Village in the Hills Chapter 1
Fandom: The Hills Have EyesÂ
Pairing: Lizard/Reader, LizardxReader
Triggers: kidnapping, birth, swearing, some violenceÂ
Authors note: Thanks for checking this chapter out! I hope you enjoy it!Â
The blazing desert sunâs scorching rays beat down on the large box shaped vehicle that laid motionless on its side. You could feel the lava-like rays against your face but made no attempt to move. It had all happened so fast. You had never been in a car accident before and rolling the ambulance while on the job was certainly nothing you expected. There was a terrible ringing in your ear that deafened you for a moment. You opened and closed your eyes trying to take in your surroundings. You could see color, shapes and movement but your eye sight blurred. You blinked a few times as your surroundings began to focus. Your head ached from banging around the vehicle but luckily you had not been knocked out. You definitely had whip-lash but were less likely to have a concussion.
â___!â A manâs voice called from your left. The vision spun a little but you turned to see a man with mocha-brown hair and matching eyes. He was older than you by 10-15 years. He was your senior and had trained you while you were preparing to become a paramedic. Concern filled his eyes as he managed to get out the seat that strapped him down. He wore pressed black pants and a button down white shirt that matched yours. The name of the city you worked for sewn into the dress shirt. â___, are you alright?â He questioned, resting his hand on your shoulder. You blinked a few times before you nodded.
âI think so.â You replied. Mimicking the movements of a sloth you began to move your limbs. Nothing seemed broken. You groaned slightly as you unbuckled your seatbelt. Your body was sore but nothing that you couldnât handle. âAre you ok, Christian?â
âFine.â He muttered as he glanced over you, looking for any serious injuries. You returned the favor and made sure he wasnât hurt. Once he deemed you to be in good health, he moved out of his seat. The ambulance was still on its side and it took some acrobatic moves before Christian was able to reach the opening to the back.
âThompson, you ok?â Christian called, anxious to get the scoop on his team memberâs condition. His head tilted a bit before you heard him bang his fist against the doorway.
âOh shit!â Christian spat before going into the back. You could hear him shuffling through the back.
âWhat is it?â you asked carefully following after him. Walking in a tipped ambulance was more difficult than you thought it would be. A gasp left your lips when you saw the condition of the back. A few of the cabinets designed to hold supplies had faltered during the roll. To say the back was a mess would be an understatement. It honestly looked like a mini tornado had made itself at home.
âThompson!â you heard Christian cry as he hastily made his way to the left corner by the back doors. Your eyes widened lightly when you saw Thompson, a red haired, green eyed goof you happened to work with. He groaned as Christian questioned him about his injuries. Due to his many bruises and what looked to be a broken leg it was obvious he had been violently thrown about during the roll.
You made your way to the men, ready to help with whatever you could. Once Thompson had been lifted onto the gurney, you turned and opened the back doors while Christian stinted and bandaged him up. Sunbeams began to pool further into the tilted vehicle. You jumped out into the sweltering light. Your hand lifted up to shield your eyes from the blinding light as you walked around the vehicle, searching for any signs of human life. Everything seemed quiet and empty. The desert, being nothing but rocks and sand sure was pretty, you decided. Some of the rock formations even looked like a piece of art. It reminded you a lot of those old Western movies, you used to watch with your father.
Wanting to explore a bit more you began to climb up one of the hills. You were maybe a third of the way up when you heard something snap and a light feral growl. You paused and listened, it sounded like a wild animal maybe a coyote? Was there a pack near here? You heard a branch break, telling there for sure was something wild out there. Your heart fell to your stomach as it began to beat slighter faster. You didnât dare move, incase whatever was out there decided you were dinner. You heard another snarl fill the air and thenâŚ.nothing. The air became barren and eerie.
Uneasiness began to form in a pit in your stomach, something about this place wasâŚoff. Your eyes darted around the area but found nothing that indicated danger. You found nothing but a few desert lizards sunbathing on a large rock.
âItâs ok___,â you thought, âthereâs nothing there, you paranoidâŚâ Suddenly something grabbed your shoulder from behind. You yelped and spun around. Your heart galloped like a race horse with no plans of slowing down anytime soon. Familiar mocha eyes were wide in surprise as they met yours. Suddenly a loud chuckle boomed through the air.
