Chapter Three
Bramble’s stomach was over the baby-faced blonde before her brain was. It rumbled angrily - demanding to be fed. Okay, she thought as she finally tore her eyes away from the space the man had occupied, we will go find something to eat.
The first diner Bramble stumbled upon was the Flying V Coffee shop. It was a quaint place that didn’t have an air of expensiveness around it. Heading inside, she was quickly seated and handed a menu. She had to mentally remind herself numerous times that she was low on funds – ordering half the menu, though it sounded delicious, would not be economically sustainable. The meal itself passed in a blur. She shoveled food into her mouth as fast as she could. It was how she had been accustomed to eating over the years - in slavery you either ate fast or it was taken from you by force. The waiter gave her a weak smile once or twice but she had the feeling he was probably off-put by her habit. Clearing her table, he dropped off her check with a polite but curt, “Thank you. Come again.”
It was on her way out that a man bumped into her. Tensing, Bramble pulled her eyebrows into knots as she gazed coolly at the man in front of her. He was handsome, young. His brown hair was combed back and his dark eyes regarded her with something she was used to seeing in men’s eyes. Lust. She was fairly certain that he had jostled her on purpose and made a mental note to check her pockets as discreetly as possible. Everything was still in place.
“I’m so sorry!”
“Don’t worry about it.” Bramble dismissed him quickly and went to walk around him. He turned around to follow her.
“You must let me make it up you. Coffee? On me.” He called after her.
“’I just ate. Sorry.” Though she thought she was being pretty obvious, the man just wasn’t getting it. His long legs easily allowed him to catch up to and then surpass her.
He turned back around, blocking her path. “Then keep me company. Eating by oneself is so lonely.” His bottom lip jutted out.
What a child, Bramble thought. Looking the young man up and down one more time, she came to the conclusion that he couldn’t possibly be that harmful. After all, they were in public. It wasn’t like he could kidnap her without bringing attention to himself. Against her better judgment Bramble found herself nodding slowly, “Fine.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, which was more contact than she desired, and led her towards an outdoor seat with a victorious smile on his lips. What had she just agreed to?
An hour later she decided it hadn’t been the worse choice she could have made. He was energetic, talkative, assertive and flirty, yes, but she definitely wasn’t bored. She found out random facts about him, like that his name was Chad and that he hated children. He kept the conversation flowing, always talking about himself and never getting discouraged by her snippy and short replies. Whenever he asked her a question she was sure to avoid any personal information. She wasn’t sure if he was one of King Richard’s spies. She was certain that King Richard, the ruler of Riverview, wouldn’t allow her escape go unpunished. It was only a matter of time before he sent someone looking for her.
“Bramble, you in there?”
“Huh? Oh, I’m sorry. I must have spaced out,” she rubbed her wrist tenderly, “what?”
“You hurt me,” He said dramatically, putting a hand over his heart, “I asked where your spark was. Mine is on my collar.” He stated, almost proudly. As if to prove his point he pulled down on the collar of his shirt so she could see his left collar bone. True to his words there was a pale yellow light twinkling. Her eyes widened, back straightened and she had to stop herself from pouncing across the table.
“What are you doing!?” She hissed, narrowing her blue eyes. How dare he speak so causally of being a Vestige and wave it around in public as if it was an honor!
“What?” He seemed honestly confused about this turn of events.
“You don’t even know me and you are waving your ignited spark around – in public no less!” Bramble was certain his actions should have brought them more attention than it had. Glancing around the plaza, she realized that no one at all seemed phased by his show.
“Bramble, are you not from Starlight Shores? No one around here is… embarrassed of being a Vestige.” She knew he was choosing his words carefully. She could tell by the slight pause in his sentences.
“Wh…what?” This was not what she was expecting. Yes, the king of Starlight Shores allowed the Vestige to have their freedom. She was aware of that. But the result of the freedom was the ignited flashing their sparks? Did they publically display their powers for all to see as well? Would people think her strange if she did not want to show her spark, “so you’re telling me, no one around here is worried that they might be … kidnapped by another kingdom? Or decimated against?”
