IRIRS Flashback: "Even Longer"

“Even Longer”

Author B H Branham ©2014

The protagonist of this flashback short story, Tsika, lost her parents at a young age and then lost her caretaker. Her estate firm trustees put the little Russian-born girl in full time international boarding school to stay until she graduated. Between the trauma of losing her family and repeated abandonment events, she has extreme anger and rage boiling inside her that spirals into psychopathic fury. Quickly shuffled into schools for students with psychiatric needs, the administrative solution was threefold: medication, therapy, and physical activity. Tsika learned fencing, aikido, and gymnastics, but she warped all of those into her own unique martial combat style. Her instantly delivered extreme damage output compensates for being a small waifish girl. Instead of getting better – Tsika has spent the last few years spiraling into deeper and deeper trouble with no rescue in sight

Then she met Glycerin.

***

“Do NOT touch me. Would be annoying to waste time explaining resulting mess. Хуй тебе!”

Tsika stood defiantly, her path in the hallway blocked by three older boys all more than a head taller than the sprite. It was the young Russian ward’s third day at this particular boarding school for troubled students. The latest in a long line of schools. Things never changed. Each time her life immediately dived into hell. Bullies could not stop themselves, drawn like moths to the tiny porcelain doll, with her dual long wavy hair tails, tied with bright bows and pretty laces. The twelve-year-old had already been in three fights at this institution, two in the first day. Like elsewhere, the administrators immediately blamed her. She was new, foreign, and on record as prone to violence. Just easier to blame her. The three young thugs taunted her, ignoring her demand.

“Freddie! The wee dolly is an uppity crumpet! Maybe she needs a spanking! Or better, a bit of romping fun!”

“Brilliant! I thinks we got a blooming tasty commie doll to play house with, Freddie!”

Tsika’s eyes narrowed, glittering with malice. Her stance shifted. One foot slid further back.

“Move. Now. Ёб твою мать! Out of my way, fucktard toads. I will not ask again.”

The ringleader Freddie sneered in anger. “You ­ are one mouthy little bitch doll! But quite a lickable little lollipop. Right shaggable piece of candy even. A proper yank of your strings and you’ll address me properly.”

He towered over the elfin girl, then grabbed for one of Tsika’s twin hair tails. He never got to pull it. In a blurred explosion, her books became spinning projectiles, striking each of the two minions in the face. Both fell back with plaintive cries. Her hand flashed up, gripping Freddie’s outstretched arm. Using it to hoist herself, she jerked herself up into the air, firing one of her petite muscular legs in an explosive kick that struck the ringleader directly on his nose. A stunned Freddie fell backwards leaving a blood trail in the air. Tsika landed daintily on her feet, watching his collapse with contempt.

“Fucking bitch! You killed him!” The boy on her left dropped to check on the downed thug. The boy on the right was less intelligent, taking a wild swing at her. A slight shift in her torso let his fist slip worthlessly past her cheek. She countered by driving her body weight into his solar plexus with a fencing lunge, the knuckles of her fist substituting for a saber. The strike dropped him to his knees, gasping for breath. Tsika glared at a fourth lad closing in. Her expression stopped him cold. Her glare morphed into a sneer.

“Stupid pig wants to try? I am already in trouble. No fucking bother now for me to break some important part. Like maybe … your worthless balls. Yes? Am I right?!”

Security guards appeared. Tsika struggled to stay calm but she knew how events were going to go. The three boys and several nearby sycophants were shouting that she had assaulted them. Her history was already known to the staff. No attempt was made to listen to her version.

“Come with us, Tsarina.” Her pale cheeks bloomed in anger at the younger guard’s words.

“Do NOT call me that name! You do not have fucking permission! I am little girl being attacked by three large boys and you are arresting ME! Good job, fuckers! Xуёвый ёбаный су́кин сын!”

His face turned venomous as he grabbed for her arm. Tsika spun to avoid him, but the senior guard was ready. He cut her down at the ankles from behind with a sweep of his boot and grabbed those dangerous legs quickly. The other guard grabbed her arms. With that, she lost her tenuous hold on composure, cursing the guards in both Russian and English. Blood curdling oaths and fearsome shrieks had spectators backing away. The senior guard shouted over her howls at the two boys tending to Freddie, still down and groggy as his nose bled.

“Get him to infirmary, you two! I know you three are not innocent in this. If you’re smart you’ll stay away from this one. She puts people in the hospital. She’s a psychopath! Stay! Away!”

Tsika’s fury escalated at his words. Her voice spiked to a high pitch. “Fucking God damn worthless idiot pigs! It is never their fault, is it?! Never their fucking fault!” She began sobbing, a raging explosion of struggling fury. The guards had serious trouble managing her as she thrashed.

The senior guard gripped her legs more tightly. “Little girl! You are only bloody making it worse! They will drug you if you cannot control yourself! Do yourself a favor, Tsarinkov!”