âChristian.â You gasped, you placed a hand on your chest in attempt to calm your heartâs palpitations. âDonât do that to me, you jerk.â Christian continued laughing a moment before wiping a few tears from his eyes.
âItâs not my fault you didnât hear me coming.â He defended before nodding towards the ambulance. âCome on, we need to talk about a plan to get out of here. Thompson isnât in any condition to walk or travel far distances. His leg was badly twisted in the crash.â
âHow does he seem, otherwise?â you questioned, ready to hear your superiors diagnosis.
âBadly bruised, possible fracturs in his ribs and hip. We need to get to him to a hospital for aâŚ..â your bosses voice trailed off, your forms now in the distance. Dangerous blue eyes peered from behind one of the many great stones, scattered throughout the hills. Silently, an unknown and camouflaged form lurked. His eyes fixated on the two EMTs as you two descended towards your totaled vehicle.
âLizard,â a gruff voice called through the static of his radio.
âYeah, Papa Jupiter?â The form answered, not taking his eyes off his new targets.
âMama Jup wants the female one.â Jupiterâs voice again flowed through machine. âGoggle will take of the males. You snatch the female.â
âGot it.â Lizard leered before he followed you and your boss down the hill, unnoticed.
Back at the crash site, Christian readied himself to leave but not before hampering out orders.
âYou stay here with Thompson.â Christian instructed as he glanced down the desert road. âIâm going to make my way back to that gas station and call for help. The radio isnât picking anything up here. Theyâre going to need to send someone else to help that laboring mother and weâre going to need a lift and tow.â
âAlright. Will you wait for backup then come back here or..?â You asked the older man as he picked up a couple bottles of water from the back of the ambulance. A sigh was expelled from his lips and an unfamiliar look came to his eyes. His brows furrowed in concern.
âIâll see if I can borrow the station ownerâs truck and come back for you two.â He replied, now looking back at you. âI donât like the idea of my team stranded out here in this heat.â
âWeâll be fine. Iâll make sure we both stay hydrated while we wait.â You assured your boss.
âYou donât happen to be a concealed carrier do you?â Christian asked as he eyed the surrounding hills. His brows were still furrowed in concern and mistrust. Had he sensed something amiss as well?
âWeâre in the middle of nowhere.â You chuckled slightly, trying to keep the situation as stress free as possible. âThereâs no one here. I doubt Iâd need a gun.â You could only hope these words were true. The older man scanned the area before he glimpsed back at you.
âStay with the ambulance. Donât wonder off!â He ordered strictly, âI want to come back here and see you both well.â The corner of your lips turned up in a reassuring smile.
âOf course. Be safe out there.â You waved as he started to walk. With one last glance, your boss was on his way back down the lonely and dusty road.
Once Christian was out of eyesight you turned back to Thompson who was resting against the gurney. His eyes were closed and his dead drooped slightly to his right. His breathing looked stable and his coloring was alright, despite the bruises he was covered in. Figuring he was drowsy from the medications Christian had given him earlier, you walked over to your motorized chariot and took out a bottled water that was stored in the back.
After gulping down the lukewarm liquid, you decided to cool down a little more and began to unbutton your white, long sleeved blouse.
âThatâs not very professional.â Thompson teased as the top of your uniform slid to the ground. He was such a dork, you loved it! He was like the cute kid brother you never had. Your favorite black tank top surfaced and instantly you felt slightly cooler.
âWhat? Itâs hot!â You smirked and winked as you teased him back. âBesides thereâs no one else here. I highly doubt Iâm going to get in trouble for trying to stay cool.â
âYeah, yeah, just donât get a sunburn.â Thompson responded before stretching his arms and folding them behind his head. âChristian wonât be happy if he comes here to find you looking like a fried tomato.â He relaxed into the stretcher and within a few moments his snores met your ears.
You let out a chuckle and shook your head. Silence again consumed the air and after a few minutes of nothing you began to wander and explore the area around you a little more.