Chad response was a simple shrug accompanied by an even simpler, “No.”
Bramble was sure her mind was going to explode from trying to process this. A town where Vestiges were just like every other Sim; only differing because the ignition cursed them with an abnormal skill, ability or supernatural power. She didn’t even know such places existed. Was it the same in Bridgeport?
“I… need to go. I’m not feeling well.” Bramble stood up so quickly she knocked over her chair in the process. She didn’t bother picking it up and, as quickly as she could without breaking into a run, weaved her way through the crowd.
She headed anywhere that wasn’t there.
--------~*~-------
When Bramble regained her senses she was at the lake again. Her mind was still reeling from the revelation Chad had given her. What would she do if someone asked to see her spark? Sure, it didn’t look ignited, it was as dull and plan as any idle Sim’s spark but she just wasn’t ready to flash the source of her enslavement. Wasn’t ready to show the world why a whole kingdom hated her, tortured her, and forced her to do awful things to men, women and children of all ages. Why the last five years of her life she had been spit on, cursed at and beaten to a pulp.
Cool liquid seeped into Bramble’s boots and forced her to glance down. She had wondered closer to the lake, onto the bank. The air smelt of grass and rain and helped calm her mind. She scanned the lakes shore completely for life before she bend down and splashed her face with a handful of water.
The day had been a stressful one and Bramble wanted nothing more than to relax. Her blue eyes took time to scan the lake one more time before she started working on her boots. One and then the other, she dipped her bare feet into the cool water of the lake. Occasional a small fish would brush against her leg, scales sending shivers down her spine. Slowly, carefully, Bramble undressed herself. Peeling the black leggings from her skin, she let out a sigh as the night breeze caressed her thighs. Her dressed was slipped off next, leaving her in nothing but a plain pair of dark undies. She folded up her clothes and left them on the shore before turning around and diving into the depths of the pond. The water surrounded her, cleansing her body of the sweat and dirt that had accumulated over the day. Knowing this was the closest thing to a bath she was going to get for a while, Bramble floated on her back and allowed the breeze to gently guide her around the pond.
Bramble stayed like that for a while. Even she wasn’t sure how long. Then she heard a man’s voice. It was strong yet carried a hint of amusement in it, “You might want to cover up. This is a public lake. Or perhaps getting arrested for public indecency is your goal?”
She straightened herself in the water, flailing around in order to see the intruders face. Her heart nearly stopped when her eyes rested upon the blondest head of hair she had ever seen before.
It was him, the man she had caught a glimpse of earlier.
“I’m so sorry!”
“Don’t worry about it.” Bramble dismissed him quickly and went to walk around him. He turned around to follow her.
“You must let me make it up you. Coffee? On me.” He called after her.
“’I just ate. Sorry.” Though she thought she was being pretty obvious, the man just wasn’t getting it. His long legs easily allowed him to catch up to and then surpass her.
He turned back around, blocking her path. “Then keep me company. Eating by oneself is so lonely.” His bottom lip jutted out.
What a child, Bramble thought. Looking the young man up and down one more time, she came to the conclusion that he couldn’t possibly be that harmful. After all, they were in public. It wasn’t like he could kidnap her without bringing attention to himself. Against her better judgment Bramble found herself nodding slowly, “Fine.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, which was more contact than she desired, and led her towards an outdoor seat with a victorious smile on his lips. What had she just agreed to?
An hour later she decided it hadn’t been the worse choice she could have made. He was energetic, talkative, assertive and flirty, yes, but she definitely wasn’t bored. She found out random facts about him, like that his name was Chad and that he hated children. He kept the conversation flowing, always talking about himself and never getting discouraged by her snippy and short replies. Whenever he asked her a question she was sure to avoid any personal information. She wasn’t sure if he was one of King Richard’s spies. She was certain that King Richard, the ruler of Riverview, wouldn’t allow her escape go unpunished. It was only a matter of time before he sent someone looking for her.
“Bramble, you in there?”
“Huh? Oh, I’m sorry. I must have spaced out,” she rubbed her wrist tenderly, “what?”
