HOME | DD

Description
I hate crying. Your eyes get all wet and heavy and your cheeks get all salty and sticky. Plus it hurts. Well, the tear things don't really hurt, but when Brick hits me, that hurts. He doesn't like crying; he says it makes me look like a big baby. So I always try not to. But since he's not here right now, a bit of crying wouldn't hurt. The tears are shining on my cheeks and dripping off of my chin. It doesn't matter anymore. I'll never see Brick again.
Another thing I hate is the dark. My whole self is shaking like a leaf as I cuddle in the corner of my dirty, smelly cell. The darkness presses down on me, crushing my brains and slithering down my throat, choking me. My eyes are shut tight, because it really doesn't matter whether I have them open or not; I can't see anything.  I hear the drip-drip-drip of water trickling down the grimy, mossy, slimy black walls of my cell and I curl up tighter, even though I'm already curled up so tight that my whole body is hurting.  Cold sweat prickles on my brow and on my chest; my tunic is soaked through. My hair stands on end; I can almost feel the dark stirring, like there's a monster in there, watching me with his glowing eyes, waiting to strike. I hear a loud groan that suddenly pierces the heavy silence; I hear an ear-splitting shriek and it takes me a second to realize that it is mine. I wrap my arms around my legs and press my dirty face into my thighs, tears pouring uncontrollably down my face. Brick would kill me. And probably Butch too.
I hear hissing in the dark, growing steadily louder. My breath comes in rattling gasps, my body trembling. The clammy darkness swirls around my head, spilling inside me; I start coughing and rocking back and forth on my heels. It's nothing….It's nothing…No such thing as monsters…that's what Butch said…no monsters… I feel hot breath tickling my sweaty back. I moan in terror and scoot forward. I have to get away….help me….
Something suddenly clamps down on my mouth and I suddenly can't move and I can't think; my brain is frozen. I feel my body hit the stone floor and red hot pain courses through me. I can't scream and I can't think and I can't move.
I deserve it…I deserve it…I shouldn't have listened to Brick when he told me to steal those diamonds. They were just sitting there, all sparkly and pretty, in the jeweler's window and the sunlight was glinting off of them. They were just so nice and I had to listen to Brick or else he would kill me.  How was I supposed to know that the jeweler would be there, and step in my way? And that we would fight and I would stab him with my sword and he would die? I'm a murderer….I deserve this…hot pain…Can't breathe…
"Hi!" a singsong voice suddenly calls out, ringing like a sugar coated chime.
The darkness is gone.
All gone.
Air rushes back into my lungs as the dark releases its grip. I sit up, panting, the air burning my chest. It's so bright now and the light is hurting my eyes. There is a girl standing in front of my cell, peering through the rusted bars, smiling like a sunny day. She has her golden hair pulled back in two short, bouncy pigtails, and she has brilliant blue eyes that are twinkling like the clear blue sky over the ocean. They are huge, just like mine and my brothers'. She is wearing a commoner's dress with a long skirt that swirls around her legs; the deep blue color matches my eyes. She has no fingers or ears or toes or a nose. She's just like me…and my brothers.
My mouth moves wordlessly. I can't speak.
"What's your name?" the girl asks, her voice curling beautifully and her smile glowing.
I still can't talk. My brain is still frozen. I stare at her with wide eyes.
"Can't you talk?"
I nod slowly, still staring.
"Then what's your name?"
"Bo….It's Bennet."
I can't tell her about my real name. Boomer.
The girl drops to her knees and leans through the bars, giggling.
"That's not your name."
"It is too. That's what my name is. Ask the King. That's what the records say: Bennet."
The girl giggles again, her eyes twinkling.
"I know that's not your name. What's your real name?"
I just stare at her.
"I won't tell anybody." She whispers, leaning closer towards me. I scoot up closer to the bars, so I can hear her better.
"I'll tell you my real name."
