Forbidden touch

Tribe Taulantii took me in when I was still small, I never truly understood why that was. I wasn't exactly an accepted member of their tribe yet they allowed me to live and work amung them. If I was the root cause of this virus then why hadn’t they left me to die or more disturbing than that, why hadn’t they killed me themselves? 

I looked down at my hands which were covered in small cuts all over, since the incident with Jake, a boy from our tribe, more importantly chief Rann's son and the future chief of this tribe.  Clenching my fists I felt an all too familiar ache in my stomach as I thought about him, it had completely been my fault to begin with, I was now assigned to full time kitchen duty until the time would come for me to be handed over to the brothers. Sighing deeply I carried on peeling potatoes in the furthest part of the kitchen all by myself as I thought back to that day almost three months ago… 

***

None of the other children my age were allowed to ever interact with me, from the moment I arrived here I was told that I was a deadly virus and the children were made to be fearful of me. The only reason they had taken me in was out of pity nothing more or so they kept telling me. I was made to understand from the moment I arrived that they had taken a huge risk in having someone like me in their tribe and that I was to know my place as I didn’t belong here. Clenching my jaw I closed my eyes for just a second as I took in a deep breath, sometimes I wished that they had just ended my life instead of keeping me around as a reminder of the world my kind had destroyed.

I was seventeen and would be turning eighteen in a few weeks time. Jake was the son of our chief Rann and he was already eighteen, he was so handsome and strong but I never dared look in his direction. I had been working in the store room that day after our schooling lesson. Another place I was to be made to feel like I was ostracized to the furthest part of the corner while the rest of the class sat comfortable near the front of the class closest to teacher Jaclyn. 

Jake kept turning his head to look at me that day in class, he kept catching my attention as well even though my long black hair hung down in stringy strands down past my elbows almost covering my faceas I kept my eyes down toward the desk, I was doodling a picture, nothing specific, just something to pass the time while teacher Jaclyn pressed on with her lesson about renewable energy, I didn't really need to take notes as I had always been good at remembering everything from class, guess it was part of my freak gene.

That specific afternoon I was working inside the food storage room all by myself which wasn't a shocking revelation to me. I stood strenuously trying to pick up a large burlap sack of potatoes as I had been assigned this task and no one dared partner up with someone like me. I accidentally dropped it as I fell back hard against my backside. The sharp pain shot through my coccyx as a groan escaped my lips, suddenly I felt arms come around my waist and pull me up onto my feet, gasping I quickly turned around only to stare right into Jake’s eyes. My jaw dropped as swallowed hard,

“I, I’m so sorry sir,” I said quickly stepping back as I looked down with my hands fisted against my side. He gently tilted my chin up to him as he looked at me with a soft smile spread across his face before moving more strands of my hair out of the way.

“You don’t have to be so formal Laya,” he said in the softest most kindest voice I had ever heard. I blinked twice as I stared into the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen, I had never noticed his eyes before now. His blonde waves framed his face as he kept his soft gaze on me not allowing me to look away, Jake was much bigger and stronger than I was, he had been born and bred for leadership. I felt so small and feeble compared to him.

“Are you hurt?” he asked in a gentle voice that immediately shook me from my reverie, shaking my head I clenched my jaw, the now dull pain of my coccyx being at the furthest part of my mind. Nodding once he slowly let go of my chin as he looked down at the bag of potatoes still lying there, it was almost as big as I was which made it even more unbelievable that I had tried to pick it up by myself. Jake quickly bent down as he picked up the heavy bag with no more effort than picking up a light feather, I smirked before looking down now feeling even weaker than I clearly already was, 

“You shouldn’t be in here,” I said in nothing more than a whisper, not wanting any trouble nor desiring to be thrown out of this tribe who had shown me the kindness of food and shelter.

Turning to look at me he gingerly placed the bag on top of the others as he scoffed, 

“Are you going to tell a future chief what to do now Laya?” as he said my name my eyes shot up to him, for some unknown reason I could feel the yellow glow of my eyes deepen for just a moment and the feeling that accompanied that confused me. He must have noticed it because he slowly made his way over to me as he tilted his head studying my appearance, he then gently cupped my cheek as he grinned,

“Are you sure you don’t want some extra help with these bags,” just then I heard voices coming toward the store room and I gasped as I quickly scurried away toward the rest of the bags of potatoes still needing to be moved, trying desperately to seem invissible. Three others entered the store room chuckling and laughing as they did so, 

“Oh here you are Jake, we’ve been looking everywhere for you,” the one boy said as he playfully came to punch Jake against the shoulder. I recognized them, they were friends of Jake's, we were all the same age more or less, Jake was eighteen years old and Trent and Maddy were also the same age.

