[Vexx]

I'm going to release these drafts of the collection of short stories one every few days.

This first tale tells of the time Tsika first met Glycerin and how they became friends. It was a dark period for the two women but as readers know - it got better.
Trigger Warning: extreme violence, attempted rape (ambiguous), profanity.

Spoiler for "Even Longer" , A short story in the IRIRS Universe (a flashback):

Author B H Branham ©2014
If you haven’t read the book series “It Really IS Rocket Science”, a little background might be helpful. The protagonist of this flashback short story, Tsika, lost her parents at a young age and then lost her caretaker. Her estate firm trustees put the little Russian-borne girl in full time boarding school to stay until she graduated. Between the trauma of losing her family and related abandonment issues, she has extreme anger and rage boiling inside her that can spiral into psychopathic fury. The school system solution was threefold: medicate, therapy, and physical activity. She learned fencing, aikido, and gymnastics. She warped all of those into her own unique martial combat style of instantly delivered high damage output to compensate for being a small waifish girl. As a result, instead of getting better – Tsika has spent the last few years spiraling into deeper and deeper trouble with no rescue in sight Then she met Glycerin.
***

“Do NOT touch me. Is annoying to waste time explaining resulting mess. Хуй тебе!”

“Hey, Freddie! The wee dolly is being uppity! Maybe she needs a spanking or a bit of fun!”

“Brilliant! We got a blooming tiny Russian commie doll to play house with!”

Tsika stood defiantly in the hallway, her path blocked by three older boys all more than a head taller. It was the young ward’s fifth day at the boarding school she had been transferred to. It was all so predictable. Just like previous schools, life immediately dived into hell. Bullies could not stop themselves, drawn to the little flame of bright bows and laces like moths. The twelve year old had already been in three fights since arriving. Like elsewhere, the administrators always blamed Tsika. She was the new girl, easier to blame her. It got worse at each school.

Tsika’s eyes narrowed with malice. “Move. Now. Ёб твою мать!Out of way, fucktard toads.”

Freddie sneered back. “What a mouthy little bitch doll! But you’re a shaggable little lollipop. We will just give your strings a proper yank so you address me properly.”

The boy towered over the tiny Russian girl, then grabbed one of Tsika’s two long hair tails. He never got to pull it. In a blurred explosion, Tsika’s books became spinning projectiles, striking each of the other two boys in the face. Both fell back with plaintive cries. Her hand whipped up, gripping Freddie’s outstretched arm. Using it to hoist herself, Tsika jerked herself into the air, firing one of her petite muscular legs in an explosive kick that struck the ringleader’s nose. A stunned Freddie fell backwards leaving a blood trail in the air. Tsika landed daintily on her feet, watching his collapse with disdain.

“You fucking bitch! You killed him!” The boy on her left dropped to check on the downed thug. The boy on the right was less intelligent, taking a wild swing at Tsika. A slight shift in stance dodged the blow. She responded by driving her body weight into his solar plexus with a fencing lunge, the knuckles of her fist substituting for a saber. That one dropped to his knees, gasping for breath. Tsika glared at another lad closing in. Her expression alone stopped him cold.

“Stupid pig wants to try? I am already in trouble. Would not fucking bother me the slightest to break some important part like your worthless balls.”

Security guards appeared. Tsika tried to stay calm but she knew how it was going to go. The three boys and several nearby sycophants claimed she had assaulted them. Her history was already known to the staff. No attempt was made to listen to her version.

“Come with us, Tsarina.” Her pale cheeks bloomed in anger at the guard’s words.

“Do not fucking call me that name! You do not have permission! I am little girl being attacked by three large boys and you are arresting ME! Good job, fuckers! Xуёвый ёбаный су́кин сын!”

The guard’s face turned venomous. He grabbed at her arm. Tsika spun to avoid him, but the other guard was ready. He cut her down at the ankles from behind with a sweep of his boot and grabbed those dangerous legs quickly. The angry guard grabbed her arms. Tsika lost whatever tenuous hold on composure she had. She cursed the guards in both Russian and English, screaming blood curdling oaths.

The more even-tempered guard shouted over her howls at the two boys tending to Freddie, who was still down and groggy as his nose bled. “Get him to infirmary, you two. I know you three are not innocent in this. If you’re smart you’ll stay away from her. She puts people in the hospital. She’s a damn psychopath! Stay! Away!”

