Fairy Dust

Never Look Back When You're Running Away

Mirth walked with the two goons, their soft suits fraying Mirth's already ragged nerves. How dare they rub their privilege in their face?

'What will happen to me after?' Mirth said quietly.

The two fairies leading Mirth down a chrome hall looked at each other, their bleached hair showing their different coloured roots.

'If you survive, you'll be different,' one said simply.

'You won't really be aware of stuff anymore,' the other added more awkwardly. She was clearly the softer of the pair. 'We call them Hollowed. We'll take you home and your family will look after you probably.'

Mirth gulped. The obtuse explanation was for Mirth. 'That already happened to my Mum. I don't have family to look after me because I'm looking after her. Please, don't do this.'

The softer fairy groaned. 'Can we punch him? I hate when they beg like we have any control.'

The other spoke, in her own world. 'I heard it can run in families a bit. Especially the younger ones. Do you thing there's a gene for it or something? Should we study for it? Find families with stronger energy? Bit easier to breed for it isn't it? Rather than waiting around for someone to dob in someone else and nab 'em.'

Mirth felt sick to their stomach. They didn't even eat breakfast and it had been how many hours? But still, they wanted to throw up. A worse, more painful version of the ecstasy from last night lanced through Mirth.

'Wow, this one still has some fight!' the indifferent fairy said, pulling Mirth up tight. Mirth looked around and could see their rainbow wings sparkle more than every before, even glowing with the energy in them. It gave them hope.

The wings fluttered lightly.

'We should get a bunch out of this one. I wonder if we'll get a bonus? I want to get a Star like Mz. Gilings. They're so cute. I heard they snuggle you when you sleep.'

They turned to a closed door, hands painfully tight on Mirth's upper arms. The soft one that wanted to knock Mirth out opened the door and behind in the low lit room was a strange machine that hummed, a chamber of some kind on one side, just big enough for a fairy.

Mirth's pulse thrummed in their ears until they felt like they were struggling to breathe.

'Um, excuse me,' a sweet voice said from behind them. 'This place is so big. I think I got a bit lost? I thought you were going outside. I don't know why I thought that, silly me.'

The two turned taking Mirth with them, moving away from the machine that was going to suck their life out. Just moving away made it easier to take in vital air.

Mirth focused on the girl.

'Oh, Ms. Gilings. No, you're in the facility part of the house. You need to go back out and turn left at the corridor. Right is the lounging room.' The softer fairy said with a smile.

Mirth, their senses heightened, felt like the goon had a crush on the girl?

'Oh, thank you Clearwind! That's very kind of you,' she said with a bright smile and bounce. 'You can call me Sparkletouch, I keep telling you. I see you so both so often after all.'

Clearwind blushed.

Mirth didn't even brace.

They ran.

Right at the girl.

It was only by some special sense that they jumped up and over the girl, their wings skimming the roof and forcing them to roll in the air before landing on their feet.