POLYCETICULTURE

(Polycephany+Horticulture)

Sensitive content warning:

-Injury/Physical Violence

-Descriptions of Gore

“You got the time Ross?”

“6:30 in the AM brochacho. An hour and a half until it’s all over,” Ross yawned, resting his arm on their dorm room’s desk. “I bet we’re acing this one though!”

Russell shrugged his shoulder. “Nice to be positive, I guess. Still, we gotta be there to get it done anyway, so let’s get going. 3, 2, and-”

Pushing off their chair at the same time, the two gained their footing in a couple steps, more than usual with sleep deprivation nipping at them. They’d always been extremely coordinated, even since their time as kids just trying to learn how to walk under the trust of someone else with the other half of the body.

“Oh shit, wait. Turning around…” Ross warned, the two heading back to the desk. Russell was about to say something, until the sight of Ross downing his half of the Monster they shared made him roll his eyes.

“Dude you’ve been chugging those all week.”

“You finish Arizonas like they’re water, Russ,” Ross mentioned mid-sip. “You wanna finish your half by the way?”

“...”

“...”

“Gimme that thing.”

The familiar cavalcade of chirping birds amidst the early morning academy garden rang through the twins’ ears as they bent over study guides on their phones. Every other day of the year they would’ve been walking around, allowing themselves to truly slow down and take in the small bit of nature amidst the academy's strict, imposing walls. But now, the old, earthy smell of the small building used to house the class was all they wanted to be feeling right now.

“Alright…I think I should be good. Hit me with something bro.” Ross suggested, looking away from his phone.

“Define autolysis.”

“Shit, argh! I swear it’s on the tip of my tongue!”

“Do you-?”

“No, no. Just lemme think. I know it’s a part of the decomp process…” Ross massaged his temple, Russell smirking at his stumped face.

“It’s when a cell’s tissues are eaten by its own enzymes,” The two turned, only to see a familiar face. “Hey guys.”

“Hey Mads!”

“Hi Madeline.”

Madeline was as positive as they come. When some people buckled at a cold slap in the face from lady life itself, she’d thank her for the reminder to dodge. And a lot of the time, that’s exactly what she did.

“You guys think you're ready for this one?” She asked, taking a sip from her old metal Stanley cup. The stickers lining the sides were as resilient as she was, even with all the wear and tear.

“I’d say so! Whaddya think Russ?”

“Well, I’m not failing, that’s for sure,” Russell admitted, swiping to the top of his study guide to scan the entire thing again, until something caught his attention. “What the hell? Guys check the class announcements now!”

Two heads shot down to look at their phones, before shooting back up to match Russell’s expression. Nothing had to be said before the school's garden was left in the dust.

Panting, the three had barely arrived on time, Madeline nearly twisting her ankle having to dodge gopher holes as they ran across the football field to the meet up spot. Even exhausted, it was strange to see the entire class dressed in casual clothes instead of their uniforms, formal bookbags swapped out for hydro flasks and neat hairdos covered up by old baseball caps or sun hats. Ross itched at some of the dust that had kicked up against his neck, while Russell desperately fluffed at the hoodie they haphazardly threw on, trying to cool off.

“How the hell did we not get the message?” Ross asked, sipping at the water bottle he grabbed on the way out.

“That…might’ve been my fault. I turned off our phone’s notifications so we could study.”

“What?! The announcement was posted last week! How did you even get into my phone anyway?”

“Ross, you use the same password as me.”

“That still doesn’t mean-”

“Boys!”

The two instantly shut up. For a horticulture teacher of all things, Mr. DuBois was more than capable of silencing an entire classroom of students.

“As I was saying, thank you all for arriving. I figured that with finals week usually being harder on the first years than most, that I make it something nice and easy for you all,” Mr DuBois turned to the forest a couple yards away from him. “The test is simple; All you have to do is forage for a plant you find unique, then bring it back to me. Then, you must explain the role the plant plays in the ecosystem. Notes ARE allowed, but not during the explanation with me. Understood?”

A general nod of understanding spreads through the crowd.

“Alright! Then get foraging my friends! You have 2 hours, and make sure to not go too far out!” Mr. DuBois called.

With that, the class had already begun pouring out into the forest, only for Mr. DuBois to stop the two in place.

“Uh, boys look. You don’t need to go as far out as the rest. I understand that your…condition may make things harder to do.” He explained, desperately trying to not come across as offensive.

“Oh, don’t worry about us sir! Russ and I are more than ready to do this.”

“Alright then boys.” He said, giving their shoulder a pat before letting them rejoin Madeline.

A bit of familiarity shot through the trio's minds as the sounds of birds chirping finally made their way into their ears again. A kind of peace you can’t really replicate when you’re inside, where the gentle touch of nature hasn’t made its way into.

