The Misfits

They arrived back at Cassidy’s house just after dawn. Harley was waiting for them and ran around to each of them in greeting, smelling each to see if they were enemies, and more importantly, if they had snacks. A few of them did and fed him, others didn’t and petted him.

He accepted both.

Selim was frightened at first, until Harley licked his face, and they became fast friends.

Mrs. Gray was up and seeing the parade of new kids in her house, was only briefly surprised. Having heard Cassidy’s story, she assumed these kids would have similar stories and Cass would tell her at some point when it was convenient.

Right now, she went to the kitchen and started cooking.

Cass divided the kids between the four bathrooms in the house, letting each shower.

Cass, Gemma, and Myra donated clothing to all of the girls so they could get rid of their scrubs.

Cass saved those to burn in the fire pit later.

The boys weren’t so lucky.

Robbie and Alex gave up what extra clothes they had but it wasn’t enough for all eight boys, some of which were much too small for them anyways.

They had to stay in the scrubs for now.

Jaden took sizes from everyone and said she’d go get a change of clothes for everyone.

Gemma and Robbie volunteered to go with, and they headed out for the mall.

As kids exited the bathroom, she sent them to the dining room to eat, then they could sleep, or swim, or whatever, as long as they stayed close.

Cass saw Elias head out and followed him to the Facility van, where he stood at the open back doors. Elias heard her walk up and said, “She really didn’t have a family to speak of. At least one that cared. What should we do with her?”

“Bury her. I know the perfect spot, and all the people who cared about her are here. What more could she ask for?”

He looked at Cass. “Thank you. She would appreciate that.”

“After everyone gets back and eating and naps are done, we’ll take care of her.”

She took his hand and walked them back inside making sure he ate.

Myra took all the younger girls to swim once they had showered and ate, keeping a close eye on them.

Alex joined them, as did Selim.

Cass left Elias eating and went to find Allyson and Halley. They had showered together and were in Cass’s bedroom where Halley was brushing out Ally’s hair.

Cass came in and closed the door, sitting on the bed. She sat Ally on her lap and had Halley said beside her.

Cass brushed Halley’s hair while she talked.

“I want to talk to both of you. Last night was, well, a bad night even though you guys were freed. Your friend Jocelyn died. Halley watched her kill Enya, and then watched as she died because of that. And you, little one,” she said squeezing Ally, “killed Peg, saving Myra. Watching a friend die and killing a person can be very traumatic.”

“Tra-what?” Ally asked.

“Traumatic. That means it can mess you up inside. Make you sad. Give you nightmares or make you afraid. You both are so young, and what they did to you – to us – is bad enough without having friends die or killing people. I know because I was kidnapped and held in a Facility a while ago. So was Gemma. We escaped too. I know what it’s like to kill people Ally. I’ve had to do it to bad people. I know it had to be done, but I never did like it.”

Ally nodded.

“That’s what I think too. Peg was a bad person. I didn’t want to kill her, but if I didn’t, she would have killed your friend, and maybe you as well.”

Cass finished brushing Halley’s hair and started braiding it, asking Ally where small braids would look good.

She continued. “So, I want both of you to know that I’ll be here for you if you ever need it. No matter if it’s just someone to talk to after a nightmare, or just to talk, or even… boy problems.”

Ally said, “Eww,” while Halley just laughed. “I mean it, both of you. No matter what. I’ll do whatever I can for all of you, but you two and Elias most, because I know how it feels to have to go through it alone. It’s hard, but it’s much easier if you have someone to talk to and to be there for you when you need a friend. Okay?”

“Okay,” said Allyson, hugging her.

Halley said okay as well but couldn’t turn since Cass was still braiding her hair. Cass finished the last braid, and someone knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Cass said.

Myra came in with a bag. She saw the two girls and said, “Good. Just who I was looking for.”

She pulled out clothes for the two girls. Everything they might need for several days. Socks, underwear, swimsuits, shorts, pants, and t-shirts.