Tsika’s fury escalated at his description. Her voice spiked to a high pitch. “Fucking god damn worthless idiot pigs! It is never their fault, is it?! Never their fucking fault!” She began sobbing but her fury wouldn’t abate. The guards had trouble keeping her under control as she thrashed.

“Little girl! You are only bloody making it worse! They will drug you if you cannot control yourself! Do yourself a favor, Tsarinkov!”

The guards moved down the hall quickly with her stretched between them. They turned a corner and jogged up the main hall, holding the angry animated fireball between them. Most of her screaming epithets were in Russian, incomprehensible to the English-speaking guards. The thoughts in her mind were on a completely different tack.

Leave me alone! Want the fuckers to quit making fun of me! They taunt! Bully! Hurt! Little Russian girl never fuck fits in! Don’t they understand? So lonely. No one hugs me, makes it better. They all left and died. Fuck everyone! Want to kill … gut … make them pay for … holy Mother of Fuck, look at her!

Tsika stopped struggling, going limp as she stared. Slithering by them in the hall, cowering at the small girl’s boiling anger was a tall slender lass with long shaggy hair. She was statuesque, as tall as the guards. Her hair left her face barely visible but Tsika had caught a glimpse of it. Peeking out from the mat of hair was a terror-filled face but all Tsika absorbed was how beautiful her eyes were, the shape of her nose, her jaw, her lips. Every move of her body was filled with an alien grace that mesmerized the little Russian.

“Damn! Are you hurt, Tsarinkov? We’re not trying to hurt you!” The more even-tempered guard tightened his grip but he did look concerned about the now limp doll. She remembered the man from a fight earlier in the week. He had ended the altercation she was in without escalating and had talked her down from her rage.

Smarter than other guards. Not so much a pig, he uses my last name politely.
“Like you fucking really care?! No! Am just tired of wasting of energy. Fuck you all.” She hung her head back, regretting the words.

I am stupid bitch. Guard might be someone who would listen some time.

“H’okay! Am very sorry about words, Mr. Guard. Will not struggle further. May I walk between the two of you? Is not your fault fucking retards were nasty hurtful pigs to me.”

He nodded. “Yes. Let her down, Doug. I trust Tsarinkov on this. She’s been good for her word. Dangerous as hell, but if she makes a commitment she means it.”

The other guard was still angry. He stared balefully at Tsika for a moment but acquiesced. “Jolly fine! But if she nicks me I just may hit you instead.”

Damn it. Lost sight of the goddess! God damn, who is she? Is fascination! Must learn more!
***

“Well, Miss Tsarinkov. You did not break Frederick’s nose. That is a very lucky thing for you. There are some mitigating circumstances. A pair of witnesses said they assaulted you first so we shall let it slide this time but you are on probation.”

“Am always on probation. Strangely just seems to happen that way.”

“I have read your files, talked to our doctor. He says you are taking your medication.” The pompous man straightened a folder on his desk. “Miss Tsarinkov, you have very dangerous anger and rage problems. Not unusual for an orphan but psychiatrically extreme in your case. Nonetheless, we have a school to run! You have an education to obtain. If you must burn energy to control your temper, we have sporting activities available. The notes say you are quite the athlete in gymnastics, fencing, and aikido. I strongly suggest you see our instructors for those endeavors and introduce yourself.”

“Sure. H’okay. Will fu- … will make use of such diversions. Is good to be active.” Tsika glared at the wall just behind the administrator, then let her breath out slowly. “Just make sure that pack of god da- … just make sure your local clowns are not so stupid they get in my way.”

“Little woman, you shall have to adapt. Those you encountered today have very influential parents. Learning prudence will serve you well.” Her dark eyebrow arched at the administrator’s advice. She absorbed them in a meaning entirely different than his intent.

Is good idea! Cold calculation, plotting, and revenge when unexpected. Quite satisfying! Might be better than wild rage. This man has some good advice for a change! Is still cowardly weasel moron though. Make me god damn ill just to be in room with such a puke.
***

Tsika made her way to the school’s infirmary to take her daily dosage of pills. She palmed them as usual, the psychiatrist was none the wiser. The pills were stealthily fed to one of the office plants that decorated his office. She decided he might be a good first target to query about the strange girl.

