"Peter, I'm leaving. Remember my message?" Wendy raised a finger at the alert sign in the doorway.
The little Anicens made a respectful pose while patting his chest, like saying, "Leave it to me!"
Wendy smiled, then knelt before Peter. She kissed Peter's forehead with her hand stroking his hair, "I know you are a smart and great boy."
"Of course!" Peter prided himself but remained a sweet child. Wendy stood up to get out of the house, holding the door handle.
"I'm leaving now."
***
The skyscraper towers in the middle of the city. The yard is spacious, there are even some animal cages, and small animals running around. Cats, rabbits, squirrels, even mouse deer. The gardens are no less beautiful with neatly arranged shrubs that bloom, green grass, and dense trees. At the gate and at the entrance of the building it says :
Anicens Research Center or ARC.
A large screen in front of the building shows ARC. Introducing full dignity.
"Anicens Research Center or ARC is an association that looks for Anicens. Not only researching, but maintaining, protecting, caring for, and providing proper education for Anicens, so racism between Anicens and humans can be improved. That way, there is no deep chasm between the two. ARC, this is the center of all information about Anicens. We always accept consultations for those of you who live with Anicens. We will gladly accept the marriage, adoption, and even school. So…"
"Welcome to ARC!"
But it was all a lie. Like a real conspiracy but never expected by people, many things contradict what the promotion video said just now.
"Is the research still continuing?" a man in a neat suit, perhaps still in his 24s, approached several people in lab coats. The people bowed to greet him.
"Yes, research is still ongoing. We have completed research on 30 more species of Anicens, but... the results are still zero. We also have collected the Seers, but of all Anicens there they found none."
The man called Mr. Ellian put his right and left thumb into his pants pocket. He thought, watching the room behind the thick glass.
Suddenly, a creature clawed at the glass, shocking people throughout the room except for Mr. Ellian. The alarm also went off, the red light flickered bouncing in the research room. One of the men in a lab coat examined the computer in front of him, which was full of buttons. Pressing so many buttons, who knows what you want to see. Anicens in the room snarled, his saliva dripping like a tap, his blue eyes glaring hard, his large, pointed claws piercing several millimeters in thick glass.
"Th-This ...!" the man in the lab coat pushed his eyeglasses. Cold sweat poured with enthusiasm.
Mr. Ellian grinned in satisfaction at Anicens inside.
"Anicens number 1805, species 'Siberian wolf', one and a half years old, a native descendant of Siberian Wolf nobility. Level: almost extinct..."
"Successfully found," the talking computer displays a holographic description from Anicens inside.
Everyone in the room smiled proudly. The white-coat man let Mr. Ellian approached the thick glass with Anicens who looked angry.
"I knew he would be found," Mr. Ellian put his hand on the glass, "if there isn't, I wouldn't come here to see him."
Anicens the Siberian Wolf is growling wilder at Mr. Ellian. The face was full of anger as if it able to eat the grinning person in front of him in one bite.
"Good, shoot the anesthetic and send it to the rehabilitation room. The same species in the room must be happy to make new friends," said Mr. Ellian turned around. Without pause, the order was immediately carried out. The Anicens was shocked when the anesthetic needle pierced his back and he immediately fell backward.
"What about the research? Is it terminated, Mr. Ellian?" asked the man in the laboratory suit who played the button. He was clumsily following Mr. Ellian from behind.
The burly man closed his eyes.
"Not yet. There is still one more," he said when he opened his eyes again.
"B-But since we don't know where the specific location is, do we also have to 'do the sweeping' again?"
The elevator opened and Mr. Ellian entered while looking at the person in the white coat with a faint smile. His eyes flashed briefly when the elevator door closed. A strange and mysterious beam of light emanated.
"You know what to do. I'm counting on you, Mr. Neo."
***
The small Anicens's house was sparkling clean and tidy. Up to the corners, there is no dust. The floor which was just teeth whitening, now it starts as white as milk. Anicens's face that looking tired but still happy, was reflected in the glittering of the tiled floor, making it glow.
"Wendy, it's over! I will go to play!" Peter murmured cheerfully. The broom that he was holding in his hands was left lying on the clean floor and shot straight out. His face was so happy when he saw the friends. Anicens knew each other that they were the same creature, even though other people did not know.
How about Wendy? She knows every kind of them, not just knowing that they are Anicens. Ah, that's another story. It will definitely be revealed.
After the Wendy and Peter agreement a week ago, the house was twice as clean. Or maybe seven times? Because it's been over a week. Wendy was also satisfied with the reduced homework. Only when feeding and bathing Peter who was still troublesome. Plus, Wendy is also already familiar with Peter's new friends. Could this also be called symbiosis mutualism?
