Arc 3 - Interlude II: Johnny and Elizabeth

(Prosinec 3, 58 / 1:32PM)

Three years ago…

Swaying with the northern wind, garlic crops bristled against one another. The rays of the sun brightening the dirt and landscape, it was soft rather than brutal. Because it was winter, it led workers and guards alike to admire the beauty. Flapping their caps, and even the ends of their jackets, they took solace in their work.

And so did one random boy.

Wearing a thin brown jacket, he sat underneath a Joshua Tree on a southern hill. His flat cap wrinkling his blonde hair, and having a fountain pen in his right hand, he drew in a journal with his left. Detailing the crops, it was all he could do … until he felt a tap.

“So you’re up here huh.”

Wearing the same attire as him, a woman with short hair strolled up from behind.

“Now wait a minute…”

Carrying a rifle like it was an axe, she had it burden her right shoulder. Cocking her head, she peered into the journal for a few seconds, and then giggled. Not in a cute manner, but in a way that was insulting.

“Hahahaha, for a kid you suck at drawing.”

“I could get better.”

“Awwww, no reaction? Did your little feelings get hurt?”

“Why are you here? If my father needs me for something, tell him I’m up here on this hill.”

Controlling her crackles, she exhaled softly, and then lowered her sniper to the ground. Grappling the barrel with her hand, and the butt pressed on the ground, she used her other hand to dig deep into her pocket.

Pulling out a simple note, she straightened her back.

“Here. Your daddy wants me to deliver this to you. Think of this as a chore.”

Snatching the note from her hand, he didn’t have to lean his face in. Reading it without any squinting, he nodded, before handing the note back.

“He wants me to get an indentured servant?”

“In the most rundown orphanage you can find. More hush hush, know what I mean?”

Bringing the note back into her pocket, she looked over at the ranch bustling with wind. Smelling the parched air, letting it throttle her throat and lungs, not a lick of sweat rippled her face.

While Johnny rose from the ground, as dead grass stuck to his pants like glue.

“So where would I find a run down orphanage?”

“Anywhere in the wetlands. I think any orphanage would be willing to give out any kid to us. We have money.”

“Guess Culkia would be the easiest one to search.”

The wind began to grow heavy, leaving the bottom of his hair to ripple.

He had his right hand carry his journal and pen. Turning his eyes down the hill, he noticed an automobile already parked and ready. Walking down, the dead grass brushed and tickled, while the female guard followed suit.

‘Why does Dad make me go on so many errands? It’s going to take me 7 hours just to reach the city.’

Once he reached the bottom, he opened the driver side door without care. Slamming it shut, he turned on the ignition, as thick plumes of smoke exhausted from their rear. Hearing the automobile roar to life, the female guard already settled down on the passenger seat.

‘And I have to go with her out of all the people…’

Hunching his back, he stepped foot on the gas. Feeling her arm extending out, he had it wrapped around his neck, as the two of them drove East.

________________________________________________________________________

(Prosinec 4, 58 / 9:10AM)

Cries shook the walls.

No light was shone, as candlelight gave them the smallest of humanity. Beds riddled with fleas, cockroaches claiming the ground, the cell bars were densely rusted.

Keeping his hands in his pockets, Johnny walked through the hallway. Ignoring their cries, each orphan all had different characteristics. Whether it was the shape of their ears, or the fur they were born with …

‘It stinks down here, and the place looks like a prison. How can such a place be run like this?’

“Welcome you two”

Both Johnny and the female guard stopped, once a scrawny man appeared in front of him. Being a meter away, he had a bushy beard encompassing his chin. Wearing black cowboy boots, with spikes attached to the rear ends, the metal jingled with every step.

Extending his hand out, he shook Johnny’s hand with a firm grip.

“It’s an honor to meet you.”

“My father wants a beast-human to adopt. He wants to promote—”

“I know the real reason. I wasn’t born yesterday, son. Quick, follow me.”

Placing his hands on his lower back, he used his left to grapple his right wrist. Turning around, and using the soles of his heels, he nudged them forward to walk along.

“Let me tell you just how lucky you are. A Zirardge buying something from me…”

“How bad is your guys’ budget? These kids don’t look clean.”

“We’ve been struggling with money lately. Can’t afford no fancy beds or pillows. Heck, we barely have enough money to feed them three meals a day.”

Most of the kids gripped the bars with intensity. Some of them hiding in the dark, a majority of them tried to shake the hinges from their cells. Staring at the director’s head, Johnny was by all means unbothered.

Even when the stench engraved into his memory. Glancing at the director’s wrist … he took note of a watch plastered in gold.

