The Others

  “Coming of age” Story

“You know they’ll be here pretty soon for you, Chris,” Todd flicked the cigarette in his mouth, causing embers to fall out like a smoldering dragon’s breath. “The Trials are mandatory for every able bodied man, whether you like it or not.”

  “I’m not afraid of them anymore Todd, I’ve told you a thousand times already! Just leave me alone!” The young boy slammed the door, not wanting to see his stepfather any longer than he had to.

  Yet Todd’s foot was just faster than the tantrum-throwing teenager’s hand. “I know that Chris, but you need to listen to me. There’s more to this than just meeting the Other Kind. You’ve got to try and see what really matters here. I know I’m not as welcome in your life as I’d like to be, but you don’t have anybody else.”

  “I’d rather be alone than with you forever,” Chris spat out, wiping his nose.

  Todd sighed. This’d be a lot tougher than he thought. The kid had no idea what it was like, to be with the Others. He rolled his cigarette with his lips, taking in a long draw and releasing the smoke through his nostrils. He stared at Chris, noticing how timid and afraid the boy was. “You definitely don’t act sixteen, son,” Todd tried a reassuring pat on the back, but Chris shrugged it off.

  “How many times do I have to tell you that I’m fine and I don’t need you around at all,” The boy returned a hateful gaze at Todd.

  He is not my dad, Chris thought to himself angrily. My dad’s dead and I don’t need another one, I just want him back. Don’t sob you idiot, don’t freakin’ sob, not in front of Him. “Leave me alone, please Todd,” Chris shied away behind the door, not looking in the older man’s eyes.

  “Take as long as you want, boy,” Todd removed the smoke from his face, stamping the cigarette on the ground. “You’ve got ‘til morning before they come.”

  Ain’t no way that boy’s gonna last with the Other Kind, but then again, he could be wrong. Todd recalled his first encounter with them. He chuckled to himself. Let the boy try his luck; maybe he’d get lucky like him.

  Molly had no intention of participating in the bout. But, as the troopers did to every other house, she had to board the ship and take her place. She chewed her fingernails nervously as if their tattered edges could keep away the Others she’d soon face for the first time. And she was one of the youngest chosen, only fifteen. Her mom was shocked that they picked her so young. Guess it was only fair, since Susie didn’t get called until she was seventeen. Hardly any ever came back, but that was the way it was out here. She had never been trained to fight, just to mind her manners and be polite. Molly wanted to be a trooper like the older girls, but you had to meet the Other Kind first. All children had to, and that’s why it was so frightening.

  None of the adults cared what happened to them, they’d done it before so they must have forgotten how terrified it would be for their kids.

  The driver for the mobile ship transport gathered the last couple of girls, then said over the loud speaker that they’d arrive at the Other Kind area in fifteen minutes.

  Only fifteen minutes? That’s one minute for every year she’s been alive! She was starting to cry when the young girl next to her nudged her arm. “Don’t worry, my sister says they aren’t so bad, once you get to know them, that is.”

  “Really?” Molly never felt so relieved. “Did she tell you what they are like?”

  The other girl’s face became thoughtful as she recalled the information. “Yeah, she said they’re totally weird, alien creatures. But, they look like us, humans that is. I don’t think they have fangs, but I could be wrong. Oh! They can talk, too!”

  “Are they scary?” Molly was trembling, but fascinated at her description of them as her imagination pared the new details with pre-established rumors. She’d never heard anything concrete about the Other Kind in her entire life.

  “Not really. I think they may be more afraid of us, actually,” The girl paused in her narrative. “Oh, I’m sorry, where are my manners? My name’s Amy, what’s yours?”

  The girl’s face was so cheerful and innocent that she couldn’t possibly be ready for the Others. But, she didn’t want to seem rude, so she forced a smile and said, “Its Molly. I’m glad to meet you Amy. And thanks for the story.”

  “No problem!” The cheerful one said.

  “Are those the Other Kind?” Chris asked a fellow on the ground as the transport lifted off the ground.

  “Yeah, I think so.” Someone said, to Chris’s left.

  “What do we do now?” Another voice called, shrinking away in the crowd.

  “I heard somebody has to make the first move,” an older boy’s voice said, almost like a man’s. “Any volunteers?”

  The silence of it was so overwhelming that Chris started shaking. Suddenly, a hand was pressed into his back and he was flung towards the center of the field, to the Other Kind.

  Both sides gasped, each frozen. What was going on?

  Then, Chris saw one of the Others step forward, cautiously. It was a stunning creature, he’d never seen anything like it. The figure was hauntingly similar somehow, but Chris couldn’t move his feet: they were frozen in place.

  “H-hello,” he stammered, trying not to have his voice crack multiple times. “My name’s Chris. Umm, do you have a name too?”

  The creature looked started. “Yes, I do,” it sounded shocked. “You’re capable of speech?”

  “Huh?” Chris felt terrified, but he liked the sound the Other made.

  “My name’s Molly. It’s nice to meet you, Chris.”