The duo quickly stepped down the hall quickly with the angry animated demon stretched between them. They turned a corner to jog up the main hall. Her screaming epithets were now completely in Russian, incomprehensible to the English-speaking guards. Meanwhile her inner thoughts drowned in dark grief.

Leave me alone! Make those fuckers stop making fun of me! They taunt! Bully! Hurt my feelings! Little Russian girl never fucking fits in! No one gives a fuck about me! I’m … I’m so lonely. No one hugs! No one makes it better. Momma and Papa left and died. Then my Mamochka dies. Miss them so much. Hate them for leaving. Fuck everyone! Want to kill … gut … make them pay! What the holy Mother of Fuck? Look at that beauty!

Tsika went limp as she stared at what slithered by her and the guards. It hugged the far wall of the hall, cowering at the small girl’s boiling anger. It was a student, a slender lass with long shaggy hair. She was statuesque, as tall as the adult guards. The shaggy hair covered most of her face but Tsika caught a glimpse of it. Peeking through the curtain of hair was an expression of terror but all the young girl absorbed was how beautiful her eyes were, the shape of her nose, her jaw, her lips. She moved with an alien grace that mesmerized the little Russian.

“Damn! Are you hurt, Tsarinkov? We’re not trying to hurt you! Say something!” The senior guard tightened his grip but he did act concerned about the now limp doll. She suddenly remembered this guard from a fight on her first day at the school. He had ended the altercation without escalating and had talked her down from her rage.

“Like you fucking really care?! No! I am fine! Just tired of wasting of energy. Fuck you using rusty shit-covered knife, syphilitic toad!” She hung her head back, regretting her outburst to him.

Smarter than other guards. Not so much a pig, he uses my last name politely. I am stupid bitch. Guard might be someone who would listen to me some day when it matters.

“H’okay! Am very sorry about words, Mr. Guard. I am stupid bitch. Will not struggle further. May I walk between the two of you? Is not your fault fucktard shits were nasty hurtful pigs to little girl.”

He stared at her a moment, then relaxed and nodded. “Yes. Let her down, Doug. I trust Tsarinkov on this. She’s been good for her word from the start. Dangerous as hell, but if she makes a commitment she means it.”

The younger guard was still angry. He stared balefully at Tsika briefly but acquiesced. “Jolly fine! But if she nicks me I just may hit you instead. They don’t pay me enough for this.”

Damn it. Lost sight of the goddess! God damn! Who is she? Is fascination! Must learn more!

***

“Miss Tsarinkov. You are a lucky little child. You did not break Master Frederick’s nose. Also very lucky that you have mitigating circumstances reported. A pair of witnesses testified the other boys assaulted you first so we shall let the incident pass. However, you are on probation.”

“Am always on probation. Strange how it just seems to happen that way.”

“I have read your files, talked to our doctor. He says you are taking your medication.” The pompous man straightened a folder on his desk. “Miss Tsarinkov, you have very dangerous anger and rage problems. Not unusual symptoms for an orphan with PTSD but psychiatrically extreme in your case. Nonetheless, we have a school to run! You have an education to obtain. If you must burn energy to control your temper, we have sporting activities available. The notes say you are quite the athlete in gymnastics, fencing, and aikido. I strongly suggest you see our instructors for those endeavors and introduce yourself. Immediately.”

“Sure. H’okay. Will fu­ augh! Will make use of such diversions. Is good to be active.” Tsika glared at the wall just behind the administrator, then let her breath out slowly. “Just make sure your pack of God da­.” Tsika stiffened as she struggled to control her language. “Just make sure your local clowns are not so stupid they get in my way.”

“Little woman! You shall have to adapt. Those you encountered today have very influential parents. Learning prudence will serve you well.” Her dark eyebrow arched at the administrator’s advice. She absorbed the meaning in a way entirely unrelated to his intent.

Is novel idea! Calculate. Plot. Revenge when unexpected. Satisfying! Maybe better than wild rage. This man has good advice for a change! Is still cowardly weasel moron though. Makes me God damn nauseated just to be in room with such a vomit toad.

***

Tsika left the administration office after the lecture. As she headed to the psychiatric offices, she began shaking. Her nose ran, sharp sobs cut the air. Other students in the hall stared at her. She hated that. Quickly she took refuge in a janitorial closet, breaking down in tears and howls. Her stomach twisted and she threw up in the sink. She sat on a bucket, hugging herself, rocking in the darkness until she was exhausted, her mind blank as she stared at the closet door. Silence. No one. Alone.

Pathetic. I have to be my own momma. No one wants me. Little psycho bitch doll. Alone. Abandoned. Just too fucking stubborn to cut myself open and solve it. Will go see fucking doctor. At least he calls me by my right name and pats me on the head. That is some kind of nice touching I guess.

