The most inperfect (Book 1 of the Freak trilogy) ON HOLD

~Charlie~

I climbed up to the roof to the Arachnophobia that was on the roof of the children car of my Train. It quickly turned it's direction to me. Hopefully I could give a distraction long enough to let the kids get to the nursery. I rather be dead then the kids.

'Phobias, why do they always aim for us,' I thought . 

The phobia jumped in front, knocking me down to the ground and pinning me down as well. I saw the reinit of J.J's sweater within it's pincer like teeth, Which enraged me even more. Holding it's teeth from bitting off my flesh and bones, Tears strolled down my face. I lost another person I cared about and I couldn't protect them, so how am I supposed to do my job went I can't protect the children on the train. I snapped. I kicked the gigantic spider and aimed my gun for it's open mouth. I waited. The Phobia was about to eat me.

"Not today, you little shit," I stated before firing at it's weak point. The uvula. It screeched loudly before it fell under the tracks. Cracking sounds and the smell of blood released into the air. The cracking descended into nothing, but the blood smell didn't leave. Some of it was old, and the rest was new. I hold the piece of J.J's sweater in my hand, refusing to let go.

All throughout this chaos, I still couldn't believe that J.J was dead. J.J. The Smartest guy I ever knew, My brother, and friend...Was dead.

Earlier when I heard that scream, I knew what had to have happened. It's rare that a Phobia is able to sneak onto the train, but when they do it's always a pump of Adrenaline into the veins of anyone on the train. After all, they target us when we're out in the open.  

I told Parker to see if the kids were alright, then to move everyone to the nursery.

Parker and I  are the ones who are hurt the most. She and him were like brother and sister. They did everything together. As for me, J.J was my teacher and my brother. He meant the world to Parker and I, but now he's gone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Whoa, Charlie," J.J said grabbing onto me before I slipped of the catwalk. J.J was ten at the time, but he was very smart. Before he was on the train, he's Parents were collage professors and J.J always read the text books that they had. I looked up to him.

"Oopsie," I said. He chuckled at what called my 'Charlie charm'. J.J placed me back on the catwalk and we walked to the nursery. Conductor Campbell wanted to teach us about how to care for the babies on the train, so in case if something were to happen we could handle taking care of train. At the time, I thought that was impossible.

J.J and I entered silently due to the fact it was nap time. Conductor placed a five year old on one of the bed mats on the floor. I peaked into one of the cribs. A small baby laid quietly inside, dreaming of something. My heart nearly burst at the cuteness.

J.J tapped on Conductor's shoulder, notifying that we had arrived.

"Oh, good," Conductor whispered, trying not to wake the sleepy infants. Conductor stood from his kneeling position. He towered over me, seeing me fawn over an adorable baby. "Hard to see that her parents didn't want her."

My head shot up at this. Not wanting this adorable baby. Criminal.

She was perfect just the way she was. I remembered what nearly happened to me. My head looked down to the ground and I frowned. J.J wrapped his arms around my body, cradling me. I smiled knowing that now I was with people who really cared about me. And that the baby too.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

I ran across the catwalks till I reached the nursery door. I slid it open, and everyone turned their heads to me. The babies were crying in Parker and the other kid nurses' arms. The small children were huddled together in the corner, covering each other. The older kids were covering the smaller kids. Everyone was on edge. 

I walked in, and locked the door.  Parker ran up to me. 

"Charlie, is it...," before she could finish, I put a finger over her lips. My eyes softened. I gave a gentle sad smile.

"If it wasn't dead, then I wouldn't be standing here" Was all I said to reassure her. I looked around, checking if everyone was there and accounted for, then I  looked back to Parker. Her eyes flooded with tears, and I held my arms open to comfort her. Parker's head landed on my shoulder. I rubbed her head and back as tears of my own filled my eyes. Loud sobs came from Parker, she was still holding a crying baby. The whole room filled with sobs, and everyone held each other. 

Once we had our moment to honor J.J, we all decided that everyone should go to bed early. We doubled the number of people to watch the kids if they had to cross the catwalks. I noticed the boy who had snuck on board was walking with Lu. They seemed close.

"Lu," I yelled, catching her attention. "Do you know who this is," I ask pointing to the boy. Lu looked at the boy, then back to me. She seemed worried about what I would say if she answered. I nodded for her to go ahead.

"He's my big brother," Lu said, rubbing the back of her neck. Now that make sense. I looked to Lu's brother, and I smiled. 

"Well then," I said in a happy tone. "Do you have a name or do you want to change it?" Lu's brother looked shocked for a moment, then he looked at his little sister. She nodded, almost telling him that's what she did. He kept he eyes to the ground.

"...Rouge," He mumble, making it only audible for Lu and I. Lu seemed happy as she jumped up and down a couple times. I smiled at her excitement. I walked Lu to her sleeping mat, and walked Rouge to the older kid's car. I talked to Lexie into giving up her mat for him so he could have somewhere to sleep. 

Luckily, I had an extra to give to Lexie. I laid on my mat but I couldn't get to sleep. Instead, I looked out the window in the engine car.  I looked at all the constellations in the sky, keeping the good memories of J.J in my heart. 

...I wonder if J.J's happy now where ever he is.