Chapter Text
Pink.
No… that’s not quite right.
But red isn’t the color either.
What are some other shades? Maroon? Burgundy? Those are too dark.
A swirl of hues filled her mind as she tried to place a finger on it. Fuschia?
*ting**ting**ting*
A tiny metal hammer slammed against the tin bell on her nightstand. An alarm clock she’d invented herself as a first-time foray into the realm of circuitry. Her usual clammy smacks didn’t silence the insistent ringing. A poignant pointer tapped the button down as her itchy scalp demanded a scrub.
She rolled out her cotton clothes and slipped into her ducky-themed slippers. A set of matching blue and yellow pajamas barely clung to her miniature frame after a restless night’s sleep. The rays of light danced with the dust passing over the window. She stood in the aura, basking in its refreshing heat as her muscles relaxed.
A fulfilling stretch of each limb was accompanied by a quaint yawn. Her toes curled. Knees buckled. Then she ran petite fingers through the massive mat of burning red locks.
“Fuchsia… It’s too… loud.”
Jessie felt a new energy wash over her. She skipped to her closet and pulled apart the doors. Her usual work uniforms sat in the corner, but today she was feeling spicy. It was a special event. The start of something new. She should equip a set to match.
As she peacefully pondered the few blouses in her arsenal, the calamitous clanging of her alarm came back unprovoked. She trudged to her bedside and smacked it silent. A second glimpse at the flip clock showed a haunting truth.
The alarm sounded twice because it was eight o’clock. An hour later than she had originally planned to wake up. Bulging eyes and struggling tugs for air preceded a piercing screech. She bolted for her closet, ripping down a random outfit without much focus.
She threw off her sleepy-time garments and equipped today’s garbs. A small groan left her lips seeing the bland, pasty yellow top and beige cargo pants. She wanted to look extra cute, not super normal. Just as she moved to swap outfits, her door was flung open. A short robot not much taller than her burst into view.
“Jessie! What’s wrong?!”
The nanny bot (aptly named Nani) arrived with a frantic glitch. Jessie had her shirt halfway up now, though she quickly pushed it back down. The panic swapped to a frustrated frown, “Where were you?”
Nani put up blocky hands in defense. Unsure of how she was the one at fault. The young genius continued, “I told you to wake me up at seven!”
Nani’s massive yellow lens cycled through a host of holographic designs to show her bewilderment. The eye settled on an exclamation point before shifting into a grumpy chevron. “You did not!”
“I did too!”
“Did not!” Nani shot back.
Jessie leaned in, “Did too!”
The duo continued to argue back and forth, repeatedly hurling conflicting comments at each other. A set of heavy footfalls fell on deaf ears as the matriarch made her arrival. She still had on a white T-shirt and pink panties. Unbothered as the air rushed through her thighs and up her spine.
Her chest rose to take in the oxygen necessary to drown them out. Then, with a commanding call, she shouted, “SHUT U~UP!”
The smaller residents immediately clamped their mouths. Pam's powerful presence started to cool; she massaged her temples to quell the coming headache. “I made myself lightheaded…” She addressed the duo with a gloomy grumble, “What is it today?”
“Nani forgot to wake me up!”
The nanny’s LED eye mimed a gasping gape, “I did not! She didn’t tell me to wake her!”
The two started bickering once more. Their constant chirping drove Pam batty. She palmed Nani’s massive skull to push her out the doorway, “Who cares!” As the lady of the house, it was her job to keep the children in order. She created Nani to help relieve the burden, but on days like this, it was like she had an older daughter as well.
She looked down the hall at an older clock on the wall. Pam questioned, “Didn’t you say you wanted to leave by eight?”
“Aahhh!!” Jessie dropped to the floor looking for her boots. If she was going to wear the uniform, she might as well complete the ensemble. She peered her head over the bed’s jumbled sheets, “I need breakfast.”
