The Human Stain

I never realized how nerve wracking descending stairs can be--especially spiral ones--until today. You don’t know what around the corner and the only saving grace you have is that no one can see you yet. I try to slow my breathing and Mikey stops our descent to whisper comforting words in my ear. We begin again. I know that as soon as I step off these steps my whole life will change again.

I’m not honestly sure why but it’s just a feeling. It’s like when you know you’re going to have a bloody nose thirty seconds before you actually do. It’s like the moment before jumping off a cliff. The cocktail of nervousness, adrenaline, excitement, and a healthy dose of apprehension. You feel so drunk with emotion and the moment that you don’t care that you’re falling downwards quicker than you can fathom.

We’re only one step from the bottom and I grip Mikey’s hand a little bit tighter and take a deep breath. I step off. The room falls silent. Eyes like needles and swords pierce my skin raking me up and down slowly torturing me with their stares. I take a shaky breath and walk across the room with Mikey keeping my head down like he said.

Finally we reach the stage and Mikey pulls me up to stand next to him. The room waits in an impenetrable silence so thick that not even the strongest weapon could cut through it.

“Ladies and Gentleman.” Mikey begins, “You’re probably all wondering why the man I recently bought is dressed in such finery.” I flinch slightly at the man part, “Well to put it simply…this is my long lost brother Gerard Way.”

The room erupts into cacophonous whispers and controlled chaos. Eyes flicker from Mikey to me to their companions. Words echo throughout the room. How can he be here? We thought he was lost forever. Were the Grievences the ones to steal him away? Why? How? Where? Who? The questions eventually die down and everyone turns to Mikey again for answers.

“Now that I hope you’re all finished I’ll explain. My brother was kidnapped out of his crib when he was five years old and sold on the black market as a human to the Grievences. Now obviously since he was so young he does not remember anything.” Mikey shoots a glance at me and I give him a weak smile an he continues, “He always thought he was a human and I only found out it was him when I returned him to my home. I hope you will all welcome him and treat him accordingly to his situation.”

Mikey steps away from the platform and takes my arm leading me out onto the ballroom floor. We make the rounds and talk to various people; all of them marveling over me. Needless to say this quite possibly one of the most uncomfortable situations I’ve ever been in. If possible it seems the stares I felt when I was a “human” have increased.

I feel exposed, naked, in front of all these people. Some of the people Mikey has introduced me to have practically undressed me with their eyes; giving me sly smiles and suggestive smirks. I retreat to the edges of the room while Mikey continues to make his rounds.

Despite attempting to get away from the spotlight put onto me it seems to have increased even more now that I am no longer by his side. An endless stream of people come up to me congratulating me on being found and other such transparent niceties. Others are more brash and outright ask me what it was like being the Grievence’s servant, while others seem to think that I’ll sleep with anything that moves--including them. Of course not wanting to ruin Mikey’s reputation I smile and play the fool acting as if I know what I’m doing.

I’m approached by another man once again--his face covered by a hat--and I can barely contain my sigh. I’m getting very tired of being propositioned as if I’m a lady of the night…well man in my case. I’m not a whore and I never have been I’m not sure why everyone seems to think I am. It’s very tiring.

The man lays a hand on my arm and leans in to whisper in my ear.

“So I have a hotel room tonight and I was wondering if you wanted to come back with me.” He says gruffly pulling away and leering at me.

“Uh…I’m sorry.” I reply, “But I’d rather not.”

“What!” The man says raising his voice slightly but not too much, “You think you’re all high and mighty just because you’re Michael Way’s brother. Just because you’re not lost anymore. I bet you slept with every person who ever asked, so don’t you dare turn me down.”

I search the room frantically for Mikey wanting desperately to get away from this wretched man. The man keeps tightening his grip on my arm and I feel bruises begin to form. I spot Mikey on the other side of the room but he appears to be too engrossed with talking to some man. My breaths get shallower as I feel the man start to try and pull me out of the room; all the while muttering a litany of slurs into my ear.

My eyes desperately search the room searching for a life line to grab onto. I know I can’t yell because I would cause a scene, and I know everyone would side with my aggressor seeing as they all have known him for longer. I try to jerk my arm slightly in an attempt to slip out of his grip but he jerks back harder, and I feel a tears begin to form.

My only consolation is when the man jerked me his hat moved upwards so maybe I can see his face now. I turn my head and look at him. It’s Jeremiah. I let out a small gasp and try more desperately to get away from him, and he smirks evilly knowing I’ve seen his face.

“Come on.” He says getting closer to the edge of the room.

“What are you doing?” I hear a man ask from behind me and I breathe out a sigh of relief. Hopefully I’m saved. At least for a while.

“Uh well I was just asking Gerard here.” Jeremiah says spinning me around and tightening his grip even more on my arm, “For a tour of the house.”

The man who I’m going to call my savior for the moment is short from what I can tell. I honestly can’t tell much since I’m looking at the floor. I’m too afraid to look up.

“Well,” The man says, “I’m pretty sure Gerard didn’t consent to this considering you’re gripping his arm like you’re going to break it. Now I’m sure you wouldn’t want Mikey to know you were trying to hurt his brother, now would you Jeremiah?” I can practically hear the smirk in his voice.
Jeremiah growls slightly but lets go of my arm..

“Now run along.” The man says and I see him approach me.

“Are you alright?”

Notes

I'm evil and I love it
Song of the Chapter: Who Wants to Live Forever by Queen