I stepped off the last stair and onto the cushy carpet of the basement room. My eyes widened, taking in the entire space. On the right wall stood a stainless steel double door fridge with a sleek black stove placed next to it. The granite counter tops reflected the light of the mini lamps that were strung from the ceiling. Cabinets lined the wall above the counters, the glass doors showing the contents for all to see. The island had three leather seated stools as well as a stainless sink. Tile marked off the space that was the kitchen leading into carpet that took up three fourths of the room.
Right across from me lied a queen sized bed dressed with a purple comforter and black sheets peeking out from under. Black small end tables were placed on both sides next to the bed, one with an old fashion looking clock, the other had a small vase holding a lily.
A big tube TV sat up upon a dresser that matched the end tables. It was positioned so you could watch a movie in bed or anywhere else in the room. A matching tan couch and loveseat were arranged in front of the TV with a black coffee table to divide them, making the dresser sort of stand out as one that is not like the other. On the left wall was a white door that I inferred led to a bathroom which was next to a wooden work desk and chair.
I took another step further into the room, smiling like a giddy child on Christmas day.
This is my room?
The walls were a light lilac color with white trim along the top and bottom of the walls. The room was… refreshing.
“You should close your mouth before something flies in!” Katie Bell giggled as she stepped off the stairs and stood next to me.
“This room is beautiful,” I closed my mouth and looked to her with a smile. She was grinning from ear to ear.
“I hope it’s alright that there’s only one bed. It was hard enough bringing one down here, let alone two! Are you okay with sharing a bed?” She approached the bed and patted the comforter.
I nodded. “Of course!”
Katie sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed. “Perfect,”
I felt the need to sit next to her. She let out a small chuckle and placed a hand on my knee, rubbing it lightly to show comfort.
“This place, I know it will seem odd for a while, but please, look at everything positively! This is your home now! We’re like a-” She cut herself off to sigh. “a dysfunctional family,”
I looked down to the carpet, then back to Katie, whose expression had suddenly changed, showing discomfort .
“Penelope-” She stopped herself with a gasp, then corrected herself. “P-Kim, I apologize, I’m going to have to get used to it.” She cleared her throat lightly. “Can you promise me something?”
I smiled. “Sure, what is it?”
She put her free hand to her cheek, rubbing it gently.
“Please… don’t harm anyone,”
I opened my mouth slightly, wanting to say something in response, but found no words. She continued.
“This place has brought different people together and drew many apart. Blood painted the streets until someone decided to step up and take control. There are people who still want to paint in red, I’m afraid. I hope you’re not one of them…” Her voice trailed off.
I shook my head.
“I can’t hurt anyone no matter how hard I try,” I admitted. Katie faced me with a concerned look.
“Everyone’s mutation can kill if used the right way, what makes you think yours can’t?” Her harmonious voice was now stern and demanding. Her eyes pierced into mine and I forced myself to look away.
“My… I can hypnotize by singing,” I glanced back to her to see her turquoise eyes soften. “I-I promised my father I would never use it to hurt anyone,”
Katie Bell let a smile form. “You’re father sounds like a good man,”
I nodded. “He raised me,”
“No mother?”
I nodded again. “She left when I was...three, four maybe? Haven’t seen her… at all,” A wave of sadness washed over me as well as memories of my mother.
I remember she was a beautiful woman, a goddess my father would say. A jewelry designer from Georgia who had an eye for the beauty in a person’s soul. It’s a shame I don’t remember more.
Katie Bell placing a hand on my shoulder brought me out of my memories.
“Well, I will leave you to get acquainted with the room, Danny will bring down your luggage hopefully in a bit,” She sighed as she stood and walked to the stairs, but stopped abruptly before stepping onto the first one. She turned back to face me.
“Just so you know, there is going to be someone coming down here to fix the television. Don’t worry though, he couldn’t hurt a fly!” She smiled to me.
“It’s great to have you, P-Kim,”
*Do came down the stairs to the basement. He’s a person I haven’t met yet. He looked like a 19 year old with a lanky stature and a goofy aura. He approached the TV that was causing some trouble, but stopped in his tracks.
I was in the bathroom, brushing my hair, singing, thinking no one would hear me.
He could hear my muffled singing through the closed door, and was drawn to it. He slowly moved closer. He froze in place abruptly as my voice hit his ear drums.*
I set my brush down and smoothed out some crazy strands of hair. As I finished up singing a tune from the radio that was playing on the bus, I opened the bathroom door and stepped out into the bedroom that was now my and Millie’s room.
I gasped and stalled midstep.
A man was standing in front of the bathroom staring blankly at the door, right above my head since he was significantly taller than me. He was terribly skinny and pale, with freckles powdered over every inch of his skin. I looked up to see his glacier eyes, but they were warm and comforting to look at, contradicting their color. He wasn’t moving, breathing hollowly in through his slightly opened cracked lips.
I poked him lightly, trying to get him to notice me. He wouldn’t budge. My eyes widened as I realized why he wasn’t moving.
He heard me singing.
I let out a sigh and let my head hang in self shame, scolding myself for being so careless.
But I didn’t know he was outside the door!
That doesn’t matter!
“Snap out of it!” I pushed on his shoulder, knowing the combination of a force and a sharp tone of voice seems to break the hypnosis. He broke out of his trance startled, looking around frantically.