“You hurt me,” He said dramatically, putting a hand over his heart, “I asked where your spark was. Mine is on my collar.” He stated, almost proudly. As if to prove his point he pulled down on the collar of his shirt so she could see his left collar bone. True to his words there was a pale yellow light twinkling. Her eyes widened, back straightened and she had to stop herself from pouncing across the table.
“What are you doing!?” She hissed, narrowing her blue eyes. How dare he speak so causally of being a Vestige and wave it around in public as if it was an honor!
“What?” He seemed honestly confused about this turn of events.
“You don’t even know me and you are waving your ignited spark around – in public no less!” Bramble was certain his actions should have brought them more attention than it had. Glancing around the plaza, she realized that no one at all seemed phased by his show.
“Bramble, are you not from Starlight Shores? No one around here is… embarrassed of being a Vestige.” She knew he was choosing his words carefully. She could tell by the slight pause in his sentences.
“Wh…what?” This was not what she was expecting. Yes, the king of Starlight Shores allowed the Vestige to have their freedom. She was aware of that. But the result of the freedom was the ignited flashing their sparks? Did they publically display their powers for all to see as well? Would people think her strange if she did not want to show her spark, “so you’re telling me, no one around here is worried that they might be … kidnapped by another kingdom? Or decimated against?”
Chad response was a simple shrug accompanied by an even simpler, “No.”
Bramble was sure her mind was going to explode from trying to process this. A town where Vestiges were just like every other Sim; only differing because the ignition cursed them with an abnormal skill, ability or supernatural power. She didn’t even know such places existed. Was it the same in Bridgeport?
“I… need to go. I’m not feeling well.” Bramble stood up so quickly she knocked over her chair in the process. She didn’t bother picking it up and, as quickly as she could without breaking into a run, weaved her way through the crowd.
She headed anywhere that wasn’t there.
--------~*~-------
When Bramble regained her senses she was at the lake again. Her mind was still reeling from the revelation Chad had given her. What would she do if someone asked to see her spark? Sure, it didn’t look ignited, it was as dull and plan as any idle Sim’s spark but she just wasn’t ready to flash the source of her enslavement. Wasn’t ready to show the world why a whole kingdom hated her, tortured her, and forced her to do awful things to men, women and children of all ages. Why the last five years of her life she had been spit on, cursed at and beaten to a pulp.
Cool liquid seeped into Bramble’s boots and forced her to glance down. She had wondered closer to the lake, onto the bank. The air smelt of grass and rain and helped calm her mind. She scanned the lakes shore completely for life before she bend down and splashed her face with a handful of water.
The day had been a stressful one and Bramble wanted nothing more than to relax. Her blue eyes took time to scan the lake one more time before she started working on her boots. One and then the other, she dipped her bare feet into the cool water of the lake. Occasional a small fish would brush against her leg, scales sending shivers down her spine. Slowly, carefully, Bramble undressed herself. Peeling the black leggings from her skin, she let out a sigh as the night breeze caressed her thighs. Her dressed was slipped off next, leaving her in nothing but a plain pair of dark undies. She folded up her clothes and left them on the shore before turning around and diving into the depths of the pond. The water surrounded her, cleansing her body of the sweat and dirt that had accumulated over the day. Knowing this was the closest thing to a bath she was going to get for a while, Bramble floated on her back and allowed the breeze to gently guide her around the pond.
Bramble stayed like that for a while. Even she wasn’t sure how long. Then she heard a man’s voice. It was strong yet carried a hint of amusement in it, “You might want to cover up. This is a public lake. Or perhaps getting arrested for public indecency is your goal?”
She straightened herself in the water, flailing around in order to see the intruders face. Her heart nearly stopped when her eyes rested upon the blondest head of hair she had ever seen before.
It was him, the man she had caught a glimpse of earlier.
Chad. I think I like him a lot. And Bramble did say she needed to make a friend or two. Maybe Chad is the friend she needs, he seems happy with himself, and I think our girl can learn a thing or two from him about self acceptance.
ReplyDeleteAnd yay, I wasn't expecting that ending. I'm so happy Mr. Mystery Man found her.