Get me out of here

[Glow]

(Posted Image) (Posted Image)

It had been a long night.

Taking a deep breath, Glow slowly slid her legs out of the bed. They hit the ground with a hard thump, the sound seeming to echoing in her ears. Another sigh escaped her mouth, and her spine bowed as she leaned down to hug her legs. The nightmares that had plagued her all night had taken a lot out of her. It was as if everything was drained out of her. All her emotions, all her thoughts, everything was lost in the memories that would never leave her. Rubbing her face with her palms, she attempted to scrub some of the sweat off of her face. That was perhaps the worst part about waking up after a night of nightmares. It wasn't the lingering ghosts. It wasn't the fact that she would be exhausted all day long. It was the lingering scent of fear that clung to her skin. Just that scent along was a reminder about why she was here in the first place. It was why she hated her life so much, but it was also why she attempted to do something good every day. Maybe, just maybe, if Glow could somehow manage to make other people happy, well then she would be able to prove that everything was okay. That this life was better than her other one, because she could actually do something about the horrible things around her.

Slowly standing, she moved to open the blinds in her room. The blue glow from her skin faded immediately when the sun touched it. Her skin only glowed in the dark, and had only started doing so when she reached maturity. As soon as she had escaped from the Company grounds, she had looked up everything she could about her "condition". Glow was a mixture of human genes and glowworm genes. Unfortunately, that didn't give her any interesting abilities. While other Splices were able to pick up cars or have armored scales to protect them, Glow could simply do what her named labeled her. She could glow. And she would glow whenever it was dark out. Hell, even on rainy days when she stepped into shadows her skin would seem to be a bit blueish. It was both a blessing and a curse to her. A curse because she couldn't go anywhere with humans at night. But it was a blessing because it kept the darkness at bay. After the life that she had witnessed in the last few months, Glow was horribly afraid of the dark. Standing at the window, she tipped her head back and breathed in the sun. It was something that she couldn't get enough of. It was beautiful, and something she rarely saw during her captivity.

But she couldn't enjoy it as she wished, with the scent of fear still clinging to her skin like a cloying perfume. Sighing again, she seemed to be doing that a lot lately, Glow walked to her bathroom. Her home was merely a tiny apartment in the worst part of town, but it definitely worked for just her. There was a living room that also served as her bedroom, the couch pulled out into a bed. But at least she could sleep on a mattress, something that she hadn't really expected when renting the apartment. There was a kitchen, but it was open to the living room, with just a tiny island separating the two. The bathroom at least had walls, though it was really the size of a closet rather than a bathroom. Closing the door behind her, she then stripped and stepped into the shower. The only way she could open and close the ancient shower's door. With the hot water hitting her back at full blast, Glow could feel the effects of her nightmares leaving her. It was a good thing, though the hot water was certainly making her tired again. She didn't need to deal with that. Her work was boring enough as it was, she certainly didn't want to have to deal with the fact that she was completely exhausted. Coffee was desperately needed, and she planned on drinking a whole pot of it.

She toweled dried her hair, and then put on a plain white T shirt and ripped jeans. Her job didn't require her to do anything but sit at the counter, and for that she was very grateful. Her boss was wonderful, and wouldn't even mind if Glow showed up in pajamas. She never would dare, but at least she knew that it would be alright. Setting down at the island, she grabbed herself a bowl of cereal. She would never get tired of that stuff. The sugar went right into her system, and fast, though not quite as fast as coffee. This morning she would eat Captain Crunch, because that was what she was addicted to. For a moment, she closed her eyes and simply moaned at the taste of the sugary yumminess that was dissolving in her mouth. It was shear heaven. Something that she would never and could never get enough of. Though maybe if someone was holding a gun to her head. She paused in her chewing to ponder the thought. She did that a lot lately, perhaps she was in her thinking stage. Glow was really only four months old, and she had yet to experience this world any more than a simple worker would ever. She wanted to experience everything about this world. Everything. Sighing again, she ran her fingers through her wet hair. Surely there would be something interesting happening today? Just as the thought crossed her mind, she heard a knock at her door. Who in the world?

so go ahead & bat your & eyes & lie right to the world.

made by check yes, zoe. of ATF.

[Richard Barnes]