“Who, what, when, what happened?!” His eyes landed on me.
“Who are you?” He relaxed slightly as he asked the question. I could hear an irish twang in his voice. I held out my hands to show a sort of submission.
“Don’t worry, I’m… a friend,” I let out a chuckle.
The man cocked his head slightly to the side. “What’re ya’ doin’ down hare?”
I felt myself smile as I pushed back a strand of hair behind my ear.
“I-uh just moved in, sorta. Staying down here with Millie for the time being. My name’s... P-Kim.”
The man chuckled. “Dat’s a cool name. I’m Do; spelled D-O, but sounds like Play-Doh.” I giggled.
“How many times have you said that in your life?” Do let out a single laugh.
“E’r since grade school!”
As he looked me in the eyes, I saw something genuine in his. He chuckled and blushed slightly, noticing that I was just staring at him. I blinked, getting my mind off of his eyes.
“So, you’re de new roommate Katie’s talkin’ ‘bout!” Do exclaimed. I nodded and he sighed, getting to work on the TV.
“Kate and Dan are real nice ‘bout openin’ deir place to newbies. One day dis place will have hundreds of people livin’ in it!”
I giggled. “I doubt it,”
“Well, wit how gi-huge-ic dis place is, I tink it’s plausible!” He chuckled and continued to mess around with the back of the TV.
“And you must be the repair guy,” I inferred.
“Eh, I dabble,” He struggled with one of the wires for a moment. “Ahha!” he moved the TV back to its original position, then pushed the TV’s on button. The TV switched on to the world news.
“Dere we go! Now we’re suckin’ diesel!” Do exclaimed. I gave him a weird look and he noticed it.
“It’s an Irish figure a’ speech,” I widened my eyes in understanding and nodded my head slowly.
Do pressed the TV power button again, making the screen go black. He sat down on the couch and his expression turned sour.
“P-Kim, what happened ta me? I felt like I had lost time… like e’ryting was black for a bit…” Do gave me a suspicious look, and I gave a nervous laugh.
“Heh, yeah, you heard me singing… My… mutation I think they called it… I’m kind of a siren, the ones that attract sailors with their hypnotic song? Except, I can literally hypnotize people.” I scratched the back of my neck. Do nodded slowly, his suspicion falling away.
“Dat’s an interestin’ mutation, I haven’t seen it before.”
“I guess… but I’ve been told that my mutation is the most ridiculous one ever by… Michael. Yeah, that’s his name right?”
“Michael? Hah, don’t give dat guy a piece, he’s an arse to begin with! Hell, he’s pissed off just about e’ryone in this place at least once.” Do chuckled.
“How did he piss you off?” I slanted my head to the side in intrigue.
I watched as Do’s goofiness evaporated from his body. His eyes went to the ground as I tried to meet them.
I think I said something wrong.
“Do? Did I say something I shouldn’t‘ve? I’m really sorry if I did-“
“No, it’s fine, you have de right to be curious.” He looked to me after a minute and I could see a different person was in front of me. It was still Do, but he was more serious, I could see regret in his eyes.
“He’s de one person I wish didn’t belong hare.”
“Why? What did he do?”
He sighed and placed his head in his hands.
“He turned me sister against me,”
I knitted my brow. “What?”
“I was one of de first mutants here, along wit m’ sister Cassandra and… Michael. He decided dat it would be fun ta fully convince my sister dat I am just an ignoramus box of rocks dat deserves ta be taught a lesson because of it,”
“Taught a lesson?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“Yeah, but instead of teachin’ me actual shite like arit’metic, she teaches me how wort’less I am!”
My jaw dropped. “What?! Why?! You’re not worthless at all!”
Do slowly brought his gaze up from the carpet to meet mine.
“Believe me, at dis point, it’s easier just ta tink she’s right,”
“But she’s not!” I raised my voice and his eyes widened.
“I don’t know you very well at all, Do, but I know that you don’t deserve to be treated that way; no one does! Plus she’s your sister! She should know to treat you with the kind of respect a sibling should!” Do chuckled as I finished my passionate rant and I glared at him. “What?!”
He sighed and smiled to me. “Ye don’t have a siblin’, de ya?”
I paused. “Does it matter?!”
Do chuckled again and smiled to me.
“...Tanks for dat P-Kim, maybe I should have ya meet m’ sis so dat ye can give her a piece of yer mind!”
I smiled sheepishly at him. “I couldn’t do that,”
“Sure ya can! Ya just need a reason an’ a bit o’ confidence! Dat can get’cha anywhere!” He paused. “‘Cept for school, don’t do dat to get trew school! Trust me!”
I bursted into a giggling fit as Do got to his feet.
“Well, I have t’ be off; I have t’ get another five requests done t’day t’ get trew me quota,” Do stuck out his hand to me with a smile. “It’s nice t’ meet’cha P-Kim! I hope ta see ya around!”
I giggled and took his hand. “Same to you!”
Our hands shook up in down in unison.
He pulled away and headed for the stairs, looking back at me and waving one last time before heading upstairs. I waved back.
I heard the door close and I let out a sigh. My first… real…“Friend,” The last word escaped into the air.
ns 15.158.61.48da2