“Hey, Doctor guy. There is interesting girl I have seen in hall. She is very tall, very meek. Quite beautiful in her movement, shaggy hair. You have any knowings of who she is?”

“Tall? Meek? Pretty? Must be Glycca. Glycca Wendham. Poor thing.” He flinched. “Oh, good gob, PLEASE don’t bother her. She is extremely fragile emotionally and easily terrified. She doesn’t say much to anyone but academically she manages to be one of our top students. Sad creature lost her entire family in a tsunami disaster. That and bad treatment afterward really traumatized her. Why in heaven do you want to know?”

Tsika blanched at the tragedy in that information dump. She decided to be honest. “Oh, my goodness! Is such sadness! I know what it feels like to lose … everyone. Seemed like we had instant connection just by looking at each other, but she ran away.”

The doctor looked regretful. “Tsarinkov, if you weren’t having such a rough time controlling your rage and anger, I would encourage you two to talk. It would be healthy for both of you. But really, Glycca is always one panic attack away from hysteria, sedation, and heavy restraints. Please don’t bother her.”

Tsika could see her poker face was lousy based on his expression. “Bloody hell, Tsarinkov. Right. I can see you plan to ignore me. Please be VERY careful. It makes my stomach churn to see her cry. Something about her just compels me to try and keep her safe … oh never mind, that was too much information. Just tread as lightly as you can, please?”

“Absolutely! Like on broken glass I will walk! Thank you, Doctor! See? I can be polite!”

Afterward, Tsika leaned against the hallway wall outside the office to cool her head.

Fucking bastard. Ah, I am harsh. He is much better than bullshit witchdoctor at last school. Now! Glycca intrigues me. Must find out more.

She put a hard clamp on her inclinations to lash out while she collected information on Glycca. When Freddie and his braying minions passed the diminutive pixie in the hall, Tsika simply ignored them. This seemed to piss off the gang more than if she responded to their taunts so she enjoyed that. But they kept their distance. They were not utter dullards about self-preservation.
Once she discovered which classes Glycca was enrolled in, Tsika went to the academic counselor, buttering her up for class changes. Some of the classes were much higher in difficulty, this made it easy for the young Russian to argue that she wanted to push herself harder in studies. The adults all agreed that this new interest in academics was a positive step for the explosive young woman.

Idiots and circus clowns. All of them.
***

“Class? This is Miss Tsarinkov. She likes to go by the name Tsika. Please make her welcome.”

The teacher nervously gestured for Tsika to take her seat in the advanced mathematics class. It was clear the man knew a potential bomb was now in his class. Tsika smiled thinly as she sat, scanning the rather large group of classmates.

Ah, there is Glycca. Front row at corner. Damn, she won’t make eye contact. Keeps covering her face with all that unkempt hair. My gods, is gorgeous creature! Has aura of alien wildness. If she were guy, I would be swooning!

The class went quietly. Tsika watched as Glycca was called to the whiteboard to solve a math problem. The lanky student did not take a direct path to the board. She twitched along a route that reminded Tsika of a mouse, wary of open spaces, even avoiding slight variations of increased lighting. The tall girl spoke not a single word as she wrote the solution out. It was a fairly impressive proof. Tsika could barely follow it.

The teacher was clearly impressed. He spoke very softly and gently to her. “That’s fantastic, Glycca. How did you decide to use that method for your proof?”

Glycca physically flinched at his soft words, as if he had horrifically beaten her. Tsika was appalled. Glycca’s fear spilled out of her, filling the air in the classroom. The towering enigma hyperventilated as she tried to answer the question.

“It it it it it was bollixy when we … when … the-the other w-way, Mister Sssssswanson.” His name was drawn out, the soft hiss of a snake. She ran back to her seat and hid her face with her hands and hair. There were a few mean giggles and some unkind remarks from the back of the room until the teacher’s glare silenced them.

Oh. My. Fucking. Hell. Huge mouse is basket case, unable to function socially! Like me! But in totally different way! Such sad fear am sensing! I know too well where the sad comes from. Feel it in my own bones, but is astonishing to see such different reaction. So want to talk to her!

Tsika’s desire proved remarkably difficult to satisfy. Glycca would leap out the door at the bell and lope quickly to her next class, weaving and slithering as she avoided other students.