Mornings, they seemed like they were the middle of his day. This damn splice that they had him babysitting never got up on time, at least on time to his standards. War had hardened and conditioned the man to getting up as soon as the sun was peeking over the horizon at five or six o'clock in the morning. He had been awake in his apartment next door to Glow since at least five in the morning, just sitting upright suddenly awake. Dreams from the war never haunted him, in fact he relished his accomplishments that he had achieved in Vietnam and Korea. No, nightmares did not bother Rick in the nighttime, but rather Glow's night terrors that he could overhear through the walls. Her whimpering, shrieking and the odd outburst of a pained slur of words often kept the man awake as he laid there, alert and ready in case something did indeed come after her. She was after all his line of work, his protected item. Finger fondled the bedsheets as he traced calloused tips over the threading in the sheets before he tore them off of himself moments later. Grunting he placed bare feet down onto the wooden floors and creaked over to the washroom to take a leak. Swearing under his breathe the man kicked his boxers off and jumped in the shower to which he had unhinged the door a while ago in a fit of pure frustration and fury. It wasn't broken, the man just didn't care to screw it back in. Once he was dripping wet, soapy and clean he rinsed and then toweled off before fixing himself a cup of coffee, black. Perhaps it was a bit bitter, and he really wasn't a huge fan of the taste, but it was what he had become used to and knew. Black coffee with no sugar or milk or cream, that was all that was available in the Asian orient while he was serving. Yawning widely the man went to sit down on the couch, leaning back into the sofa as he closed his eyes and listened for any sign that the splice might be up. Unfortunately in these apartments you were able to hear everything, he absolutely hated them and wished that he would've been able to move back into his other house. He still was unable to sell his house, call it a bad market but housing these days was not the easiest market it seemed. That, and he refused to sell it to any of these spliced monsters. God knows what they might do to it. The creak and moan of the pipes filling with water stirred the man as he shook himself awake and pulled on a navy t-shirt and a pair of black khakis and work boots. Nothing made him feel more at home than his t-shirts and khakis, or uniform. Suits were foreign and reminded him of funerals, and these jeans and workout clothes were just too, fashion forwards for him. Pouring the remainder of his coffee into a travel mug the man retrieved his handgun from the kitchen as he wandered to the door, exited, and locked up behind himself. Taking under five steps to his left he found himself at Glow's door. Knocking he waited patiently and heard her go quiet, took a sip of his coffee and then banged harder. "Out of bed!" He allowed himself to go quiet again, listening as she put her spoon down and footsteps followed to the door. "Let's go, girl. You need to go to work!"

[Glow]

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She thought for a moment that she might get away with not answering the door. Glow would love to simply skip work, settle down on the couch, and watch a movie. It was one of those days where work seemed something just a bit too far out of her reach. But as she raised the spoon to her mouth for another bite, she was forced to stop with it halfway to her mouth. The sound of her "guard" screaming at her to get ready. As if she needed to get any more ready then she was. Sighing, she popped in a mouthful of cereal before striding towards the door. She didn't need a bodyguard, and had explained that to the freaks that had shattered her door just a few weeks ago. They had said that she needed one because she didn't understand this world. She had answered that she had done just fine so far. But did they listen to her? No. She was just an animal to them, and one that needed to be watched at all times. Looking through the peephole, she sighed when she saw it was indeed the bodyguard. Richard Barnes, even the name was harsh on her tongue. The man himself was enough to make her hair stand on end in fury, and Glow didn't like experiencing emotions so different from happiness. Unlocking the door, she swung it open.

"I changed my hours." This early in the morning, he was lucky she didn't slap him. How rude could the man be? Standing there with his coffee as if he owned the world. He wasn't her keeper. He was a bodyguard. She had looked up the definition online, and she wasn't about to believe him when he said she had to do what he told her to. He was the one that was supposed to follow her around. It didn't matter that he could throw her over his shoulder and do whatever he wanted. She was the one that was supposed to be in control. Walking back over to the island, she plopped back onto the seat. Besides, she didn't need a bodyguard. All she did was work and come back to the apartment. Damn, she really needed to go out to a bar and meet friends. Something to keep her busy. The other splices were rather... aggressive for her taste. They were constantly speaking of war or how they were going to get the "company" back for what had been done to them. It wasn't that Glow didn't agree, she most certainly did. But she just felt like she didn't really have much to say. She hadn't been treated horribly, in fact she had been mostly forgotten in the cages. Sure she had been locked up, but there was something to say about being in a small space and having a panic attack. It helped a bit to not be in open spaces. Though the other splices said there was something wrong with her for thinking that way. Probably some kind of mental illness.

She pointed her spoon at the bed, and swallowed her food. "You can sit down. It might be a while. There's a few new channels on the tv." Just the thought of it made her excited. She'd found them last night, and had watched them with avid joy. There was something interesting about watching old movies from the human era. They were so different from what she expected them to be. Somehow it was just not in her nature to act as they did, and human minds were just so fascinating to watch. Almost as though she was observing them, when her own brethren were being observed now. Jumping off of her stool, she brought her cereal with her and thumped down on the bed. She was supposed to close it up so that it was a couch again, but she hadn't gotten around to it yet. If Glow had her way, the apartment would look like a bomb had gone off in it. But people came over, and she simply couldn't let it look like that. It wasn't what the people did in the movies, so surely she shouldn't either. Grabbing the remote from Richard, she typed in the numbers. The black and white movie that came on screen made her squeal with happiness. Popping in another mouthful of cereal, she spoke around it. "A streetcar named desire. Nice!" She pointed at the screen and looked at Richard, "You ever seen this one?"

so go ahead & bat your & eyes & lie right to the world.

made by check yes, zoe. of ATF.

