Chapter one

I watched as my blood ran down my body, the blue color mingling with the blue from my hair dye. I must have scratched or cut myself somehow. I ran my fingers through my hair, feeling where the injury was. I could feel nothing, but to be fair, the normal giveaway of blood is sight itself. Besides that you have to feel the wet and warm to tell if you hurt yourself somewhere, however, I'm in the shower, so warm water is obviously everywhere. I can already see the concentration of blood go down from the water streaming down my hip. All well, it doesn't hurt, it never does. In fact, I don't understand the concept of pain. I have this very rare disease, called congenital insensitivity to pain and anhydrosis or CIPA. It means my pain nerves aren't connected to my brain properly. So I have to be very careful. It also means, I tend to cut and scratch myself in the shower trying to scrub all the grime off. I suppose I should also explain the blue blood. See there are three types of humans, there are the old humans, the new humans, and the advanced humans. The old humans have been on this earth the longest, and have learned all there is to know. The advanced humans are new humans, but the most advanced when it comes to air technology. They evolved from what the old humans call ravens and crows. And the new humans, which is what I am, are the middle children of the humans, but we are called new because while we have very advanced water technology, we are still behind, and we know very little. We evolved from what old humans called octopuses. So we have blue blood. I enjoy flaunting the fact that I'm different. It makes people uncomfortable. See while there are the three different types of humans, we have all evolved to look pretty much the same. The only difference is the advanced humans have bird beak shaped facial structures, and not enough to be noticed in a mixed crowd. Old humans are the same as they've been for the past thousands of years. And the new humans, we still have the ability to change to blend into our surroundings. Those genes are still in our blood, so I can change to look like the side of a building, and if someone touches me I'll have the same texture. But if someone looks along the wall, I will be seen, since I'm not 2D. But I stay the way I am, because my blue hair signifies what type of human I am, which means I'm different. People don't like that. However I don't care, I have no friends, I only have my parents, and even then, they rarely talk to each other, let alone me. Like I said, I don't care. I'm not a people person, I don't talk to anyone, for any reason. Since everyone knows the basics of every sign language, I just learned them all to tell people what I want or need. I haven't used my voice to talk to people in years. I have a cat, and I talk to her all the time. Felicity, or Fel for short, is my best friend, and besides her, no one knows what my voice sounds like, not even my parents. I get out of the shower, dry myself off, wrap my hair in the towel, and put on my dressing robe. I head back into my bedroom, sit on my bed, and call for my cat. She comes out from under my sofa, and jumps up on the bed. I pet her, and she starts purring. Before long, she's stretched out over my lap, and she's sound asleep. I keep petting her, it's therapeutic for me. I finally get up and blow dry my hair, the long blue strands, billowing about like butterflies. Fel keeps playing with my hair. She used to be so afraid of the hairdryer, but now she has no problem with it, and likes it when I blow her with it. So I do just that, I redirect the warm air to her face, and watch her dance around, playing with her own whiskers and tail. I finish drying my hair, and proceed to put it up in the most lavish fashion. See my parents are drop-dead rich, so they expect me to look my absolute best 24/7. I quickly put on a flowey, floor length summer dress. It's a pastel blue, with gold trimming, the cuffs of my sleeves are trimmed with gold, and end in a flowey triangle like shape. I put on matching blue flats, pick up Fel and leave my room. Only to promptly return, since I forgot my jewelry and makeup. After doing my makeup and putting on simple, yet lavish jewelry I pick up Fel again and leave my room for the second time. Once outside my door, I decide to go to the library, instead of the kitchen. Let my parents call me down, I don't want to go eat.

Once I get into the library, I put Fel down. She immediately runs to the fireplace, then proceeds to nap right in front of it. Shaking my head and chuckling, I go find a book. The first one I pull off the shelf is an old psychology book called Thinking Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman. This book is now thousands of years old, but I love reading these kinds of books. They are from a time when the old humans were even less technologically advanced than us new humans. Their ideas on how the world works and how, not just their brain, but all brains work is so funny sometimes. Some of the things they believed are considered ridiculous in my day in age. But it really wasn't their fault. They didn't know any better, and didn't have the technology to find out yet. So I sat down with the book, and started reading. After I turned the first page, a loud knock sounded at the door. Using a string, I opened the door, only to see the angry look in my father's face. I set down the book and signed, “Yes father?” He glared, then said, “Young lady, you were expected down at dinner half an hour ago! Why weren't you there?” I sighed, then signed, “I was finishing up my shower, then I was playing with Fel. I proceeded to forget I had to come to dinner tonight, and came in here to read. I apologize deeply father. I should have remembered.” I hated using the old, fancy language, and I hated having to twist the truth. I just don't feel like eating anything. But it worked, because his face softened, and he said, “ You are forgiven my daughter. However, next time, place a reminder on your door. Understood?” I nodded. He waved me out the door, so I picked up a sleepy Fel and headed for the kitchen. He closed the door behind me, and followed me to the counters where all the food was placed. I grabbed a plate, and placed tonight's turkey and beef roast, with mashed potatoes, cream corn, cheese buns, steamed vegetables, and gravy. I placed the food at my spot, ignoring the glare my mother gave me, and went to put food in Fel’s bowl. Once I sat down, my mother proceeded to ask why it took so long for one to have a shower, then come downstairs for supper. With my mouth full of food, anyone else would have waited to talk, but I use sign language, so I can eat and talk at the same time. I put down my fork, and signed, “ I may have been late, but that is not due to my shower.” My mother raised an eyebrow, so I signed “I finished my shower on time, but I was playing with Fel whilst I blow dried my hair, and then I forgot my jewelry and makeup, so by that point I had been so flustered that I completely forgot about supper, and decided to calm my nerves by reading up on old psychology.” My mother sighed. She said, “I do wish you would try a little more to be at the supper table on time, however I do know how endearing that cat of yours is, and I know first hand how easy it is to start playing with her. Maybe just next place a reminder on your door love. Understood?” I nodded, and smiled at her. Making it seem like I would do just that, and that I was thankful for her suggestion. I went back to my food. However, just seconds later, my mother asked, “ You do remember how to put a reminder on your door don't you Katherin?” I signed, “ Rin, and yes mother, I remember how to place a reminder on my door.” She said, “ That's good Katherin dear, also, don't call yourself Rin. It's not a proper name for a young lady like yourself.” I sighed, and nodded my head. After supper was finished, I grabbed Fel, and went back up to the library. After reading that psychology book for a few hours, I dragged Fel back to my room. I then proceeded to ‘forget’ to put an alarm on my door. At least that was the plan, until my father walked in. “ Please knock father, I could have been changing.” “ Sorry Ka- Rin. However I came to make sure that you are putting that alarm on your door, for the proper time as well.” Still not facing my father, I rolled my eyes. At least he tries to call me by my preferred name in private. He may be stuck up and rich as hell, but he really does try. I turn to face him, “ I was just about to do that father.” So I do, I went on to my door’s home screen, and put on an alarm for 18:30 and turned off my door. My father smiled, kissed my cheek, and left.

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