When I don't answer, she answers herself.
"I'm Bertrada. But not really; I'm Bubbles."
Her eyes twinkle again as she slides her arm through the bars and reaches out for a handshake.
"Bubbles?"I ask, not believing what I am hearing.
"Bubbles."
I stare at her a bit longer and then I slowly reach out and grasp her hand; she shakes it merrily.
"And who are you? I know you're not Bennet."
"Boomer." I sigh. "I'm Boomer."
Bubbles smiles again and looks at me with shining eyes. My hand is warm in hers.
"Why are you talking to me?" I finally ask. "I'm bad. They locked me up in here and they're….they're gonna kill me…today…"
My voice cracks and I divert my eyes from Bubbles, tears flowing down my cheeks.
"I don't think you're bad, Boomer."
I look up at her in surprise. Her face is almost shining…like an angel's…
I can't stop staring at her.
And then she's gone.
Gone.
As quickly as she'd come.
Darkness closes in on me again and I gasp, wrapping my arms around myself and huddling up in the corner again. But this time I don't even think about the monster. Or even the dark. My eyes stare, blank and wide, into the stifling darkness…and I see the light around Bubbles' face.
****************************************
I hear creaking and groaning again and my head snaps up, hoping to see her standing there, her eyes shining like the sea. The bars creak open and in steps a royal guard; he is about 10 foot tall and he looks like he could crush me like a grape in his bands of thick muscle. He takes a menacing step towards me and I scramble into the corner, shaking. He runs at me, seizes me in his arms and punches me and twists me…My body slams against the stone like heavy rain, but I can barely feel it. Slam…bang….crash…
He heaves me down onto the floor one last time and I groan in agony. My whole body aches and blood stains my tunic. I taste the warm, salty blood in my mouth and I spit, coughing and hacking. A boot suddenly crushes down on my back, pinning me down on my face; the guard twists his ankle, grinding me into the stone like a cockroach.
"Are you ready to tell me who you are…little filthy piece of scum…??!"
"Ben…Benne…"
The guard stomps on me and I can feel my ribs cracking; I shriek and blood spurts from my mouth, dribbling down my chin.
"I'm B..Bennet." I croak. "Bennet."
"Last name, boy."
"I d…don't know w..what it is…I…" I suck in a rattling breath. "I'm an or..phan…"
"Touching. Filthy little thief."
My body shakes and trembles as pain courses through me like lighting. I strain weakly to pull myself free, but the guard stomps down harder.
"P...please…" I squeak, tears sparkling in my eyes. The guard glares down at me with a look that can probably melt steel; he reaches down with a gritty hand and seizes my tunic, yanking me upright so that my face is pressed up right next to his, my feet dangling above the ground.
"You deserve to die, vermin." He hisses in my face, spraying me with spittle. My eyes widen and I stare helplessly up at him. He heaves me face down on the floor and jerks my arms behind my back, binding them together with cords that cut painfully into my flesh. Then he yanks me upright; hot tears flow uncontrollably down my face. I am going to die…I am going to die…I am going to die…
Terror paralyzes my brain and it freezes again. I can't feel anymore. I am going to die…The guard is hustling me down the dank prison corridors. I am going to die…I am going to die…The sunlight blinds me as he pulls me out of the front gate, the armored guards there are curling their lips as they snarl at me. I am going to die…I am going to die…I am shoved into a tiny, iron barred cage that is on the back of a donkey cart. I am going to die…oh help me….Furious, chanting crowds fill the streets as the cart rolls along; they start heaving things at me. Books…robes…rocks…sticks…tomatoes…torches…
"Murderer! Kill the murderer!"
I am going to die…I am going to die…I am going to die…I will never see my brothers again…or Bubbles…no….