[Richard Barnes]

Richard sighed heavily and listened as the stool scraped back across the floor and the splice walked back across the hardwood to the door. He was certain she may've taken it off the hinges with the force that she used to swing it open, however he kept his comments to himself. Raising brows expectantly he looked the woman up and down as she pointed the spoon at him and he groaned in response to her comment. "Why would you change your hours? You know I have shit that I need to do." Remaining outside the doors Richard glanced down the hallway, not because there was someone there but rather out of habit. Once she invited him inside he stepped through the door and closed it behind himself, clicking it shut before locking it both with the handle and chain across the door. Feeling more at ease he returned his attention to the woman as she returned to her cereal bowl. Rick looked around the apartment in the same analytical way that he always did, inspecting, always inspecting for something. Awkwardly he remained in the entrance way, only moving to the 'living area' once she directed him to do so. Keeping his boots on the man wandered over to the couch that had been folded out as a bed. Casually he seated himself with a heavy intake and reached for the controller, only to have it snatched away moments sooner by the woman. Taking a moment to realize what had just happened he scooted over to allow her her space. He lifted his gaze upwards to the tv a moment later as she turned the screen and a black and white film came on. He felt his eyes roll back in his head with frustration before shaking his head, "No," Was his response to her question as to whether or not he had seen the movie. He then reached for the remote, swiping it from her hands a moment later. "You need to get dressed, you have to come with me while I do my rounds today.. Perhaps it will be a good eye-opening experience for you." The man clicked the television off and motioned for her to finish off her rather repulsive cereal before shooing her to finish getting ready. He rose from the bed and folded the sheets, draping the blankets over the back of the couch as he put the futon back inside of the couch. Placing the pillows back onto the couch he readjusted the blankets a moment later and placed the remote on top of the tv set before moving to the windows and tearing the curtains open aggressively. He glanced down, viewing the same view that he had from his room next door. A small gathering of men had happened on the ground level and the man leaned back against the windowsill to watch without being seen. He pursed his lips, "Glow, we need to leave." He announced and pushed himself from the windowsill after ensuring that yes, the windows were still locked. Walking through the living room again he collected her bowl and spoon and placed them into the sink in the kitchen before waiting patiently at the door.

[Glow]

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What Glow really wanted to know, was how in the world she had ended up having the guy with the stick up his butt for a bodyguard. Really, she wasn't that bad to be around! In fact, Glow considered herself a rather nice person, and usually people had a fun time around her. But as soon as she swung open the door, she wanted to groan. She knew that look. That was the look that said he wasn't in a good mood, don't mess with him. She rolled her eyes dramatically when he scolded her for changing her hours. "Do I look like I care that you have-" she changed her voice to mimic his. "Shit to do." Rolling her eyes once more for good measure, she walked back into her apartment. It wasn't as if the world was going to end because she had changed her hours. For goodness sakes, the man was the only person in the world that would get mad at her for that. He was her bodyguard! His schedule was her schedule! "It's not the end of the world Barnes. I'm sure whatever you need to do can be done later." And anyways, she didn't feel like going back to that stuffy bookstore. If anything, she wasn't going to go at all today. It sounded like a good option. She worked too hard anyways. Glow wanted to explore the human world! More than what she had seen already. It was boring, it was tedious, and it certainly wasn't the kind of life that she had been expecting when she had gotten out of her cage.

But when she sat down in front of the tv, she felt excitement go through her. Real human life wasn't anything like what she had expected, because most of the information about the human world she had gotten from the television. The lives of the people in the black box seemed to be the stuff of legends. If she could have anything in the world, it would be to live a life like theirs. They must never get bored! But then she was shooed out of the room by Barnes, told that she needed to get ready to do his rounds with him. Snorting, she said through her bedroom door, "I'm not doing that!" Before she went to get her clothes on, she added, "Besides, I'm sure anything you do would be horribly boring. Why can't I ever go and do something fun! There's a club I want to check out soon, but I'm not even going to ask because I know you'll say no." Placing her cereal bowl on the dresser, she yanked her clothing out in frustration. But just before she got her shirt on, she stared at the shirt and grinned. Picking it up, she walked to the door and held the shirt out of it. Just her arm and shoulder stuck out, but at least he would know what she was there. "Barnes!" She couldn't help the giggle that escaped before she continued. "Would this work?" The shirt was hot pink with sequins on it. No way would he agree to it, and she was definitely going to wear the slinky shirt. It showed the most skin out of all the things that she had.

Grinning at his reply, she yanked the shirt over her head and sauntered out of her room. Smiling at Barnes, she grinned at the bed which was now a sofa, and the bowl of cereal taken care of. "Why Barnes! Maybe for your next job, you should be an undercover maid. You know, you could have a gun all the time, but wear those really cute black and white dresses!" Clapping her hands and laughing at the image, she waved her hand in the air. "And you could use a duster that was hot pink!" Once Glow got off on one of her tangents, no one could stop her. Unfortunately, she was just a bit immature. But what most people didn't know, was that she really was only four months old. In fact, she was incredibly mature for her age, at least in human standards. But even if she was fifty, she had a feeling that she would still have the imagination of an eight year old. This human world just had too much potential for people to not take advantage of it. Then she noticed that he was standing at the door. "Barnes, why are you standing at the door?" She furrowed her brow. "I'm not leaving just yet."

so go ahead & bat your & eyes & lie right to the world.

made by check yes, zoe. of ATF.