"We've been waiting for you, Peter," the navy blue-haired boy called out to Peter, who was still running toward them. His round eyes like a fish. It can even be seen clearly from several meters radius away. Of course. Sam, this round-eyed child is a fish species Anicens. Not an ordinary fish either, Sam the tuna fish. This is what makes his body taller than his friends.
"We had divided the group, you were a group with Class," Maxie said, pointing to a sharp-eyed like a cat boy, but his face looked cute. His black hair mixed with orange-brown color makes his face delight. Well, Class is indeed Anicens cat species. He is lively and agile, his body is supple, can jump high easily, sharp smell, and of course he likes fish (not Anicens fish. Poor Sam if that happened lol).
"Good, I got a group with cool people," Peter said with a happy grin and made a fist.
"What do you mean by 'cool person'?" the class frowned, "I'm sure it has a different meaning."
It's 100% doesn't mean anything. Peter just always being honest.
"Well! Let's start! "The other boy with rabbit teeth and sparkling black eyes exclaim impatiently.
Another Peter's friend. Choco, rabbit Anicens species. Famous for his sharp hearing, agility, fast jumps, and he is vegetarian.
The ball game starts full of fun. Little Anicens ran here and there with their sweet and cute faces. Who has the heart to scatter it? Even everyone who passes by will be stunned for a few minutes when the little Anicens laugh together. Ah, how peaceful.
What a slight peace.
***
"This doesn't make any sense," Wendy's biology teacher puts her student observation report roughly on the table. The woman immediately refused outright when she just read two paragraphs. Wendy made her famous super-perfectionist-biology-teacher upset in front of the class.
"Is something wrong, Ms. Rebecca? "
"'WHAT'S WITH 'IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG'?!'" even though Wendy has spoken as politely and quietly as possible, Ms. Rebecca half-heartedly raised her voice and cut Wendy's words, "is this a joke?!"
Wendy could only stare at her teacher in confusion. She has more than 10 times did a cross-checking every inch of the report, how can there be anything unusual?
Ms. Rebecca took the sheet again and forced it to Wendy, "I want you to read your first chapter!"
With great astonishment, Wendy just obeyed and carefully read every letter that was there until it was finished. Even the mistake of the point well in advance was corrected by Ms. Rebecca no longer strayed. The brown-haired girl was getting confused even after reading.
"Already know what your mistake is?" asked the teacher again sharply.
Wendy shook her head slowly.
Ms. Rebecca rolled her eyes and snatched back the student's report. Then she made a big red circle on a paragraph and handed it back.
"Read out loud."
Wendy complied and began to read, "Anicium Sapiens is Anicens for short. What are they? They are humans, but half animals. They don't have ears, tails, or fur or thick hair on their bodies. They look like ordinary humans. Then how to difffe Anicens from ordinary humans? Look at their eyes— "
"Well! There it is! You said just by looking at their eyes you can tell what kind of Anicens they are? Don't tell me you wrote this because you said you had a dream like that?" Ms. Rebecca kept grumbling.
"No, ma'am. Their eyes can indeed be distinguished—"
"You deny the research of scientists who have been researching Anicens for decades? No one can distinguish Anicens from their eyes! Do you think if they are fish, their eyes will be round like fish? Then Anicens, the cat whose eyes could get rounded and rounded, could also be seen?" Ms. Rebecca did not at all gave Wendy chance to speak.
Peter's friends like that, Wendy complained in her mind.
"Anyway, I don't want to see fiction like this anymore. If the ARC knows you deny the fact that no one can distinguish Anicens from humans, they can involve you in the court! Understand?" Ms. Rebecca's eyes glared right at Wendy who could only look down.
The girl just shut up and nodded.
"Back to your chair," Ms. Rebecca fixed her seat and black coat, "you made it difficult. Anicens and humans are just different behaviors, humans are more civilized."
Even though Wendy had turned around, she could hear Ms. Rebecca's words. Her chest constricted, did not accept. Peter is not like that, he's a good kid. Wendy believes that not all Anicens have behavior that is not sensible like animals.
After school.
"Wendy, how is Anicens in your house doing?" asked Evy, Wendy's close-friend.
"Oh, Peter? He is happier than the previous days. Children are certainly happy when they find new friends, right," Wendy chuckled, "he has a lot of friends lately. Although not one species."
Evy nodded. But her expression turned astonished at Wendy, "Different species?"
