Underneath the clouds

XXIII

"I don't think I can do this..." Kimberly was on the bed, brushing her hair. "Do what?" Panning her eyes over to her, she huffed, dancing her fingers along the corners of the safes. "I- nothing." Jolin pushed the bed back, nervousness rising into her stomach. It was dark, and the weird night seemed to give off Christmas Eve vibes. Maybe that was a good sign.
"C'mon Jolin, ever since you moved in, we haven't talked. I wanna know how you're doing." Kimberly furrowed her eyebrows, the light from her fan creating a glimmer in her different colored eyes. "I'm scared."
"Why...?" A glimpse up told a story, only Kimberly was oblivious to it. "But I'm going to do it." Jolin entered her birthday, and a muffled click set open the door. Inside was a hollow space, and in the middle, held in place by a rotating piece, was her serum. Looking to the door, she saw netting, and locked between the net and the door was the "other" serum. Kimberly peeked over her shoulder. "What is that?" Jolin stared at the serums, either which way, if she died she'd be freed, if she didn't... that's what she was scared about. What would it do to her? On top, covering the opening of the glass was a cork, which kept the fluid from spilling out. Taking the notebook, she flipped to the sticky note she put there. On the page were the instructions. Jolin made sure she read the entire thing thoroughly, no mistakes can be made.
Make sure the water is exactly 76 degrees Fahrenheit.
Jolin closed her eyes, biting her lip. "Kimberly."
"Yeah?" Looking back to her she scanned her eyes, panning over her pupils. "Does your mom have a thermometer?" Jolin got up, already walking out the door before Kimberly could answer. "Um, yeah why?" Determined, and fists clenched Jolin walked down the stairs. "I need it." Going to the kitchen and digging through the drawers, she bit her lip searching until she could find the tool she was looking for. "You can just ask my mom." Jolin glared at her. "Err, you know... aunt Sheryl." Kimberly rubbed her elbow. "It's too late now, I don't need any more help. I can do it myself." Jolin grasped the needle and pushed past her. Kimberly refrained from getting angry. She couldn't understand the pain she was going through, and she thought that her actions were justified. She did lose her parents a few weeks ago.
Upstairs, Jolin grabbed her serum and the notebook pushed the safes underneath her bed and pulled the covers over the other notebook. "Jolin, would you care to tell me what you're doing? I'm worried." Kimberly bust through the door, following her as she exited. "Don't be... this either is going to work or it's not. I'll be happy with the result either way." Kimberly furrowed her brow, even more so when Jolin went into the bathroom. Taking a breath, Kimberly walked up to the door, trying the handle. "What...?" She stared down at the doorknob. "Jolin, please unlock the door."
Inside Jolin set down the notebook, and put the serum in the sink. With the thermometer in hand, and the other setting the bath, she sighed, groaning quietly when she heard her cousin's voice. "Go away, Kimberly."
"No... I'm not going to do that. I want to make sure you're safe!" Jolin heard a slight thud, as Kimberly leaned her shoulder into the door. "You're going to be there a while. I'm not coming out until I'm done. And if it doesn't work, I won't come out at all." Jolin plugged the drain, feeling the warm water. "Alive anyway..." she whispered, watching as the lower level of the tub started to fill up with water. Sticking the thermometer into the water, she watched as the numbers slowly rise.
84... too hot.
With a groan, Jolin unclogged the drain and started again. "Jolin, c'mon talk to me. I don't know what you're doing, but you're worrying me." Kimberly placed her hand on the door, letting her head drift into it. Jolin didn't answer, she just continued to fill the tub with water.
80... getting closer.
She drained the water again, turning the knobs a little more to the left. A loud knock came to the door and Aunt Sheryl's concerned voice. "Jolin! Can you open the door please?" The tub was filled up a quarter of the way. Sticking the thermometer into the water, her lips tugged up into a smile when she read the numbers.
76... exactly.
Jolin cut the water and opened the book.
Then, pour the serum in, and wait until it is a pinkish-orange.
