Freaks (Ticci Toby) ((Sequel to Outcasts))

Chapter Two;

Chapter Two

Kerigan

Toby had concluded that I needed combative lessons. Three or more weeks had passed, I had finished four book series, drawn my way out of six sketchbooks, cleaned the house top to bottom five times, and even annoyed Grinny, (Whom, along with Smile, was also a monsterous, deformed freak. Well, I mean, the bottom half of his body was red where his black fur had fallen off. And he could communicate much like Ric- Slendy could, though he had a French accent. Smile hadn't yet figured out how to talk to us yet, according to Jeff. I told Grinny that Smile just wasn't smart enough.) so Toby enlisted the help of Brian, whom requested to be called Hoody, to show me how to fight. A beginners class, I suppose.

We quickly deduced that while 'Hoody' was inherently faster at running and dodging, I was faster, stronger, just flat out better, at literally everything else. We also surpassed 'Masky,' (previously known as Tim- seriously who's picking these guys' fricken aliases?) and EJ. I was now pitted against Toby, bruises littered along my skin from EJs jabbing strikes.

I had learned that EJ stroke like a cobra- fast, and with either an open palm or the tips of his fingers to cause the most pain. He had grace and skill, and a method.

Toby? Didn't know the meaning of the word. His jabs and punches and kicks were erratic and fast, giving me no time to anticipate his next move.

"C-Cmon, Kerigan! M-Move!" He snapped, darting from my field of vision. I couldn't breath and my whole body aches from the exertion I had put it through. My anger was starting to boil past it's breaking point. My knees gave out as he delivered a swift kick to them, and I choked, getting knocked back by a palm to my ribcage. I groaned, my vision blurring and blackening at the edges. "Get up! D-Do you want to live or not?" He snapped, and from the shadows in the dark training room, I caught a glimpse of shiny orange goggles, coming straight at me. I mustered every ounce of strength of my body, and screamed as I kicked at him as hard as I could.

He stumbled back a bit, and rubbed his upper inner thigh a bit, smirking at me slightly.

"G-Good kick. That tingled. If you're fighting a g-guy, aim for the c-crotch. Hell, kick a-anyone in the crotch, and they're d-down for a bit. I think that's all you can handle today." The last sentence was more clear as he slid off his goggles and mouth guard, kneeling down and taking my hand, his eye twitching and filled with worry. "Y-You okay?"

Breathlessly, I felt my throat constrict as tears of pain burned my eyes. My head pounded from a blow he had dealt to my temple earlier, and all the bruises I had only hinted at now filled my whole body with burning pain as my adrenaline wore off. He carefully picked me up, and I groaned, my whole world spinning. He carefully took me to our room, our bathroom, and started a warm bath. He reached over and gently kisses my head, and my neck, before undressing me and pulling me onto his hips. Weakly, I wrapped myself around him, sighing.

He wasn't completely back to my Toby, but it was a lot easier to pretend now. As he carefully laid me in my tub and the warm water relaxed my muscles, he spoke softly, telling me how good I was now, how proud he was of me. I smiled slightly at him. He mumbled that I was also extremely hot while hot and sweaty and fighting. I chuckled and weakly reached up to pull him into a kiss.

He returned the kiss with a smile before leaving me to wash myself. I relaxed for a bit more, staring out the steamed window. Pitch black outside, just like usual.

I know it sounds cliche or like it should be in a bad B-movie, but my life was an eternal darkness. A never ending night. There was no sun, no moon, just stars. Which, sort of made sense. As LJ explained it, we aren't really in a different dimension, just in a different realm. We normally exist in the Over Realm, which is where most beings exist. Right now we were in the Under Realm, where the monsters and nightmares live.

And then there was the Other Realm. The realm most resembling heaven. Only the best of the best get into there, and as LJ explains it, whoever the individual believes in to be the higher power is whom presides over the realm. And if an individual doesn't believe in anyone, they appear as the best of themselves. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back, sighing.

Down here in the Under Realm, you couldn't go five feet without running into some deformed monster that smelled like stale blood and alcohol. I mostly kept to the mansion, but had to go with Jeff once to get some feminine products. He was less than happy about having to take me but didn't complain. "At least you know exactly what you need." He said, and led me back to the house.

Toby did his best to console me and treat me no different than above ground, and even went as far as to keep his ripped cheek under a façade most of the time. But I had smelled the blood on him on nights where he left after supper and didn't return until three am. I never forgot what he is, and I'll never forget.

I rose from my bath and slipped a towel around my chest, sighing at my bruise covered skin. I dried off stiffly and stepped into my panties before walking out in the room to find Toby getting dressed. I frowned and crossed my arms.

"Where are you going?" I asked angrily.

"I-I gotta go o-out." He mumbles back, and I sigh in frustration.

"Of course. You're gonna show back up at three in the morning smelling like blood and I'll be here so worried I won't be able to sleep." I whined, trying to guilt trip him. Petty, yes, but I really just wanted to curl up with him. He sighs and tosses a sports bra at me, and I painfully pull it on.

"I-I... Won't be back for three days." He whispered, and I stopped halfway into my bra, my eyes widening in shock, anger, and fear.

"Are you fucking serious? You're going to leave me here, alone, for three fucking days?"

"I have to, Kerigan." He growled, eyes narrowing at my accusing tone. I stomp a bare foot, groaning.

"What about our training? Do I get a break?"

"No, L-LJ is going to train with you, though he's more into muscle building and stamina th-than combative moves." He turns back to me and carefully tucks a strand of wet purple hair behind my ear before cupping my face to kiss my forehead. "You'll be alright. You're stronger than y-you think, honey."

"I don't want to be here alone." I whispered as I closed my eyes. He sighed.

"Y-You won't be. Jeff and LJ are going to be here. You're not alone."

"What about at night? What if I have a nightmare? What if I have an episode? Toby I don't like it here without you. I don't know how this world works. I can't just walk to the school and swing for an hour after a nightmare."

"I-I know, and I'm sorry, but I can't skip this trip. I love you. Okay?"

"Yeah... Whatever..." I mumbled, and pulled away just as his eyes filled with pain. I carefully curl up in the bed, listening to him leave before I fell into an exhausted pain filled sleep.