A racking sob chokes me, and for a second, I feel the suffocating grip of the darkness, squeezing the life out of me.  I am ripped from the cage and dragged over to the guillotine; I am too weak to fight and I just lay there limply in the arms of the guard, tears pouring down my face. My head is shoved roughly against the wooden platform and my body is strapped down. The crowd is roaring and directly above my neck, the blade on the guillotine shimmers like death itself. I can't even cry anymore. My brain is frozen.  The guard glares at me, smirking; he is going to release the trigger…
Suddenly I hear a high pitched scream and I am bathed in light. The very air sparkles like heaven and I feel my spirits rise out of my body. Bubbles is there, standing in front of me, her arms spread out like an angel's wings. Even though her face looks terrified, her eyes still sparkle like the sea and her golden blonde pigtails shimmer.
I cannot take my eyes off of her…
Silence. The whole throng of enraged citizens just stares, awestruck. Even the guard. Bubbles speaks and I hear the heavens sing.
"No; don't kill him!"
She grips my legs and my heart jumps. The guard just stares at her, his mouth hanging open in awe. She stares back, her eyes huge and pleading in her face.
"Who let this girl up here?!" the guard finally bellows, his face red. When no one answers, he turns to Bubbles. "What in the name of the King are you doing, child?!"
"You can't kill him." Her face is determined now. Awkward silence hangs in the air until the guard, mad with rage, lunges at Bubbles, his hand outstretched. She lets out a ferocious, piercing scream that makes my hair stand on end; there is a flash of silver and the guard thuds to the floor, a silver dagger embedded in his throat. That did it.
As if a spell had been lifted, the crowd explodes; the air is suddenly pounding with furious roars and murderous chanting. Bubbles whirls around, her face urgent and her hair and dress flowing.
Her shaking hands fumble with the knots binding me; they fall to my sides and she grasps my hand and pulls me forward as she lunges into a frantic sprint. It is if I have sprouted wings. I am soaring. My hand is warm in hers.
A loud cry suddenly erupts, exploding with fury, echoing over the roar of the crowd, and loud whooshing sound blasts through the air. There is something silver streaking at as, gleaming like the blade on the guillotine. A throwing spear…I don't even feel it. It has pierced through my body and Bubbles', skewering us together. The triumphant bellow of the crowd drowns out everything else. She and I slump forward; she is smiling weakly and her eyes are still shining.
"Ha ha; I like this…We're together." Her twinkly, sugar coated voice is barely more than a whisper.
Her hand goes limp in mine; I try to squeeze it.
"Let's stay like this… forever…"I murmur, my eyes closing.
Our minds are one, our bodies are one, and our hearts are one. Our blood pours from the wounds, mixing together.
Let's stay like this forever….
**********************************
I really hate Brick sometimes. He just doesn't understand me. I sit on top of the skyscraper, my legs dangling over the edge. I gaze out over the distant ocean in front of me; it sparkles like something beautiful. The cool sea breeze ruffles my hair and my striped shirt. My hand rubs my bruised cheek and a tear trickles from my wet eyes; I didn't want to steal the video games. Brick had told me to, but I said no, and he hit me. I just didn't want to steal them. Everything is wrong with me, Brick said. I cry like a baby, I'm bad at stealing stuff, and I'm scared of the dark.
Where do I belong?
Why is it like this?
Another tear trickles down my cheek and I wrap my arms around my legs, rocking back and forth on my heels. If my brothers don't understand, who will?
Then I hear a zooming sound, and I jump to my feet, my heart thumping wildly. There is somebody standing a few feet from me, and my jaw drops.
It's Bubbles, her eyes twinkling like gems and her face glowing; she's smiling at me. For a second, I can only stare.
"GO! Get away from me!!" I screech, backing away.
"Why?" Her voice sounds sweet, like sugar.
I growl and throw a punch at her; she catches my hands and holds it in tightly in hers. My other arm falls limp at my side. She smiles, and I swear that the sun grows brighter and the Townsville air shimmers. Our eyes are locked; I can't stop staring at her. My hand is warm in hers.