She made her way to the school’s infirmary to take her daily dosage of pills. She palmed them as usual, the psychiatrist none the wiser. The pills were stealthily fed to one of the office plants that decorated his office. She decided he was a good source to query about the strange young woman in the hallway.

“Hey, Doctor Bernard. There is interesting girl I have seen in hall. She is very tall, very meek. Quite beautiful in her movement, shaggy hair. You have any knowings of who she is?”

“Tall? Meek? Pretty? Oh, that must be Glycca. Glycca Ping Wendham. Poor thing.” He flinched. “Oh, good gob! PLEASE don’t bother her. She is extremely fragile. Emotional wreck. Very easily terrified. It is true she may act loopy, but she is a fine student. Sad creature lost her entire family in a tsunami disaster. That and she had some very nasty treatment afterward. Quite traumatized her. Why in heaven do you want to know?”

Tsika blanched at the tragedy in his information. She decided to be honest. “Such fucking dark news! My goodness! Is such sadness! I know what it God damn feels like to lose … everyone. Seemed like we had instant connection just by looking at each other, but she ran away.”

The doctor looked regretful. “Tsarinkov, if you did not have such a rough time controlling your rage and anger, I would encourage you two to talk. It would be healthy for both of you. But Glycca is one panic attack away from hysteria, sedation, and heavy restraints. Please don’t bother her.”

She could see her poker face was lousy based on his expression. “Bloody hell, Tsarinkov! Right! I can see you plan to ignore me. Please be VERY very careful. It makes my stomach churn when she cries! Something about her just compels me to keep her safe ­ oh never mind, that was too much information. Just tread lightly, please?”

“Absolutely! Like on broken glass I will walk! Thank you, Doctor! See? I can be polite!”

Afterward, Tsika leaned her forehead against the hallway wall to cool her head.

Fucking bastard. Ah, I am harsh. He is much better than bullshit witchdoctor at last school. Now! Glycca Ping Wendham intrigues me. Must find out more.

She put a hard clamp on her inclinations to lash out while she collected data on Glycca. When Freddie and his braying minions passed the diminutive pixie in the hall, Tsika simply ignored them. This seemed to piss off the gang more than if she responded to their taunts so she enjoyed that. But they kept their distance. They were not utter dullards about self-preservation.

Once she discovered which classes Glycca took, Tsika went to the academic counselor to charm the man into changing her class assignments. Some of the classes were much higher in difficulty, this made it easy for the young Russian to argue that she wanted to push herself harder in studies. The adults all agreed that this new interest in academics was a positive step for the explosive young woman.

Idiots and circus clowns. All of them! Should cut them up alive for bait.

***

“Class? This is Miss Tsarinkov. She goes by the name Tsika. Please call her that and make her welcome.”

The teacher nervously gestured for the young woman to take her seat in the advanced mathematics class. It was clear the man knew a hair-trigger bomb was now in his class. Tsika smiled thinly as she sat, scanning the rather large group of classmates.

Ah, there is Glycca. Front row at corner. Damn, she won’t make eye contact. Keeps covering her face with all that unkempt hair. My gods! Such a gorgeous creature! Aura of alien wildness. If she were guy, I would be swooning!

The class went quietly. Tsika watched as the quiet creature was called to the whiteboard to solve a math problem. The lanky student did not take a direct path to the board. She slithered along a route that reminded Tsika of a mouse, wary of open spaces, even avoiding slight variations of increased lighting. The tall girl spoke not a single word as she wrote the solution out. It was a fairly impressive proof. Tsika could barely follow it.

The teacher was also clearly impressed. He spoke very softly and gently to her. “That’s fantastic, Glycca. How did you decide to use that method for your proof?”

The young teenager physically flinched at his soft words, as if he had horrifically beaten her instead of merely asked a question. Tsika was appalled. Fear spilled out of the tall creature, filling the air in the classroom. The towering enigma hyperventilated as she tried to answer the question.

“It it it it it was bollixy when we … when … the-the other w-way, Mister S-s-s-s-s-Swanson.” She drew the instructor’s name out, the soft hiss of a snake. She ran back to her seat and hid her face with her hands and hair. There were mean giggles and unkind remarks from the back of the room until the teacher’s glare silenced them.

Oh. My. Fucking. Hell. Giant mouse is utter basket case, unable to function socially! Kind of … like me! But in totally different way than me! Such grief and fear am sensing! I know too well where the sad comes from. Feel it in my own bones, but is astonishing to see such different reaction to our histories! So want to talk to her!

Her desire proved remarkably difficult to satisfy. Glycca always leaped out the door at the bell, loping quickly to her next class, weaving and slithering as she avoided other students.

As the days of detective work went by, Tsika learned that not everyone left the tragic creature alone. That gang of bullies with powerful parents, they seemed to thrive on terrorizing everyone but they especially enjoyed hunting Glycca. They would bump her in the hall, leaving her whimpering from an inappropriate grope. Other times they would knock her daypack off her shoulder and then torment her as she collected her things. They verbally abused her without caution, saying vile lecherous things to her.

