Connections

Chapter 4: Her Story

Melanie could have done one of two things: a – completely confuse me and go against everything I'd always thought (like when she let it be known that she hated me) or b – ruin my day by acting like a brat (when she rifled through my room looking for gum). I thought she might ruin my day by messing up my good mood. It's very rarely that I am in such a good mood that I don't make fun of Bones, or tease Ric, and it seemed like it's the kind of mood people like Melanie would love to destroy. And destroy it she did. Just not exactly how I was expecting.

I walked into my room after school, hoping to get through some homework quickly, and then write down some story ideas before going down to dinner and trying to be polite to Ruler, and not say how off his rocker I think he is for telling the Center guards I even thought about dating Bones. But things never seem to go to plan because no sooner had I walked in my room, than Melanie comes out of my closet, holding a pair of my jeans.

“What are you doing?” I asked as soon as I saw her.

“Looking through your closet. Do you own anything other than blue jeans? I mean, what do you wear?” she answered obnoxiously.

“Blue jeans. Now, are you going to be a good Animal? Because if not, would you just get out?” I asked.

“Whatever you say, your highness.” she said with a smirk.

“This is ridiculous! I haven't done a thing to you!” I said.

“You exsist. That's more than enough reason to hate you.” she replied, her voice becoming very serious, all signs of just trying to get under my skin gone.

“You could always be Replaced.” I threatened. Her face turned scared, with no sign of trying to hide it.

“You don't even know what that means.” she whispered, her eyes horrifed. I honestly hadn't expected that kind of reaction. Ric told me about it, but he hadn't gone into details...how could she possibly know something that would make Replacement more horrible?

“Enlighten me.” I said.

She sat on the edge of my bed, and began a story that would forever change me life. “Replacement is something they do to the humans that refuse to abide by the perfectly cultivated rules of this society. Rebels, troublemakers, people like that. My dad was replaced, and that's the only reason I even know what it is. What happens to the person who was Replaced is a carefully guarded secret. Only the humans who are in the Replacei's family know, and they're threatened with Replacement if they tell anyone what it is.” she started.

“Then why are you telling me?” I asked.

She turned to look at me, the shine of tears in her eyes. “Because, while I hate what you are, who you are is something else. I think you could do something with this information, particularly because of your...family relations.”

“You mean because Ruler's my stepfather?” I asked, not quite sure how that would help.

“That's exactly what I mean. But let me continue. When my father was informed he was being Replaced, we didn't really care much. I mean, what was the point, he'd just go to another Kreater. No damage done. But...my dad got Replaced for knocking his Master out.” I couldn't help but gasp. “Yeah.” Melanie agreed. “But anyway, he was told he was to be Replaced. We thought he would go to another Kreater, and that would be the end of that. Except it wasn't. When he left for his Replacement, he never came back. After a couple of weeks, Mama got worried and complained to Ruler.”

“Wait, the public can send grievances to Ruler?” How come I didn't know about this? I mean, I lived in the Center. Surely I would notice strange people going in and out.