Plant Boy

Chapter 5 - Wonder

The girl was about my height. She had white hair that reached down to her neck as well as had skin as pale as my own. The fellow hybrid's grass-green eyes were distracting to me somehow, almost like a watch that hypnotists use.
The tank top she wore exposed her upper chest and shoulders. She also had blue jeans and white shoes to complete the outfit.
I gaped when my attention shot to her huge, feathery wings. They were about as wide as she was tall and the feathers were white as snow. The feature made her look like an angel in a way.
"Hi?" She asked. The girl had a twisted look of confusion upon her face.
I jumped when she spoke. Apparently admiring her wings wasn't the right approach.
     "Sorry", I apologized as I shook my head. "I just couldn't help noticing your wings."
     "What about them?" She asked with widened eyes. The majestic wings folded up behind her back as soon as she spoke.
     I took in a deep breath. I lost my total train of thought with each glance at those green eyes.
     "Well", I started somewhat quietly after a moment.
     "Well?!" She asked. "Who are you? Why are you here?"
     I took a step back as I frowned.
     "My name is PH-09", I explained softly. The girls eyes widened as I spoke.
     "Go on", she persisted as she studied my eyes. Her expression became monotone as I decided to watch back into her stare. I looked in another direction when I felt my face become warm.
     "Just", I started then paused. "Look at my hands." I held them out to display the green.
     "You have purple eyes", She whispered in complete awe.
     "Yeah", I agreed. I turned my attention back to her face. "But look at my hands."
     "I get it already. You have green hands", she sighed as she rolled her eyes. "But your eyes are purple!"
     "You have wings and you're amazed by purple eyes?" I asked softly.
     "It's such a rare color", the girl admitted as she gave a smile. "Look around, there's no purple in this place."
I gave a small look around just to check her theory. There was no purple in sight.
"Your eyes", I started as I continued to look around. "They are green like a plant."
"I guess", she agreed. For a couple silent moments I looked around trying to avoid her eyes.
"Are you by any chance PH-14?" I asked after a long moment.
"Yes", she answered. "How did you know?"
"A scientist told me", I answered.
"Did that guy send you here?" She asked. I risked loosing train of thought to look at her eyes again.
"I made him do it", I answered with a faint smirk.
"How?" She asked. I avoided eye contact as she looked at my face again.
"I just did", I answered with a grim tone.
There was yet again a long silence that followed. When I turned my head to see her eyes I spotted a look of both pity and interest.
"What?" I asked.
"I've seen the other hybrid but not you you", PH-14 stated. "I thought you, PH-09, died at five years old."
"Call me Nine", I corrected. "I hate my actual name."
"Okay Nine, why have I never heard of you?" PH-14 asked again.
"They kept you guys away from me. I have no idea", I answered as my smile faded. "Someone I care about was taken away for telling the secret."
My lips twitched as I felt tears come again.
"No", I whimpered as I turned away trying to hide the tears. "You see nothing I swear."
My eyes spread wide open as I felt her arms wrap around me.
"I haven't known you long", PH-14 murmured as her wings covered me like a soft blanket. "But you have a friend here in this world of demons. Okay?"
I nodded slowly as more tears rolled out.
"Thank you", I whispered softly. I looked at her face which was now close to mine.
"What are you?" I asked after I sniffled.
"What?" She asked softly as she slowly let go of her embrace.
"I'm eighty-five percent human and fifteen percent plant", I stated as I looked into her sparkling eyes. "I have never seen an animal with eyes like those."
She almost looked offended.
"Um", she started. "I'm human, bird and cat."
"Cat's have distracting eyes?" I asked softly.
She gave me a confused look. "Explain", she ordered as she squinted at me.
"I c-can't stop looking them", I stuttered as my face started to be warm. "They are hypnotizing."
I blinked as PH-14's cheeks adopted a new pinkish color. She shook her head slowly as she gave a faint smile.
     "What?" I asked. "It was a serious question."
     "I know", she sighed with a cute smile. She stopped looking back into my eyes as she giggled.
     "Wait", I started. "Along with the eyes, what else makes you cat?"
     "Well", she explained as the pink on her face had faded. "Now it's your turn to look at my hands."
     I blinked as she put up her hand for me to see. At first glance there was nothing special was to be seen.
     "I see nothing out of the ordinary", I commented as I closely examined the back of her hand.
     "Look at my fingertips", she whispered.
     I trailed my attention to the tip of her claw. I blinked repeatedly upon seeing it; A claw the size of a centimeter had grown from under each nail. Each claw reflected sunlight off of their smooth, white surfaces.
     My jaw opened wide as I witnessed the claws retreat back into her fingers.
     "Amazing", I whispered. "I want to do that."
     "Not really", PH-14 sighed as she looked to the sky. "I was just born with it."
"Alright!" A familiar voice sounded. The suddenness made my gut fill with adrenaline.
I whipped around and stared at the scientist who spoke. He was standing at a somewhat distant point between the gateway and I.
"Alright Nine let's move along", He urged.
"Why now?" I asked, raising my voice. I saw no reason to leave.
"Why not?" The scientist answered. "You wanted to see the other hybrid, right?"
Before I had the chance to even open my mouth I felt arms and wings wrap around my shoulders.
"Go. I promise we can meet again", PH-14 whispered in my ear. "Maybe we can convince him again or something."
"Come on love birds!" The scientist chuckled obnoxiously. "See what I did there?"
PH-14 let me go in an instant. A slight feeling of dread followed her lack of embrace.
"What?" I asked turning my attention to the scientist. "Love birds?"
"Oh never mind", the scientist growled as he rolled his eyes. He turned and started walking. "Come on!"
A figure walked up out of the corner of my eye as I started walking. PH-14 was to my left.
"You're coming too?" I asked as hope spiked.
"To the door", She answered. "I just need to tell you about PH-19."
"Yes?" I asked. "I recall the scientist say that Nineteen's a douche. Is he?"
"Sadly", PH-14 sighed. "Just be ready."
I gripped the red device tighter as we approached the doorway.
"There is something different about you", I told PH-14.
"I have wings, I know", she responded as the scientist walked through the door. I stopped before exiting to the real world.
"Not that", I corrected as I faced the black rectangle of a door. I turned slowly to put my hand out to her.
"I believe this is a human sign of respect. A handshake", I explained as she stared at my hand. "You're different because you deserve respect."
She took my hand and held on tight. After about two shakes she let go.
"I don't want to keep you here long but I believe this is a deep sign of human respect. One I would never do for anyone else", she whispered silently as she looked at the ground.
"What is it?" I asked.
"This", she said as she put her face close to mine. I felt my face get warm as her lips pressed against my cheek.
My whole world stopped as she did it, and for some reason it made me smile. No wonder why humans did it out of deep respect.
"In that case", I whispered as I put my lips against her cheek. I quickly brought my head back to see her face for one final time. The pink on her face was more evident than ever as she smiled and looked at the ground.
"That respect is for you as well", I whispered before backing into the door.