The Smiling Mannequin

SLASH! ('His' POV)

I rammed my machete into the man screaming for mercy-of course I didn't give him any knowing what he did. Then, another slash later, he was ripped up into pieces. I stood and cleaned my machete, hiding all evidence of what i've done. I looked at the little girl sitting by me, closing her eyes tight and hiding her body. I slowly approached her and took out a blanket and towel from my bag. The little girl watched me as I wrapped the towel and blanket around her. "Thank you.." she whispered softly. I happily nodded and picked her up, and took her to the police station. As I was walking, I got many stares. Did anyone witness my murdering? Do they think that I'm kidnapping the child? "Damn." I whispered under my breath. These stares will drag my ass down farther than life's ever have.

10:45 P.M, past the curfew.

I started to walk faster and faster to the station and as soon as I got there, I shut the door-fast. An officer was by the door and looked at me. I hand signaled him "help this little girl, please." and he rushed over and handed me a piece of paper. Then he asked "What seems to be the problem?" I wrote down everything that happened with the girl. Not that I killed the man, only about what happened. The officer took the girl. "Alright, luckily we have a few doctors here right now, we'll check her. Did you happen to see the person who apparently raped her?" I thought of a lie for a moment. Then I nodded and wrote "But he was dead. I don't know what happened but in the alley way I smelt a disgusting rotten smell, and heard crying." I thought the officer wouldn't help at all, because that's what most officers do nowadays.. but instead, he rushed straight to it. He sent officers out the door, he got the doctors to check her, questioned her lightly to find information, and got her some spare clothes. I sat outside waiting. Then after a few minutes, the little girl came out with another officer. "Hello sir. Um, her name is Tilda, Tilda Bethle - and she has no parents or relatives..alive. We can drop her off at the adoption shelter if you're not interested in taking care of her." The officer said. Tilda just looked down sadly as I spoke to the officer. I signaled to the woman. After some time of signaling and writing, I picked up Tilda and walked home. "You're..taking me to the kids shelter?" Tilda asked. I shook my head. "You're coming home with me. I'll take good care of you and so will my aunt and cousin." I whispered softly into her ear. I saw her frown turn into a beautiful smile.

11:02 P.M, way past the curfew.

As I stepped onto the deck of my home, Aunt Jessie slammed the door open and yelled loudly. "Where have you been! You were supposed to be home way earli-" She then noticed the child I was holding asleep on my shoulder. "Who's that Christopher?" She asked. "I found her in an alley. She got raped and I just went to a police station with her." I quietly said to her. After my aunt calmed down, she moved out of the way and I walked inside my bedroom. I layed Tilda down on my bed and set a mattress on the floor with blankets and pillows for me. As I was about to sit on the mattress, I heard a knock on my door. I opened it and saw my cousin Leslie. "Chrissy, can I sleep with you please? I'm having bad dreams again." He said holding his toy truck. I nodded. "But isint it uncomfortable to sleep with a hard toy? Why not a stuffed animal you have, Les?" I told Leslie. He looked at me then at the truck. "Oh, I thought I grabbed the monkey." He said giggling. I smiled lightly under my mask. As I watched Leslie go back to his room to get his plushie, I realized.

. . .

"Crap! Aunt Jessie! You didn't warn me that school starts tomorrow!" I yelled with all I had. Normally, I'm always quiet. But if I have an urge to yell, I will do so. "Christopher! That was your fault, I was gonna tell you till I saw the girl you were holding." Aunt Jessie said walking up the stairs. "And no need to yell at me, Chris." "You bought everything I needed right? Books, computer?" I asked panicing myself out. "Yes I did, it's in your bag. The total was one-hundred and ten dollars. Pay me back soon dearie." Aunt Jessie replied. I Normally don't have her buy things for me, but I couldn't afford all those books and that computer. "But Chris," Aunt Jessie said worryingly - "what about your mask?, are you really going to wear that to school dear?" I looked at her and smiled under my mask. "Yes, Aunt Jessie. I am going to wear it. And if everyone finds out "I" have a child then so be it. " I told her as she just stared at me with a very beautiful smile.