Cass saw Myra was in her swimsuit still, so she suggested more swimming for all of them and the two younger girls undressed and put on the new swimsuits, asking Myra if they could go right away.

Myra said sure and led them away.

Now that Cass knew Jaden and the rest had returned, she went to collect everyone she needed and talk to them.

Gathering up the oldest boys, Jaden, Wanda, Gemma, and Elias, she told them about burying Jocelyn in the clearing. Not only were the boys’ friends, but she needed them to dig the grave. The girls would take forever.

Devon and Mitch brainstormed and with Mitch providing a speed bubble, a person shoveling, and Devon teleporting soil, it would seem to take very little time to those outside. To anyone inside, it would still take a while, but with the boys switching off shoveling, it wouldn’t take too long. With the plan set, Cass said they would start after dinner, before sunset, so they would be finished before dark.

Everyone now had new clothes thanks to Jaden and her platinum credit card, so the kids changed and played and relaxed.

Cass’s mom, Gemma, and Bradly started dinner early, having to cook for so many. Having nothing pressing at the moment, Cass pulled Robbie into the jungle surrounding her house. Close enough if they were needed, but far enough not to be bothered, she sat down in a small clearing, pulling Robbie down with her.

They sat side-by-side, Cass leaning on this sturdy shoulder, holding his hand, as she told him her secret, and her ordeal four years earlier. She told him about Gemma and their friends Rudi, Wanda, and Jaden, and what she knew about the powers of the kids they had just rescued.

Explaining Myra was a little different. It was more apparent that she was different from the others. Myra didn’t fall into the looks normal but has a special gift category. She was obviously a form or someone’s genetic tinkering, and neither Myra nor Cass knew who was behind it.

For all intents and purposes, Cass guessed she had some type of alligator or Cayman DNA mixed in. This didn’t really sound realistic, but one only had to look at her webbed fingers and toes, the patches of scaled looking skin, and the second set of eyelids – nictating no less – to have to face reality. She wasn’t totally human.

Cass loved the girl none-the-less.

Robbie might have questioned all of this, had he not seen Cass do the things she did, with his own eyes.

It didn’t frighten him as Cass thought it might. What it did was actually give him a new appreciation of Cassidy.

To him, she was special, but now he knew she really was special, Cass answered the few questions he had, and they sat looking at all the life around them.

Soon they were kissing and then clothes started coming off. Robbie stopped, saying, “I don’t have –” but Cass held up a small foil package, grinning.

They were back before dinner and although Myra gave her a knowing look, no one commented on their absence. They sat around and ate outside, and after, told Cass’s mom they had something to do, but would do the dishes when they returned.

Everyone left, with Cass leading the way and Robbie taking two shovels.

Harley bounded through the undergrowth, running away to chase things before coming back, and leaving again.

Cass took them to the clearing and the boys began their digging inside Mitch’s bubble.

For the most part, all the kids standing outside saw was a blur within as dirt piled up quickly, higher, and higher. There was a pause while Robbie switched with Frank, and Cass disappeared to get Jocelyn.

The boys had just finished and were climbing out when Cass walked up, floating Joss’s covered body in front of her.

Everyone put a hand on her body and Elias wanted to uncover her face, but Cass wouldn’t let him. She had done that and regretted it. With all the damage Enya had done, it left the girl looking bad, and she didn’t want the girl’s friends remembering her that way.

Cass moved her into the hole, setting her down gently. “Does anyone want to say anything?” Cassidy asked.

Several of the kids took turns talking about their friend and how her friendship improved their lives. Bree, Allyson, and Halley shared stories about things she did as they cried along with each other.

Jaden thought ahead and brought tissues, handing them out to those who needed them.