While looking ahead Wendy replied with a nod.
The ponytail girl paused thinking for a few moments, "How do you know? Nothing can distinguish Anicens and humans unless you see their habits."
Wendy turned her head in puzzlement, another person who said something like Ms. Rebecca.
"You're right, I also saw their behavior," Wendy said with a shrug, "Anicens certainly behaves like their species, right?"
"But there are also those who live normally like ordinary humans. Especially children, they can just play around imitating animal behavior so that it resembles Anicens," Evy is still curious.
Wendy thought for a moment, then pulled her friend's hand. She pointed at a beautiful woman who was walking in a red shirt.
"You know what she is?"
Evy gawked to digest, for a long time, "Woman?"
"She is Anicens! More precisely fox Anicens!" said Wendy, staring at Evy in surprise because she could not differ.
"For me, she and other women are the same, just walking, nothing can be distinguished," Evy complained.
Suddenly there was a cry, "THIEF !!" the woman who had been appointed carried a bag, ran, very fast, and jumped from house to house.
"You Anicens! It's getting more and more annoying!" a grandmother exclaimed cursing at the fox woman who had disappeared from view.
You're an ape Anicens too, granny, Wendy wondered.
"You're right, she's fox Anicens! How can you guess before knew of her behavior?" Evy laughed in amaze.
Wendy smiled, "I told you, look in her eyes. It resembles a fox's eyes."
The ponytail girl looked back in wonder at Wendy, "I don't think her eyes are much different from yours."
Now Wendy is lazy to argue. His enthusiasm was drained because of all-out nagging by Ms. Rebecca is merciless. Why do people not understand Wendy? The girl can immediately know which Anicens are humans in one look, even knowing their species.
Wendy sighed. They are back on their way.
"You have a lot to learn, Vy," I patted Evy's shoulder.
A live broadcast on the big screen of a building shifted the focus of the two girls. Latest news about ARC.
"Anicens sweeping is carried out again. ARC will secure wild Anicens that roam in and out of town. Anicens minors who do not have the Guardian will be arrested. So says the head of the security division, Eric John."
"Luckily, you've taken care of your Anicens, Wendy," Evy said.
But Wendy did not respond. The girl was stunned. Peter is not currently with Wendy. How do people know Peter was treated by someone or not?
"Wendy?" Evy called confused. But still no answer.
Wendy ran away from her friend. Evy's voice was already far behind. There was nothing else in Wendy's mind other than heading home, not caring if she unconsciously passed through a field of nails.
Peter just by himself! He must be playing at home, with his friends, playing soccer, still laughing. Wendy continued to pray, hope the God protects her only family, the person who accompanied her in solitude more than the girl's parents themselves.
"Peter!" Wendy began calling out when she saw a bunch of formed ARC Security Division messing up the excitement of Peter and his teammates.
"Don't let any of them escape!" one of the security division who wearing a mask ordered everyone around.
"Stop it! This Anicens is in my care!" Wendy pulled the arm of the person who had commanded. Wendy can see his sharp eyes are threatening her.
"Don't plead, you kids!" the man brushed his hand away.
"Wendy!"
Peter, whose hand was pulled to the car, shouted. The other hand is like trying to reach Wendy. Meanwhile Maxie, Sam, Class, and Choco, already locked in the car. But what to do, they are just little Anicens.
"Wendy...!" Peter again called back, trying to release his grip. She makes an annoyed face and bites the hand of people who continue to pull from earlier. While the person was in pain, Peter ran toward Wendy.
"Peter!" Wendy immediately ran. But the bossy person in front of Wendy held back with his full body.
The brown-haired girl gritted her teeth, "Move! Please move!"
He just looked at Wendy coldly.
Wendy pushed his chest with all her might, "MOVE! MOVE AWAY! DAMMIT MOVE!! I WILL KILL YOU!"
Wendy pull clothes from him to go away, pushed, kicked, hit over and over, but the man did not even move an inch.
"Wendy!" Peter jumped. The girl was pleasantly surprised, welcoming by stretching her hand.
But it just a brief happiness when the rubber net shot from behind Peter wrapped the little creature. Peter was tripped and fell to the ground. Wendy immediately try to break through. The bossy man was helped by his friends who finished taking care of the other Peter's friends. They continue to pull Wendy away from the location. Wendy cried, unable to resist anger, revolt. She continues to try to break through even though she knows the officers's energy is many times greater than her.
"Peter!" Wendy shouted, her hand trying to reach Peter's tiny hand. Likewise Peter. This is really heartbreaking. Not because of the pull of the ARC Security Division's hands that can destroy a girl's arm, or stiff neck because it is stuck, or cramped legs for trying to escape. But this view.