Glycca wasn’t totally helpless. She seemed magical in her abilities to slip by them unseen. She almost oozed through walls at times, escaping their attempts to corner her for their vicious ideas of more wretched fun.

Tsika covertly listened in some astonishment to the thugs. They talked openly about “having a shagging bit of tasty fun with the retarded tart”, ogling her breasts, long legs, and hips. She was well developed for her age, easily mistaken for a young woman of fourteen or even sixteen. Usually Tsika envied such beauty but it was a liability with these toxic lads. No one will ever believe her even if they understood her, they taunted. Tsika was alarmed by the ease and openness with which the toads went on about what they wanted to do to her. No one ever called them out on their talk. This school was looking to be a terrible place for anyone who was not in a clique, alone with no herd to belong to. Glycca was lonely prey for them.

Must channel my rage. Wait and watch. Likely just jackass talk by toxic bags of wasted meat with balls, but cannot easily dismiss such evil. Is quandary though. Glycca’s skill in avoiding them also works on me. Is like trying to catch a fast mouse on my own!

***

Tsika got her first opportunity in a chance encounter. Making her way from her lonely room in the girls-only part of the dorm, she rounded a corner and was nearly trampled by a panicked Glycca. As she fell, Tsika could hear taunts in the distance from the gang of thugs. They called the statuesque creature names and made leering noises to her from the edge of the No Boys zone line.

“Mental Amazon whore!”

“Towering trollop! Needs a man’s touch inside her!”

“Come back, ya tart! You’ll be our special bag of candy! Fill you up properly!”

“Give it up, Glycerin! Sweet and slick in you, we wager!”

The last taunt caught Tsika’s ear. The name. “Glycerin”. It stood out, almost sounding poetic rather than raunchy. The waifish Russian got back up as the towering young woman stood frozen in place, paralyzed by what she had done. The gang drifted away to terrorize someone else out of earshot.

“You got away, Glycca! You are so very good at that! Such skills! Uh, yes. Introducing. My name is Tsika.”

No answer. The tragic figure stood mute. Not even breathing. Rigid.

“Are you h’okay, Glycca? Did mangy fucking pigs hurt you?! You are alright, yes? I can help… you…?”

The tall girl blinked, looking down at the little twin-tailed princess. Tsika stopped chattering, transfixed by her eyes. They were so deeply blue they appeared lavender at first glance. Her pupils were mesmerizing, dilating and shrinking in an unsynchronized way.

“N-n-n-no? They did-did-did NOT touch me. Oh! Oh goodness! We did not mean to step on! To hurt little doll! Please! Please don’t hit me! Didn’t mean to?! Don’t hurt us?” Glycca made a small squeak of despair.

Tsika’s heart was crushed. It must have shown on her face. Each of Glycca’s pupils dilated to a different contraction and settled, giving her an oddball cartoon look. The Russian felt strangely like she was being scanned and analyzed.

“Oh! We sees! Gets it now we do. We sees the little doll isn’t g-g-going to hurt me… right now. Bloody sorry! It’s just, you-you see? You follow me. Sneaks at us. I sees you do it. We are scared. You are s-s-s-s-scary.”

Tsika took a deep slow breath, then used her gentlest voice. “I did not mean to scare you. I simply want to talk. No one talks to me. I thought you might ­ that you would talk with me. Strange name the toxic pigs call you ­ Glycerin.”

The gloomy teenager nodded. “We hates all the th-things they call us we do. Nasty lads. They t-t-talks about our body. They wants to hurt us, do things, use us in bad ways. Like s-s-some men … before. Back before.”

The little Russian had trouble following the meaning but the fragmented speech provided dreadful clues about a tragic history. She decided to keep the chat focused on the present. “I think Glycerin is a fabulous nickname! My real name is Tsarina. My nickname, Tsika, was conjured up by some stupid God damned administrator who could not read! Students laughed for days at me. You should own yours like I did! Make it belong to you! Glycerin! A sweet, beautiful goddess with slippery sneaking powers!”

Glycca’s face burst into rosy colors. But her eyebrows wiggled in amusement. Her mouth awkwardly formed a rather disturbing twisted smile. It was clear sanity might not be her close neighbor but she was clearly interested.

“Like-like-like a secret hero name? Smashing thought. We sh-sh-shall think on it.” She stared into space for a moment, her pupils shifting. “Still. You-you want to talk. To us. Why does the little doll w-w-want to talk to us?”

“I was told you are an orphan. I am orphan also. I have no one. No one at all. I am alone. Just me.” Tsika stifled a tear forming in her eye. She wanted to stay upbeat but her own anguish had other ideas.