As the days went by and more observations were made, Tsika learned that not everyone left her alone. That gang of bullies with powerful parents, they seemed to thrive on terrorizing everyone but they especially enjoyed hunting Glycca. They would bump her passing in the hall, leaving her whimpering from an inappropriate touch. Other times they would knock her daypack off her shoulder and then torment her as she collected her things. They verbally abused her without caution, saying nasty lecherous things to her.

Glycca wasn’t totally helpless. She seemed magical in her abilities to slip by them unseen. She almost oozed through walls at times, escaping their attempts to corner her for their idea of more serious fun.

Tsika covertly listened in some astonishment. The bullies talked openly about “having a shagging bit of tasty fun with the retarded tart”, ogling her breasts, long legs, and hips. She was well developed for her age, easily mistaken for a young woman of fourteen or even sixteen. Usually Tsika envied such beauty but here it was a liability with these toxic lads. No one will ever believe her even if they understood her, they said. Tsika was alarmed by the ease and openness with which they went on about what they wanted to do to her. No one seemed to call them on it. This school was looking to be a terrible place for anyone who was not in a clique, alone with no herd to belong to. Glycca was lonely prey for them.

Must channel my rage. Wait and watch. Likely just jackass talk by toxic bags of wasted meat with balls, but cannot easily dismiss such evil. Is quandary though. Glycca’s skill in avoiding them also works on me. Is like trying to catch a fast mouse by myself!
***

Tsika got her first opportunity in a chance encounter. Making her way from her lonely room in the girls-only part of the dorm, she rounded a corner and was nearly trampled by a panicked Glycca. As she fell, Tsika could hear taunts in the distance from the gang of thugs. They were calling her names and leering at her from the edge of the No Boys zone line.

“Crazy Amazon whore!”
“Aye, a towering trollop that needs taming!”
“Come back! You’ll be our special bag of candy! Fill you up properly!”
“Give it up, Glycerin! Sweet and slick on the inside, we wager!”

The last taunt caught Tsika’s ear: “Glycerin”. It stood out, almost sounded poetic rather than raunchy. Tsika got back up as Glycca stood frozen in place, processing what she had done to the petite twin tail. The gang drifted away to terrorize someone else out of earshot.

“You got away, Glycca! You are very good at that! Such skills! Uh, yes. My name is Tsika.”

No answer. Glycca stood mute. Not even breathing. Rigid.

“Are you okay, Glycca? Did mangy fucking pigs hurt you?!”

The tall girl blinked and looked down at the little Russian. Tsika was transfixed by her eyes. They were so deeply blue they could be mistaken for lavender. Her pupils did the oddest things, dilating and shrinking in an unsynchronized way.

“N-n-n-n-n-no. They did-did-did not touch me. Oh! Did not mean to step on! To hurt little doll! Please! Please don’t hit me! Didn’t mean to?!” She made a small squeak of despair.

Tsika was crushed. It must have shown on her face. Each of Glycca’s pupils dilated to a different width and settled, giving her an oddball cartoon look.

“Oh! We sees. Gets it, we do. We sees the little doll isn’t g-g-going to hurt me right now. Bloody sorry! It’s just … you follow me. Sneaks at us. I sees you. We are scared. You are s-s-s-s-scary.”

Tsika took a deep slow breath. Soft voice. “I do not want to scare you. I just want to talk. No one talks to me. I thought you might. It is strange the name the nasty pigs call you -- Glycerin.”

Glycca nodded. “We hates all the th-things they call us we do. They t-t-talks nasty about our body. They wants to hurt us, use us in bad ways. Like s-s-some men … before. Back then.”

Tsika was having trouble following Glycca’s meaning but those few words sounded dreadfully alarming. She decided to keep the chat focused on the present. “I think Glycerin is a fabulous nickname! My real name is Tsarina. My nickname, Tsika, was conjured up by some stupid god damned administrator who could not read! Students laughed for days at me. You should own yours like I did! Make it belong to you! Glycerin, a sweet, slippery beautiful goddess!”

Glycca’s face burst into rosy colors. But her eyebrows wiggled, her mouth awkwardly formed a rather disturbing twisted smile. It was pretty clear sanity might not be her close neighbor.

“Like-like-like a secret hero name? Smashing thought. We sh-sh-shall think about it.” She stared into space for a moment, her pupils shifting. “Still. You-you want to talk. To us. Why does the little doll w-w-want to talk to us?”

