The Perks of Being Alive

Snowbird gently places her chilly hand on my side, my skin rises even more with goosebumps and I shiver. Snowbird looks at me alarmingly and almost pulls away. Underneath her small hand, I feel tingles, warm, fuzzy tingles that feel like they're on the verge of becoming butterflies but not quite. I feel a strange tugging from my core to Snowbird's hand, my outline looks like it's shimmering.

I squeak in surprise and Snowbird snaps her hand back so fast that her elbow makes the small snapping sound that you get when you flick your wrists quickly multiple times.

"What?" She gasps,

"Why was my outline shimmering?" Snowbird looks me over,

"I don't see any shimmering,"

"That's because it's not doing it now, only when your hand was on me. Actually, when your hand was on me I felt really weird."

"But you're not dead,"

I look at her weird,

"No, I'm not-wait! Is that how you kill people? By touching them? Is that how you killed Bit?"

"Yes but, you're not dead. Why?"

I laugh self-deprecatingly,

"I guess being a failed experiment has some perks!"

"What do you mean?"

"I am the world's very first Heavie, someone who can control Gravity." I snap an arm out and one of her stuffed animals starts floating, she looks on in awe.

"That must be why my magic doesn't work on you! Oh, thank Socius! I was worried the only reason you survived the first time was because you were wearing the doctor's bindings!"

"Your power is to kill people?" Snowbird's good mood evaporates before my eyes.

"Yeah,"

I suddenly remember Bit,

"Why'd you do it? Why did you kill Bit? You can't," I pause with disgust, "You don't enjoy it do you?" Snowbird timidly shakes her head,

"No! I hate taking lives! But, I guess I'm just used to it now. Ever since I was three years old the Government has been shipping people in for me to assassinate. Sometimes it's an accident though." Snowbird sighs sadly and I watch a tear roll down her cheek, still plump with baby fat.

"If I don't do what I do, Mr. Candice won't give me food. And if I do it, then they reward me like I'm a puppy with better food, better beds, toys, sometimes they'll even walk me to a window!"

My eyes widen at that, woah. The little girl sniffles again and hangs her head.

"I just, I hate it Ray-Ray! It doesn't make my tummy feel good when someone lays on my floor with black hair and a still chest. I don't like my hair."

I hug Snowbird close to me. I met my little brother earlier and now I feel like I met a little sister. Maybe I can have my own family, minus the parents.

"So I'm the only one who can hug you? And comfort you?" She nods and I squeeze her closer to whisper in her ear,

"I met my little brother today, he wants to get me out of here. I want you to come with us, we can run away and be free! I can finally see something besides these walls and you don't have to be a weapon anymore."

Snowbird sniffs,

"What if I accidentally touch someone?"

"Gloves," I answer simply, "Just wear gloves."

Snowbird giggles and snuggles her face into my upper stomach. I just hope Crynn's okay with bringing someone extra along.