“You are alone. Yes. Sad. Sorrowful sad doll. But … you th-think … you think we m-matters to talk to?” That idea appeared to make Glycca jittery. “See? Listen! She thinks we ma-matters. Listen to what she says! Stop grieving, my playmate ­oh!” The shaggy-haired brunette visibly shook, then silenced herself. She half turned back the way she had been headed. “We has to go. Class.” She began to lope away, then stopped for a moment, staring at nothing. She spun around. Her eyes were sparkling now.

“Oh! Manners! We should say nice things! Cheerio, little doll Tsika. It might-might work?” An odd expression took her face as her long legs sent her striding down the hall. Now she was mumbling to herself out loud, her long slender hands gesturing.

H’okay! Fascinating. That did not go terrible! But she is so strange. No. Must turn off judging. After all, am psychotic bitch doll myself! Judged all the time. Maybe this will go well.

***

The following day did not go well. Tsika was cornered into another fight while Glycca was in the area. The shy creature fled during the violence. Later, she went to Glycca’s room but the fearful lass would not unlock the door. Tsika pleaded with the terrified bizarre young woman.

“Glycca! Please?! I just want to talk. I need … I really need someone to talk with! You need someone to talk with! About things! I will not hurt you. Please?!”

The door remained locked. “We worries! We … we worries you won’t hurt us enough. Finish it. Finish it for us. That it will just hurt and-and not finish.”

Not only was that cryptic but Glycca would not speak further. Tsika fled in tears. Returning to her coffin of a bunk bed, she threw herself face down in grief.

Was stupid bitch to think anything would change! Thought I could make a friend with someone so alone. We’re both alone. But she’s afraid of me. I’m a monster after all. Totally fucked.

Anger and sense of abandonment rose. Tsika began having trouble in her new classes. She stopped caring. She was taken out of one class and put down a level. The new teacher got a kick out of making Tsika look stupid to the rest of the class. She began skipping it. She knew she was spiraling, the same pattern as the previous schools. But this time was much worse, deep darkness. Her violent bursts became a daily event sometimes utterly without cause. Tsika overheard the administrator and the doctor discussing reformatory schools, little more than prisons. The doctor was fighting back, saying he would adjust her medication. Her depression swirled into rage.

***

Is too fucking nice a day to be inside anyway. Fuck stupid class and clown shithead teacher.

The young woman sat on a swing out in the athletics field, moping. She was truant from the hated class. Tsika considered the idea of just leaving the campus, climbing the brick wall and vanishing. She plotted the route as she idly swung. The best solution passed near some utility sheds at the edge of campus. She was eyeing those for possible cover when she noticed a commotion developing near them. She squinted for a better look at the distant group of students.

Glycca. The tragic thing was weaving and dodging but Freddie’s gang of bullies had successfully circled her and were closing in around her. After a few furtive dodges, her shoulders slumped and she stopped. Tsika could make out her words, carried on the wind as the bastard jackass Freddie leisurely approached the shaking young woman.

“Will you bloody k-k-kill me when done? Hurting us? That’s all we asks. We are worthless. Finish it for us?”

“Why would we do that, you crazy retarded tart? We got plans for you! We can shag you over and over! No one will ever believe you against us! Tasty piece of meat for all of us! Right, chums?”

Glycca dropped her books with a helpless squeak and tried to run. Freddie snagged her. Tsika could hear the blouse rip from across the field. He jerked her about, dragging her behind the shed out of sight from the school. Then he slapped her face, sending her down on the flat on her back. Tsika lost sight of events as the gang pulled her farther behind the shed. She hopped up off the swing. This was it. A chance to break for freedom. No one was looking. The disturbance would cover it. She could leave. Disappear.

Who gives a fuck? She wasn’t going to be my friend anyway. She’s crazy. Must rescue myself. My chance to go!

Tsika began trotting along her escape route. Then she heard the sound. A soft whimpering cry. Inarticulate but full of despair. It ripped through her intentions. Pierced thoughts with commanding imperatives. Protect. Keep safe. The following sob and whimper ripped her little black heart to shreds. Tsika shuddered as her mind ignited. Fury. Psychopathic rage. Unholy vengeance.

No! No more! This is fucking righteous thing! Is purpose! God damn! I cannot bear to hear her hurting! This time! This time I follow through! Nothing held back! No reason left to hold back! I will protect her!

The small girl barely registered that she was hurtling towards the sheds, an angry demonic hummingbird. She passed a discarded cricket bat. Tsika did not remember picking it up. It felt good, weighty.

As she closed in, she heard Glycca clearly sobbing and whimpering for help. Freddie lay on her with his pants down, the other boys holding her pinned, arms and legs stretched out like a fragile pinwheel. Tsika’s mind fell into darkness, deep cold flames of vengeance.

The doll of darkness struck her first target while still sprinting at full speed.

Swing. Upstroke. Target One. Back of skull. Target down. Lovely gurgle sound from mouth. Twirl. Target Two. Backswing to face. What a nice scream. Additional strike. Crouch and spin, target side of knee with sidestroke. Delightful sound as it breaks. Sweet. Little bubbles in the blood covering his face. His choking screams. Bonus.

