BEASTLY

xviii. uncover

This song isn't available on YouTube. Go buy Mario Jose's EP and listen to it. :)

Mitch Grassi

I found myself wandering the streets on a cold January evening. I had been behind this hideous face for five months. Four more, just about, and I'd remain this way. Four more and my fate would reflect Avi and Naomi's fate. They didn't know about the deal I'd made with the devil, nor did I want them to know. I tried to keep everything quiet and just go through the motions. I wasn't really making any effort towards finding anybody to love this face, nor did I want to. I didn't feel like I deserved love, if I'm being completely honest with myself. I was finally accepting of who I was. Who I am.

I'm a terrible person. I don't care about anyone else but myself, with the exception of Wyatt. He's probably the only one I care for almost more than myself. But that's only assumed. Cats can't feed themselves or change their own litter box. So, I guess I do care about somebody more than myself. It just doesn't seem like it.

I'd found myself enjoying the cold air more, especially at dark. No one was around and the town was quiet, considering it was two in the morning. Life was at a standstill and I remained awake, unable to sleep. The flowering tree was causing my wrist to feel like it was on fire today and I didn't know why. No amount of lotion or medicine could stop the pain, and nothing I did or didn't do could make it go away.

I found a street light illuminating a corner and headed towards it. As I came into contact with the light I whined, being light sensitive. Since I was always inside I'd never come in contact with the sun as much, and now any time I saw any intense light it would attack. I stuck my arm out of the hoodie sleeve it hid under and stared at the little buds that poked out along the tree. Since my time was cut short, these flowers bloomed earlier. It was as if I were growing an actual tree on my arm, and it itched like the dickens.

I fought scratching, knowing it wouldn't do me any good. It would only make it worse. So, I proceeded, delving further into New York. The static noise surrounding me was so soothing. It's how I slept at night now, leaving my window wide open so I could enjoy the cool night air on my skin. When I slept at night my skin would always feel like it was burning, like I was lying in a literal hell.

I walked a couple more blocks down and got lost within the night. I didn't know what time it was, nor did I care. Naomi knew not to worry about me, though I know she did. She just didn't verbalize it as much. But I found myself turning a corner and hearing voices with harsh, quiet tones. It made me quite curious, so I turned that corner with caution and made sure my hood covered my head tightly, not revealing an ounce of my light colored skin. Fear crept up in my throat, but I swallowed it back and kept going, placing myself behind trash cans or metal stairwells as I trudged towards the quarrel.

"Tommy, you don't get it. I will get you the money, but not until next week."

"I don't think you fucking get it, Hoying. I need the money tonight. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Tonight. Where's my damn money?"

It sounded like a typical fight, but all bets were off when I heard the name Hoying. The first voice I heard, presumably the owner of the Hoying surname, was a bit older and deeper. I could only assume it was Scott's father. I didn't know too many people around with the name Hoying, but it still worried me. What if Scott were involved?

Or, a more important question, why did I find myself worrying about Scott?

I crouched down behind the closest trash can I could find, grateful that I was wearing all black and wasn't visible to the naked eye at this time of night, and continued to listen. Should I be eavesdropping? No. But I'm a stubborn little girl.