Look at that.
Peter's face grimaced with pain from falling earlier. His clothes are dirty dusty. His hands trembled. His eyes wished that the small hand could reach the girl who became his best friend.
"Finish it!!" the head of the ARC Security Division shouted loudly. One beat, Wendy has pulled away, Peter is removed.
"No!! No! Peter!" Wendy shouted no less hysterically. Tears have broken the dam. The body of the brunette girl was just lying on the ground. Peter was put in the car, missing Wendy's view. All she get when she look up is only the head of the Security Division. Wendy didn't expect she was face to face with Eric John this soon.
"If you are indeed the owner of Anicens, you should take care of him and not leave him alone," he gave a sharp and disparaging look. Wendy could only be dazed, seeing the man with the car that took Peter and his friends away.
Again, Wendy's tears flowed freely. Pathetic. Very sad. Wendy had only lived with Peter for a year, not long ago. The brunette girl gripped the grassy ground. Tears are a substitute for rain today.
God, why have you taken away my long-lost happiness?
The girl is still crying. Crying full of regret. But what regret?
***
Cars with small Anicens inside slowly turn into the black gate that automatically opens. The Anicens stare confused with each other, just stay in one corner. Get ready for whatever happens behind that door later. The car slowly goes backward, and finally stops. Where? They have no idea. This place must be very strange and far from their home.
'Wendy will definitely come...'
One of them cowered incessantly praying in his heart, never stopping to hope, no matter the possibility was so small. As small as him.
The door is wide open. All eyes are on the awaited light. But it's not sunlight. It's just a light in a spacious room, only a room, empty, nothing. Sensing no danger, one of them descends, followed by another.
"Where are we?" Maxie looked around. He came down the second.
"There's no fish pond..." Sam murmured.
"Because being dragged made me want to eat carrots..." Choco jumped and looking around.
"What kind of place is this?" Class's eyes probed around. He was the only one who is always cautious with the new place even though there is no danger.
And another Anicens who first came down.
Peter, He did not go down because he was curious about this place, or the light that he thought was sunlight, or looking for food. Peter just wants to find Wendy. He thought that behind the door there would be Wendy. Because wherever Peter is, as long as there is Wendy, he is always happy. But this is the first time he has felt so far. There was no Wendy's scent from her strawberry shampoo hair or scolding because of Peter's misbehavior.
Then a whooshing startled five little Anicens. From the corner of the room, which was originally just a plain wall, a speaker appeared.
"Hi! Welcome!"said the voice of a friendly robot. It must be an automatic machine.
All are silent, not answering greetings from the speaker. They stared at the object above it frankly. Moreover, Classes that are sensitive to new places have hissed because of the sudden appearance of The Megaphone.
The Megaphone laughed.
"Don't be afraid! You are still too young to get 'treatment'. That's if you guys obey. So if you fight, the 'treatment' can apply."
All went silent. Not because of caution. But they are also still too innocent to understand what The Megaphone talking about.
"After this, you will always undergo an examination. Oh, even now you are being examined. Ha.. ha.. ha.. because of that, I warn you to obey instead of being tortured."
Peter took one step forward, "Can I meet Wendy now?"
The Megaphone was silent for a few moments, "Well, I don't know who your 'Wendy' means. But here, you will not be allowed to meet outsiders."
"Dun wanna! Wendy is not someone else! Wendy is my friend, even my best friend! I want to be with Wendy!"
Instantly Peter's eyes widened in surprise. Not only Peter, but all his friends were also surprised. A syringe was fired into Peter's back. Class hissed from the start. He has the strongest instincts among the others.
Peter's back went limp and numb. But he still woke up, just grimaced in pain.
"Others, don't come closer or pull out the anesthesia," The Megaphone warned when Maxie tried to help Peter, who had knelt limply. Maybe Maxie really can't pull out the injection, but Peter can pull it out himself.
"Hm, the injection should have been able to subvert even large-bodied wild elephants. But you..." The Megaphone probed.
"I told you I want to meet Wendy! Wendy! Wendy!" Peter was still struggling even though his body was staggering.
Again and again. Two injections were fired again. One on the back, another on the nape. This time, Peter fell down.
"Peter!" all the little Anicens shouted hysterically.
"This is because you're surging. I told you to obey. You won't be able to fight, it's useless. You obey, you are safe. You fight, you're finished."
