Bleed, Ch.2 (Part 5) (Finale)

   Ink felt a gentle nudge from her friend to attempting to wake her. "Hey Ink wake up, I've got a surprise for you." She stirred from her sleep to find Daze hovering over her. Still tired from yesterday, she arched her back in a much needed stretch.
'What surprise?'

    "I don't have to work today so were going to the park."

    'What's a.. p-park?'

    "It's where people go to have fun and there's lots of open space to run around."

    Ink's eyes widened, (Daze doesn't have to leave today, and she's gonna come outside with me?!) She got up from her makeshift bed,       wagging her tail happily.

    Daze led the excited creature into the kitchen, scooping her up before she had a chance to bolt out the back door. 'Daze.. put Inky down?', Ink was confused as to why her friend had stopped her. "Aren't you going to eat something first? I made us both breakfast.", Daze carried her over to the table which had several plates of food laid out. Although her cooking skills were minimal, she had managed to fry up some eggs and bacon. Everything else had been purchased the day before she picked up Ink from the clinic. The creature crawled onto the table, it's body still too short to be able to use a chair. Daze poured herself a bowl of cereal and sat at the other end of the table while the lizard had her face in a plate of eggs. "Hey Ink, maybe it's time I taught you how to use a fork." Daze pulled a fork out from under her napkin and handed it to her. "Hold it like this.", she demonstrated with her spoon. Ink, lacking thumbs, held the fork away from her with both claws wrapped around the end. "Okay now do this.", she dipped her spoon into the bowl then lifted back towards her face. The reptile did her best to copy the motion, taking several attempts until finally getting the eggs onto the fork. Ink quickly flipped the utensel upward, sending the spongey yellow meat flying over her head and across the room. She glanced at her friend, feeling a little embrassed. "It's alright, I'll clean it later. Let's just enjoy a meal together." After getting most of the eggs into her mouth, she moved onto the plate of bacon.

    "That stuff you can eat with your hands", Daze informed.

    Ink took a strip of bacon and bit off a small piece, 'Inky likes this.. best.'

    "I'll try to remember that when I go shopping again.", she smiled warmly, glad that her friend seemed to enjoy her cooking.

    After breakfast, Ink helped Daze clear off the table. She ran hot water in the sink while the creature carried the dishware in her jaws over to her. Daze dropped the last plate into the water and turned to her friend. Ink jumped onto her coat sleeve then climbed up onto her shoulder and she patted her head gently, "Alright, let's go to the park."

    The strong breeze from the night before had all but vanished from the small town and winter was just around the corner. The last of the autumn leaves still littered the sidewalk as the two made their way to the park. Ink grew curious at the steady drop in temperture that accured over the last few months she had been living with the human.

    'Why is.. it getting.. colder?'

    "Because winter's coming, it will probably start snowing next week."

    'What does winter.. look like?'

    "Well, the moisture in the air freezes, making it fall the ground. We call it snow."

    'How long.. does it s-snow?'

    "I dunno, it's different every year. Last time it snowed for almost six months straight. I didn't think we'd ever get to see the sun               again!"

    'Inky would like.. to see it snow..'

    "I'm sure you would." Daze paused for a second, "Wait, aren't lizards cold-blooded? I don't think all that snow and ice would be good       for you."

    'Inky not have.. cold blood.. blood always very warm..'

    "Just like us humans huh?"

    'Like humans?'

    "Oh I didn't mean you, I know your not a human. I meant other people."

    Then Ink asked a question she never thought she hear.

    'What's it like.. to be.. a human?'

    Daze stopped dead in her tracks, "Uhhh, I don't really know. It feels, normal.. I guess?"

    'Do you think.. Inky would be.. a good human?'

    "I dunno, you think I'd be a good.. whatever you are?", she teased.

    Ink gave her a strange look, 'Daze wants to.. be like Inky?'

    "Yeah sure, why not? I mean.. you have like a bunch of flashlights for eyes. You wouldn't have to worry about getting lost at night and     you can climb up walls like some kind of crazy monster from a horror movie."

    'What's a.. monster?'

    "Oh right, you've never seen a horror movie or any kind of movie really. Well in the horror movies all the humans team up on the           monster, usually cornering it somewhere then killing it to 'save the human race' and what not."

    'Daze thinks.. I-I-Inky is.. a monster..?'

    "Huh?"

    'Y-you think I'm a monster!'

    Ink eyes were welling up with tears, remembering what Daze had told her only moments ago. "I-Ink, no! I-I didn't mean it like t-          that..!", she reached over to hug her but Ink pulled away from her. The creature jumped down to the sidewalk and looked up at her.

    'Then tell m-me how you hurt your arm.'

    "You still don't remember?"

    'Tell me what happened!'

    Daze let out a shaky breath, "It was you, Ink. You bit me and you wouldn't let go, and it nearly broke my arm"
Ink felt as if her insides were being torn apart. She tried to remember back to how it felt when she was being carried to the clinic. The shaky breaths of her worried friend, a sudden flash of light, and a strange metallic taste in her mouth; it wasn't anger that made her attack.. it was hunger.

    'I don't feel good..', Ink placed a hand to her head, wondering if she was still sick.

    Daze quickly picked her up and held her close, "It's alright, it's just a lot to take in. just try and relax, it'll pass soon."

    Ink remained mostly silent for the rest if the trip, even when they did finally arrive at the park. Daze had told her a few stories from her childhood and the thought of her own family tugged at her heart like a leash made of thorns. (I can never go back. I'd be killed for abandoning Mother, and the rest of the colony.) The image of the colony and her Mother's smiling face finally broke her apart.

    'M-mo..th..er..', fresh tears stung her eyes, 'I-I'm so sorry..'

    "Ink, what's wrong. Did I upset you again?"

    Now realizing she had spoken aloud accidently, she continued, 'I-I miss m-my family..'

    "Your family? There's more than just you? But if you miss them, then why do you still want to be with me?"

    'I don't know..', she hadn't given much thought why she remained with Daze for so long.

    "Well, why you go and live with them? I'm sure they miss you a ton."

    'I don't.. I.. can't-..'

    "Ink, you don't have to live with me anymore.", she lifted the creature off her shoulder and placed her onto the soft grass.

    Ink gazed up at her friend, 'D-Daze, what do you mean?'


    "I'm taking about the debt, you've save my life and I've saved yours. I'm sorry, but I lied to get you here..!", Daze tried her best to       keep her voice as calm as possible, "I bought you here to set you free."

    'N-NO..!', Ink darted foreword and grabbed her leg tightly, 'I want to stay with you! Your the only human that I can trust!'

    "But I don't trust you."

    'Wha-..?'

    "It's like Samson said, your a wild animal Ink!", Daze grabbed Ink roughly by the arm and threw her off, "You've already attacked me       once, and you could have killed me easily! How can I trust that you after something like that?!"

    'I want to protect you!'

    "Then protect me by staying here!"

    Daze ran from the park as the tears began to quickly stream down her face. The creature watched her go. Pushing her knees up to her     chest, wrapping her arms tightly around them.



    'Then I'll keep you safe, I promise..'