“I … I was told Glycca is an orphan, too. I am orphan also. I have no one. No one at all. I am alone. Just me.” Tsika crushed a tear in her eye.

“You are alone. Yes. Sad. Gloomy sad doll. But … you th-think … you think we m-matters to talk to?” That seemed to make Glycca jittery. “See? She thinks we matters. Listen to what she says! Stop grieving, my little …!” Glycerin twitched and silenced herself.

Glycca half turned back the way she had been headed. “We has to go. Class.” She began to lope away, then stopped for a moment, staring at nothing. Her eyes lit up.

“Oh! Manners! We should say nice things! Cheerio, little doll Tsika. It might-might ….” Her gangly strides began anew, taking her down the hall as Tsika watched. Now Glycca appeared to be mumbling to herself out loud, her long slender hands gesturing. Fascinating.

H’okay! That did not go terrible! But she is so strange. No. Must turn off judging. After all, am psycho bitch doll myself! Judged all the time. Maybe this will go well.
***

The following day did not go well. Tsika was cornered into another fight when Glycca was in the area. The shy creature fled during the violence. Later, Tsika went to her room but Glycerin would not unlock the door. Tsika pleaded with the terrified bizarre young woman.

“Glycca! Please?! I just want to talk. I need … I really need someone to talk with! You need someone to talk with! I will not hurt you. Please?!”

The door remained locked. “We worries! We … we worries you won’t hurt us enough. Finish it … for us. That it will just hurt and not finish.”

Not only was that cryptic to Tsika but Glycca would not speak further. Tsika fled in tears.

Her anger and sense of abandonment rose. Tsika began having trouble in her new classes. She stopped caring. She was taken out of one class and put down a level. The new teacher got a kick out of making Tsika look stupid to the rest of the class. She began skipping it. Tsika could feel herself spiraling into doom, like in every other school but much worse this time. She overheard the administrator and the doctor discussing reformatory schools, little more than prisons. The doctor was fighting it, saying he would adjust her medication. Her depression swirled into rage.
***

Is too fucking nice a day to be inside anyway. Fuck stupid class and clown shithead teacher.

Tsika sat on a swing out in the athletics field, moping. She was truant from the hated class. She considered the idea of just leaving the campus, climbing the brick wall and vanishing. She plotted the route as she idly swung. The best path passed near some utility sheds at the edge of campus. She was eyeing those when she noticed a commotion developing near them. She squinted for a better look at the small group of students.

Glycca. The tragic thing was weaving and dodging but Freddie’s gang of bullies had successfully circled her and were closing in around her. Suddenly Glycca stopped. Tsika could make out her words, carried on the wind as the bastard jackass Freddie leisurely approached the shaking young woman.

“Will you bloody k-k-kill me when done? That’s all we asks. We are worthless. Finish it?”

“Why would we do that, you crazy retarded tart? We can shag you over and over! No one will ever believe you. Right, chums?”

Glycca dropped her books with a helpless squeak and tried to run. Freddie snagged her. Tsika could hear the strange girl’s blouse rip from across the field. He jerked her about, dragging her behind the shed. Then Freddie slapped her face, sending Glycca flat on her back. Tsika lost sight of events as the gang pulled her behind the shed. She hopped up off the swing. This was it. A chance to break for freedom. No one was looking. The disturbance would cover it. She could leave. Disappear.

Who gives a fuck? She wasn’t going to be my friend anyway. She’s crazy. My chance to go!

Tsika began trotting along her escape route. Then she heard a sound. A soft whimpering cry. Inarticulate but full of despair. It skewered her mind. Pierced her thoughts with a spear of commanding imperative to protect, to keep safe, ripping her little black heart to shreds. She shuddered as her mind ignited in fury and unholy vengeance.

No! No more! This is fucking righteous thing! Is purpose! God damn I cannot bear to hear her hurting! This time! This time I follow through! Nothing held back! No reason left to hold back!

The small girl barely registered that she was hurtling across the field towards the sheds like a hummingbird. She realized she had added a cricket bat to her hands. It felt good, weighty.

As Tsika closed in, she heard Glycca more clearly sobbing and whimpering. Freddie was laying on her with his pants down, the other boys holding her pinned. Tsika’s mind fell into darkness, deep in cold flames of psychopathic fury.

