Game with unknown Rules

Chapter 8: ...You can go like that

     "You look horrible." Sherry had her arms crossed, worry glistening in her eyes.

   As I had suspected I didn't sleep at all last night. My thoughts were swirling left and right. Psyche not being human. People I grew up with not being human. There was apparently an entirely different world besides my own. I could have never imagined. And it wasn't all flowers and rainbows, as I have thought a fantasy world would be. It was horrible. All those beings had to hide away to survive and those who were not good enough were soon eradicated. They couldn't even be honest with humans they saw as their friends, in fear of involving them in their misery. I didn't blame any of them for not telling me.

   My eyes wandered up to Sherry's. "Well, at least you're taking up the slack for both of us." I stated bluntly.

   "Oh my god, Hector." She laughed a little, before getting serious again. "Maybe you should go back home and rest. You really look pale and those bags under your eyes could make those of Melanie jealous."

   "I heard that." Melanie spoke, without looking up from her book she was reading.

   "I'm fine... You sound like Psyche." I mumbled. "I just..." My eyes wandered to Rose, who caught my gaze. "This may not be a good choice on my part, but can I talk with you for a moment? Alone?"

   Now even Kuro perked up and she and Lenny exchanged a glance. Rose had her typical 'I worry for you but mask it with a happy smile' look written all over her face. She, thankfully, nodded.

   "Of course." She got up from the bench. "Let's go a little further."

   Now it was my turn to nod and I followed her, barely keeping myself up. The morning was cold. My breath was crystallising in front of my eyes, making me almost lose my train of thought. A few meters away from the rest of the group she stopped and so did I, although I almost ran into her. She kept me from falling over and I thanked her for it. Not a word left her mouth, but she continued to look at me with the same look.

   "What's the matter Hector?" She wanted to know.

   "Did your parents tell you about the documents?" I flat out asked her, without giving it a second thought. A tired brain is good for something after all, huh.

   Rose went pale, then shook her head. "It's not Hector." She said, making my head snap up at her, almost falling over again. "I'm sorry for reading your thoughts. I normally try not to listen to these things, but I can't really turn it off. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner."

   "It's fine, I don't blame you..." I told her getting a grip again. "It's just a lot to wrap my head around. There is an entire world out there I had no idea about. Sorry, for dumping this on you all of the sudden."

   "I'm glad that you know though." Rose said. She was pale and her hands were shaking. Her smile was painfully forced. "Melanie and I were discussing this for a long while, but we didn't want you to get involved."

   "So you know about the documents?" I wanted to know.

   "Only since you told me and I confronted my parents." She said, as her one hand found her mouth. "It's horrible what's happening out there and I had no idea. I only knew that we should keep out identity hidden because humans would fear us, but I didn't know they were out to eradicate multiple species."

   "You think we should do something against that?" I asked her, testing the waters. Psyche may have told me not to get involved, but I already was. So what difference did it make?

   "Of course I think that, but..." She sighed. "Even my parents don't know how to proceed. And genocide is not on the table for anyone."

   "You all talk, like this is a thing that is definitely going to happen." My sleep deprived brain started to challenge her.