1 Newborn

The night was cold as I walked through the valley of tents and boxes. I look up at the sky, there wasn't a single star that dotted the night. There was only the moon lighting the sky. But the moonlight is not strong enough to light the streets I walk in.

As I turn the corner, I saw an old friend sitting on a stool in front of what, I presume to be his tent. He sits there, drinking away his sorrow with a bottle of beer. "Shouldn't you be asleep?" I told him. "Shouldn't you be taking care of your mother?" He answered back. We stared at each other like cowboys getting ready for a shootout. I waited, hoping he would be the one to break the tension when finally my friend bellowed out a massive burp. We both laughed.

I took a crate and sat beside him. I became friends with this man when he helped me fight against these two thieves trying to steal my bag. He was a huge man, standing six feet tall and have muscles that could match a buffalo. You would think he was an ogre when you meet him. Compared to him, I looked like a stick insect. He was a good man and a good friend. His name was... his name... what was his name? What the fuck, I can't seem to remember. While I lost myself in thought, he decides to interrupt it. "How's your mom?" He said

"She's doing fine. She caught a fever, though, probably after what happened."

"Well, as long as you're by her side, she will do fine. Sure, she's a strong woman, but she also needs a caring son too."

"Well, I do my best for her. Just like any son would."

"Yup. Hey, what's that inside your bag anyway?" He said, pointing at my plastic bag. "Is that the extra food you cooked for dinner to give me?"

"No. We don't have a kitchen anymore."

"Fuck. I forgot we all got evicted. Fuck those settlers!" He yells. He placed his left hand on his forehead. He was hiding his eyes, not wanting me to seeing him cry. I don't blame him. Out in these streets, he was known as the Catholic Bear. He was the only other kid who was a Catholic in the tenant. The other one being me. Because of that, we used to get bullied when we were kids. We grew to become friends by sticking with each other and trying to act tough against anyone that dared mess with them. We can't afford to show any weakness, especially now when we got kicked from our home. Wait... I thought I became friends with him because he saved me from some thugs. Also, where did this bag come from?

I looked inside my bag and saw a pair of gloves, a spray can, and a bottle of water. I wonder what these are for? While I was looking at these items, my friends decide to fake a cough to grab my attention. "Sorry. How about I get you a bottle." He says as he reached into his cooler. I held my hand up, ready to reject his offer when suddenly...

*BANG*

A sound of gunshot filtered the air. I looked at the direction of the sound. That's where my tent is and where my mom is sleeping. I ran without saying a single word to my friend. I hear him yell something, but all I could think about is getting to my mom and making sure she was safe. The lights from the street lamps guided me through my path. Every stride I make, the light shines on me, every breath I take, the light shines on me, but when I think about my mother and the danger she could be in, the light wasn't there to comfort me. Finally, after running for what seemed to be forever, I saw it, my tent.

It was small and grey with red highlights and a few holes patched up with duct tape by me. There was also something there, standing in front of my tent — a naked child with a huge nose, pointed ears, and strange greenish skin. Its belly was large, and its legs could barely hold him upright. That child was so fucking ugly. I was so distracted by that disgusting child that I trip over nothing.

I landed on the cold hard ground. I try to stand up, but my arms and legs had no energy. But I can't give up now! My mom is in there alone and possibly scared. Some crazy guy is out here with a gun I have to get up. My arms and legs can't push me up. "Why can't I get up!?" I cried at the empty sky... No, there was no sky. It's gone, replaced by a roof. "Stop crying, newborn!" Someone said, or maybe something. The child I saw was looking down on me. Its head was huge, his eyes looked like a goat's eye, it had dirty blonde hair, and his mouth was lined up with sharp jagged teeth. The child used a dirty white shirt to wrap my body. While it wrapped me, I noticed the child having large breast compared to its body that's hunched over. That child was no he; it was a she.

She lifted me and walked toward the place my tent should have been. But instead of a tent laying there, it was a woman. She had brown hair, blue eyes, and fair skin; some blue linen covered the lower half of her body while lying on the blood-covered floor. The goblin placed me on top of the half-naked woman. "Feed your baby, human!" She yelled at the woman. Your baby? So I am her child. Our eyes met and what I saw surprised me. Those eyes - those dead eyes were filled with so many emotions; sadness, fear, despair flooded her eyes. But there was one emotion that penetrated my heart. Her eyes stared at me with so much hate and malice. Why does she hate me? "Feed her human. You are baby's mother now!" She yelled while grabbing her hair. Let go of my mother, you bitch! I tried to yell at her that, but all I did was cry.