The pixie of darkness swung while still sprinting at full speed. The heavy bat caught the closest boy to her on the back of the skull. He made an odd sound and crumpled to the ground. The second boy took her backswing in the face. He screamed as she twirled, breaking his knee with a side stroke precisely aimed at its weakest point. He went down, pathetic noises bubbling through the blood.
The other boys were shouting now. They let go of Glycca and got up to take on the whirling devil. Freddie, who was still ripping Glycerin’s clothes as he thrust his hips, was just beginning to register that things weren’t going well above him.

Tsika’s breathing was slow, steady, timed with her moves. Lethal grace, consuming hatred, years of anger, pure single-minded purpose.

Let it end this way. Doing righteous thing.

She fired her leg at the next boy in her path, the ball of her foot driving straight into his groin. She used both hands to ram the end of the bat into his nose, following up with a full body spin. The blood-drenched bat destroyed his ear with a spray of body fluids. The fourth boy got a hand on one of her hair tails, bad for him because it exposed ribs she smashed with the bat. Tsika calmly broke his elbow with the upswing, another pirouette and a sharp blow to the face. A cloud of red mist burst out of his head. The fifth boy was shrieking in fear now. He tried to run but Tsika slung the bat at him like a spear, striking him on the back of the head. He dropped to the ground in contorted twitching, frothing at the mouth. By this point, Freddie was standing, frantically trying to zip his pants, swearing and cursing at Tsika.

“I’ll have your pussy next before I cut your eyes out! You psycho bitch! Won’t surprise me!”

Tsika stood without moving, her amber eyes locked on him.

“You. You I kill with my bare hands, pointless waste of meat!” Tsika dropped into her most effective stance as the thug charged, drawing a knife. Some vague notion that his attack might not be the best plan came to Freddie. He put brakes on his lunge, but too late. She drove the edge of her foot into the inside of his knee. Listening to the lovely sound it made as it snapped, she then stabbed his throat and solar plexus with her fingers. He dropped to his knees choking. His knife she kicked away from him. Tsika leisurely retrieved her bat. She slammed it down on the head of the boy convulsing on the ground before returning.

“I will take my time. You deserve lots of time. Cry for your mommy, shithead.”
Her first blow demolished his cheekbone, the second sent teeth flying and left his jaw askew, and her third blow broke an arm. The pig made the most satisfying wheezing screams as she worked. Blow after blow, each delivered to vulnerable pain points. Some of the other boys began moving, trying to get up. Tsika danced quickly, leaping from boy to boy, beating them with the bat. The sounds were wonderful. She was ecstatic, the release of pure anger felt good. Bones snapping, bursting skin, all the horrible sounds from their mouths. She returned to Freddie after her dance, her eyes glowing.

“You see truth now. I slaughter you. Just informing you! Die, fucking worthless pile of shit!”

She aimed a precise strike at his throat to crush his larynx. His eyes widened.
“N-n-n-n-no! My doll! No! You are d-d-done. That’s enough, love! They are broken.”
Tsika was enveloped in gentle arms, her face crushed against soft uncovered breasts. For an instant her insanity peaked, but the gentle fingers kneading the back of her head and neck drained it out of her. Tsika dropped her bat and began to sob violently.

“I will kill them for you, Glycca! They do not deserve to live! I will go to jail! My life over! You will be safe! Safe from pigs!”

Glycca squeezed her tightly. “My doll? My doll really does thinks I m-matter? That we matters? We doesn’t understand! Why?!” The tall girl looked up to the distance. “They’re coming.”

“Let me cover you, Glycca. I will not run. No more.” She gave Glycca her school jacket to cover the slender girl’s ripped blouse and skirt.

As Tsika guessed, the guards did not even stop to ask questions. With horrified gasps, they threw her to the ground and handcuffed her. She did not resist. She lay limp.

The young would-be assassin heard Glycerin shrieking at the guards, but the tall lassie was hustled off. Everything became a droning sound. Tsika stopped focusing. She no longer cared.
***

Tsika sat dully in the chair, still handcuffed to it.

“Are you going to say nothing?! You are going to jail! If one of them dies, you may get worse!”

“Fuck you. You do not care what happened. You have your sacrifice, dumbass.” She glared at him, imagining being free of the handcuffs.