The nanny bot looked back at her creator. The matriarch looked a bit miffed that it was even a question. She pointed down the stairs, “Go.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Seeing as Nani disappeared below, Pam decided to resign herself to her quarters. She had an extra-long night. This sudden outburst wasn’t what she needed to start her day. A quick press on the reset button should do her some good.
Jessie leaped through her bedroom door, ricocheting off the walls as she landed inside her bathroom. Wash her face, brush her teeth, comb her hair. She looked at the rat nest she’d created from practicing her midnight barrel rolls. In her room, her signature hat sat almost beckoning her from the bedside. Her reflection in the goggles cast her a mirrored nod.
The hair would be handled later.
Her scrubbing technique could clean the rust off a ship's hull. She grabbed her tongue and scraped away that morning's B.O. She couldn’t have morning breath today. A breath mint in the cabinet beneath helped to remedy this potential problem as she splashed her face with soapy water.
Nani peered her head inside, asking, “What did you want for breakfast?”
“Wha-GAH!” Jessie opened her eyes as a bit of soap ran down her face. She smacked the porcelain countertop and then screamed, “POPTARTS!”
Nani quickly retreated as Jessie wobbled back to her room. She fought through fuzzy vision. She snatched up her hat and grabbed her backpack. She turned to the turret that rested peacefully on the window side of her bed. She barked, “Scrappy: Disk!”
The sentry responded in kind and compressed itself quickly. She looked around her room for hair care products and a few brushes. She’ll fix her hair later. For now, she needed to leave. She shoved Scrappy in as well and slung her pack over her shoulder.
Jumping down the steps landed her in the living room. A quick turn and she was in the kitchen. She snatched up a plastic cup and rushed for the fridge. A gentle drink of orange juice to wash down the toasted pastries she requested.
*DING*
Speaking of her strudels, they shot out of the toaster and were placed in a paper pouch for her to carry. Nani passed them her way as Jessie dashed out the door.
The first sight she was graced with was the hustle and bustle of the junkyard. A sight she was commonly used to, but today it looked more like rush hour traffic in New York City. She bit down on one of the tarts before beginning her sprint. Robots rushed left and right, carrying scrap metal or transporting heavy equipment.
Heavier machinery trucked along, narrowly avoiding Jessie as she flowed through the chaos. Sipping on her juice as she ducks under a pair of plexiglass transporters. She often yelled ahead to warn incoming bots who would rather disassemble themselves than hurt Jessie. A path became clear as the bots parted the metallic sea for her. A crane operator swung a massive beam overhead, dropping a heavy shadow on a cool summer’s morning. A refreshing assist from her mother’s maintenance militia.
Just ahead were the massive metal doors that cut off the junkyard from the park outside. She could barely hear the sound of cars rolling along across the wall. Two bots dropped their payloads to quickly move for the control panel. They bashed their heads together, failing in the attempt to expedite her departure.
Jessie finished off her first snack and then moved to the control screen. Her rushed escape concluded with her tipping her OJ over on the panel. The LED screen fizzed to black as she let loose another frustrated screech. ‘Murphy and his stupid law!’ she mentally cursed the powers of entropy.
*CRASH*
She felt a rumble run through her toes. To her left, a steel door was desperately clinging to a single hinge. It creaked back and forth as a massive iron fist retracted inside. A titanium titan as heavy as her house was tall, sat at her side. Its single red eye matched the nanny bot from before. Though the spiked boxing gloves and humming engine were less than approachable.
This latest creation was only a torso for now, but she was told that it would be the first of a duo of defensive bots. After the nightmare of last spring, her mother had tripled her helicoptering. She rarely lets Jessie go outside without an escort. She demanded that Jessie provide constant updates anywhere she went. The only time she was given some space was on days like today.
