Bee and the Boy

Chapter 6

Skater

I look at my broken wings that she tore. They will probably never heal, I may never be able to fly again. If I can't fly, what is the point of anything? Where will I go? I can't show my face again at the swamp. So I just lie in the patch of grass that I found off the path.

When I'm awoken by a elder man.

"You can't be 'ere sonny" the old man croaks out to me. He must have started chain-smoking at the age of 5, judging from how rough his voice is. I pull myself to my feet and head back to where my life ended.

I make my way down the dirt road when I see a help wanted sign.

Garbage boy for hire: 5 tokens per hour

Ripping the paper off the pole, I read the text over.

Life is over for me, so I might as well join the world of employment. 

~

I hear someone calling my name. I look up. It's her.

"I can't talk, I'm working." I sweep the discarded garbage up and into my dustpan "Don't you have somewhere to be?"

"Skater.." she begins.

"You wanted me to leave you alone, so that's what I'm doing."

I watch her walk away, not giving her a second look as I return to my work. Does she really think she can just talk to me after ruining my life? I continue to sweep when a flyer flies at my face. Peeling it off, I notice that there is a show tomorrow at the main tent. 

Like I would ever go to that.

~

The next night, I find myself sitting in the nosebleeds at the show. I cross my arms as I watch with disinterest. My eyes widen slightly when my little life ruiner comes out to the center of the ring. Worry begins to well inside me when I notice her struggling with her routine, against my better judgment.

As the show comes to a close, I decide it's time for me to go. I take a wrong turn and find myself backstage. I push aside a set of curtains, hoping to find an exit.

I drop my drink at the sight before me.

A comatose flea lies still in a see-through pod. In a matching one is the shrew that was in the show with Beatrix. Both pods are connected to one another by a large tube. I pick up a manual on the table next to me, and my eyes widen once more as I learn what is going on. I look up when I hear someone coming. I slowly make my way out, just to bump into Beatrix.

"What are you doing back here?" She looks behind me suspiciously. She takes a step toward the curtain.

"No wait, you don't want to go back there." I block her advances.

"What do you care what I do?" I hear an edge in the voice. I can't believe she has the nerve.

"What do I care? I care that you ripped up my wings." I forget for a moment why I want to stop her.

"You are such a baby." She pushes me out of the way.

"Wait." I turn to stop her, but it is too late. 

She stares speechless at the occupied pods. Then she has me backed up against the wall. "What did you do? Is this some sort of revenge against me?"

"I didn't do this." I wheeze out the words, nodding to the manual on the table. She glances at the table, then back at me. I give her a shrug, she gives me a scowl before letting go of me. I fall to the floor.

"The circus is combining insects with mammals to keep the show fresh." She reads out loud. Her voice fades out near the end.

"What do we do?" Her voice quivers. I stand up and try to open the pods via the control panel. When nothing works, I try to open them manually.

"Stay here, I'll be right back." Beatrix turns and runs off, leaving me behind.

"Yeah, I'll just stay here and wait to be arrested." I try the control panel again.

~

Beatrix returns with Marina.

"Do you know the access code?" Beatrix asks her.

"I...." Marina stammers as she takes in her surroundings.

"Marina!"

"Okay!" She holds out her hands to quiet Beatrix. "Try the date the circus was founded. It was..." She pauses for a second. "1890."

I punch in the numbers and the console beeps one decibel too loudly. "Is this really a good idea? Maybe we should come back after we come up with a plan." I panic.

"We don't have time for that." Beatrix opens one of the pods and lifts out the unconscious shrew. She hands the creature over to Marina. "Go."

"What are you doing?" I whisper through my teeth.

"There might be more animals like this." She doesn't wait for me to respond before running out of the room. Just as quickly, she reenters with her hands up, but this time with a guard behind her.