“But in my opinion, there’s one girl suited for your family’s needs. She’s feisty, she’s strong, and she’s great with her claws. With a little bit of training, she could be molded into the perfect servant.”

And with a small stream of mucus running down his nose, the director brought out a handkerchief from his pocket. Using it to wipe away the snot, he cleared his throat, before putting it back into his suit.

Reaching the farthest cell, the three of them laid eyes on a single cat-girl. Wearing an oversized shirt, many holes were rippled from its sides. Looking like it trickled her knees, her feet looked to be burned black.

“Be warned though. She hasn’t stepped out of her cell in over a month.”

“And why is that?”

“She attacked one of our guards … and it got ugly. She’s lucky we didn’t report her to the judicial system. Otherwise, she would’ve been in a cell far worse than this.”

She had her eyes on the director’s neck.

Despite feeling her deathly glare, he pulled out a jingle of keys from his holster. Pushing one of them into the keyhole, the door opened wide, but he kept his body away from the cell.

“You may enter.”

Bowing down, a trickle of sweat swept from his nose.

Having his pants in his pockets still, Johnny was the first to walk in. With the guard behind him, he looked up at the girl top to bottom, while no smile dawned on his lips. In fact, his nonchalant nature made every follicle of hair rise. Growling, her fingers dug deep into the fabric of the mattress.

“We’re not going to hurt you.”

Pulling out both of his hands, he slowed his walk. Treading the ground, he wasn’t alarmed. In fact, he didn’t heed to her aggressive defense.

“Words ain’t going to stop her boy. She’s aiming at your neck.”

“Does it look like I care?”

No sweat was seen on his face, as if he didn’t care. If he were to die, who would care? Throughout his life, nobody dared show him respect or love, and that mentality alone brought him near.

“Hey … easy … listen.”

Knowing she wouldn’t budge, he stuffed his right hand into his pocket, and pulled out a box of raisins. Extending it outward, her whole defense crumbled like a tower, once he saw her claws trail down.

“I’ll give you this if you promise to come.”

Snatching the box from his hand, she ripped the top of it apart. Sniffling the edge, she raised it toward her lips, and dumped clump-up balls into her mouth. Like she was chewing gum, the dried fruit wallowed and marinated in her gums.

Once she swallowed them, she dropped the box to the floor. Looking at the teenage boy, she noticed he had a furrowed brow.

“Never thought you’d be that hungry.”

Extending out his hand, her heart beat rose at his pale fingers. Spikes ears, scrunched up cheeks, her claws shook the more she saw … the more she—

—It was like silk.—

Like a warm blanket was patting her hair, his unworked palm tapped her head. His eyes still unchanged, her whole body slowly relaxed.

“Careful with beast-humans, boy. Give it some love and attention, and they’ll cling onto you like a pet.”

“I don’t care. As long as she’s fed and bathed, I’ll keep an eye on her.”

Pulling back his hand, he turned toward the director who stalled near the door. Looking like he was still gleaming in sweat, he cleared his throat and straightened his back.

“So paperwork won’t be needed I presume?”

“No ink whatsoever. Like we stated, we want to be discreet.” Said the female guard.

“Then by all means. Don’t matter what you do to her, as long as you get her out of here.”

The three of them walking out, Johnny grabbed the girl’s hand gently, and made her follow him. Feeling dirt prickle his palms, he glanced in back, and noticed her stare being downcasted to the floor. Her bare feet smacking the ground, the smell she held molested his nostrils.

Ignoring the rest of the other beast-human kids, he gulped.

‘Hope Vivy doesn’t do anything. Unlike me, she’s far more cruel when it comes to new guests.’

Once they noticed a flight of stairs, the three of them didn’t look back. Hearing the old groans of each step, he couldn’t inhale a single ounce of rotten cheese air. That was, until he stopped right in front of a wooden door.

Gripping the handle, he turned to her once again.

“Tell me your name.”

She tightened the grip on his hand. Her nails as yellow as chicken feed, one or two fleas called her fur home. Keeping her head looked down, her crackled lips formed the words she held.

“It’s Elizabeth…”

Pushing down the handle of the door, he opened it wide, and made her follow his path.

And in the hallway, rays of the morning sun glistened her brown fur. Like she was submerged in the warmest of blankets, all of her body tried to capture the heat. Feeling his hand, feeling his fingers graze her knuckles, it was a warmth she had once lost.

“Sorry if what I say may offend you, but there’s no way you could be that smelly. Before we head back to our ranch, I’m going to bathe you top to bottom.”

Giving him a slow nod, it was filled with … shyness. Letting him lead, her bare feet continued to smack the wooden paneling, while her throat relaxed. Which contorted her to purr.