The massive titan (whom her mother named Ike) slowly turned to her. It offered a sharp fist for her to bump, which she gladly accepted. It gave a happy groan and then patted her head like an owner gently congratulating their chihuahua. It flexed a finger to push the door aside as she continued her sprint with only a single PopTart to fill her. Ike grabbed the two bumbling bots with a pinch of its finger and thumb, depositing the faulty models into a nearby receptacle.
Jessie’s original flight through her home’s hazard zone turned an early morning sidewalk into a moonlit waltz. She easily rushed around the people as fans beckoned for her attention. Being the daughter of the park’s top inventor had that effect.
Pedestrians asking for pictures. Investors waiting outside her front door. Jealous kids bullying her for her ‘privileges’. Though none of that would sour her mood. She was so close. She felt a bit of calm as her wristwatch read 8:42. She was going to make it.
A new feeling of excitement swelled from within. Followed by an outward pain as something collided with her chest. She wasn’t knocked over by the contact. Even though the boy she bumped was a bit bigger than her, she managed to knock him down. He had on a purple and black flannel with deep blue jeans. An outfit that any sane person would avoid in the approaching summer heat.
Jessie checked her items. Everything was in order. She gave a quick apology before rushing off. Pushing through his group of friends as she dashed along.
The young lad got to his feet before his compatriots could assist. He was the oldest, if not the tallest, of the group. With two youths of mixed completion trailing by his side. Both males and seemingly sniveling in their appearance. One asked, “Was that Jessie?”
Their tan leader rolled his eyes, “No, it’s some other redhead runt with the strength of an inmate.”
The other scratched his head, “Ya think so?”
From the shadow of the boss, a darkened lass appeared. She clocked the dunces on their empty skulls, “No, you Neanderthals! He’s being sarcastic!” She had her hair dyed a sharp orange that screamed louder than her. In a posh tone, she soothed the headmaster, “Sorry ‘bout ‘hem, Alec. Mully an’ Mimsy were dropped on th’ir heads as babies.” She looked back at her little cousins; they were alternately touching each other’s growing lumps. Letting out idiotic giggles at the feeling. She groaned, “Multiple times.”
Alec nodded, “So you’ve told me.” He pushed aside a tuft of tossed hair from his forehead. The dirty blonde rolled his wrists, listening for a few odd pops of escaping air. “Shasha, let me see that bag.”
She passed a cloth bag with an assortment of groceries inside. Paper plates, whipped cream, juice, meat, and discount candy to boot. He pushed past the cold cuts and boxed donuts to retrieve a bottle of ranch dressing. “Tell me…” He popped the cap to let loose a few squirts. He snickered back to his squad, “Don’t you think the princess looks a little undressed?”
Shasha nodded along as she and Mully followed along silently. Mimsy, however, “I don’t think so, boss. She had on plenty o’ clothes.”
Alec groaned, “Shut up, Mimsy.” They all turned away from the squirrelly twin.
In a little huddle, they discussed their plan of attack. Meanwhile, Mimsy felt a chill run down his shoulders. They were standing just outside one of the city’s many hideaways. It was always eerie when you looked inside. A rusty trash can surrounded by lazy litter. Collections of the city's dust and filth.
And today. It housed a pair of red dots.
Mimsy stared dead into these orbs like a cat watching a laser. They shifted up and down his frame, then quickly jumped to each member of his crew. That chilling feeling he’d gotten a second ago was much worse. He could see a vaporwave pass just below the spheres.
He felt sick just watching it. He tapped his brother’s shoulder only for him to bat it away. He turned around to get their attention. Shasha told him to shush while they figured out the best way, time, and place to ambush Jessie.
Mimsy turned back and nearly peed. The dots were bigger. The vapor was closer. It remained locked in space, yet it certainly had gotten closer since he lost sight of it. Plus, it was no longer a question if it was floating in space aimlessly. It was certainly looking at them. Menacingly.
Mimsy was fervent now. He desperately banged on Alec’s shoulders, fully turning away once again. The oldest smacked his hand, “WHAT?!” They all turned around at the same time. Mimsy’s heart fell to his stomach.