âThere has to be people nearby.â You decided while scampering up another nearby hill. You hadnât made it far when you heard something shuffle, dislodging a few small rocks from their hiding spots. âMaybe this was a bad idea. Christian did say to stay with the ambulance.â Still, things seemed quiet enough and you couldnât see any obvious signs of danger. You turned and began to make your way back to Thompson when a dangerous, low growl pierced the air. Before you had time to explore where the sound came from, you felt yourself being grabbed and dragged away.
âNo!â Your high pitch scream echoed while you wiggled, kicked at and struggled against your attacker.
âNow, now,â a manâs voice breathed into your ear. âJust come quietly and I wonât have to hurt ya.â
âNope!â You screeched back, âNot going to happen.â You began to fight back harder than before. Finally, you managed to elbow the creature in the stomach with all your might. He hissed and double backed in pain while you squirmed your way out of his hold. You bolted like lightening and ran back towards the ambulance. You needed to get Thompson back inside the motorized contraption and lock the doors. âThompson!â You screamed as you reached the ambulance only to find the stretcher was empty.
âOh god.â You exclaimed. âThompson!â Your heart was in your throat, this couldnât be happening! Frantically, you searched for the injured man left in your care. You had to find him and then figure out a way to keep yourselves safe.
âHelp!â A manâs desperate cries burst. âHelp me, please! Christian! _____!â Without hesitation, you dashed towards your friendâs screams. You took a few steps before you heard the familiar, rural growl from the before.
âShit!â You cursed, hoping to outrun the creep from before.
âAh, no you donât.â the creature behind you hissed. He grabbed your arm and pulled you back towards him. âCome âere.â You let out a scream before you were roughly turned around. Your eyes were wide and filled with fear as his fingers clawed tightly on your shirt. His face lowered to yours, his teeth barred as a rough growl erupted through his lips. Tears began to form in your eyes as he sneered down at you.
Thompsonâs terrified screams intensified and you desperately tried to squirm your way out of this manâs arms. Suddenly those screams faded into nothing. ThompsonâŚwas heâŚ? No, you shook your head slightly, he couldnât be.
âYa a healer?â a gruff voice questioned, as rough hands gripped the collar of your shirt. Your eyes remained on the ground, your lips moved but no sound left them until he let out another roar.
âWâŚwwhat?â You stuttered, managing to hold in a sob. You could feel the tears wanting to break through the dam your managed to build in your eyes. You heard a loud throaty snarl before you felt yourself being thrown back. Fear brushed over you, still you glanced up and managed to catch a glimpse at the person who had attacked you. He had a cleft lip and what looked like to be a misaligned jaw. His skin was tan and rough from hours spent in the blazing sun. His eyes were blue and cold as ice yet they still managed to burn into you. His hair gray, matted and dirty. He looked older than you but you couldnât be sure by how many years.
âAre ya deaf?â the man roughly shook you, his body bent at the hip so his face was parallel to your own, âI asked if yeh âre a healer.â You could feel his warm breath against your cheek. His stare was intimidating. When you didnât answer his arm lifted as if ready to strike you. You flinched and braced yourself for an incoming blow but it never came.
âLizard!â Another gruff voice boomed, âYou bang her up much more and sheâll be no use to Mama Jup.â
âSheâs a feisty one.â The man yelled back. âSheâs not going to come with us without some force.â
âThat may be,â A man dressed in a long black coat appeared. You internally screamed as the second man slithered towards you. âbut Mama Jup wanted the female to help with her labor. You donât harm the girl âtil I give the ok. Ya got that?â
They spat things back and forth while you found yourself in a fog. Thoughts swirled around in you mind. What the hell was happening? None of this made any sense. Who were these people? Why were they here? How many were there? Why did they attack you and kill Thompson? Where was Christian? Was he dead too? So many thoughts and questions plagued you. It was only when one word sunk in that you found release from your trance.
âLabor?â You questioned, as you listened to their conversation. âDid you say you have a laboring mother?â The two men glanced to you now that you had spoken up. Quickly you were on your feet, startling the first man who still held onto your tank top. âWe were called out to aid in a difficult birth. That was you guys wasnât it?â Neither verbally replied but you could see the answer in their eyes.
