Chapter 9: Min
1088 Words
"Thank you," I climbed through my window as Bi's eyes scanned my room in wonder.
"This is where you sleep?"
"Yeah, fortunately."
Bi clung to the window sill while I padded to my gate to listen for anyone downstairs.
This might be my hundredth time checking if anyone was downstairs, but I couldn't calm my nerves since there was a slight chance they might ambush me and manhandle me to dismember my body early.
"Hey," Bi whispered. "I don't smell anyone in here."
My shoulders relaxed. I was relieved to hear her say that.
I turned to face her and she didn't move from her position on the window sill. "Sorry, I'm still on edge."
"If it makes you feel better, want me to stay longer? I come around here a lot to play with the housepets and no one seems to notice me."
Her white hair must be the center of attention because of how eye-catching it is. Mine is no different and I get spotted easily like a sore thumb.
"I don't mind," I sat in front of the window on the floor. "I'm... really lonely. All I have is my teddy bear and books."
"Okay, well... is it okay if I stay a little longer? Don't worry I won't come in unless granted permission to."
"I would prefer if you did come in. Your hair is kind of―"
"Bright?" Bi giggled. "Yeah, I know."
"I'll bring something to wash your feet with," I stood up and walked to the bathroom, returning with a basin filled with warm water. I held a clean cloth and towel in my hand and when I placed the basin down, I motioned Bi to put her feet in. I carefully used the cloth to wash her feet clean.
She tensed at first but slowly relaxed after noticing my carefulness. "Do you always wash others' feet?"
"No, but I wanted to do this as thanks for carrying me here."
"Min, I said it's fine."
"My guilt won't die down unless I do this, please?"
Bi sighed. "Just try not to scrub so hard. A wolf's skin is sensitive from the constant transformations they go to. It's annoying but understandable."
"Okay," I said, being warier of how hard I scrubbed her.
I finished washing her feet clean and used the towel to dry them. "Okay, you can come inside now."
I picked up the basin, cloth, and towel so she could walk into my room. She felt my floor with her hand and then glazed her fingertips on my bed.
"Was this the only bed you've slept on for years?"
"Either that or the floor," I walked out of my room to pour the water down the drain, noting to clean the bathroom later.
I entered my room again to see Bi holding a book I'd read more than one thousand times.
I could probably rewrite the entire thing without looking at it.
"I've read this before," Bi muttered, flipping through the cream-colored pages. "In the woods. We found a bunch of human books and learned how to write and read from them. Liy taught us since he had a little bit of experience before being thrown out."
"I tried to read the books as an infant but it didn't work out since my attention span was bad. Noah had to teach me himself how to read until I was old enough to attend school with him."
"Do you still go to school?"
"No, not anymore."
"Why not?"
"Noah was my escort to school."
"And they don't trust you going alone?"
"They say that I might go wild by myself."
"But the bracelet―" she looked up at me.
"They're too scared to risk the chance of me going alone." I sat down on my bed, bringing my knees to my chest.
"Do you miss going to school?" she placed down the book, walking over to me to sit on the bed next to me.
"Yes... no... maybe." I hugged my shins. "I don't know. School was never a memorable experience. I rarely interacted with anyone. I don't remember if I know any of their names."
"I've never been to human school but I know that I'll never go. It's too full of rules and expectations."
"But I'll be away from here."
"Well," Bi swung her feet as she fidgeted her fingers. "What if I came over a lot? Would that help?"
"I don't know," I muttered. "I'm still anxious having you in my room. He has a camera in my room and there's a slight possibility the footage will be seen."
"You don't want to use the key to sneak downstairs to delete the footage?"
"I can't bring myself to use the key, let alone approach the lock."
"Then what made you invite me inside?"
"I took this leap of faith to let myself enjoy the comfort of someone I trust. In the back of my mind, this seems too scary to continue doing, but since you're already in here ― I don't want to be alone after finally letting you into my room. A place where those humans can't reach me, no matter how much they shake that gate in rage."
"I'm glad you trust me to be in here, but―" Bi looked around my room, her expression saddened. "―What are you going to do about food and water?"
"I'm thinking about finding a job or―"
"That's too risky! Your face is R.C.R's main project for the trafficking arrangement." Bi exclaimed, looking at me.
"Main project?"
"Yeah! They paste your face everywhere to keep you on their radar! Something like a blacklist."
"So what can I do? I can't starve until my death date comes."
"Uh," Bi looked down as she thought for a moment then looked up at me. "I could... find a way to bring food to you."
"How?"
"I can't tell you, you won't like the idea."
"B-But what if it's dangerous?"
"It's a risk I'm willing to take to keep you alive longer."
"Bi―"
"I know you said that you don't like charity or the idea of pity, but this isn't that ― I'm doing it out of my own will, though I have something to gain out of it too."
My heartbeat sped up. The anticipation of her words made my stomach coil in trepidation. What did she mean?
"What?" I asked, watching her lips curl up into a soft grin.
"Just trust me."
- Writer