The other boys were shouting now. They let go of Glycca to take on the whirling devil. Freddie, still ripping Glycerin’s clothes apart as he thrust his hips, began to register that things weren’t going well above him.

Tsika’s breathing was slow, steady, timed with her moves. Lethal grace, consuming hatred, years of anger, pure single-minded purpose.

Let it end this way. Doing righteous thing. Engage target three. Ah, the one who swung at me that day.

A muscular little leg fired at the next boy in her path, the ball of her foot drove straight into his groin. He bent forward in agony. She used both hands to ram the end of the bat into his nose, following up with a full body spin. The blood-drenched bat destroyed his ear with a spray of sticky red fluid.

Target four. Has me by my hair. Stupid fucktard leaves ribs open. Spin. Shatter. Deserves extra reward. Vertical spin. Targeting elbow with upswing. Lovely snap. What an interesting angle of arm. My hair is free now. Pirouette. Smash bat down into face. Lovely blood spray. Froth. Saw teeth fly. Bonus. Target down.

The fifth boy shrieked in fear as she locked eyes on him. He ran but Tsika slung the bat like a spear, striking him on the back of the head. He dropped to the ground in contorted twitching, bubbles oozing from his mouth. By this point, Freddie was up. Frantically trying to zip his pants, swearing and cursing at her.

“I’ll fuck your pussy hard before I cut your eyes out! You psycho bitch! You won’t surprise me!”

Tsika swiveled to face him. She stood without moving, bright amber eyes locked on the piece of trash.

“No. I won’t surprise you. You will know what is happening. You are fucktard. You I kill with my bare hands, pointless waste of meat!” Tsika slipped into her most effective stance as the thug unveiled a knife and charged. Some vague notion that his attack was not prudent flickered in Freddie. He put brakes on his lunge, but too late. She drove the edge of her foot into the inside of his knee.

Such a lovely sound it makes snapping. Target throat and solar plexus. Knuckle punch to each. On his knees now, choking. Kick his knife away. He is secured. Now he will pay.

Tsika leisurely retrieved her bat. She slammed it down on the head of the boy convulsing on the ground before returning. No rage left in her body. Serene. Cold. Calm. Intent.

“I will take my time, fucking shit-bag. You deserve special time, waste of cum. Cry for your mommy.”

Her first blow with the bat demolished his cheekbone, the second sent teeth flying and left his jaw askew, and her third blow broke an arm. The filthy pig made the most satisfying wheezing screams as she worked. Blow after blow, each delivered with precision to vulnerable pain points. Some of the other boys began moving, struggling to get away from the horror. Tsika danced quickly, leaping from boy to boy, beating them with the bat. The sounds filled her with endorphin glee. She was ecstatic, the release of pure anger felt godly. Bones snapping, bursting skin, the horrible sounds from their mouths. She returned to Freddie after her dance, her eyes glowing.

“You see truth. Yes? Now you will die. Just informing you! Send my regards to Hell, worthless fucked pile of shit!”

She aimed a precise strike at his throat to crush his larynx. His eyes widened in terror.

“N-n-n-n-no! My doll! No! You are d-d-done. That’s enough, love! They are broken.”

Glycca enveloped her in gentle arms, smothering Tsika’s face between soft uncovered breasts. For an instant her insanity peaked, but the gentle fingers kneading the back of her head and neck drained the demon out of her. Returning to what she was, a little Lost Girl. She dropped her bat and began to sob violently.

“But I will kill them for you, Glycca! They do not deserve to live! I will go to jail willingly! My worthless life over! You will be safe! Safe from these worthless pigs!”

The gloomy young woman squeezed Tsika tightly. “My doll? My doll really does thinks I m-matter? That we matters? We doesn’t understand! Why?!” Glycca looked to the distance. “They’re coming.”

“Let me cover you, Glycca. I will not run. No more.” She gave the tall creature her school jacket to cover the slender girl’s ripped blouse and skirt. It didn’t fit. Tsika had to tie the arms around Glycca’s chest.

The guards did not even stop to ask questions. With horrified gasps, they threw Tsika to the ground and handcuffed her. She did not resist. She lay limp.

The young would-be assassin heard Glycca shrieking at the guards to stop, but the tall lassie was hustled off. Everything became a droning sound. She stopped focusing. She no longer cared.

***

Tsika sat dully in the chair, handcuffed to it.

“Are you going to say nothing?! You are going to jail! If one of them dies, you may get worse!”

“Fuck you. You do not care what happened. You have your sacrifice, dumbass.” She glared at him, imagining being free of the handcuffs.

Just a few seconds would do it. There is a letter opener between us. Right in the throat. Very satisfying.