They were gone. The dots. The smoke. It all left. In its stead sat a single item. A cube with a handle on the side. An assortment of colors and shapes litter the prism.
A jack in the box.
Alec stepped forward, “What the hell?”
They stared at the inanimate object. A horrifying air was around them. They noticed that somehow the roads had gone quiet. Like all the traffic was suddenly diverted. The once overflowing sidewalk was empty.
“AH!” They all turned as Mully squealed beside them. They waited for him to explain his outburst, “I saw a spider.”
They let out a collective breath of relief. Alec rubbed his eyes into their sockets. The box was still resting untouched. It had never moved an inch. Alec decided to retrieve the children’s toy. It was wider than his chest yet surprisingly light. He gave it a quick rattle, listening to the toy within beat against the tin.
“Huh…” He looked back at his goons, “Am I the only one that thought it was going to start playing?”
Shasha agreed, “Yeah. Like a horror movie.”
“Right, yeah. A horror movie…” He nodded in response.
“~THAT’S THE JOKE~.”
They all felt their bones freeze. A grungy groaning grumble came from deep within. Alec could feel a cool breeze rolling over his scalp. His blood froze into chunky clots as his heart worked overtime trying to keep him conscious.
Hesitant as he may be, he forced himself to look upward. His partners were already trying to back away.
Staring down at him was a pair of bright red and white eyes. They glowed in the darkness just above the box he’d unwittingly procured. Beneath these beady crimson irises was a massive Cheshire grin. And the chilling, heavy smog that leaked from between the teeth.
Followed by a sound oh so similar to the rattling inside the children’s box.
*jingle* *jingle*
Jessie was now just a few blocks away from her destination. She was making great time despite waking up nearly an hour later than planned. Maybe she had overprepared for this.
Amidst her stroll, she failed to notice how the roads suddenly grew twice as cluttered. Like the traffic light behind her had suddenly stalled on red. The constant honking of cars was making her ears ring.
She could hear hundreds of voices arguing back and forth. Pedestrians chirping away into their various devices. Bells rang alongside the constant humming of sewage water below her feet.
All these minute noises that only her ears seemed to receive. It was overwhelming. Sending her into a near frenzy. Why was it so loud today? How could she silence it? Her fingers would have to do, she’ll plunge them deep within her drums until the chaos quelled. A shoddy muffler for the world’s audio exhaust.
A large crowd of people finally crossed the road ahead. They pushed and shoved her around; even her genetics couldn’t deter early morning traffic. Her body flailed about as it hopelessly fought the anarchy. Her head bashed against a hundred hips, dislodging her fingertips.
It was back. Those horrible noises. Three times as outrageous. Were those sirens? She didn’t see any officers, but they sounded right next to her. Was someone coughing in her ear? The surrounding engines made her stomach rumble and quake. She fought back tears.
Don’t curl up. Don’t hide away. You’re stronger than that.
How much longer could she tell herself that?
Then, suddenly, like an invisible wall had been erected, the sea parted. She saw pedestrians notice her. They walked around actively avoiding the fetal youth.
No, they weren’t looking at her. They looked over.
Her vision got dark. A pair of hands snapped around her eyes. They were large and strong, yet soft to the touch. Her temporary earplugs traced the width of this fleshy blindfold. The roaring city had settled down to a nice hum once more. Still loud enough to wake up a baby but controlled like the growl of an angry mutt.
“Guess who?”
She knew that voice. And she hoped she’d get more used to those hands. “Oh, I know… Santa!”
There was a short pause, followed by howling laughter, “WAAAAH! He-he-he!” He had to bite his cheek, “That’s a good one!” His fingertips drummed against her eyebrows, “How about… guess right and you win a prize!”
Jessie grabbed his wrists with a goofy chuckle, “I dunno… maybe… CHESTER!”
