Them Humans

Part 3

  MADDY'S POV

   "I've got to go." I say as I get myself together.  He walks me out of the trees and smiles. "My mom's probably waiting for me."

   "Alright, see you..... Maddy." He nods his head but I just turn away from him, running back up the hill. WHen I reach the top, Caleb frowns at me and begins scolding me. I turn back to Zeff as he was already gone.

*********

   For the rest of the week, I couldn't think about anything besides Zeff. Charlie was gone most of the time for some reason and Caleb was being more annoying since Charlie was out of sight. Kenneth was busy loving his girlfriend and I had nothing to do. The books I studied seemed like such a lie now that I saw an actual human, the literature books couldn't take over the thought of Zeff, and nothing could get him out of my mind. 

   "Mom can I go live in the city where all the humans live?" I ask as she looks at me.

  "Ahh, my poor cutesy daughter has finally lost her mind." SHe says as she tosses the dish she cleaned on the table.  "What happened? Feeling a little depressed? EVeryone goes through it don't worry."

"Mom I'm serious." I say. "I don't want to live here in this place for hundreds of years and then just die. I want to explore! You know, the world? Go to the schools that normal humans go to. I want to make human friends!"

"Stop this now." She snaps at me and begins to wash more dishes. "You're an Edmin. You're not like those humans."

   "Yeah, exactly why we should try to get involved!" I say back to her.

   "Amanda go to your room right now." She snaps even stricter. "Now."

   I stare at her, my competitive side rising against my mom. But I just rolled my eyes, got up, and walked to my room where I slammed the door. I heard her yelling at me to dare to shut the door again but I ignored her. I sat on my bed and took out the books written by the elder Edmins. THey talked about humans and how they are such disgusting creatures. They went to war with each other-even though they are the same kind-, they murdered each other-comrades-, and even betrayed each other. 

   I tossed the book down and closed my eyes, thinking about Zeff. I imagined the city life and the humans around me. Would my abilities be shown there? Would they try to hunt me down? My ability...to hear thoughts...to control objects...that was my ability. I've used it many times, but I just turn it off because...thoughts are...personal. I wanted to know what humans were thinking. 

   The next few days, I couldn't stop thinking about the human world and I was completely in my own little world. I couldn't even focus on what anyone was saying. 

   "Maddy! THe pot is burning!" Mom yells at me and runs to the stove to turn it off. I look at her and nod my head. "Maddy what is going on in that head of yours? You've been out of it these days."

    "Can you please let me go to the city? I promise I won't do anything stupid." I beg as she stares at me.

  "Is this what this is all about?" She frowns disapprovingly. "How old did you say you were?"

   "Mom I'm 17, you should know that." I say, sitting at the kitchen chair. I put my hands on the table, and begin to play with them. 

   "It's about time you get married then." She says and my head swings up in confusion. "Look at your friends Martha and Kelly, they're already married! "

   "But Mom, I don't want to get married." I say. "I'm only 17. I'm not even 50 yet! Or 100!"

   "I found someone you would like. Don't mess this up okay? DInner with him tonight. His father is one of the leaders here so you better be on your best." She growls. 

  "So you're telling me this NOW?" I ask, angry that she didn't even tell me a day or two before. "Did you even think if I WANTED to be married or not?"

   "Maddy, you will get married and that's it. No buts." She says. "Now go shower, pick your best clothes, and get going."

   "Mom I hate you." I growl as she gives me the death stare. I go into my room and I feel myself being pressed down. It felt suffocating because the thought of freedom made me feel so sad now. I must have been thinking about it too much. After crying my eyes out, I shower, picked a dress, put make up, curled my hair, and went out with a bag. She gave me the address and when I arrived, there was a boy around my age with golden hair. He smiled at me.

   "Are you Amanda?" He asks me politely. I look at him head to toe and nod my head. "Follow me."

  "Sorry, I really need to use the restroom, is that fine?" I ask politely as he nods. He points at the table we were going to be at and I nod. Too bad, he seemed like a nice guy. I went into the restroom, took the dress off myself and wiped the make up off my face. I took out normal clothes from my bag and tied my hair up. WHen I was done fixing myself, I went back in and saw him. I sat next to him with a smile. "Hey."

   "Why'd you change?" He asks awkwardly.

  "That wasn't me. " I shake my head as I see light in his eyes. "And I'm sorry to say, but I'm not the one you want to marry. I don't want to get married right now. I have things I want to do without being held back."

   "I can help you." He says quickly. "Whatever you want. I can do it for you."

   "No you can't." I shake my head. 

   "What is it? Just tell me." He says with his eyes deep into mine. Could I trust him? Could I? I decided that I could trust him.

   "I want to live in the city. WIth the humans." I say as I watch him. The light in his eyes disappear as he gets up. 

  "I'll get going now." He says quickly and runs away. I also get up and sigh.

  "Well at least I can tell mom he's the one who bailed." I say to myself with a laugh. When I arrived home, there were many men there. There were men talking with my mom who had this worried look on her face and then Kenneth, who spotted me. 

   "Kenneth!" I ran to them as the men saw me. He motioned them to grab my arm as I struggled. Kenneth shoved them away from me and put me behind him with mom next to him. 

   "What the hell did you do Amanda?" Kenneth growls at me. 

  "I-I didn't do anything. I promise." I say as my marriage date appeared from behind the men.

  "That's her." He says with a low disgusted voice. HE ratted me out.

  "You bastard!" I yell as I run towards him as the men block me. "Let me go!"

   "Amanda! What! Did! You! Do!" Mom yells at me as I feel myself being taken back. Did she not trust me that I didn't do anything wrong? I just wanted to go out of the mountains and into the human world. I saw her face of disappointment, I looked at Kenneth who looked as if he could betray me any second, and then the men around me who grabbed my arms. 

  "Take her away." A man says and they drag me away. 

  "You're such a bastard!" I scream at him. "You can no idea what I'm capable of! Let me go!"