Her glare had the administrator sweating. Before another word was spoken, the door flew open. Doctor Bernard stomped into the room followed by Glycca. The tall girl still wore her shredded school uniform but was now properly covered with a doctor’s coat. Bernard lunged a finger at the administrator.

“You! You have a problem, sir. You are finally between a rock and hard spot on this one!”

Glycca was shrieking her words. “They … they rape … were going … raping … me! You’re punishing wrong person! She! She! Little doll rescued me! Wrong! Freddie … did things! Horrible! Things to me! Like … before! Back then!”

The doctor talked over her continuing shrieks in fragmented sentences. “She’s been like this since she came in. She’s adamant about what happened. Most coherent speech since I’ve known her. So fired up I had the nurse do a rape kit test on her. Guess what? Came back positive. You can’t wiggle those little shits out of this one. They left evidence. I have those elite bastards caught.”

Tsika was speechless. Not at the news, but at Glycca. Her alien eyes were on fire. She was angry. Not terrified, but beautifully angry. Angry and defending Tsika. The administrator huffed back at the doctor.

“That is impossible! Those are royals! They would never! Miss Wendham is only a little mad hatter! Why would you believe anything she says?!”

Glycca wilted at that assertion. The doctor, however, laughed with disdain. Tsika got a glimmer this had been a battle long before her arrival. “You aren’t listening, you ignorant twit! I did a RAPE kit test. POSITIVE! All I have to do now is run a DNA test. That will take a while, of course. New technology and all. I shall pay for it myself if the school won’t. You’re done protecting them.”

She slowly processed the reality the doctor was on her side in this matter.

The administrator was now shrieking as well, but in a pathetic undignified way. “Put Tsarina in detention! Isolation! Someone get some proper clothes on that batty girl! We shall discuss this when we have all the facts!”

***

Tsika sat in the isolation quarters, swinging her legs. The bench chair was too tall, her feet didn’t touch the floor. She had been there nearly two days. Nothing to read or do. She had spent the first day doing nothing but throwing up and curling up on the floor. Now she was wilted. No one came to visit, only the guard who brought food. She was grateful it was the nice senior guard who said her name properly, but he said he was not allowed to tell her anything. He did help her clean herself up after her vomit attacks.

The delay began to kill any hope the little Russian girl had of victory. Somehow the administrator would silence the doctor. No one would believe Glycca, likely putting her in asylum or under sedation. Tsika herself was doomed to jail or worse. She took minor comfort knowing she had put the gang out of commission.

The latch turned, the door squeaking as it slowly opened. One alien eye peeked around it. Glycca slowly came in. No one was with her. She closed the door. Tsika watched raptly as the slender creature stood, visibly shaking. She seemed to be trying to come to some decision, muttering inaudibly to herself. Then she blinked, walked over and sat next to Tsika, close enough to brush against the small pixie. Tsika could feel the strange girl’s terror and fear, sitting so close to a tiny stick of dynamite. The young Russian sat completely still, afraid to move and spook her.

Without warning, her hand was being held. Held by a large gentle hand with long, slender fingers. Glycca gingerly squeezed Tsika’s tiny hand. The little girl finally let herself breathe.

“Are you okay, Glycca? Oh, Glycca! I am sorry! I am so sorry! I did not move fast enough! Get there soon enough! I wanted to save you before … before …!”

“It’s all cr-crumpets, little doll. Just … just what happens, what happens … has happened before. You distracted him at the last … you’re … we don’t think. Don’t remember. Like before, moments vanished. Time skipped. But we remember th-this! Bloody Queen’s Knickers! You are a b-b-beautiful elegant bit of destruction! S-s-so amazing! Wishes we could be like that. So small and beautiful in-in-in at the center of that incredible violence!”

Tsika blushed, then blanched quietly at a realization. “Do you take birth control pills, Glycca?”

“I … I think so? They makes us take a lot of pills. We hates them. Never w-w-works like they say. Usually makes us worse. Awful worse. Not sure if we are.”

“Ask the nurse to be sure, h’okay?” Tsika gently squeezed her hand back. Glycca nodded They sat quietly next to each other, then Glycca perked up. Her eyes glittered.

“Oh! We has things to s-s-say! We thinks the little doll will be s-s-s-splendid soon. We’re listening we does. New people are-are here today. Things are ch-changing. I can visit you as we like! Brought you class notes so you won’t fall behind! Helps you we will! Let us gets them from my ba-bag. It is in the hall!”

***

“Tsarinkov? Glycca? I am unofficially telling you we have won this little war That is the good news. Here is some other good news for you. You are both being transferred … together. There is a school much better equipped to handle your psychiatric needs. We are wiping Miss Tsarinkov’s behavior record clean. Fresh slate to screw up, little girl? But the bad news? The loss? The loss is that will be no charges filed on those raping little shits. Compromises. However, the little slugs are going to be in the hospital for a long time. Justice from Paladin Tsarinkov, eh?”

