T O X I C

8: Violet

I share a room with two other girls: Carrie and Ophelia. They usually only talk to each other, only involving me when they feel its been too long and they pity the way I sit on the sidelines. Really, it’s all strategic. I thought I couldn’t trust anyone before - now, I’m Raceless, and teaming up with the most hated person in the world. I can’t even trust Axios.

“What about you, Violet?” Ophelia asks, her brown eyes begging for clues. They both giggle as I drag myself out of my daze.

“Sorry?”

“Anyone in the house you like?” Carrie smiles and twirls her long, blonde hair.. “I think Axios is pretty hot.”

“Wh-what? Why?” It’s my first reaction. I can’t help but feel protective.

“Have you seen that boy’s eyes?” Ophelia asks, even though I obviously have. They both groan, “Yeah!” and giggle again.

“And his body,” Carrie adds, fanning herself with her hand.

“Like you’ve seen it,” Ophelia teases. As awkward as this situation is for me, it’s nice to be doing ‘normal girl’ stuff. It’s somewhat soothing, and although I wouldn’t say I want to stay in this moment forever, I certainly enjoy the time I am.

“So?” Ophelia presses. “Who?”

I just grin and roll my eyes.

+ + + + +

We’ve been in the house for two weeks. The mayor finally took us to the mall to get some clothes. Bry got skirts and dresses while I only got pants that will allow me to run whenever I need to. Although it’s nice to have new clothes, being able to take a shower every day is the best part about living in the house. The town, though, still creeps me out. I don’t know if Axios and Bry feel as paranoid as I do, but maybe it’s because I’m in a big group again - which means the chances of somebody discovering the fact that I am Raceless has skyrocketed.

Everyone hates the Raceless. It’s one of the only things that Humans, Magickans, and Mutants all agree on. It means I don’t have a scar, and that means I wasn’t born in the hospital - and that means I’m an illegal baby. The scar on the wrist is marked into babies when they are born with the very same toxic waste that destroyed this country. It’s a form of identification, the government says, but I believe it’s just another way to control the most unpredictable things on Earth: people. Fire could be described as unpredictable, but no matter what you can always assume that if you touch it, it will burn you. People don’t even have something that basic. When you meet a person the only thing you know is that in that moment, you’re breathing the same air.

Unless they’re holding their breath.

My mother was a very powerful and rare Magickan. She was a rebel - teaming with the Humans. That’s how she met my father. Raceless people are the scum of the Earth because it represents two traitors. Raceless people cannot be controlled. And people of all races will stop at no lengths to make sure they’re all eliminated. I have a bad feeling that I am the only one left. The weird thing about me is that I still have powers, I just don’t know what they are or how to use them to my advantage. I have a feeling it has something to do with mine or other people’s minds. Also, I only made it so far because I resemble a Mutant: my hair being half red and half black.

I make my way down the stairs in search of Axios, and although I want to speak with him about Celeste, I can’t help but think about when I’ll admit that I’m Raceless - or when he’ll find out. I can’t believe I hid it from him for two years already. It feels like forever but when I consider telling him the truth, I feel like I need two more just to prepare for his reaction. We run into each other in the kitchen.