Their attention quickly fell onto me in the furthest corner trying to pick up a heavy bag, my knees felt shaky as I tried to divert any attention away from me, unfortunately this wasn’t to be, 

“Ewe” the one girl said turning her attention toward me, “You shouldn’t be in here Jake, that thing might give you its virus or something” She laughed out, gulping I looked down as my body tensed. I had gotten quite use to them saying things like that about me and even to my face, growing up the kids always used to tease me and make fun of me. They would occasionally throw things at me and giggle and laugh as they did so, the elders didn’t do much stop them. Jake turned to look at me with a frown on his face but quickly composed himself as he turned back toward his friends, 

“Come on guys, let’s get out of here,” he quickly said as he moved toward them. I was left standing there gently touching my chin where just a few moments ago Jake had touched me, the first gentle human touch I had ever received.

A few weeks had gone by and Jake kept trying to get my attention in ways the others wouldn’t have noticed, every afternoon I had to work in the food storeroom moving bags or crates of food into position that were off loaded and placed at the entrance of the storeroom.  He started showing up there more often and would help me stack the bags and crates neatly, I started relaxing a bit around him after a while. He would make jokes and eventually I shyly giggled and even laughed at him, I didn’t understand why the son of our chief would want to have anything to do with me, but for some reason he wasn’t afraid of me. He wasn' afraid of touching me and I guess I stopped being scared of potentially making him sick I guess.

I reached up toward the top shelf in the store room stretching for a can of beans when I suddenly lost my footing plummeting to the ground, Jake happened to be close by as he instantly leapt toward me in a flash catching me in his arms before I hit the ground, both of us went down as I landed against him with a thump.

Groaning I tried to pull myself up and away from him as I mumbled the word 'thanks,' but he quickly pulled me back to him, gasping slightly I turned my face to look up at him as he smiled softly at me, cupping my cheek his thumb gently traced my bottom lip, 

“You’re eyes are so beautiful,” he whispered. Swallowing hard I instantly felt a lump in my throat. He had a way of making me feel all these strange feelings deep inside that I had never felt. I just stared at him as I blinked twice not knowing what to do. Jake slowly leant down toward me with his lips coming ever closer to mine, this made me even shakier inside as I started pulling away from him. What was he doing!? Feeling my body tense he cocked his head as he smirked,

"Don't worry, I promise I won't hurt you," Swallowing hard I frowned,

"It's not me I'm worried about Jake, I don't want to make you sick," Rolling his eyes he gently pulled me back toward him, “You know that's bullshit right, you won't make me sick Laya,” He whispered before gently coming closer with his lips finally touching mine, I gasped slightly as I immediately started worrying about his safety. He just kept his lips securely placed against mine, “You are unbelievable, Laya,” he breathed as I felt his breath on my lips. I closed my eyes anticipating more as I began parting my lips, wanting it now more than I had realized. Suddenly I heard a loud gasp from somewhere behind Jake, 

“Stop!” A girl screamed and Jake instantly pulle his face away from mine as he turned to frown at the person standing there, “What are you doing Jake!?” She gasped in complete disgust as she clenched her jaw, glaring down at me as she did so,

“What are you doing here Maddy?” he asked clearly peeved, 

“It doesn’t matter what I’m doing here, what the hell are you doing here with her,” she said pointing a finger straight at me still in his arms, 

“It’s none of your business,” he irked at her narrowing his eyes. Smirking she immediately crossed her arms as she stood with her weight mostly to one side, now glaring at both of us she shook her head,

“Oh really, you’re my boyfriend and future chief of our tribe and you’re in the store room with that filth,” she spat the words at me. 