This changed things even if only for a moment. This is what you were trained for; your job was to help people in medical emergencies. You would be letting down Christian, your parents and even Thompson if you didnât aid the two lives in need.Â
âWhere is the laboring mother?â You quickly asked the men as full EMT mode took over. All fear was gone and you were ready to act as midwife. âItâs imperative I get to her as quickly as possible.â
Two pairs of eyes widened in surprised as they took in your words. Neither had expected this. Your eyes met the manâs with the long black hair. His gaze felt hotter than the sunâs rays. It was like he could see the deepest pits in your soul, challenging you to dare oppose him. You held his gaze for a moment before looking away. Again you shook your head slightly. Did they not understand the dangers of childbirth? You didnât know anything about the situation yet but knew it could be dire if you didnât get to the mother and soon.
âI was called here to help.â You sighed as you folded your arms. Your eyes glanced back up to the semi-stunned males. âI intend to help. If youâre not going to allow me to than just kill me off like Thompson and get it over with.â What the hell were these words coming out of your mouth? Never in your life did you think you could encourage anyone to kill you. What the hell were your thinking, doing? Not a moment passed before the silence was ended.
âMama Jup is in labor.â The dark haired man began as he ascended towards you. You tried to take a step back but the younger manâs grip held you in place. âShe done have babies before. Both came out alive and fineâŚThis one seems different though. Itâs stubborn, like it donât want to be born.â Now you were quiet as you tried to digest what he was telling you.
âI see.â You nodded, âHow long as she been in labor?â Knowledge was key in these situations. You needed to know everything you could.
âToo long.â He replied. âShe didnât think it was in the right position to be born.â
âIf sheâs right, then I need to get to her asap.â You stated, not wanting to waste another moment. âThereâs a black bag near the back corner of the ambulance. It should have all the supplies Iâll need toâŚâ You were cut off by the older man ordering, Lizard to go fetch the bag. He then turned to you.
âFollow me now.â He gnarled before he turned and led you away from the area. After you were released from the first manâs, Lizard you assumed, grip you stumbled forward a bit. You followed quickly behind the dark robed man, unsure what you awaited you. The journey was quiet. Neither of you spoke much, though you were filled to the brim with questions. Surely this man had those answers.
âWhatâs your name?â you asked, curiosity wining over hesitation. The man stopped and glanced back at you. A dangerous look entered his eyes as he peered at you with distrust. Still, it must have seemed like a harmless question.
âIâm called Jupiter.â He replied, before he led you up to a large wooden door. âIs thatâŚa mine opening?â You wondered, things kept getting stranger. You paused though Jupiter kept walking. Surely the laboring mother wasnât in there. There was no light and the underground was no place for a baby to be born. Was this a trick to lure you away from the road where it would be easier to kill you? Jupiter noticed your hesitation and waved you to follow. âCome healer. You said so yourself how important it is to get to Mama Jup, quickly.â
âI did.â You agreed as you approached the mine hesitantly. Your worry must have been apparent on your face because Jupiter spoke up once again.
âThere isnât nothing for you to fear, at least at the moment healer.â His voice was still rough but less fierce. âI wonât allow anyone to harm you, until your purpose is complete.â There was no gentleness to his voice. Still his words seemed sincere and you didnât have much choice. With your nerves jumping like jumper cables, you followed the mysterious man into the darkness. After what seemed like an eternity the two of you emerged into the light. You rubbed your eyes getting them readjusted to the sun. In the valley below the hills wasâŚ
âA village?â You gasped at the building nested between the hills. Relief washed over you like a dream, finally there was something normal about this. Houses were lined by a street and you could even see the outlines of people. You nearly fist bumped the air in joy, but refrained yourself. Your step lightened as you followed the strange man closer to the buildings. Soon that same eerie feeling crept over you once more.
The outlines you thought were human were merely plastic imitations. The figures you saw could not breathe nor offer you relief. They were mannequins, as lifeless as the rocks at your feet. The sign that you passed wen you entered the town also ate at you. Particularly the words âtesting villageâ. Had this place once been used for nuclear testing? If so the levels of radiation had to be extremely high. The village only got creepier as you passed by child mannequins swinging on a swing set. A shiver sped up your spine and you tried to focus on the man leading you through this spooky place.