Peter's awareness is more on the threshold when he tries to stand up again. Because two injections followed right into his back. He cried. Five injections are nothing compared to the pain of not being able to meet Wendy. Crystal clear dripping so slowly, so heartbreaking, really sad to see it.
'Wendy, if I hadn't come out to play then, would this have happened?
If I had jumped on you a little earlier, would this have happened?
Is this punishment for me for always being naughty to you? If so, I'd like you to nag at me, scold me, but then you still gently stroke my head.
I'm sorry if I'm too naughty, Wendy.
I miss seeing your smile, it hurts too much for a small punishment.
At least... give me a chance to see you again.'
Peter lost consciousness right after he finished his thought. Maybe every night starting today, there will always be a shadow of Wendy playing with him. This becomes a beautiful dream flower, but it can also be a nightmare. Because Peter won't meet with his Guardian girl.
"I think this Anicens is special. It looks like you will get a special 'treatment', kid."
***
Dark and empty. What is wrong? Ah, apparently a girl was curled under her blanket.
Thousands—no, even millions of questions filled the girl's head, keeping her up all night. The brain continues to work because of mounting questions.
Where is Peter?
Where does ARC take it?
Did Peter eat? Has Peter taken a bath?
Did anyone read the story before going to bed?
When is Peter coming home?
5W and 1H are not enough.
The brown-haired girl opened her eyes. Glancing at the moonlight from behind a thin curtain. Tonight is the full moon, very beautiful. But instead made her heart pained. The incident this afternoon continued to spin around the girl's head like a broken record. It makes she feel sick every time she remember it.
Peter cleans the house well despite always putting a broom in the middle of the house. Wendy should have given a warm roast beef dinner. Not a detention that hurts those feelings. What irony.
Wendy hugged the pillow back tight. A very tight hug for throbbing and crying. She could not stop crying. 'God, where is Peter? Where is my only family? Where is my naughty little Anicens?'
The house feels filled with sadness. Sobs hung under the ceiling. Memories are only a mirage. Ah, it's been a long time since Wendy hasn't been this sad since she was left busy by her parents in elementary school. Even though now she doesn't care about that. This new pain is twice as painful.
Praying with her lips for Peter always repeated. The shadow of the face would actually be a nightmare.
Even tomorrow, Wendy's eyes swelled. His face was matted and listless. Bad image. Wendy doesn't care, nobody will care either.
"Wendy?! What's with your face?!" Evy who met her friend in the morning was shocked. Okay, maybe there is one person who really cares.
Wendy shook her head and then went to her chair. The ponytail girl only stared worriedly and followed her friend from behind.
"Hey, come on. Just tell me. Yesterday you suddenly ran away leaving me, then today your face seems to have been beaten up by the masses. Swell all. What happened?" Evy tried to reach when she got in Wendy's chair.
For a moment the brown-haired girl was silent, wrapping her face in the palm. If Evy keep asking that, it will make Wendy want to cry again because it reminds her of what happened yesterday.
Evy's hand rubbed her friend's back and knelt beside her friend, "What's wrong?"
Wendy bit her lip, "Peter... he's taken by ARC."
Evy thought for a moment with brow furrowed, "Taken by ARC?"
Wendy spilled all the events of yesterday to Evy who listened well. Occasionally her friend nodded and hissed sadly.
"I don't have anyone else at home... nobody's naughty, all lonely," Wendy said softly. Even tears fell again.
The ponytail girl sighed deeply.
"That must be hard for you," Evy patted Wendy's shoulder.
The brown-haired girl just nodded slowly, wiping the face full of tears. Wendy wasn't even sure that she could escape that memory. A nightmare that keeps coming in every night.
"But Wendy, surely you can't be like this all the time. Maybe if I were you, all of this was indeed very painful. Happens directly before your eyes, separated directly in front of you. Still, nothing will change if you keep falling like this. In fact, your heart will continue to be hurt by the pain, it won't be better."
Evy holds Wendy's hand, "I won't ask you to forget this problem, but please forget for a moment your sadness. You have to believe that Peter will be fine and God will always protect him."
For a moment Wendy was pensive, staring blankly at the wooden table in front of her. By repeating the memories of yesterday's events, it made her want to cry again. But this time Wendy can hold it. And Evy is right, crying won't change anything. You can't cry over the broken glass and the glass will go back to the way it was before, but at least you can fix it to be better even if it leaves a trace.
Wendy decided to bury this feeling for a while, until the day when her feelings will bloom again.
The girl nodded, taking her friend's advice.
Evy then stood up and hugged the brunette girl.
"I know you are a strong girl. So I'm sure Peter will be fine too. "