The two girls sat facing the doctor as he spoke to them in his office. Bernard was now in temporary charge of the school. The administrator had been placed on leave pending higher review. Official looking people roamed the building. Things really were changing.

The doctor softened his voice. “Glycca? That was really brave calling your estate lawyers on your own. All that parental aristocracy folded like cards at the firm’s name. Too big to brush off. Embarrassing and all that.”

Glycca did an amazing thing. She made a noise that sounded to Tsika somewhat like a giggle.

“Tooks us a m-m-min … a while before we gots the right p-person. We knows every-everyone calls us bloody mad as a b-b-bag of ferrets but we pays attention to needful things. We watches and remembers. Remembered the tellie numbers we did and their n-names from when we were s-s-s-sent here.”

The doctor smiled, then turned solemn again. “You check out fine physically, Glycca. But I am worried about your emotional condition. I think perhaps we should—“

Glycca made a squeak noise and fluttered her hands to stop him. “Nothing … nothing worse than so m-m-many times before … at the-the air base. We bl-blanks out. No memory of it. She helps. Our Other … Ah! We blanks out! That’s all! We meant Tsika! Tsika helps, yes!”

Tsika wrinkled her eyebrows. The morose creature seemed really alarmed, afraid. As if she were about to say or reveal something bad. She decided to jump into the conversation, give the sad girl cover for whatever it is.

“You are safe now, Glycca. I will keep you safe. Will protect you!”

The doctor grimaced. “I think I am glad you two are friends now, but I shall point this out. Tsika? You cannot protect Glycca if you are in prison. Keep that in mind for the future. To help you both, I have placed instructions in the files that you two are to be kept together for psychological reasons. I think your estate firm you share sounded quite happy at that. Cheaper for them. Sound good, Tsika?”

“I am liking you now, doctor! You call me by name I ask to be called! Is good advice you give. Thank you for what you have done. So! Where are we to be sent? Cannot wait to leave here.”

“There is a facility near Llandrindod in Wales that specializes in psychiatric care students. Well, maybe it is more accurate to say they are better at it than most. I will not say it shan’t remain rough, especially for Glycca. Dear creature has contrary reactions to so many medications. Even a good doctor is going to be baffled trying to treat her. Oh, yes. Tsika? I cleared my medical records on you as well. They were worthless. You killed one of my office plants with all the pills you stuffed in it.”

Tsika laughed. A good throaty laugh. It felt good, so long with no laughter.

“I am caught! H’okay, Doctor. I admit being broken demon doll but will try my hardest to find things to help me cope with life as it dumps on me. Is good?”

“Yes, Is good, little lovely Russian doll. You talk like that on purpose, don’t you? Your essays and composition are flawless English.”

“I like my parent’s language. Is fun and suits me! But … truthfully, is way of honoring the things they and my Mamochka taught my bitch self. However! Does not mean I am not furious at them for dying! So hard to forgive them abandoning me. Just informing you.”

***

The two young women strolled into the hallway, Tsika held Glycca’s hand to lead her. The towering creature followed meekly, then pulled back to stop the smaller girl. They stood away from the traffic of other students.

“Tsika?” That endearing voice was soothing medicine. It drained festering fury from the poisoned elf.

“Yes, Glycca?”

“We? I? We have dis-discussed it with ourselves. We likes your idea. We are Glycerin. We shall ‘own it’ as you say. But the doll m-m-may call me anything she likes. She is precious to us.”

Glycerin stared at the space over Tsika’s head, then pursed her lips.

“You … y-y-you. The man says we are g-going together. You are … my friend?”

“Yes! I am your friend! You matter to me! Am … am I your friend?”

Glycerin nodded slowly, her pupils doing their strange dance. “Like … like … like Pooh and Piglet. The stories. Does the little doll know those stories?”

“Not well. I do know a little. There is something, some motto they say to each other at times, but—“

Glycerin took Tsika’s hands in both of hers, her soft voice breaking.

“We will be Friends Forever, w-w-won’t we, Tsika? Friends forever?”

“Ah! I remember! Yes, Glycerin! I remember.” She repeated the next line of the motto. “Even Longer!”

Glycerin awkwardly bent down to hug the elfin girl, stroking the nape of her neck. “My precious warrior doll she is. Makes us less gloomy. Not s-s-sure what to do with ourselves we are. Don’t re-remember having any friends.”

“Come on, my Mouse. I know first thing we do. We help each other pack!”

“Yes! Jolly splendid, my lovely d-doll. Lead on.” Her face tried a number of different positions before it settled on that vaguely demented expression she used sometimes. Other students in the hall gave her extra space when they spotted it. But Tsika realized now that was her new friend’s smile. She smiled back as they walked.

Has turned out be good day! I have a friend. A real friend! Not so lonely now. I must protect her. Keep her safe! Guard my new treasure. Maybe … maybe not all darkness now.

***