“Yo! Freakazoid!”

Not replicable, yes, but interruptible? Very much. Russell and Madeline rolled their eyes while Ross nervously smiled. Approaching them, either not dressed for this kind of work or overdressed to hell and back, were the preps.

“Hey Rodney! You glad we got this final for free too?”

“Don’t talk to me unless I talk first, weirdo. We have an order for you three.”

Madeline scoffed.

“Oh, go eat bricks Ratney. We’re not doing shit for you guys just because you came to the final unprepared.”

“You owe me though! Your uncle did a horrible job landscaping our yard last week!” Chelsea, another somehow even more disconnected from reality prep, said.

“None of my family works for you! Do…do you seriously think all Hispanic people are related to each other?”

“Oh! Migrant’s getting heeeaaaateeed!” Rodney yelled, surrounded by the snootiest laughs you could possibly imagine. Madeline looked like she was about to burst, and Russell seemed very intrigued about how many places he can break Rodney’s nose in with his single arm. Ross quickly grabbed his arm and planted his foot down.

“We’re not helping you, Rodney. Come on guys.” Begrudgingly, they walked away.

The three tried to keep things in high spirits, yet the mood of the final had clearly shifted.

“You doing okay Russ?” Ross asked as they checked a hollowed-out tree stump for anything interesting. Russell didn’t respond, and one look at Madeline was enough to show the blend of anger and frustration on her face.

“Mads?”

“Don’t worry Ross it’s,” She sighed, taking a seat by a nearby tree. The thoughts were clearly running through her mind, lines of cognitive ants constantly communicating until a conclusion was made. “Fine, it is something.”

The twins exchanged a glance, before sitting against a tree across from her.

“I don’t know if it was some kind of a mistake, or a misprint, but the academy increased my tuition. I-I don’t think my family can afford me coming back next year.” Madeline nearly choked on her words as they came out.

“What the hell?” Russell grumbled.

“Russ, calm do-”

“No! Ross this is bullshit! You of all people should know that our tuition still costs the same!” Russell had a point. Ross was always super particular about their fees since they joined the academy. Ross tried to put on a smile.

“Okay look, how about we try to help you? We’ll search around for something GUARANTEED to get you an A on this. I know it isn’t much, but it’s a start, right?”

Madeline grinned slightly.

“It is. Thanks, you guys.”

Prodding deeper into the forest, the natural ambience of their surroundings was the only thing that dared to make a noise. Having split up, the twins couldn’t help but feel a bit of…unease not seeing anyone else around anymore.

“Do you see anything different bro?”

“...nope. Just the same clovers, moss, all that and some other stuff we’ve already seen. Actually, is it cool if I talk about something with you? While we’re just looking?” Russell asked.

“Anything broski!”

“Ross, I don’t like how you kept on interrupting me back there.” Ross went quiet, turning his gaze away from Russell and staring at the trees.

“Ross?”

“...”

“Dude, come on! I’m trying to-”

“Look!” Russell followed Ross’s extended finger, expecting a bear or something with that reaction, only to see the cluster of mushrooms sticking out of a tree atop a hill he was actually pointing at. He sighed as they made their way over to pick some.

“This is called chicken of the woods! Apparently, it tastes exactly like its name: eaten both raw and cooked,” Ross put a small bit of it in his pocket. “This should be more than enough to help Madeline!”

“Yes dude it’s nice, but you’re deflecting! What the hell’s going on with you man?” Russell prodded, holding his foot down so they couldn’t walk. Ross had no choice but to look at him, his mouth quivering as he tried to find something to say.

“I-”

“What?”

“...”

“Dude, speak uAAAA!”

They hit the forest floor hard. Momentum carried them fast down the hill as the blunt remnants of pain on their back stung with each smack into it. Russell’s arm hit a rock on the way down, the small sound of a fracture drowned out by the wind whipping around their ears. It all ended with a sudden THWACK against an oak tree, and everything went dark.

Red. Red was the first thing Russell comprehended. Its hue made up the sky, everything not bathed in shadow, tainted by its bright, crimson light. Unknown sigils lined each tree. Then, the pain set in. Sharp, ever present like a thorn he’d get playing with Ross next to their mom’s roses. This alone would have been enough to keep his attention…until it arrived.

Peaking its disfigured head from behind a tree, it methodically slinked its mangled, quadrupedal form between the trees and towards him. With each step, each shift whatever was holding it together, did the surroundings start to blur and stutter. Almost as if this creature was never meant to exist, like reality itself was clawing itself apart at its presence. Russell could only stare at it as it finally stepped into the red light of the sky, revealing itself to him.

