Tenderfoot (noun)
A raw, inexperienced person.
Chapter 21
(Mako's P.O.V)
Lightning lits the skies in brilliant streaks. The members pull on their hoods on, sheltering their heads from the rain that's about to pour. The clouds above me ooze and billow across the sky, casting the city into a shadowy darkness, damp-smelling air wraths in waves.
I remember when curtains were suddenly laid out; doors and the little windows shut, keeping us prisoners to our rooms. A stormy day was always spent on studying; giving us no room to play or be mischievous to venture out in the storm. Warnings from the house staff came like urgent reminders with every step we took...
'Don't go out to the gardens, it's quite windy.' ... 'Stay indoors; today is scheduled only for studying since it's windy Mako.'
But no, this storm is different. This time I witness it, I stand in it. The sound of it grows strange, as if howling is yearning for a melody... but the howling soon turns into screams. Fog embraces every house surrounding us; black ashes fall on my new uniform shoes.
Wind begins to pull and push at our hair, the members surrounding me sigh and moan at the weather. But I feel myself sink into a state of ease, for I know what is coming next. Unheard cue of rain zips down at us at once; wetting the box in my hands. I glance down at it, wondering how I should protect it, but wait... why are we distributing food... to houses? this has nothing to do with the dot... with ghouls or even with my family... is it a customary that we do this? from the government? All young people to help when there's a storm... Even I find that unbelievable... must be something else... Shay didn't deny our connection as well yesterday night...
(Shay's P.O.V)
"Let's go to the next place!" The leader orders. I wait for the fourth gen; her hand on her back. She had laid her box for this round; she looks tired and her face is pale. She sighs as the others walk away; leaning down she picks up her box to move forward towards the next house.
tap-tap-tap
We both glance back at the sound of tapping on the window. We spot a boy smiling; braces obstructing his white teeth. He wipes with his finger on the fogged window from the inside. Mako walks over to see what he's writing...
Ug...ly ca....nni...bal...s.
He finishes off. Mako squints at it her lips parting trying to read it. She glances at me in question; her face stricken with realization. Nostrils flaring; she glowers up at the boy's smirking face, he winks moving his eyebrows up and down at her. She shivers pressing at her lips; her eyes narrowing. Turning around ignoring the boy's blowing kisses; she hauls the box up; a small piece of black ash landing on it from the sky... She jerks in place, spinning around glazing at the boy; with a sigh she throws the box down and walks over to the window. She blows at the glass fogging it up then begins to wipe at it with her shaking finger;
Didn't....kn...ow... this....was....a....mirror...
She writes. The boy tries to read... but seems to be struggling...
"This idiot can't even read a flipped sentence.... useless excuse of an elbow." Mako spits, jaw clenching as she picks up her box.
.
Sitting in the car; Mako rubs at her arm grunting. We arrive to another destination; the leader distributes new boxes yet again between us. I spin around at the sound of Mako dropping her box with a thud.
"Can't you even hold this properly?" The leader spits in annoyance. Mako let's out a breath; shaking she reaches out for it picking it back up, her bangs dancing at the wind. She gives me a smile as she comes forward so we proceed to give away the food to the humans.
We stand in line while Piper takes the goods, placing them one by one in the metal box to reach the house owners. We all glance left at the loud thumping noise. I spot Mako beside me, on the floor eyes closed, rain dropping softly on her cheeks.
"Aghhh, couldn't she be in the other group!? why do I have to care of this mess." The leader Piper complains shoving her to the side.
"What's wrong, wake up." The leader screams at her. But Mako remains silent and unconscious on the floor.
"Her arm, she's hurt." I tell the leader.
"Ah the smart third gen can speak after all." She spits at me; her eyes flaring. I hold my head high; her insult not bothering me one bit. She's just jealous. Amelia goes to Mako's side and pulls at the jacket, revealing her red wound on her half sleeved arm.
"Let's put her in the car. Finish the distribution then head back." The leader announces standing to her feet.
"But she's burning up; she has a fever." Amelia prods placing her hand on Mako's wet forehead.
"Let's take her back first; I don't want to be blamed if something bad happens to her. She can die easily right? what if..." Emmett puts in shaking his head at the leader.
"Ruttish First gens don't get to voice their opinion." The leader spits back at him. But after a few minutes, she decides to do as we all think; since she's afraid of being blamed too.
.