Description
I hate crying. Your eyes get all wet and heavy and your cheeks get all salty and sticky. Plus it hurts. Well, the tear things don't really hurt, but when Brick hits me, that hurts. He doesn't like crying; he says it makes me look like a big baby. So I always try not to. But since he's not here right now, a bit of crying wouldn't hurt. The tears are shining on my cheeks and dripping off of my chin. It doesn't matter anymore. I'll never see Brick again.
Another thing I hate is the dark. My whole self is shaking like a leaf as I cuddle in the corner of my dirty, smelly cell. The darkness presses down on me, crushing my brains and slithering down my throat, choking me. My eyes are shut tight, because it really doesn't matter whether I have them open or not; I can't see anything.  I hear the drip-drip-drip of water trickling down the grimy, mossy, slimy black walls of my cell and I curl up tighter, even though I'm already curled up so tight that my whole body is hurting.  Cold sweat prickles on my brow and on my chest; my tunic is soaked through. My hair stands on end; I can almost feel the dark stirring, like there's a monster in there, watching me with his glowing eyes, waiting to strike. I hear a loud groan that suddenly pierces the heavy silence; I hear an ear-splitting shriek and it takes me a second to realize that it is mine. I wrap my arms around my legs and press my dirty face into my thighs, tears pouring uncontrollably down my face. Brick would kill me. And probably Butch too.
I hear hissing in the dark, growing steadily louder. My breath comes in rattling gasps, my body trembling. The clammy darkness swirls around my head, spilling inside me; I start coughing and rocking back and forth on my heels. It's nothing….It's nothing…No such thing as monsters…that's what Butch said…no monsters… I feel hot breath tickling my sweaty back. I moan in terror and scoot forward. I have to get away….help me….
Something suddenly clamps down on my mouth and I suddenly can't move and I can't think; my brain is frozen. I feel my body hit the stone floor and red hot pain courses through me. I can't scream and I can't think and I can't move.
I deserve it…I deserve it…I shouldn't have listened to Brick when he told me to steal those diamonds. They were just sitting there, all sparkly and pretty, in the jeweler's window and the sunlight was glinting off of them. They were just so nice and I had to listen to Brick or else he would kill me.  How was I supposed to know that the jeweler would be there, and step in my way? And that we would fight and I would stab him with my sword and he would die? I'm a murderer….I deserve this…hot pain…Can't breathe…
"Hi!" a singsong voice suddenly calls out, ringing like a sugar coated chime.
The darkness is gone.
All gone.
Air rushes back into my lungs as the dark releases its grip. I sit up, panting, the air burning my chest. It's so bright now and the light is hurting my eyes. There is a girl standing in front of my cell, peering through the rusted bars, smiling like a sunny day. She has her golden hair pulled back in two short, bouncy pigtails, and she has brilliant blue eyes that are twinkling like the clear blue sky over the ocean. They are huge, just like mine and my brothers'. She is wearing a commoner's dress with a long skirt that swirls around her legs; the deep blue color matches my eyes. She has no fingers or ears or toes or a nose. She's just like me…and my brothers.
My mouth moves wordlessly. I can't speak.
"What's your name?" the girl asks, her voice curling beautifully and her smile glowing.
I still can't talk. My brain is still frozen. I stare at her with wide eyes.
"Can't you talk?"
I nod slowly, still staring.
"Then what's your name?"
"Bo….It's Bennet."
I can't tell her about my real name. Boomer.
The girl drops to her knees and leans through the bars, giggling.
"That's not your name."
"It is too. That's what my name is. Ask the King. That's what the records say: Bennet."
The girl giggles again, her eyes twinkling.
"I know that's not your name. What's your real name?"
I just stare at her.
"I won't tell anybody." She whispers, leaning closer towards me. I scoot up closer to the bars, so I can hear her better.
"I'll tell you my real name."
When I don't answer, she answers herself.