Just a few seconds would do it. There is a letter opener. Right in the throat. Very satisfying.

Her glare had the administrator sweating. Before another word was spoken, the door flew open. The doctor stomped into the room followed by Glycca. The tall girl was still in her shredded school uniform but now wore the doctor’s coat. He lunged a finger at the administrator.

“You! You have a problem, sir. You are finally between a rock and hard spot on this one!”

Glycca shrieked. “They … they rape … were going … were raping … me! You’re punishing the wrong person! She! She! Little doll rescued me! Wrong person! Freddie … did things! Horrible! Things to me! Like … before! Back then!”

The doctor talked over Glycca’s continuing stream of shrieking words. “She’s been like that since she came in. Most coherent speech since I’ve known her. So fired up I had the nurse do a rape kit test on her. Guess what? Came back positive. You can’t wiggle those little shits out of this one. They left evidence. I have them caught.”

Tsika was speechless. Not at the news, but from watching Glycca. Her alien eyes were on fire. She was angry. Not terrified, but beautifully angry. Angry and defending Tsika. The administrator was huffing back though.

“That is impossible! These are royals! They would never … Glycca is only a mad little hatter! Why would you believe anything she says?!”

Glycca wilted at that assertion. The doctor, however, laughed. Tsika got a glimmer this had been a battle long before her arrival. “You aren’t listening, you ignorant twit! I did a RAPE kit test. POSITIVE! All I have to do now is run a DNA test. That will take a while, of course. New technology and all. I shall pay for it myself if the school won’t. You’re done protecting them.”

Tsika slowly processed the reality the doctor was on her side in this matter.
The administrator was now shrieking like a pathetic little girl. “Put Tsarina in detention! Confined quarters! Someone get some proper clothes on that batty girl! We shall discuss this when we have all the facts!”
***

Tsika sat in the isolation quarters, swinging her legs. The bench chair was too tall, her feet didn’t touch the floor. She had been there nearly two days. Nothing to read or do. No one came to visit, only the guard with food. At least it was the nicer guard who said her name properly, but he said he was not allowed to tell her anything. The hope the little Russian girl had of victory was fading.

Somehow the administrator would silence the doctor. No one would believe Glycca, likely putting her in asylum or under sedation. Tsika herself was doomed to jail or worse. At least she had put the gang out of commission.

The latch turned, the door squeaking as it slowly opened. One of Glycca’s alien eyes peeked around it. She slowly came in. No one was with her. She closed the door. Tsika watched raptly as the slender creature stood, visibly shaking. She seemed to be trying to come to some decision, muttering inaudibly to herself. She blinked, walked over and sat next to Tsika, close enough to brush against the small pixie. Tsika could feel the strange girl vibrating from terror. The young Russian sat completely still, afraid to move and spook her.

Without warning, Tsika’s hand was being held. Held by a larger hand with long, slender fingers. Glycca gingerly squeezed Tsika’s tiny hand. The little girl finally let herself breathe.

“Are you okay, Glycca? Oh, Glycca! I am sorry! I am so sorry! I did not move fast enough! Get there soon enough! I wanted to save you before … before …!”

“It’s all cr-crumpets, little doll. Just … just what happens, what happens … has happened. You distracted him at the last … you’re … we don’t think. Don’t remember. We remember th-this! Bloody knickers! You are a b-b-beautiful elegant bomb! S-s-so amazing! Wishes we could be like that. So small and beautiful in-in-in your violence!”

Tsika blushed, then blanched quietly at a realization. “Do you take birth control pills, Glycca?”

“I … I think so? They makes us take a lot of pills. We hates them. Never w-w-works like they say. Usually makes us worse. Awful worse. Not sure we are.”

“Ask the nurse to be sure, h’okay?” Tsika gently squeezed her hand back. Glycca nodded.

“Oh! We has things to s-s-say! We thinks the little doll will be s-s-s-splendid soon. We’re listening we does. New people are-are here today. Things are ch-changing. Come with me!”
***

“Tsarinkov? Glycca? I am unofficially telling you we have won this little war but here’s the catch. You are both being transferred. But … together. We are wiping Miss Tsarinkov’s behavior record clean. Fresh start to screw up, little girl? But the loss? The loss is that will be no charges filed. Compromises. However, the little slugs are going to be in the hospital for a long time.”