(Mako's P.O.V)
I flutter open my eyes; a headache raving in as I move my head to the cold side of the fresh white pillow. Looking up at the ceiling my stomach knots; feeling sick. I sit up wincing at my arm. I glance at it; finding a white medical band twisted on where my wound lays.
After inspecting the empty room from the bed, I learn I'm in the house I was dragged in yesterday night. I put my head back down on the pillow. Tears stream down my face. I can't think of a practical specific reason for my sudden mood flop; but just upset at everything that has happened and is happening...
After laying there in silence for a while; I give up on waiting for my brother to come check up on me or something. I get up; my body very much sluggish. Still dressed in my uniform; I step outside and head downstairs in my white socks. I find some of the members sitting on the sofa; watching tv...
"The terrorist group has just confirmed their relation with today's earlier attack; where a pregnant women's throat has been physically eaten by a ghoul." A news reporter says through the tv. First time actually being in the presence of a physical tv. I've studied about them, I know of their existence, but we never owned one.
"What happened? who did that?" I ask walking to the open space. A few of the members look up;
"Third ghoul attack this week." Amelia says. I raise my eyebrows;
"Third? I didn't actually think there were enough ghouls to create any trouble inside the city." I run on; remembering Tora and Seiji... maybe they can be the ones after this.
"There's a lot of ghoul terrorist groups lately." I'm told by Amelia. I nod silently. The news reporter hollers through the screen;
"... We just received new information! a ghoul has been found dead!" My heart jumps at that.
"We believe the husband of the dead women has found a ghoul and shot it to death!" The reporter says. I stand there; my brain running out of control. Can it be Tora? he did attack the man the first time I met him... what if he attacked the women and now... he's murdered?... no wait; he was badly injured, who knows if he's even out of hospital by now.
"The ghoul is said to have been a blonde headed ghoul." The reporter says. I take in a deep breath at that and take a seat. I guess Seiji won't let Tora do something like that anyway... I think.
.
Piper comes down to the open space, giving me no spare time to rest. She orders us to head out and finish the job. With no arguing, we all get in the car and drive through the foggy roads.
.
"You better don't drop that; there's glass in there." Piper mocks as I take the box from her hand. I keep my lips shut as I carry it in my hands. I stand still as she distributes the rest...
What was that terrorist groups about? I'm sure there's only a few handful of ghouls in the city; the Hand-Force can't take care of them? And why would a ghoul attack a pregnant women just for her throat? why not eat more of her? I shake my head at that thought. But seriously... how can her husband physically kill this ghoul? a human against a ghoul with the human winning just doesn't add up... well unless they had a gun maybe.
I look down as a hand grabs at my sleeve, "I forgot my coat in the car..." Shay utters not meeting my eyes. I smile placing down my box as I watch the members head forward to the next house. I begin pulling at my jacket but he stops me shaking his head.
"It's pink... it's embaressing." He runs on in a low voice. I smile nodding as I stand back up.
"Follow them ahead; I'll get it for you." I tell him as the wind blows at his hair. I walk back, the car is parked like a mile away from our location from what I remember.
Finally finding it among the fog; I push open the trunk and I grunt as it flings all the way up... I hope I can reach it to bring it down later...
"pitk pitk..." I spin at the sound coming from the far left. I don't spot anything; just houses... the sound keeps on going. Like a bag being dropped multiple times. I leave the car and head towards the sound. Coming from the backyard of one of the houses. I tiptoe over thick grass, every blade and twig with grown little flakes of ice crystals.
I lean over the wall, looking for the source... my eyes widen as my heart plunges in my stomach. As if my soul has left and sailed goodbye.
Amelia stands there; wearing a full white body suit tainted in red. A person next to her feet; quivering and shaking as if they have been electrocuted. She waves her hands in the air and the person below winces; his body wrenching forward; his stomach sticking out... then a set of red purple stuff plunges out of his stomach then he falls motionless. Amelia pulls down her face mask; her face looking so young with the two buns above her curly hair... she had fooled me with her physique, one that looks slightly bigger than mine; but she seems only around thirteen to fifteen years old. She inspects the person on the ground leaning forward; she nods at herself and stands straight. She begins pulling at her suit;
"This shall do it." She mumbles stepping out of the suit, putting her mask back on. She throws the blooded suit in a trash can behind her and spins around my way. I take in a breath; my feet shaking under me. I'm unable to move; my feet are planted on the ground. They just won't move at my command. I swallow as I hear her walk towards me.