Bodies. A canvas of death, shoddily mashed together predators and prey alike, combined like a sort of fucked up clay to make the mere suggestion of a form. Where its head(?) would be, sat the disembodied skulls of a deer and a bear. It lowered itself down to look at Russell, eye to eye socket

“Am I in hell?” Russell squeaked, trying to press himself against the tree.

“NO.” He jumped at the beast's response.

“Then where the hell are we? What the hell are you?!”

The beast stared at Russell for a moment, before pointing its mouth to the sky. Seas of chirps, squeals, barks, growls, any and all animal calls shot out in unison into the endless red. Hundreds of soul’s worth of pain.

“...okay,” He nodded, the sweat trickling down his back sending shivers up his spine. “What do you want with us?”

“YOU HAVE BEEN WRONGED. WRONGED FOR SOMETHING YOU COULD NOT CONTROL,” It sounded like it was in pain just by talking. “I OFFER YOU REVENGE.”

The pain in Russell’s arm, a hanging sensation, started to make itself known. The deal only seemed to sweeten.

“And if I did, what would that make of me, of Ross?”

“YOU NEED NOT WORRY ABOUT HIS INTERFERENCE.”

These words shot through Russell’s mind. Slowly he turned his head, and it was worse than he could’ve ever imagined. Ross’s entire head had been wrapped in roots, a small stream of blood leaking out from where his nose is, behind the tightened binds.

“PROVIDE YOUR ANSWER, MORTAL.”

Russell looked deep into the creature’s “eyes”, and time felt like it was slowing down around him. Flashes of the Academy, paying for what it’s done, of Rodney and his gang, finally being brought down a notch. It all felt so tempting.

But Russell knew better.

“No. Ross needs to have a say in this.”

It tilted its head to the side, leaning the tiniest bit closer to them.

“HIS PACIFISM WILL GET YOU NOWHERE.”

“His pacifism helps keep us safe!”

“HE REFUSES TO LISTEN TO YOU.”

“He can learn to do so!”

The beast snarled in its conglomerate of a voice, frustratingly thrashing around as the red sky glared upon it harder. Every eye of every animal face on its body lit up as the flaps of carnage surrounding its entire head flew open like a defensive frilled lizard, only to train onto Russell.

“WHY DO YOU OBSESS OVER THE WEAKNESS PLAGUING YOUR BODY?!”

Russell shook at the sight, but he grits his teeth, weaponizing his anger to push straight through any fear he had left.

“HE ISN’T A WEAKNESS! THAT IS MY FUCKING BROTHER!”

…the creature fell silent. Letting out one final snarl of disappointment, it vanished. Darkness began to enclose around Russell’s vision, until…

“GUYS! GUYS! WAKE UP, PLEASE!”

The shine of the summer sun had been beating down on the twins' faces the entire time. It burned slightly, but they knew they were alive. Russell opened his eyes first. Everyone was in front of them, Madeline and Mr.DuBois kneeled in front, checking their injuries.

“Huh…Madeline? Mr. DuBo-” Madeline was a tight hugger, and the sheer force of it nearly squeezed the wind out of their lungs.

“Ow…ow! Yeah I’m fine too Mads!” Ross squeaked out, hoarsely chuckling as Madeline squeezed harder the second she saw him open his eyes too.

“Ross.” Russell said, nearly tearing up at seeing him, that same bit of dried blood trickling down his nose. Ross looked back, lip quivering.

“Russell,” He placed a hand on Ross’s cheek, tears already streaming down his face. It’s how they’ve hugged since they were children. “I’m so sorry man. I’ve just been so stressed ever since finals started. Then hearing about Madeline, and the bullying, I just wanted this to go well for us.” Russell smiled, slightly wincing at his broken arm.

“Oh come on man. Finals are stressful as hell. I can’t blame you.”

“Really?” Ross sniffed.

“Really. Now come on, up in 3-ow…” Russell winced.

“I got you boys.” Mr. DuBois said, helping them up.

As the class started to trek out of the forest, Mr. DuBois helped to keep Russell’s arm stabilized, a certain someone in the corner of his eye caught his attention. Ratney and his clique himself, trying their best to blend into the back of the crowd of students. Ross, then Madeline followed his gaze, before turning back to look at each other. Their agreement was wordless.

“Mr. DuBois?” Ross asked.

“Oh right! Don’t worry about the final anymore kids. It’s-”

“Oh, we weren’t gonna ask about the final.” Madeline added, crossing her arms.

“Then what is it?”

“We got a bit of a story for you,” Russell mentioned, before turning to Ross. “But my brother’s much better at talking.” The two of them sharing a smirk, they knew something big was gonna happen out of all of this. And as Ross let every last detail loose, they knew they’d be ready for whatever was to come.