“And oh yeah; welcome to your new life.”

________________________________________________________________________

(Prosinec 6, 58 / 3:02PM)

A fresh skirt replaced her worn white cloth.

Black wedges softening her soles, the edges clacked the marbled floor. Her hair and fur ridden from ticks and fleas, and her teeth now naturally yellowish white, some say she smelled like a flower after a rainstorm. Being the only one to walk the halls, she kept her head down; always.

“Hm?”

From the wooden staircase, she heard muffled voices. Loud, bold, she knew what type of men they were.

Her breath caught in her throat, she turned to her right, and thrust her hand toward the handle. Opening the door, she pushed herself in without warning, and closed it quickly. Her claws scraping the surface of the wood, their voices turned from muffled to full of words.

“So about that indentured servant…”

Their voices boomed through the hallway. Even when she was enclosed in some closet, her ears perked at the conversation the men had.

“You mean Johnny’s pet? What about her?”

“She’s always close to him, always clinging to him like some little kid. What do you think Billie-Jo?”

“I bet the kid doesn’t give two shits about her.”

“Never know. Freaks are attracted to one another.”

Their conversation being muffled once more, their footsteps thumped the wooden floor. Having her left hand to her side, her right grabbed the handle, and kept it tight with deep fingers. Opening the door, and walking through the hall, she blew air through her nostrils.

‘I’m not a pet … I just want him to notice me more…’

Turning her eyes toward the stairs, she began her walk up. Her wedges creaking the floor, step by step, she felt the wood crinkle. Her hands close to her body, the evening sun couldn’t flourish her brown fur.

Losing count on her steps, she noticed she reached the third floor. Her whole body slugged in exhaustion, she was about to—

“Gah!”

Busting out of a door, a teenage boy tumbled onto the floor. Landing on his backside, he scrunched up his cheeks, and hissed air through his lips.

Coming out from the door, a girl older than him stomped toward him. Having turquoise-colored hair, and wearing a black skirt dress, the top of her head encapsulated a golden star headband.

Using her left hand, she grabbed Johnny’s collar. Pulling him so he was facing her, veins flourished her forehead down to her cheeks.

“I told you to eat that damn banana!”

“And I told you that I’m not! I don’t even like bananas!”

“F-Fucking pussy!”

Both of her heels gripping the marble, Elizabeth’s hands quivered and shook. Taking a step back, she saw the girl drag the boy back into the room. At this point, he looked like he didn’t care for anything. Elizabeth saw this, and she pushed her fingers into her palms.

‘He saved me from that cell … he was the one who took my hand…’

Pushing her feet forward, she growled subtly, not angrily. Her whiskers and ears sprinkling up, her footsteps thumped the very wood beneath her.

‘I have to help him.’

Reaching the doorway, she stood right in between the hallway and room. Smelling the cigarette smoke and alcohol, it wrinkled her nose, and fluctuated her lungs. Wanting to cough, wanting to gag, she stood with a straightened back.

As the turquoise-haired girl pinned Johnny down, her knee hammered on his chest. Gritting his teeth together, his hands held up her wrist, her strength doubled than his. And the object she carried … it looked to be nothing more than a banana, one that glittered white.

“If you won’t let me stuff this down your throat, I’ll stuff it up your—”

Sensing someone was staring at her, she noticed Elizabeth’s presence near the door. Johnny also turned around to see her, his eyes widened rather than exhausted. Loosening her strength, so did he.

“You ain’t supposed to be here. If you’re looking for catnip, there should be some near the outhouse, so beat it.”

“W-What are you doing to him…”

“I told you to beat it you piss-boxer!”

Her head tilted down, and her body encapsulating the rays of the sun, all of her nails pushed out claws. Controlling her breath, the air of sin and vice couldn’t worsen her lungs.

Pulling her knee back, and getting up from the ground, Vivy felt a line of sweat run down her temple. Hearing her hiss silently, pins and needles grew on the tips of her fingers.

“G-G-Get away from m-me!”

Pressing her back against the wall, her right hand held the crystal banana. Continuing her menacing walk, she couldn’t breathe well, and she couldn’t dodge or leap away from—

She snatched it away. With a single swipe, Elizabeth got the banana that Vivy had. Twirling her body around, she stared at Johnny with sunken eyes.

“W-What are you…”

Sprawling himself on his chest and stomach, he groaned at the sight before him. Having his left hand clutch his chest, he felt the pain that swelled deep into his skin. As if someone used a pan against him, he tried to get up…

But he crawled instead.

“D-Don’t … you’ll be …”

“Don’t you think about eating that banana! Are you going to strip away my brother’s future usefulness!? All because you act like some pet!?”