Rising to his feet he gently let go of me as he clenched his fists against his sides, 

“And as you’re future chief I’m ordering you to leave, now!” she raised an eyebrow as she finally snapped out of the shock clearly plastered all over her face,

“In that case I wonder what chief Rann will have to say about this,” she said in a bitter tone,

“Maddy, don’t you dare!” he shouted in an infuriated voice. I gasped as I stared at him with my eyes as big as saucers, in that moment she swiftly turned on her heel and started running away from the store room. Jake quickly took two steps toward her with his hand stretched out but then stopped as he turned to look at me with a panicked expression on his face which quickly turned to that of something else I couldn't place, but then he quickly closed in the gap as he pushed his lips against mine with such need, “Laya, I’m sorry but I have to go,” he whispered then before turning away from me as he started running after Maddy. I was left standing there in shock as I gently touched my lips, I suddenly  felt a wave of shock wash over me as I realized how dire this situation could turn if Maddy ended up telling chief Rann about what she had seen, what that would mean for Jake and… me.

...

“Laya, what do you have to say for yourself!?” chief Rann demanded as he stared down at me. Chief Rann had called an emergency meeting since Maddy had gone running to him, I had all eyes on me including Jake’s who was standing right beside his father with a pained expression on his face.

“Well!?” He cried out as he and the other elders now all stared down at me with impatience spread across their faces. Taking a deep breath I tried to compose myself before finally answering,

“Um, I, I…” I began to say but it was coming out in more of a stutter as I felt incredibly intimidated by all of the eyes on me, how had I gotten into this situation in the first place. I never wanted Jake’s help or for him to come anywhere near me, now however, he seemed to be the only one on my mind. 

“Speak up!” chief Rann yelled at me, which made me gasp as I jumped, my eyes were now wide as I stared at him, my heart sitting somewhere in my throat as I started shaking inside. Mustering up the only courage I had I slowly took a deep breath as I then breathed out,

"Dad! Stop yelling at her," Jake said defensively, but his dad merely ignorred his son,

“Chief Rann,” I began in a faint voice, “I apologize for any misunderstanding that occurred in the food store room today,”

“There was no misunderstanding virus, you had you’re hands all over our future chief,” Maddy spat at me. Gulping I looked down, 

“Is this true Laya, were you trying to seduce my son?” looking up at chief Rann and then at Jake who’s jaw was clenched as pain spread across the place where before happiness had presented itself. Swallowing hard I looked down at the ground, he was our future chief and I had nearly ruined that for him. Looking chief Rann straight in the eyes I clenched my jaw as my hands became fisted along my sides.

“It’s exactly as you’ve been told chief Rann, sir, Jake has done nothing wrong. I tried to seduce him,” I almost whispered the last part as a tear ran down my cheek. There were murmurs amongst the gathering of our tribe as they all kept their eyes on me.

“So you admit to it then?” nodding I hung my head in defeat as I knew what this would mean, they would exile me or worse.

After a few moments the whole pack room began to get rowdy, in an instant chief Rann slammed his fist against the table beside him. Immediately everyone became silent as they looked at him, he glared at me with such anger that I knew for sure this would be my end,

“Laya, we have given you shelter, food, water, education, protection and this is how you repay us!” his hands were fisted as he clenched his jaw,

“Jake is my son and the future chief of this tribe, you are a hybrid, do you know what would happen if you two…” clearly enraged he shouted out as he slammed a glass from the table, shattering to the floor I gasped as my eyes widened even more. I felt terrified as I stared in shock at where the glass lay in a million pieces, my breathing was rapid as I found it difficult to breathe let alone swallow. Composing himself chief Rann stood up straight and took a deep breath,

“The penalty for this vile action against my son is death,” gasping out loud I grabbed hold of my chest as I felt tears welling up in my eyes, Maddy stood with her hands crossed smug as she grinned in delight. 

Suddenly Jake spoke up,

“Father wait!” Turning to look at his son chief Rann narrowed his eyes, Jake kept his pained eyes fixated on me as mustered up the courage to speak, 

“She didn’t try and seduce me. I- I tried to seduce her,” he finally said as he hung his head in shame. My eyes widened as my jaw dropped, staring at him in disbelief I felt shocked at what he had just admitted to not only the entire tribe but also his father. Cocking his head chief Rann stood staring at his son completely stunned,

“What is that supposed to mean?” Looking up at his father Jake swallowed hard as he turned to look at me with agony spread across his face,

“I think I love her,” he said stillwith his eyes on mine. Chief Rann’s eyes widened as he instantly became enraged. Maddy was the one to jump to her feet with her hands fisted, glaring at me she fisted her hands against her side, 

“She’s put him under a spell chief Rann, can’t you see it. She’s given him something, she must have…” she continued but Jake instantly silenced her,

“Shut up Maddy. Laya didn’t slip me anything, she’s kind and caring, something you know nothing about,” he spat the last bit at her. Maddy’s eyes widened in shock at his words, 

“Enough!” Chief Rann shouted, turning to look at his son in complete disgust he just shook his head, “You do not love her Jake, she’s a hybrid, she’s not even fully human,” infuriated by his father’s outburst Jake smirked, 

“She’s a hell of a lot more human than allot of people I know, and yes, I do love her,” again turning to glare at Maddy. 