She leaned in closer to her. "You are now mother of goblin. Be happy." She whispered at her. I stopped crying. Goblin, what is that? Is that me? I looked around the room, and I saw other naked women — all being forced to breastfeed their goblin child. I am one of those goblins. I wriggled my tongue across my teeth; they were sharp and jagged, just like the goblin woman. The goblin woman looked at me and decided to grab my head and shoved it onto my mother's breast. "Feed on milk already, you dumb baby." She said impatiently. She took her hand and forced my mouth open, her claws touching my inner cheeks. She then pulled my mother's nipple and placed it onto my mouth. "Grow up, strong, and fast halfling."

I struggle to breathe from getting shoved into my new mother's breast. I looked up and saw a tear running down her cheek as she closes her eyes I was evicted from my home because the settlers claimed it through the government, and now suddenly, I woke up here. This is my life now. Oh, I hope this is just a nightmare. Please let this be a nightmare. I want to wake up and be with my real mother again. "Stop crying, newborn!" The goblin lady said. She was a small creature compared to my, well, mother. From what I can tell, she reaches just about the height of my mother's hip, give or take a few inches.

After I finished feeding off of her, I was carried out of the room and into the outside world. The sun was shining down on me. I looked back and saw the building they were housing my mother. It looked like an old barn. As she walks through this abounded town, I witness others goblins, all running towards what looked like a courtyard. All of them were wearing thick fur coats. Now that I think about it, it's freezing, and the trees that we pass by every now and then had nearly lost all of their leaves. It must be the Fall season. Then, the goblin lady that was carrying me formed a line extending into the courtyard with the other goblins that were carrying a baby.

At the middle of the courtyard was a red goblin wearing crude armor surrounded by a clique of green goblins, all of which were wearing helmets of varying shapes and sizes. The red goblin stands nearly twice the height of the other goblins. The smaller goblins began to strip off the red one's armor and replaced them with a large fur coat. The red one was pantsless, and his penis was dangling openly to the public. I would like for him to cover that.

After getting 'dressed,' he lifted his hands and addressed the public. ."My fellow Goblins! We succeeded in our raid and brought many foods and treasures. We also brought back new slaves, man, and woman, and have chained them in the barn." The goblins cheered with great vigor at the mention of new slaves. "Silence! I have more to say. Today the women slave my most loyal followers, and I had sex with have just given birth to more goblins! Our tribe now grows even stronger!" The goblins cheered even louder. "Silence!" He screamed, the goblins continued to cheer louder and louder, until finally, the red goblin had enough and took his long sword and charged at the crowd. One swing of the blade and a goblin head flew high in the sky. After the head fell onto the ground, the red goblin pointed the tip of the sword back to the crowd. The goblins shut their mouths.

"Our newborns require names. Today, I shall give them that. Come, caretakers, present me the babies so that I can name them!" All of the lady goblins began to approach the red one. He places his hand on the babies' forehead and yells out their names. The crowd cheers after a name are given. The sound of cheers and names all blended, forming a buzzing sound. My ears went numb from the overwhelming noise. I closed my eyes as I bear the pain.

"This one is Rock!" The crowd cheered louder.

"This one is Stick!" The crowd cheered louder. The red goblin's voice got louder.

"This one is Smoke!" The crowd cheered louder. My ears began to ring. The red goblin's voice got even more thunderous.

"This one is Sun!" The crowd cheered. I opened my eyes. I looked up and saw the red one lifting his hand off my forehead. The lady hurried back into another line. The noises tuned mute as I tell myself my new name. Sun. I am now Sun and no longer will I go by... Oh, I don't remember my original name.

"Now that all newborns have their names, we wait until they are 14 days old before they could join our tribe."

14 days! That's crazy! How is that even possible.

"But for now, they must feed on their slave mothers. Caretakers, it is your task to ensure that these newborns do not kill their mothers. Those women slaves should still be able to give birth to many more goblins! And many of you are just dying to have your way with am I right!" Pointed at the crowd, which at this point has now gone ballistic over this announcement. Meanwhile, I'm still trying to grasp the reality of my situation. 14 days. That's how long will it take for me to grow.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the speech ended. The crowd of goblins disbanded and went on with their business. The goblin woman carried me back into the barn. There my mother laid helpless on the floor. In 14 days and I will be a grown goblin. And then what. Live my new life as this thing. I would instead end my life here if it means getting a better one.

But what about her, my current mother. Should I let her stay here, tortured by those mob of goblins. Should I kill her and end her misery. I feel like that's too easy. Or maybe I'm too selfish. I don't want her to die. I want her to be alive.

That's it. They robbed her life, and I will bring her back that life. It is my duty as her son.