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by Katie Rose Krueger

flap, wreck, knuckles, chalk, capsule, martyr

She found herself sitting inside her car.  Abandoned parking lot miles from her home.  She was not prepared to face the shame.  How could one ever prepare? She sat gripping the steering wheel, her knuckles white as chalk. She released her hold and breathed deeply. Breathed again. She felt calmer, and could now decipher her next move.

She pulled at the small flap of skin hanging from her lip. A chapped mouth from the bitter winter outside her window. It was a bad habit she’d had since childhood.  The slight taste of blood instantly hit her tongue. She reached in her coat pocket for lip balm and slicked it on. Instant relief.  If only it could be that simple now.

She knew her mother must be a complete wreck. Hearing the news and then watching her daughter careen off into the sunset. Lord knows where to, or if she’ll return.  But she had to escape. There was no possibility for discussion. Freedom.  That’s what she needed in order to think.

As she breathed a little easier, her plan became clear:  Revenge.   She would get back at the ones responsible for making her brother suffer. Her poor, innocent brother who can’t leave the house until this is set right.

She drove to her destination, approached the building and knocked on the door.  No answer. Perfect. She found the key behind a broken shingle on the house, and let herself in.  Empty.

She opened the freezer and found the green and orange pills instantly. She carefully removed the cap, and pulled out a single pill.  Gently opening the capsule, she poured the powder onto her outstretched tongue and winced.  It tasted like dead rose petals.  But the effects were instantaneous.  She now viewed the world as one of them.  She emptied the rest of the pills into the garbage disposal and turned it on.  A cloud of colorful dust whizzed into the air and settled back into the sink.  She grinned, knowing she’d be the last one to feel the effects of the drug.

She ran swiftly on her strong legs towards the Old Barn. She felt faster now due to the elixir in her system.  The sun had set, and the darkened sky was a perfect cloak for her plan.  She spotted the culprits immediately, squatting around a fire exactly where she thought they would be.  She shook off the high from the adrenaline, and the drug, and took her aim carefully.

Suddenly, hands grabbed her from behind and pulled her down to the ground, hard.  Despite the darkness, she could tell it was their leader, glaring at her from above. As he dragged her towards the gang, she thought of her mother, and how she did not want her to be labeled as a martyr for her brother’s condition.

Completely surrounded by her brother’s foes, her hands tied behind her back, she could not believe her luck.  They did not know she took the pill… She opened her mouth as if to speak, but instead of sound, a bright emerald flame emerged, covering the gang with grape-colored spots, the same ones found on her brother’s skin.  They yelped from the first bit of pain, but immediately broke into laughter.  These were no ordinary spots; they were extremely ticklish.

Triumphant, she broke free and marched away from the Old Barn, ready to return home to her mother and spotted brother.  She felt relief as the effects of the drug melted away, and the sensation of success took over.

Her brother hugged her when he heard the story, though her mother did not look convinced.  She put a hand on her mom’s shoulder and slowly pulled up her pant leg to reveal grape-colored spots.   Her mother realized what her clever daughter had done.   Her son would go from being harassed, to being a trend-setter.  The family was saved.

She hugged her mother and went upstairs to her room.  She looked around to make sure no one was watching, and slowly pulled out a green and orange pill. She examined it, and then hid it safely inside her sock drawer, just in case.  She giggled as she changed into her pajamas, the flannel brushing the ticklish spots on her leg.  The sacrifice was worth it, though.  No one messes with her brother.

Spots or no spots, we’re all just people…