At the end, Elias talked. “Joss was a good friend, and I fell in love with her. It was hard for her to care about people because she had a hard life, even though she was young. She was hurt by people and thought she wasn’t worthy of being loved, but because of her friends, all of you, she learned to love and be loved. She loved us so much, she gave up her life to save ours. I didn’t think any of us will ever forget her and I know I’ll always love her and miss her.”

“Me too,” Ally said.

Bree and Halley joined her.

Everyone mumbled something.

Elias bent down and picked a wildflower and tossed it on top of Joss. Everyone followed suit.

When everyone was done, Cassidy said, “This isn’t a fancy funeral, but a prettier spot can’t be found. No one will ever forget their friend Jocelyn Briggs, and everyone is welcome to come back and visit, any time they wish. Jocelyn, you will be missed dearly.”

With that, Cass pushed the dirt back into the hole, then pushed down to mostly flatten the site.

Wanda knelt, not having to, but mostly for show, and the bare earth sprouted with grass and flowers, once again becoming part of the clearing.

People said their final goodbyes and trickled back to the house.

Cassidy picked up Ally and Robbie picked up Halley and they walked back to the house together.

Wanda and Elias were the last two in the clearing. And Wanda started to walk back, but noticed Elias wasn’t leaving. She walked back over and took his hand.

He looked at her and smiled weakly. She felt sad for him. A tear fell and rolled down his cheek.

Wanda put her hand on his cheek, wiping the tear away. Looking into his eyes, she bent and kissed him.

He surprised himself by responding, taking her head, and kissing her back. Several minutes went by and Elias finally broke away.

“Wanda, I… I…”

She put a finger to his lips, silencing him.

“It was something we both needed. Nothing more. You love Jocelyn, I get that. Her loss his you hard, but she wouldn’t want you like this, I don’t think. You don’t know this, but I think our backgrounds are a lot more similar than you know. And not knowing her but knowing her life and how it changed because of you, I think she’d want you to be happy, not sad right now.

“You have her the love she needed to love herself. I know, I’ve been missing it for a long time. My friends here have started to change that. A whisper inside told me that you needed to be reminded that time is short, and to live your life, not let circumstances run your life. Circumstances can lead to your life imploding. The whisper told me to live for the now and the past behind.”

Elias’s eyes widened as Joss’s words were spoken by Wanda. “Joss?” he asked.

Wanda shook her head. “No. Well, I don’t know. It was just in my head. Something telling me that you needed to hear that. I’m sorry if what I said hurt you.”

“No, no. It’s just Joss said nearly the same thing to me not long ago.”

“I’m not sure why, but there’s something that’s drawing me to you. I’m not really a forward type of person. The kiss… well, like I said, something told me you needed it. I honestly don’t go around kissing guys I just met hours ago.”

She looked down, avoiding his eyes. “To be totally honest, you’re the first guy I’ve actually kissed. Like that.”

Elias didn’t know why, but he had a strong urge that he could let go of. He moved closer, and tipped her head up, looking into her eyes that the setting sun turned emerald green. “I don’t really believe in ghosts or spirits, but something else is at work here, because I feel it too. As sad as I am, I feel lighthearted and have like a warm, tingly feeling. It’s like my soul is being hugged and bathed in love. I can’t really explain why.”

“I think you might have been right when you asked if it was Jocelyn,” Wanda said. “Kiss me?” she asked, and he did.

Elias slowly raised Wanda’s dress, breaking their kiss to pull it over her head. She didn’t resist. He looked at the freckles that were over her shoulders and chest, before kissing her neck.

She pulled off his shirt and shorts, and they embraced.

Wanda grew a thick mat of green grass next to them and Elias laid her down. They rid themselves of their remaining underclothes and Elias kissed her.

She whispered, “I’ve never…”

“I only have once, but Joss guided me. Let’s see if I can make her proud.

They laid together after, holding each other. The spirit of Jocelyn looking over them, happy that Elias wasn’t going to be ruined by his loss. While she hadn’t known Wanda, she knew a kindred spirit when she saw one. That was the only blessing she could give the two of them, before she went away.

