THE HIVE

Chapter 6

The place we are in can be called a dormitory. Of course, not your usual one. It has that alien flair to it, but for the most part- it's a dormitory. We all sit close, the ones who are friendly to me, that is. Others scoot away.

Each inspects the oddity that I now bear.

The reactions are mixed. Some treat it like a spider and back away just at the sight of it, probably in something resembling fear. Others just resist the urge to puke.

Man, I could just die in a hellhole seeing these reactions.

However, in particular- Kevin finds it cool, and he even dares to touch it, something even I haven't dared to do yet.

Insects are gross. But a cross between an insect appendage and a human hand? Pure disgust. If this doesn't turn your stomach, I don't know what will.

"This is weird, but I find this so fascinating. This is groundbreaking! You would have become famous overnight had we been on Earth!"

I look at him without the slightest bit of excitement. "Yeah, I can just do without people cutting me up for experiments right now." Next thing you know, they cut my hand and put it in a jar, and it's the next best thing after Frankenstein.

"What do you think its power is?" He asks in curiosity.

I look at Beth. She looks intrigued as well, though none of them are keeping their eyes on my hand, actively averting their gaze elsewhere or looking straight at me. But I can understand they are trying to be sympathetic from the looks on their faces.

"Well, what do I know? It can be anything from a laser shooting super cool weapon to a morphing black oddity that can change shapes. Or maybe it can eat stuff?" I dramatically shrug at that and enlarge my eyes. This is weird.

"Should we stimulate it?" Kevin asks.

...

I feel like somebody knocked my head with solid bricks.

"W-what?" I mutter, not sure if I heard right.

A different voice speaks. "Well, sooner or later you would find out if it is dangerous or anything, or what it does. So I think it's an idea that is worth being considered. Though I would hate it if you accidentally blow any of us up doing trial and error," Sally says flipping her hands and tilting her head, lifting her brows up. Her dark red hair is like a red signal in my peripheral view, warning me not to do anything stupid.

"Let's see what it reacts to and then, maybe we can find more about it and see what it can do aside from just sticking on to you like that," Kevin says with enthusiasm.

"It's a toxic relationship. I can say that much." I shake my head. He laughs. Kid really has got back his spirit. For that I'm glad.

Seeing our interaction, Beth smiles. Maybe she is the reason Kevin is better now. I did the right thing to introduce these two to each other. Or maybe, it would have developed naturally even if I hadn't done anything. You can't completely predict human behaviour. We are complex beings.

"Be careful you guys," Fiona voices cautiously. Hearing her voice, I look at her.

"Yes ma'am!" I salute with a beaming smile. She blushes instantly and looks away, embarassed. That expression is like an arrow to my heart, I tell ya!

But, as is usual, happy times don't last long. I suddenly sense something. I turn around my head. By this time, I have garnered quite some eyes staring at my hellish hand from all around, of children I don't know. Of course, it's not only the ones I have met. There were hundreds of children back when we first met at the 'dining hall'. There are far too many of them to truly meet and befriend. But what I have got going here is a concern for them as well, so I should probably keep in mind not to do anything rash or else, they may treat me like the supervillain I claim to be and call on alien heroes.