6:30 A.M, Wednesday Morning.

I click the off button on my alarm. I yawn and look at Leslie and Tilda. And as I expected, both fast asleep. I get out of bed and change into a loose shirt and some jeans. I fix my mask making sure it's on properly just in case it's able to fall off somehow. I walk to the kitchen as I see Aunt Jessie cooking breakfast. She turns to look at me and she gives me a bright smile. "Goodmorning dearie!" "Goodmorning, Aunt Jessie!--" I said, trying to sound enthusiastic. Aunt Jessie laughed and layed breakfast on the table as I sat down. "Scrambled eggs and pancakes!" She said cleaning up her mess. As I watched her I ate my food. I felt a tear fall onto my cheek. My summer breaks over-what if I don't get to talk to Leslie, Aunt Jess and Tilda much? What if I'm too busy for them! I looked down to my lap, my face making a "sour look". I'll make sure I'll never be too busy for them.

8:20 A.M

I enter the school building, as I start getting looks. I just kept my head up, so I don't make myself look like a foolish weakling. There's this group of people I caught my eye on, staring at me laughing. It's the mask, isint? I asked myself. I sighed deeply and went to the office.

She principal turned herself to me. "Hello there, Christopher." She said with a warm smile. She hands me a schedule paper and an elastic band. "Pardon me ma'am, what's the elastic for?" I asked her. "In case your mask band breaks. Your aunt told me about you, so I know what's going on dear, so keep that okay?" She told me. I listen to her words and tuck the elastic band into my pocket. I take the schedule paper and walk out of the office to my locker.

And just to make my day even more "great" the group of people I saw earlier was right next to my locker. They turned to me and flashed a dirty smirk. I opened my locker and set my books in. "Hey new kid." A tall, muscular man from the group said to me. "What's with the mask?" The girl in his arms said. I first took a moment and closed my locker. "Hello." The group stared at me for a moment, then looked at eachother. "You sound and look pretty cool, wanna join our group?" Another girl in the group said. "And what exactly is your group?" I asked suspiciously. "We just tease others around, we know you wanna join, smile dude!" The muscular man said to me in a chuckle. I looked at them looking mischievous, as they smirked. I took a deep breath and held the "cheek" of my mask. "No, no thank you. I wouldn't bully for my own will." An awkward silence between us broke in as the bell rang. And they started to walk away. But the muscular male turned to me and said "You'll regret saying so, trust me." Then he shoved me into my locker and walked to class. I stared at him, furious. But I had to make sure to be good atleast the first week of school, and not put pressure onto Aunt Jessie.

After Math Class with Ms. Chess..

I walked out of the classroom tucking my books into my bag. As I was walking down the hall, the muscular guy from earlier grabbed my shirt and pulled me down like a damn bull! I stared at him as he stared back. "What? Do you have tears under that mask? What a crybaby!" He yelled. "Mason!" I heard the principal yell. People started to crowd around as I just layed on the floor. I don't know if I felt careless about being dragged onto the floor, or if I was about to burst out crying. I heard blurry yelling, and some of the laughing from his group. But atleast I know the guys name now-Mason. God, I hate his guts. Suddenly, two people got a hold of my arms. "Get him to the nurse, he's bleeding!" A high pitched voice yelled to the other one holding my arm. Wait..I was bleeding? I just made myself look like a fool! Those two people held my arms and carried me all the way to the nurses office.

A few mintues go by as the two people waited for me to get patched up in the office.

I looked at them, and smiled under my mask. "Thank you, uhm?" "I'm Peter." A guy around my age said. "I'm Lady! People usually call me April though because of my last name." The high pitched voice said again. "Thank you, Peter and Lady." I said as they smiled. "You're welcome!" They replied back happily. "Would you like to be friends? I only met Peter when we helped you." Lady asked. She sounded very polite and kind. And Peter sounded a little blank minded, but that was fine-- I suppose. "Sure." I replied as they smiled.

Wow, I made friends on the first day of school? Let's hope they won't leave me behind..