"I'm Bertrada. But not really; I'm Bubbles."
Her eyes twinkle again as she slides her arm through the bars and reaches out for a handshake.
"Bubbles?"I ask, not believing what I am hearing.
"Bubbles."
I stare at her a bit longer and then I slowly reach out and grasp her hand; she shakes it merrily.
"And who are you? I know you're not Bennet."
"Boomer." I sigh. "I'm Boomer."
Bubbles smiles again and looks at me with shining eyes. My hand is warm in hers.
"Why are you talking to me?" I finally ask. "I'm bad. They locked me up in here and they're….they're gonna kill me…today…"
My voice cracks and I divert my eyes from Bubbles, tears flowing down my cheeks.
"I don't think you're bad, Boomer."
I look up at her in surprise. Her face is almost shining…like an angel's…
I can't stop staring at her.
And then she's gone.
Gone.
As quickly as she'd come.
Darkness closes in on me again and I gasp, wrapping my arms around myself and huddling up in the corner again. But this time I don't even think about the monster. Or even the dark. My eyes stare, blank and wide, into the stifling darkness…and I see the light around Bubbles' face.
****************************************
I hear creaking and groaning again and my head snaps up, hoping to see her standing there, her eyes shining like the sea. The bars creak open and in steps a royal guard; he is about 10 foot tall and he looks like he could crush me like a grape in his bands of thick muscle. He takes a menacing step towards me and I scramble into the corner, shaking. He runs at me, seizes me in his arms and punches me and twists me…My body slams against the stone like heavy rain, but I can barely feel it. Slam…bang….crash…
He heaves me down onto the floor one last time and I groan in agony. My whole body aches and blood stains my tunic. I taste the warm, salty blood in my mouth and I spit, coughing and hacking. A boot suddenly crushes down on my back, pinning me down on my face; the guard twists his ankle, grinding me into the stone like a cockroach.
"Are you ready to tell me who you are…little filthy piece of scum…??!"
"Ben…Benne…"
The guard stomps on me and I can feel my ribs cracking; I shriek and blood spurts from my mouth, dribbling down my chin.
"I'm B..Bennet." I croak. "Bennet."
"Last name, boy."
"I d…don't know w..what it is…I…" I suck in a rattling breath. "I'm an or..phan…"
"Touching. Filthy little thief."
My body shakes and trembles as pain courses through me like lighting. I strain weakly to pull myself free, but the guard stomps down harder.
"P...please…" I squeak, tears sparkling in my eyes. The guard glares down at me with a look that can probably melt steel; he reaches down with a gritty hand and seizes my tunic, yanking me upright so that my face is pressed up right next to his, my feet dangling above the ground.
"You deserve to die, vermin." He hisses in my face, spraying me with spittle. My eyes widen and I stare helplessly up at him. He heaves me face down on the floor and jerks my arms behind my back, binding them together with cords that cut painfully into my flesh. Then he yanks me upright; hot tears flow uncontrollably down my face. I am going to die…I am going to die…I am going to die…
Terror paralyzes my brain and it freezes again. I can't feel anymore. I am going to die…The guard is hustling me down the dank prison corridors. I am going to die…I am going to die…The sunlight blinds me as he pulls me out of the front gate, the armored guards there are curling their lips as they snarl at me. I am going to die…I am going to die…I am shoved into a tiny, iron barred cage that is on the back of a donkey cart. I am going to die…oh help me….Furious, chanting crowds fill the streets as the cart rolls along; they start heaving things at me. Books…robes…rocks…sticks…tomatoes…torches…
"Murderer! Kill the murderer!"
I am going to die…I am going to die…I am going to die…I will never see my brothers again…or Bubbles…no….
