Mal has always been a kind of idiot. She's not scared to face off against whatever challenges her. Even if it kills her.
I'll try to say what I remember from that day, the day I unwillingly gave up my ability to live a quiet life.
~o~
"I was walking down the halls from the school store when I was attacked from the front. They were wearing a hood so I couldn't get a good look at their face. They managed to get a good hit in; giving me this nasty cut. What they didn't expect was me staying standing and grabbing them while they were on my torso. I bit them on the shoulder and they ran off, but I lost them. Then, someone yelled 'Herbivores, get back!', and I realized I was out in the open with blood dripping from my jaws. I hot footed it outta there and came here."
"So why didn't you just explain what happened to the police?" Mal asked.
"Who would believe me? There weren't any witnesses and anyone would try to demonize the bloody carnivore."
"That makes sense I guess. Did you get a good taste of their blood?" Mal looked at Tony and hit his shoulder. "What? It's a good question!"
"No. I haven't had a sense of taste since what happened with me and Mallory."
"How did you know I told him that story?"
"You do know that I was conscious the entire time, right?"
"You were?"
"Yeah, I just ran out of energy. I was still awake." This was a great time to mess with Mal. "You really told our most personal story to someone you met a week ago, whom you didn't even trust until what, two hours ago?"
"It was a spur of the moment situation. He asked, so I told him."
"You couldn't have told him that I just tripped? That would be a good excuse."
"I didn't want to make you sound like a loser!" She was a blushing mess. She's too damn easy to fall in love with.
"Oh I don't mind at all. I tell that story to anyone who asks me about it." I gave her my signature grin. "I just wanted to see your cute widdle face when you get aw fwustewred~" I teased.
"You're a Grade-A asshole." She pouted.
"I try. Anyways, can you two do me a favor?" I say, changing the subject.
"What's up?"
"How long can you two hide me here?"
"Not even a day. I rotate out tomorrow." Tony replied. "Can't you go to your parents or something?" Mal nudged Tony.
"Dude" She whispered. "Dicey territory"
"Oh no it's chill. He didn't know."
"Know what?"
"My parents have been missing for years now."
"Oh. I'm sorry for being insensitive."
"It's fine. They're probably somewhere. Without me. Leaving me by myself for six fucking years but whatever. They had better things to do I guess." A lump forms in my throat. The three of us sat in silence. Tony was looking at the ground.
"I know someone that might be able to help." He suddenly chimed in. "They live in a pretty dangerous place though."
"Who?"
"Do you two know what the Back Alley Market is?" I looked at Tony with shock.
"Are you mental? I can't go there!" I said. He really offered this knowing my whole tragic backstory with Mal? Unbelievable.
"Don't worry about it. I know someone who can help. It's pretty much your only option considering you don't have a place outside of school."
"Hold on. What are you two talking about?" Mal looked at us like we were crazy.
"She doesn't know about the Back Alley Market?"
"She grew up very protected."
"Please fill me in."
"It'll be easier to show you. You'll doubt me otherwise."
~0~
There we stood, just outside the Back Alley Market. I saw the meat stands line the street. The smell was horrific.
"Here," Tony said. He reached into his bag and grabbed a mask. "Put this on." The mask was like Tony's, but it had a tiger-like design on it and a hood.
"What's that?" I asked.
"Nobody in there can know she's an herbivore."
Mal donned the mask. It fit her well enough. My mind wandered into other places she could wear that mask, but I was violently brought back to reality thanks to the offensive smell in the air. We walked into the market. I saw countless people give us weird stares.
"Keep your head down." Tony said. I looked to the ground. There wasn't any pavement or anything. Just gravel and traces of blood. Suddenly, the weight of the situation pressed on me. I was in my territory. My mind raced, I barely noticed when Mal tripped. Her mask fell off. Tony looked back at her, knowing what was about to happen. What I didn't realize is that we were already surrounded. I stanced up to defend Mal. If I die here, I'll die happy.
"Get up." I shouted to Mal. Growls encompassed us. Tony armed himself.
"That's enough, damnit!" A voice yelled. A female leopard in a lab coat pushed her way through the crowd. "What in hell do y'all think you're doing outside my clinic?" All the carnivores surrounding us quickly dispersed and went back to what they were doing. The leopard crouched down and put her arm out to Mal. I tried approaching her, but Tony put an arm up.
