The Monster They Created - Chapter two

“Ow!” I screeched as the burning liquid mingled with my cut,
“This would not hurt as much if you fought back or at least ran away,” G muttered, dabbing more of the healing potion on my wounds
We sat beyond his house in the orange fields his family tended. It was the only place where we had any resemblance of peace in his home with seven other siblings.G sighed, looking at my bruises, “Iris was so much better at this stuff,”
The medical box was hers, the ointments were hers, the bandages were hers. All of which she left behind for us when her family left town.
“How are you doing? It was a year yesterday,” I asked, attempting to distract myself from the pain
“I’ll find her when I leave in a week, I just have to wait a little longer before we can live happily as we always dreamed,” He tied the bandage tight around my arm and turned his focus to my mouth,
I turned my head to the rows of trees, “That’s the dream, to live with the one you adore.”
“Open up your mouth. Olive, you are too traditional. You could go off with Azreil and leave this blasted town, but no, you must just watch as they come and go from Troprin,” He dabbed the ointment on my gums and exhaled a heavy breath,”I shouldn’t get angry at you. It’s just a tradition that we must follow. I can’t be a guy and marry a woman. You can’t go off with your Trader’s kid and get beat up because some idiots see you as the Arewed of Evil. It’s just so…wrong.”
G removed the swab from my gum, allowing me to reply,”It is, and trust me, I hate these traditions. But I must follow them for my parents,”
G grabbed my wrist showing the scars to the sun,”Those fools who caused your hand to give you these? By all that is Good, can’t you stand up for yourself physically and mentally?”
I took my wrist back, “I’m trying,”
G pushed his long brown hair out of his face,”I know. I’m just scared for you Olive. In a week I am leaving town and I don’t know how you will survive without me there to protect you.”
G is my closest friend, and I hate how he sees me as weak. But he is true, I can’t stand up for myself, I give in easily. Hell, he knows me better than anyone else and knows how weak I truly am. All the brains I have do not amount to anything when it comes to fighting back.
“G,” I put his hand in mine, squeezing it tightly,”you are the best friend a person could ask for, but I beg of you, don’t worry about me. Live your life outside of this blasted island and know I’ll be fine,”
He handed me a pill for the pain,”Just promise me one thing, please approach your parents about the secrets.”