“You know I have to go back to Virginia,” he said.

“I know. But it’s not that far from here, or even Indiana if I have to go back. And we only have a few years of high school, then maybe college.

Elias heard the sadness creep up in her voice. “I’m not abandoning you. I just wanted to be sure you knew that as much as I want to stay, I can’t. But you’re right, that doesn’t mean it’s the end. This is only the beginning.”

“We should get back. They might miss us,” Wanda said.

They got up and got dressed, walking back to the house holding hands. When they got back Cassidy had the fire pit lit, burning the scrubs, while everyone sat around the fire.

Now that the last two joined them – no one asking where they were all this time – Cass got down to business.

They needed to be able to tell the authorities a story that people wouldn’t question, but didn’t put them into more jeopardy. Since it was partially true, they decided on the human trafficking angle. All of them had been kidnapped, so it was true, just not for the reason why everyone would assume.

At least for those with family they needed to return to. The ones without families, which included two foster kids – Edward and Roy – and two runaway kids – Bree and Mitch – would stay with the Gray family for now and would stay with Jaden once the house was built.

Cassidy would talk to her mom about what they would do with Edward and Roy to maybe foster them or get someone in Jaden’s house to foster them.

Then they could work on getting Bree and Mitch into the system and fostering them as well.

With that straightened out, Cass, Gemma, and Jaden began the removal of the trackers from all of the kids. It wasn’t pretty and it was not only uncomfortable but hurt all of the kids, and Halley helped heal all of the kids after Myra convinced Cass that she could take the pain and she could heal faster than any of them, so the effects wouldn’t last as long with her.

Once all the trackers were removed and everyone healed, and Myra given the pain and suffering, Cass broke out her violin and played into the night. While Myra wasn’t feeling well, Gemma sat and held her to make her feel better.

That night, Cass made up beds for all the newcomers in the empty attic. It was clean but mostly unused.

Ally slept on top of Elias as usual, while Halley curled up next to him. Bree slept besides Halley.

No one ventured too far from the group, sleeping in a somewhat tight square.

Robbie went home, and the rest went to their rooms or where they had been sleeping, except Myra, who went to Cass’s room.

She walked into Cass’s room in a baby doll nighty and shorts, and laid down with Cass, who was already in bed.

Cass rolled over, pulling Myra into her. “How are you doing?” she asked Myra.

“I’m alright. At least thanks to Allyson and Halley.”

Cassidy absent mindedly rubbed the puckered scar under Myra’s collarbone. “I’m sorry you got hurt. It was my fault. You should have never been there,” Cass told her.

“We went over this before we left. I was going no matter what you said. As for my getting hurt, you didn’t do it, so it wasn’t your fault. A man shot me. And I was never worried about Peg shooting me. I knew you weren’t going to let that happen. So, I got shot, I got healed and we rescued a bunch of kids from bad people. All in all, we did good.”

“Yes, we did sweet pea, yes, we did. Thank you for being there,” Cass said kissing the top of her head.

“I’ll always be there for you,” Myra told her.

“I think Wanda and Elias are together,” Myra said changing the subject.

“Huh?”

“When they came back tonight, I, um, could tell. Like with you,” Myra said, not able to see Cass blush.

“Myra, my sweet pea, what else can you do that you aren’t telling me?”

Cass felt Myra shrug.

“Nothing important,” the girl said, not really answering her.

“Will you at least tell me if at some point I should, or need to know?”

“Of course. We’re sisters and we tell each other everything – mostly. So, tell me about your experience with Robbie. I want the details I can’t get online,” Myra said.

Cassidy sighed, asked her what she wanted to know and proceeded to answer the girl’s questions openly. Cass knew she wouldn’t ask childish questions or ones that would be rude or personal, but questions that someone who was curious to the things that usually aren’t answered by parents or health classes.

She answered until Myra ran out of questions, then they both slept.