âThis house.â Jupiter directed you towards one of the homes. Without hesitation you pursued after him and entered the dirty and tattered door, to the house. He guided you through the house. Cries of agony laced the air and soon you found yourself outside a door. Jupiter pushed the door inside and allowed you step in first.
Inside you found a woman lying on the bed, on her left side. She let out a roar, grasping the bedsheets underneath her.
âJupiter!!â She screamed as the contraction she was clearly feeling intensified. âDamn you for doing this to me.â She sobbed the last part. Tears sprang from her eyes before she realized she was no longer alone. She was bald and obese but obviously nine months along. Her breath was labored but her grasp on the sheets loosened. Her blue eyes met your (e/c) ones.
âWhoâŚwhoâre you?â the woman questioned, fear present in her voice and eyes. You went to speak but was interrupted.
âItâs ok, Mama Jup.â Jupiter replied to his mate, he hurried to her side. She looked back to see his familiar face and instantly relaxed. âI brought âer here for ya and the baby.â The woman turned back to you, a small glimmer of hope in her eyes.
âYouâŚyou a healer?â she questioned right before another contraction started. Instinctively you reached for her hand and began to mutter gentle words of encouragement. Memories of your childhood flashed into your mind. You could smell your motherâs soft rose perfume mixed in with the scent of blood and sweat from the laboring mothers she once took care of.
âItâs alright now, Mama Jup.â You softly whispered, your grip on hers was tight but not as tight as hers. She could very well break your fingers if she wanted. âIâm here and I will do everything in my power to help you and your baby be safe. Now, breath and pant through the contraction.â You guided until her pain was temporarily over.
âAre you feeling the need to push?â You questioned, just as Lizard entered the room. He handed you the bag, you had asked for before he scurried out of the room.
âNot yet.â Mama Jup answered, through tired gasps. âIt hurts more than the otherâs did, healer. SomethingâŚainât right.â Again her roars of pain echoed the room. You and Jupiter held her hands while you guided her through some breathing techniques. Your other hand rested gently on top of her stomach.
Once that contraction ended, you talked the older woman through protocol procedures any midwife or doctor would perform. You found Mama Jup almost fully dilated and that she was right. Baby wasnât positioned as it should be. The child was breech, wanting its bum to be brought into the world first. You reached into your bag and pulled out small handheld doppler. It didnât take you long to find a good strong heartbeat, baby was safe, at least for the moment. Still, things were only going to get more complicated.
âWhat is it?â Mama Jup questioned, her eyes bore into yours as if begging for answers. âWhatâs wrong?â
âIt seems your baby wants to be born buttocks first maâam.â You explained softly as you quickly readied all the tools youâd need for babyâs arrival. âThatâs why your in more pain than with your first two. This child is breech.â
âWill the baby be ok?â Jupiter asked, concern washed over his face.
âIt is a complication that can be fatal.â You honestly replied but that wasnât all, âHowever, Iâve seen births like this done many times with happy outcomes. Mama Jup, I need you to listen very carefully to my instructions. Letâs get this baby out safely, shall we?â Hope shown brightly in her eyes as she nodded.
âJust tell me what to do.â She replied, tired though revitalized. Time seemed to blur from this point on. You hadnât been taught these particular methods of birth from your EMT training. No, it was your mother who taught you how to safely handle a situation like this. She was a midwife and master herbalist. She was a strong supporter of natural medicines and often used you as her assistant when you were old enough. You encouraged, complimented and instructed Big Mama as the baby began to descend. It wasnât long before you could see baby was ready to be born.
With caution you talked Mama Jup through a series of small pushes and panting. Soon you held a limp little torso in your hands. The bottom half of babyâs body had been born but her shoulder and head had yet to make the journey into the world. Not wanting the baby to become cold you cautiously wrapped a clean sheet around her little body. You calmly explained what you were doing to the parents and instructed the Mama Jup on how to continue.
With one final cry, Mama Jup, pushed the baby from her body. You hurried to clear the childâs airways however the child barely moved. She didnât cry nor grunt either. Gently you turned the girl onto her side and began rubbing her back. She wasnât dead, her coloring and pulse told you that.
âCome on little one.â You whispered. She needed to breathâŚcryâŚmoveâŚanything.