A racking sob chokes me, and for a second, I feel the suffocating grip of the darkness, squeezing the life out of me.  I am ripped from the cage and dragged over to the guillotine; I am too weak to fight and I just lay there limply in the arms of the guard, tears pouring down my face. My head is shoved roughly against the wooden platform and my body is strapped down. The crowd is roaring and directly above my neck, the blade on the guillotine shimmers like death itself. I can't even cry anymore. My brain is frozen.  The guard glares at me, smirking; he is going to release the trigger…
Suddenly I hear a high pitched scream and I am bathed in light. The very air sparkles like heaven and I feel my spirits rise out of my body. Bubbles is there, standing in front of me, her arms spread out like an angel's wings. Even though her face looks terrified, her eyes still sparkle like the sea and her golden blonde pigtails shimmer.
I cannot take my eyes off of her…
Silence. The whole throng of enraged citizens just stares, awestruck. Even the guard. Bubbles speaks and I hear the heavens sing.
"No; don't kill him!"
She grips my legs and my heart jumps. The guard just stares at her, his mouth hanging open in awe. She stares back, her eyes huge and pleading in her face.
"Who let this girl up here?!" the guard finally bellows, his face red. When no one answers, he turns to Bubbles. "What in the name of the King are you doing, child?!"
"You can't kill him." Her face is determined now. Awkward silence hangs in the air until the guard, mad with rage, lunges at Bubbles, his hand outstretched. She lets out a ferocious, piercing scream that makes my hair stand on end; there is a flash of silver and the guard thuds to the floor, a silver dagger embedded in his throat. That did it.
As if a spell had been lifted, the crowd explodes; the air is suddenly pounding with furious roars and murderous chanting. Bubbles whirls around, her face urgent and her hair and dress flowing.
Her shaking hands fumble with the knots binding me; they fall to my sides and she grasps my hand and pulls me forward as she lunges into a frantic sprint. It is if I have sprouted wings. I am soaring. My hand is warm in hers.
A loud cry suddenly erupts, exploding with fury, echoing over the roar of the crowd, and loud whooshing sound blasts through the air. There is something silver streaking at as, gleaming like the blade on the guillotine. A throwing spear…I don't even feel it. It has pierced through my body and Bubbles', skewering us together. The triumphant bellow of the crowd drowns out everything else. She and I slump forward; she is smiling weakly and her eyes are still shining.
"Ha ha; I like this…We're together." Her twinkly, sugar coated voice is barely more than a whisper.
Her hand goes limp in mine; I try to squeeze it.
"Let's stay like this… forever…"I murmur, my eyes closing.
Our minds are one, our bodies are one, and our hearts are one. Our blood pours from the wounds, mixing together.
Let's stay like this forever….
**********************************
I really hate Brick sometimes. He just doesn't understand me. I sit on top of the skyscraper, my legs dangling over the edge. I gaze out over the distant ocean in front of me; it sparkles like something beautiful. The cool sea breeze ruffles my hair and my striped shirt. My hand rubs my bruised cheek and a tear trickles from my wet eyes; I didn't want to steal the video games. Brick had told me to, but I said no, and he hit me. I just didn't want to steal them. Everything is wrong with me, Brick said. I cry like a baby, I'm bad at stealing stuff, and I'm scared of the dark.
Where do I belong?
Why is it like this?
Another tear trickles down my cheek and I wrap my arms around my legs, rocking back and forth on my heels. If my brothers don't understand, who will?
Then I hear a zooming sound, and I jump to my feet, my heart thumping wildly. There is somebody standing a few feet from me, and my jaw drops.
It's Bubbles, her eyes twinkling like gems and her face glowing; she's smiling at me. For a second, I can only stare.
"GO! Get away from me!!" I screech, backing away.
"Why?" Her voice sounds sweet, like sugar.
I growl and throw a punch at her; she catches my hands and holds it in tightly in hers. My other arm falls limp at my side. She smiles, and I swear that the sun grows brighter and the Townsville air shimmers. Our eyes are locked; I can't stop staring at her. My hand is warm in hers.