Bringing the fruit toward her mouth, she began to peel it off piece by piece. Staring at Johnny, seeing his face filled with quivering shock, she licked her lips…

—And gulped the banana in a single bite.—

Letting the gushy fruit melt in her gums, the flavor stuck to her teeth. Using her tongue as a washing machine, it didn’t take long before she swallowed it whole. Without turning to Vivy, the turquoise-haired girl hissed out through crinkled lips.

“You ate it … you went through with it … you vile piece of—”

Someone gripped her ankle. His chest and stomach lying on the floor, he huffed and breathed through exasperated nostrils. As Vivy looked down on him, she pulled back her boot.

“What now?”

“Whatever punishment you deliver… let me take it. She doesn’t deserve it…”

From his shoulders, two hands gripped them with digging fingers. Pulling him off from the floor, it was clear who helped him, while he adjusted his boots with the wood.

‘W-What is she…’

Glancing to his left, Johnny noticed Elizabeth’s glare. His breath stuck in his throat, everything froze for him. Like he ingested an entire can of red hot soup, something in him awakened. Feeling warmth, a sense of comfort he never once felt … he glistened his cheeks red.

“Disgusting.”

Crinkling her cheeks in disgust, she stomped her way out the room. Bumping Elizabeth’s shoulder on purpose, she didn’t look back, as imaginary steam hissed from her body. Her grip on him only tightening, a purr reverberated her body.

“You can let go now. She’s gone.”

“No.”

“What?”

“I said no.”

A low groan swept his throat, his vocals rumbling against one another. Having his lips closed off, and letting himself submit to her grip, he stared down at the banana peel she had dropped.

And looking up at the ceiling, the white paint burned itself into his irises. Inhaling the stale air, as cigarette smoke and booze clogged his lungs, he exhaled dryly.

‘Well … at least this feels nice…’

________________________________________________________________________

(Prosinec 7, 58 / 4:48PM)

“Now make an oath.”

Tapping her foot on the floor, she had her palms crested on her hips. She saw Johnny scratch the back of his head, unable to make direct eye contact. He had his attention on the ground, his voice trembling with each syllable.

“I-I, Johnny Zirardge, will be the version that my father failed to be.”

“And?”

“And to dub you … my protector.”

Sweat ran down his temples. Dropping his hand from his head, he laid it near his thigh.

Elizabeth breathed in through largened nostrils, taking in the fresh air of their own room. Still having her hands to her hips, and her stern face facing his nervous one, she finally smiled.

“So don’t you worry! I’ll protect you from anyone! I mean anyone!”

“A girl younger than me being my bodyguard? I don’t know how I feel about that.”

Holding both of his hands, she used her thumbs to rub his knuckles. Smooth, clean, no wrinkles or dirt were latched on his skin. Having soft hands, while hers were roughed, she continued to smile with a sparkling face.

“I ate that banana, so it’s obvious that I’m stronger than you.”

“You just gained a blessing. No biggie.”

“But that’s not all.”

Pulling him close, all of her chest and stomach were pressed on his. Her face leaning on his neck, the body heat between them doubled. Forcing him to wrap his arms around her, a soft purr trembled her body.

“You’re all that I have…”

Johnny glanced at the window to the right of him.

Seeing the sun settling on the horizon, its rays weren’t all harming. The season being winter, its soft light fluttered his face, making his eyes brim like a slow burning fire. He kept a hold of his emotions, ones he hadn’t felt in such a long time.

“It’s beauti—”

He grunted, as all the air in his body was pushed out. Through his mouth and nose, he almost stumbled back, as she gave him the greatest of bear hugs.

“Girk … you’re squeezing me.”

“I’m not letting go.”

“But can you loosen down the strength please?”

“Sighs … fine.”

Once she loosened her grip, while keeping her arms still, a sudden thought came to mind.

Lightening her cheeks, she licked her lips so that they were moistened in red. Feeling her body begin to shift, her hands traveled low. Like she was trying to claim a prize, her nails grazed his jacket in circular patterns.

“What do you want to do now? We could take a bath you know, by ourselves, washing our—”

“How about the radio? We could listen to a baseball game happening at 5.”

“But…”

“No buts. We could do mature things after we’re married. Promise?”

She dug her nails in, as a huge pout puffed her cheeks. Like a chipmunk, she turned her eyes to the right, as all the air in her body was kept in her lungs.

“Hmpf … promise.”

Just like that, it was only them too. For such a long time, the two of them never knew true warmth, until they met each other. Even though one was a regular human, while the other was a cat-human, it wasn’t a bond of of a pet and its master—

But of a couple.