âHealer?â Big Mama addressed you. You glanced up and saw a flash of fear in her eyes. âWhatâs wrong? Why isnât my baby cryinâ?â
âIs itâŚ?â Papa Jupiter began to ask but you quickly shook your head.
âNo.â You whispered, as you continued to urge baby to cry. âShe just needs a little encouragement, thatâs all.â You rubbed her back and flicked her foot. âCome one, little oneâŚyouâve been so braveâŚâ Staying calm, you maintained your motions. Not a moment later you heard a soft coo pass through the babyâs lips. Seconds later she began to cry and loud as any healthy newborn would.
âThere we are; youâve a daughter!â You beamed, joy overcame you as the child squirmed in your arms. You looked up to the parents, all their fears were now gone. You saw only glee and wonder in their expressions, you mirrored their smiles before glancing back down at the infant. âLetâs cut your cord and then I will turn you over to your mama.â Gently you placed the infant down on the bed, tied the cord and pulled out a pair of sterilized scissors you had brought in your supply bag. Suddenly you felt a hand on your shoulder. You glanced up to see Jupiter was now by your side. He gaze was on his infant daughter.
âIâll do this part, healer.â His gruff voice said softly. You nodded and handed him the scissors. Like the proud papa he was, you watched him lean over and cut the cord. Once that was finished you swaddled the newborn, you lifted her back up into your arms and walked over to her mamaâs side.
âHere you are, mama.â You cooed as the child slipped into her motherâs arms. Big mamaâs eyes lit up. For so long she had been the only female in the clan. Now she had a daughter to share her time with. Jupiter instantly joined her on the bed. His arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders as they both peered happily down at their crying child. A soft smile twitched on your lips. It had been a while since helped with a birth but this part of delivery had always been your favorite. Serenity and warmth oozed seemed to radiate from the scene before you. Yes, watching the new parents bond with their baby and the happiness that followed was your favorite part.
âA girl!â Big Mama beamed proudly at her daughter. âItâs really a girl!â
âWhat we going to call âer?â Jupiter questioned his mate. He had named the boys, it only seemed fitting to allow his mate to name the girl. Mama Jup was quiet for a moment as her baby tightly gripped onto one of her fingers. It was then you noticed some of the newbornâs fingers were fused together. You made a mental note to look her over more thoroughly when she was resting.
âHow âbout Ruby?â Mama Jup suggested, glancing up to Jupiter. âShe looks like a RubyâŚ.doesnât she healer?â You jumped slightly, not expecting to be pulled into their intimate conversation.
âRuby is a beautiful name.â You answered looking down at the babe. Her face was disfigured, part of the bone was where it shouldnât be. Her coloring was good and she was breathing well on her own. Despite the fusion of her fingers, it looked like she had a good strong grip on her motherâs fingers. There were a few things you would need to check on when her mother was resting but such tests could wait. The deformity of her face did nothing to take away from her beauty. âSheâs a little gem born in the desert. I think Ruby would suit her perfectly.â
Big Mamaâs grin widened before she nodded. She had long forgotten what it was like to have another female as company. Women folk understood things that men never could. âYouâre right.â She agreed, âShe is a little desert gem.â
Jupiter reached out and grabbed the black walkie talkie on the table. You could see a glimpse of a smile on his lips as he raised it and spoke. âWe got a baby girl; both she and Mama are alive and well.â Suddenly, various hoots and hollers sprung through the devise. You couldnât help but let out a chuckle as you heard their noise of celebration. Despite everything they had put you through, they were a family. You had a feeling you were being allowed to see something most outsiders would never dream of.
A small bubble of fear began to form in your belly. You were brought here to help Mama Jupe and the baby. You had served your purpose now that both mother and baby were well. What would happen now? Would they kill you like they had killed Thompson?
You shuttered as a chill spiraled down your back. You closed your eyes and allowed yourself to take a few deep breaths, trying to remain calm. Nearly a half hour passed before the afterbirth emerged and you began to clean up the mess that accompanied birth.
âWhere would you like me to put the afterbirth?â You questioned, unsure where they wanted everything.