"Like a sunset." Jolin smiled, remembering the time when she saw the sunset and felt safe. She never felt that anymore. Unscrewing the cork, and flicking it to the ground, Jolin watched the bubbles pop when they hit the surface.
Pour nine-tenths into the tub, and drink the rest.
"Okay..." Jolin slowly poured the orange serum into the tub, watching as clouds of orange exploded in the water. Now a small part of the liquid remained, and she felt a twist in her stomach. Bringing the tube up to her mouth, she smelled a bitter plastic. She scrunched her nose up, revolted by the smell. She sighed, letting her head hang. "Okay... here we go." Jolin brought the glass to her lips and quickly shoved it down. Expecting a weird taste in her tongue, she tasted a cherry soda. Jolin hummed nodding to the taste. "Not that bad." Gazing back to the tub, she recognized the colors. "Okay... here we,"
"Jolin! Answer this door!"
It's too late now.
Stripping down to her underwear, she took a breath, as she slipped her socks off. "Jolin! Open this door!" She ignored the demanding voice. Jolin dipped her toes in, warmly greeted her. Next to her knee, and soon she had the lower half. It felt just like a bubble bath in a jacuzzi. Pressure seems to come from all directions like there was water being pushed into her pores. Jolin breathed out, lowering her upper body into the water, she felt warmth being washed over her breasts and bra, all the way up to her collarbone. "It's okay, we're okay." She smiled as the water started to bubble up to her neck. Reciting words from the page, she felt a bubbly feeling start to take over her, starting from her stomach and making its way into her head.
Dip your head underneath the water, and until you feel your bones shift, don't come back up.
Jolin questioned his choice of words but she followed instructions. Taking a deep breath, she sunk her head under. She assumed the feeling of your bones shifting around was either uncomfortable or painful, but she didn't feel anything yet. Her breath was running short, and her heart rate started to speed up. The tub seemed to get smaller, as her head started to spin, and swell. Jolin gritted her teeth as she felt her skin burn, and heat up. Bubbles escaped from her mouth, through her teeth, which were formulated by breath. She gets her head getting heavier, but her legs started to tingle. Something wrapped around her leg, like a vine that clung onto a stick, and started to grow. In a fetal position, she pinned her arms to her chest, as she felt her head being squished by the porcelain tub. She didn't feel her bones shifting yet until her breath seemed to be taken away by a stinging pain in each of her pores, and a cracking rippled the water. Her air supply was running out fast, and soon she found herself drowning.
Go up.
The demanding voice made her head throb. Pushing off the ground, her head met the air, a cold chill ran through her spine. Jolin coughed grabbing the top of the tub. Water dripped from her eyelashes, and when she opened her eyes she was amazed at the clearness of the floor. It was no longer a pearly white, instead, it was a slight yellow. Gazing at the floor she caught sight of her hand. A new color, something instead of tan. A gasp escaped her mouth as she examined her hand. A slight blue covered her arm, hand, and her stomach. She was blue. The vine thing that clings onto her leg had revealed itself. Like a newborn giraffe, she struggled to stand. Her bones creaked and snapped into place as she straightens her back. The ceiling in the bathroom was a high altitude, and the fact that the top of her head touch it alarm her. The top of the doorframe was visible, and all the paint that the previous owners painted red, which didn't match with the white walls. Looking down at her legs, she saw how normal they were. "That's good," Jolin whispered to herself. Her left leg had something wrapped around it, and when she touched the slim rope she noticed it was throbbing, and something was moving inside. Moving down to her ankle, she grabbed the end of it, feeling an irregular shape. Untwisting it around her leg, she noticed how it got bigger until he went behind her leg. Confused she tugged it forward, but was stopped when she felt a sharp pain in her bottom. "Holy shit..." she muttered twisting her body around, seeing the blue tail attached at the bottom of her spine, right above her butt. The feeling didn't come into her new tail until she yanked it again.
