner."

That sounded like a sweet ass deal.

"Sounds fun. When can we start?"

"Right now." Snapped my arm.

"Hm, didn't realize my bones were so weak," I say, now really, really scared and desperately wanting to crawl to my Kira, "Mkay, I'm sorry, can I leave now?"

"Is that some fear I sense? I'm not letting you go until you tell me who you are."

"Yeah, it is, cause you're about to kill me, it's almost like I'm afraid of that shit," I say, hoping fae'd actually take advantage of my fake fear and shoot me, "But if I tell you who I am, you'll still kill me. I can't win, can I? Nope. So just make it quick and paint my gravestone red because the normal gray's boring."

"Maybe I will. If you're someone that I would kill if I found out about who you are."

"Fine. I'm a newcomer who's about to get yelled at. And I'm about to run back to where I belong. Not the newcomer base, don't you worry! It's the sewer!"

"Thank you," fae said before releasing me, which kinda sucked because I was hoping fae'd be sadistic and slit my throat and laugh as I died, "Anyways, you're not leaving, you're coming with me."

I almost laugh. What, do they want to hold me for ransom? Nobody's coming for me. In the end, not even Kira.

"What, so you can throw me down the sewer? I can walk, let me go down the damn pipe myself."

"You think I'm just gonna let a newcomer run away scot-free? You're insane," fae said, dragging me.

Well, I was actually hoping you'd rip my limbs off but this'll have to do, I guess, "Well yeah, because I was gonna jump off a cliff after. Just throw me in an electric chair and make my death painful please."

The friends pull up and ask who I am and what the hell the psycho is doing with me, and fae introduce me as faer friend which makes me accidentally bite down on faer leg.

They're talking about how I'm a mole and need to be punished and shit. I'm wanting to be killed. I'm literally begging to die.

"Would one of you mind stuffing this mouth. I'm tired of hearing their annoying voice, and we can't have them biting their tongue off."

Ooo, wonderful idea. I start trying to bite my tongue off while they call my kind scummy and shitty people. What else is new.

"I sent myself, and I'd love a public execution."

"We're not killing you.. yet."

"Oh, that's fun! Can I make the first stab? I love being tortured! Pretty please?"

"I prefer bludgeoning, but maybe we will stick a few swords in."

I went dead quiet.

"Are they alright?"

"They're fineeee, just a little spooked. Oh, and injured."

No, I'm actually saying goodbye to my ex-girlfriend who I would've loved to go back to in my brain. I hold up my bloody foot with one of my arms, then wipe the blood on my cloak. I wanted to take a long long nap in a graveyard.

"Don't forget your little arm and wrist situation."

I tried to screw my eyes shut and tune them out, think about Kira, think about how happy she was when I spent all my savings, think about anything but this.

Eventually, they finally threw me in, talking about how they'd use me as bargain. But my eyes were starting to get sleepy, and the last thing I yelled was "DON'T TOUCH ME" before falling asleep.

I was screwed.

And that's shitty.

Main Catcher OC credits: Eyvari