âYa donât have to worry about that, healer.â Mama Jup responded barely glancing away from her baby. âI can take care of that. Besides I didnât think modern healers cleaned up after births.â
âMost doctors wouldnât.â You confirmed with an impish smirk. âHowever, I am no doctor. Today, I am your midwife and I will ensure you get every care a new mother deserves.â Her eyes widened in surprise before she turned to Jupiter.
âJust place it on the kitchen counter.â Jupiter answered your question. âThen return here, I assume I donât need to warn you what will happen if you run away.â
âI understand, sir.â You replied. His hand waved in dismissal, allowing you to leave the room.
The door closed with a snap behind you, you turned and peered through the unknown hallway. You had been in a hurry when you first arrived. You hadnât noticed any details until now. With every step you took it felt as if you had been transported to another era. The wallpaper, furniture and tv all looked like they were from the 1940âs or 50âs to be precise. Some of the clothing on the mannequins even looked familiar from historical films you had watched in school or would find hanging in your grandmotherâs closet.
Male voices stung the air as you continued down the hallway. Their voices became louder as you walked towards the sound. Two figures leaned against the peeling wall paper as you entered what looked to be the houseâs front room. Immediately you recognized the man with the cleft lip, Lizard. Next to him was a taller man with a stalker built. He wasnât fat just had more muscles. He had only a few strands of hair while his face was deformed with one eye lower than the other and mostly closed.
âWhere do ya think yehâre going?â Lizard hissed, his eyes narrowed on you and he looked like a viper, ready to strike. âYeh sure yeh really wanna try to run?â
âIâm not running.â You returned his glare. âThey asked me to take this to the kitchen.â You motioned to the bowl with the afterbirth in it. âHowever, Iâm not familiar with the layout of the house. I donât know which way to go.â You pulled your gaze away from from Lizardâs intimidating stare while the second figure let out a happy grunt. He clapped his hands before his arm raised, directing you towards the kitchen.
Your lips twerked up into a smile at seeing his glee. You nodded and followed this new figure down another hallway. He seemed pleased with your reaction and attempted to speak with you while you walked. You hadnât the slightest idea what he was telling you. Whatever it was, he was enthusiastic about it. The smile never left his lips and his good eye glittered happily.
Lizard trailed behind you, not allowing his guard to slip. You were a normal, not a mutant. You werenât one of them so you werenât to be trusted. He stayed quiet as he listened to his cousinâs incoherent chatter.
Once in the kitchen you set the bowl on the counter as requested. You needed to head back soon but found it impossible to get away from this new figure, who had seemingly decided you were a friend.
âHowâs Mama and the baby?â Lizard suddenly asked, drawing your gaze back to him.
âBoth are well.â You whispered a reply. It was then you noticed a gash on the side of Lizardâs face. Snapping back into EMT mode you took a step closer and raised your hand to the manâs scarred face.
âAre you hurt?â You asked while Lizardâs eyes widened in surprise, his arms pushed you harshly away from him.
âThe hell ya doing?â He screeched, his eyes narrowed while his hands found his metal, spiked belt.
âYouâre bleeding,â you yelled with as much ferocity as him. âI was just going to cleanâŚâ
âI ainât need no help from a normal like you.â He spat, his voice laced with venom. You went to reply but was cut off by a louder, scarier voice.
âLizard fuck off!!â Papa Jupiter roared. You both turned to see the leader of the clan. Your head dropped and your eyes widened. Shit, you were suppose to head straight back to the room. How long had he waited before he came to search for you?
âCome on, Pluto.â Lizard hissed as his nose scrunched up in disgust. âWe otta head back to the hills ânyway.â Jupiterâs fiery gaze watched as the men escaped from the room. Once they were gone, he glanced to you. You gulped, not liking the look in his eyes.Â
âYou.â Jupiter hissed as he began to creep towards you. Your bubble of fear doubled in size and ready to burst. This man had practically told you they would dispose of you when you were no longer of use. The baby was here and the mother was alright, you no longer had any purpose. Jupiterâs strong hand reached for something on the counter as he approached you.
âIs that a knife?â You panicked, as the manâs forceful fingers flew around the handle of a butcherâs knife.
âThis is it,â you realized as Jupiter reached you, âthis is how I die.â