“Right, yeah,” she nodded, leaning back. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine, we want to get all your thoughts out. Why don’t we begin with the reason you were called in here? From what I know, you got into a fight with a classmate. You even injured a couple and broke someone’s arm.”

“I guess I don’t know my own strength.”

“How exactly did the whole thing happen?” he questioned.

“It...it all started pretty normal. I was doing this and that and...the day passed by. I remember a wasp got in the class. People were ducking, because they didn’t wanna be stung. One of them actually asked me to eat it.”

“Was that when you got violent?”

“No, but I didn’t want to. I felt angry.”

“So despite your appearance you don’t really eat other insects?” He took notes to what she was saying, nodding periodically but not looking up that much.

“No I-I do . . . it’s just . . .” Her tone showed hints of hesitation as she struggled to get the words out. “I didn’t like how they looked at me.”

“How they looked?”

“Yeah well . . . they were looking at me funny. Like they were expecting me to do something. It’s like, I’m not a cat that deals with mice in your house! Do it yourself! I’m not just gonna eat anything.”

“I see. How did the situation get resolved?”

“I looked down and pretended not to hear them and my teacher swatted it, but people kept looking at me like they were disappointed...I never said anything but wanted to be anywhere but there.”

“Why did you feel horrible? Just a moment ago, you said you were angry because of it.”

“Yeah but they kept looking at me like that. My teacher had a weird look too. I don’t know what they want me to do. All I wanted to do was run out of there...”

“Were there any other significant incidents during that day?” Alan asked, making some notes as he leaned back. “Did you talk to anyone else about this?”

Molly shook her head. “Don’t talk to a lot of people. Don’t have many friends and everyone’s scared of me.”

“Is this what led to the incident?”

“I’m sorry that happened.” Alan leaned forward, frowning, “Sometimes...this always happens. Kids your age sometimes don’t know the damage they can do. I guess that makes it easier for bullies...”

“It wasn’t just some bully,” Molly corrected, her anger rising. “It was my best friend. I got this dropped on my arms, so I threw him into a wall.” Seeing the surprise on Alan’s face, she continued, her body tensing up as she hissed softly. “It felt like acid on me, but I was still able to fracture his ribs and arm. I can’t remember what else, but some other stuff is probably broken too.” Initially, Alan didn’t respond, leaving the girl’s words to hang in the silence. She seemed to be expecting him to say something, but the words wouldn’t come out. So instead, she decided to speak up once more.

“I’ll ask again. What do you think about me?”

Alan looked at the girl. Now that he thought about it, she was actually pretty short for her age. A tiny frame, and a thick hoodie that hid a pair of small arms, that were probably even thinner under those bandages. Even if it was to someone her own age, it was unbelievable to think that she could do that amount of damage, and she could barely even remember how much she’d actually done. Jason Mucil, the boy she’d retaliated against had several broken ribs, and both his arms were fractured with a broken shoulder. “Well...my opinion hasn’t changed much...”

“You liar!” Molly snapped, raising her voice. “I can hear the fear in your voice! My parents told you about the incident, but they didn’t say what I am. They didn’t think you’d accept if you knew what I am. Most places, I heard them talking about finding you, how most places don’t even want me on this side of the world. I see a lot of people are scared of me. Of course none will say it, but I know the look on your face well enough to tell it from a mile away.” She sighed, leaning back, “It’s the same kind I see everywhere.”

“And you thought he’d be different?” Alan piped up. He was anxious, but he still chose to speak. “Jason, I mean.” Molly nodded.

“When we first met, he went up to me and told me I looked cool.” All the sudden frustration had vanished from her voice, her tone neutral and scratchy. “Cool. It was so weird, hearing someone say that about me.” She giggled. “But now, there’s no one who thinks I’m anything. End of the day, I am a monster.”

“I disagree,” Alan replied. “There’s nothing I’ve ever seen like you, that’s true. That doesn’t mean you need to be on your own. Someone like you would go through things and experiences I can’t think of. A life like yours is going to be difficult. But...you shouldn’t be afraid of it. Then you’ll be exactly like everyone else who’s afraid of you. And yes, you being here makes me pretty nervous, but you’re something new. You’re a girl who was hurt, you shouldn’t be ashamed of that. You’re not some savage monster that deserves to have pesticide poured on her. I don’t believe that’s who you are. Could you become that? Maybe. It’s a lot easier for you to hurt people. But becoming a monster...you may not realise it, but that is something every human is capable of.”