All the while I just kept standing there unsure of what to do, Jake had just admitted his feelings for me in front of the entire tribe. What would this mean, how could he be this stupid, no one would ever accept something like this, besides I carried a virus that would kill him.

Chief Rann just stared at his son completely unbelieving of the words that had come out of his mouth, 

“Now you listen here boy, you do not love this hybrid do you understand me!?” Glaring at his father Jake fisted his hands beside him, 

“Since when do you get to tell me whom I love or don’t?”

“Since it’s forbidden, since that girl carries a virus that if you so much as become physical with her it will kill you,” 

“That’s bullshit and you know it,” Jake said rolling his eyes as he scoffed, 

“Are you to tell the whole world that they are wrong, that it is bullshit when families have lost loved ones to these half human, half something else kind of things,” chief Rann said pointing straight at me as he said it. I swallowed hard as I looked down, 

“I’m telling you that we haven’t been given the whole truth, when all of this started and hybrids were chased from their homes what did they say, they told us that simply breathing the same air as them would kill us but we’ve come to learn that that was total bullshit, because here we are with one in our tribe and we’re all still very much alive,” his father looked very displeased with his son, “Then they said oh no wait, it’s only if you come into contact with them that you’ll definitely drop dead, guess what dad! I’m still here,” he said smacking his chest as he opened his arms out wide to emphasize his point. 

“Well this has just happened today and you are just lucky that Maddy stopped you from actually kissing Laya, you should be thanking her instead of telling her off,” 

“Are you insane!” Jake shouted at his father, 

“Watch yourself boy!” chief Rann yelled, 

“She is not a threat to us father, I mean just look at her, does she seem like she would kill anyone?” Chief Rann turned to look at me for a moment as he contemplated something,

“Not when you look at her, no,” sighing in relief Jake nodded as a smile spread across his face, but then chief Rann said something I would never forget as long as I lived,

“But she is the reason the brothers won’t stop killing and destroying human tribes, until every last one of their kind is removed from the face of the earth the killing won’t stop. So you see son,” chief Rann said turning his head to look at Jake,

“She has to die so we can live,” Jake’s eyes widened in horror as he realized his father would never change his mind, 

“No!” Jake said stepping toward me but two stronger men grabbed him, holding him back and away from me. Jake kept staring at me as I kept my eyes on him, tears were running down my cheeks as I looked at him, “Laya,” he mouthed my name but could do nothing. 

Chief Rann suddenly spoke up which made my head snap up toward him in fear, 

“It is decided that the hybrid Laya will be handed over to the brothers in three months when they come to collect their share of our crops,” our tribe was one of the few that paid the brothers off in our area to keep them off our backs. 

I felt numb as I kept my eyes on Jake’s, 

“As for my son, the future chief of our tribe, he clearly is unfit to make a rational decision right now, so I will be sending him to one of our other neighboring tribes until such time as he has come to his senses,” Jake just glared at his father,

“You can’t do this, you can’t keep me away from her and you can’t hand her over to the brothers, their monsters!” he shouted the last bit. Smirking his father shook his head, 

“Take him away and prepare for his departure, as for Laya, she is to be kept within the working schedule of the kitchen peeling potatoes until the brothers come for her. I turned my face to look at him but he quickly looked away, it was Maddy who looked the most pissed off as she glared at me still.

Jake started coming at me as he protectively tried to get to my side, but a grouo of men grabbed him and pulled him back,

"Get off of me, you can't do this dad, stop this," He shouted in anger and desperation, but it only made the men yank him away harder. I looked into his eyes one final time as tears welled up in his eyes, but it was too late, he was gone and I was alone to facethe wrath of his father.

From that moment I never saw Jake again, he was transferred to another tribe and I was to await my fate the moment the brothers came for me.