The doctor softened his voice. “Glycca? That was really brave calling your estate’s lawyers on your own. All that parental aristocracy folded like cards at the firm’s name. Too big to brush off. Embarrassing and all that.”

The two girls sat facing the doctor as he spoke to them in his office. He was now in temporary charge of the school. The administrator had been placed on leave pending higher review. Official looking people roamed the building. Things really were changing.

Glycca did an amazing thing. She made a noise that sounded a lot to Tsika like a giggle.

“Tooks us a m-m-min … a while before we gots the right p-person. We knows we are-are bloody mad as a b-b-bag of ferrets but we pays attention to needful things. We watches and remembers. Remembered the tellie numbers we did and the n-names.”

The doctor smiled, then turned solemn again. “You check out fine physically, Glycca … but I’m worried about your emotional condition. I think perhaps we should—“

Glycca made a squeak noise and fluttered her hands to stop him. “Nothing … nothing worse than so m-m-many times before … at the-the air base. We bl-blanks out. No memory. She helps. Our Other … Ah! We blanks out! That’s all!”

Tsika wrinkled her eyebrows. Glycca looked alarmed, afraid as if she were about to say or reveal something bad. Time to jump into the conversation, give her cover for whatever it is.

“You are safe now, Glycca. I will keep you safe. Will protect you!”

The doctor grimaced. “I think I am glad you two are friends now, but I shall point out … you cannot protect Glycca if you are in prison. Keep that in mind for the future. I have placed instructions in the files that you two are to be kept together for psychological reasons. I think your estate firm sounded quite happy at that. Cheaper for them. Sound good, Tsika?”

“I am liking you now, doctor! You call me by name I ask to be called! Is good advice you give. Thank you for what you have done. So! Where are we to be sent? Cannot wait to leave here.”

“There is a facility near Llandrindod in Wales that specializes in psychiatric care students. Well, maybe it is more accurate to say they are better at it than most. I will not say it shan’t remain rough, especially for Glycca. Dear thing has contrary reactions to so many medications. Even a good doctor is going to be baffled trying to treat her. Oh, yes. By the way, Tsika? I cleared my medical records on you as well. They were worthless. You killed one of my office plants with all the pills you stuffed in it.”

Tsika laughed. A good throaty laugh. It felt good, so long with no laughing.
“I am caught! H’okay, Doctor. I admit being broken demonic doll but will try my hardest to find things to mend me. Is good?”

“Yes, Is good, little lovely Russian doll. You talk like that on purpose, don’t you? Your essays and composition are perfect English.”

“I like my parent’s language. Is fun! But … truthfully, is way of honoring the things they and my Mamochka taught my bitch self. Does not mean I am not furious at them for dying! So hard to forgive. Just informing you.”
***

Tsika led Glycca out into the hallway. The towering creature followed meekly but then pulled back to stop the smaller girl. They stood away from the traffic of other students.

“Tsika?” That endearing voice was soothing. It drained festering fury from the poisoned elf.

“Yes, my big mouse?”

“You … y-y-you. The man says we are g-going together. You are … my friend?”

“I am your friend! One who matters to me! Am … am I your friend?”

Glycerin nodded, her pupils doing their strange dance. “Like … like … like Pooh and Piglet. The stories. Do y-you know them?”

“Not well. I do know of them. There is something they say to each other a lot, but—“

Glycerin took Tsika’s hands in both of hers, her soft voice breaking.
“We will be Friends Forever, w-w-won’t we, Tsika? Friends forever?”

“Ah! Yes! I remember! Yes, Glycca! I remember.” She nodded. “Even Longer!”

Glycca awkwardly bent down to hug Tsika, stroking the nape of her neck. “My precious warrior doll she is. Makes us less gloomy. Not s-s-sure what to do with ourselves we are. Don’t re-remember having any friends.”

“Come on, my Mouse. I know first thing we do. We will help each other pack!”

“Yes! Splendid, my lovely d-doll. Lead on.” Glycca’s face tried a number of different positions before it settled on that vaguely demented surreal expression she used sometimes. Other students in the hall gave her extra space when they spotted it. But Tsika realized now that was Glycca’s smile and smiled back as they walked.

Has turned out be good day! I have a friend. A real friend! Not so lonely now. I must protect her. Keep her safe! Guard my new sweet treasure. Maybe … maybe not all darkness now.
***