"Don't worry. They're a friend."
"You okay, honeycomb?" She helped Mal up. "What's a pretty little hare like you doing around these parts?"
"Well this guy over here invited me." She said, pointing to Tony. The leopard's face lit up.
"Tony! How wonderful it is to see you! Oh you've gotten so big since I've seen you last. How's the boss?"
"Do you know her Tony?" I asked.
"Oh how rude of me!" She said. "I'm Doctor Sage. The therapist and dietician of the Back Alley Market. Please! Come inside!" She led us into her abode, the walls littered with band posters and diet ads. We went into a room with a few dusty couches and a coffee table. "Stay right here. I'll go make us some tea." Doctor Sage left the room.
"So how do you know her?"
"They're my Guardian. They pretty much raised me."
"They?"
"They have DID. Sage is just one of five.
"Oh weird. How can she be a therapist then?" I asked.
"Wow. Ableist much?" Sage said, walking in with a tray of iced teas.
"Oh! No it's not like-"
"I'm just yanking your chain, honeycomb. Most people react that way when I tell them." I took a sip of the tea and spit it back out.
"Eugh. What's in this tea?" Sage looked at me confused.
"What do you mean? It's just Earl Grey?" She took a hefty gulp. "I didn't put any sugar in there if that's what you mean."
"Why wouldn't you? This tastes horrible!" The spots on Sage's body moved and contorted from a kind and soft pattern to a stoic and organized one.
"The world is undergoing a sugar epidemic of sorts. Teens all around the area are getting countless empty calories from the sugars in soft drinks and processed foods. One in every five calories that the average herbivore adult is from sugar. With the rise of 'low fat diets' the calories from the somewhat healthy fat is being transferred to the unhealthy sugars. Countless diet companies that claim that fats and carbohydrates are bad for you only say so to get a quick buck out of you. Diabetes is currently on the rise." They went on like this for about a half hour. None of us dared interrupt their train of thought. About halfway through their lecture, Tony wrote something down on a piece of paper and handed it to me.
"That's Quinn. He'll be going on like this for a while." After Quinn was done with his lengthy spiel, his spots returned to what they were. Sage looked exhausted.
"Damnit Quinn." She muttered under her breath. "Sorry about that. That was Quinn. He knows a lot of things but isn't as good as the rest of us with social interaction. He's the one who got us through medical school though, so we can't really blame him."
"So are you the original one?" Tristina asked.
"I guess you could say that. All that aside though, why are you three here?" I told Sage everything that happened.
~0~
"So the police are after you and you need somewhere to stay until you find the person who attacked you."
"Exactly."
"What's in it for me?"
"Auntie please. I need you to help me with this." Tony pleaded.
"I'm willing to do things for you, but why should I do anything for this stranger?"
"It would mean a lot to me?"
"Please, ma'am. I'll help with whatever I can around the place. I'll do anything you ask!" I was desperate.
"Anything?" A grin stretched across her face. I backed down. Suddenly, I didn't feel safe.
"I want to say yes, but the way you said 'anything' makes me skeptical."
"Oh don't worry. I won't do anything perverted with you. Just some certain help."
I wanted to say no, but it was either this psycho or jail. "You know what? Sure. I'll do it."
"Perfect! You can stay. Do you have your things?"
"They're all at the school. No way I can get them."
"Don't worry about it. I'll give you some hand-me-downs."
"Thank you so much, Doctor." Mal said to her.
"You better run along honeycomb. This is a dangerous place to be." The four of us walked to the entrance. Mal put on the mask again.
"Thank you again Doctor for letting Tristina stay."
"Don't mention it. As long as I get some help around here, I'm golden."
"Tristina, I promise I'll find whoever did this to you." I crouched down to Mal's face and gave her a hug.
"Don't get yourself killed, okay?"
"I'll see you soon!" After we finished our goodbyes, Mal and Tony walked back to the school. They weren't out past curfew, so nobody could question them. After they left, The Doctor put a hand on my shoulder.
"So, you're in love with an Herbivore, eh?"