He took his hands off her face, “OH! So close. But I’m actually-” he jumped ahead of her with his hands under his face. He had shoved candy corn on his teeth and smeared whipped cream along his mouth. “-a rabid chipmunk!” He pulled out two donuts and shoved them in his mouth. His cheeks puffed out just like the aforementioned rodent and he made a bunch of snarls mixed with playful chips.
Jessie forgot her place and fell on her butt. She rolled around laughing in the middle of the crosswalk, completely enraptured by Chester’s display. She continued to howl along while the timer for them to walk ticked away. Completely unbothered by the raucous screeching of the supercity.
Chipmunk Chester absorbed her sweet display. His animalistic sweet tooth beckoned to be fed. The rabid chipmunk decided to fill his belly by nibbling at Jessie’s tummy. He pretended to peck at her stomach, tickling her to no end. Jessie pleaded, “Stop! Stop! I’m gonna pee!”
Despite their location (and the traffic jam they’d surely cause), the two continued to play their childish games. Unbothered as voices rang up against them. Fully enveloped in their merriment, even if it is detrimental to the morning flow.
Though all games must end. Jessie finally got a break to catch her breath, sitting up with her elbows resting on the surprisingly cool asphalt. Her eyes were blurry from the joyous tears. The cresting sun was pouring over the rooftops. The first image to reach her receptors was his glistening locks. They shimmered beneath his blue and purple cap. The word she was looking for finally arrived.
“Raspberry.”
Chester popped the Halloween treats off his teeth to snack on. He heard her response and questioned, “Raspberry?” He inspected the second snack, “These are candy corn.”
Jessie snickered with him, “No… it’s…” She tried not to get lost in his eyes. “What are you doing here?”
Chester licked up a bit of cream, “I saw you-” he pointed to a shop just behind him. That’s Dough-pee was the name of the store, “-from the donut shop window.” He had some cream on his palm and lapped it up, “Figured I had time to mess with you.”
Jessie giggled, “Oh, Donuts! That explains the strawberry jelly.” Chester’s eyes glimmered. He followed her pointed finger, seeing there was a red liquid on his knuckles. She pointed out more along his cheeks and forehead.
Chester brought his knuckles to his lips. Unlike the cream from his palms, he let his tongue lather his thinly veiled bones. The moist muscle got up most of it with ease. He felt the thin fluid along his taste buds and smiled, “Yeah… Jelly.”
*honk* *HONK HONK!*
Any driver in their right mind would be frustrated watching someone block the roads. If it wasn’t for the law, he’d have just rolled these idiots over. Unfortunately, vehicular manslaughter is frowned upon outside most third-world countries.
Instead, he voiced his frustrations through his window, “HEY! MOVE IT YA LOON!”
Jessie looked past Chester. She hadn’t realized they were still in the crosswalk. Traffic was already so bad without them standing in the way. The driver saw her peaking from around the teal-colored clown and added, “Get out the way, ya dum’ brat!”
Chester’s neck nearly snapped. He was staring a hole through the man’s car. The ‘jelly’ running down his cheeks was now staining his collar. He swore he saw the clown’s iris shift to crosshairs as he remained unblinking.
Jessie quickly apologized, “Sorry!” She moved ahead, but Chester didn’t budge. Jessie ran back, snatching his arm, “Come on!” Feeling her drag him along, he let himself move forward. Though he never stopped staring at the rude driver.
He never stopped smiling.
Jessie could feel herself getting slower dragging him ahead. She turned back to see Chester still watching the cars behind them. “Chester! We have to hurry.”
The clown finally snapped back to her. He realized how much time they had wasted. Today was her big day. They couldn’t be late. He grabbed her by the waist, not wasting his motion as he placed her on his shoulders. “Sorry, Captain Jessie! Where should the C-35 comedy jet take you today?”
Jessie grabbed his belled tendrils, “To the greatest shop in Starr Park!!!”
“Aye-Aye, Captain!”
And with that, they faded into a blue and yellow blur.