It squirmed out of her hand and whipped around knocking over shampoo bottles, and toothbrush holders. Shattered when it hit the ground, she clenched her jaw, looking at the broken pieces on the ground. "Jolin what was that?!" Aunt Sheryl shouted on the other side of the door. "Jolin! Please come out." She heard Kimberly shout. Rubbing her hand up her forehead, she felt a sudden incline, something smooth. Looking in the mirror, she gasped a little too loud. Staring back at her, was a blue-faced monster. Her eyes had a piercing yellow to them, and the iris was a different shape. A sharp tip was at the bottom, but the sclera had cut that part off. A black outline gave a menacing look to her eyes, and overall her face. Working her eyes up to where her hair would have been, she stared wide-eyed, her chest tightening with every rapid heartbeat. On her head were tubes, clear blue-tinted tubes, like a thin skin. Turning her body she saw that they ended about where her hair ended, and they came to a soft point on the end. Inside was a flash of red and deep purple almost blue. The colors churned beautifully, mixing in seamlessly, never creating an ugly color. She started, as the churning colors started to fascinate her. Suddenly they changed, not flashing, but a sudden color change. Now it was an orange, with a bit of yellow mixed in. "That's cool." Jolin smiled, showing her gleaming white teeth. Suddenly it hit her. "It worked! It... oh my god," Jolin couldn't believe what she was looking at. He herself, as a mutated human. Her father was right. "Jolin!" Aunt Sheryl sounded angry. "Open this door right now!" Slowly her hand drifted to the doorknob, unlocking the door, she took a deep breath. "Guys... don't be afraid, but my father's creation worked..." she whispered the last part, hearing them back up. Opening the door, and crouching down to go through she heard a shrill scream.
"What the hell!" Looking down at them, they seemed frightened, eyes wide and mouths opened. "Guys, don't be afraid it's me,"
"Don't come any closer!" Sherilyn grabbed her gun, aiming it at Jolin's chest. Kimberly stared into the monster's frightened eyes, seeing the devilish tail swish back and forth. Her head flashed a bright red and purple, giving off a little light. "Don't fucking move!" Aunt Sherilyn snarled, hand on the trigger. "Aunt Sherilyn, it's me! Jolin." Her lip was curled, her jaw clenched. "Kimberly call the police." She hesitated, looking at the monster's scared eyes. "Now!" Sherilyn ordered. Jolin kept her hands up, her jaw clenched, fear coursing through her veins. "Please don't shoot." She whimpered. Sherilyn kept a trained eye on the beast, finger on her trigger, ready to fire at all times. Jolin let her arms down, but her hands were still up. "Aunt Sheryl... it's me, Jolin." She took a step, only to be shot back by a stinging pain in her collarbone. A shaken breath came from her lips, along with a few scattered seething breaths. She dropped putting her hand to the new hole in her skin. Blood started to pool out, coating her blue fingertips. On her hand was a thick deep purple liquid, which oozed down her fingers. "Agh! Damnit. Don't shoot I said!" Sherilyn shuffled in her position, finger on the trigger. "If you move, I'll shoot for your fucking head." Jolin had her lip curled, jaw clenched mostly from the pain. "C'mon... you wouldn't kill your niece would you?"
"You're not my niece!" Jolin shook her head. "Oh my god, your brother-in-law's serum worked! That's why I look like this!"
"Yo-you're lying!" A low growl came from inside Jolin's chest. "Trust me, I wish I was, but I'm not! So don't shoot, and don't call the,"
Kimberly came up, huffing from the sudden adrenaline. "They're on their way!"
"Police." Jolin groaned. "How long?"
"About ten minutes."
"Fuck." Jolin muttered looking to the side. "Kimberly! Come on! Back me up on this! You saw the notebook and the serum." Sherilyn dragged her daughter behind her, a hand gripping the gun already. Jolin sighed, hanging her head, putting her arms down. She rested in that position for a few seconds until she swiftly got up. Quickly, Sherilyn re-aimed her gun, aiming for the center of her forehead. She hid her eyes until she calculated the fastest route downstairs.
You need to escape!
Quickly, Jolin sprung into action, scurrying forward. Sherilyn flinched but shot, her eyes closed. "Holy shit!" Kimberly shrieked. Jolin, dodged another bullet, watching as the wood slowly came up, dust particles flying up into the air.
The stairs are too slow.
Her eyes dashed towards the wooden railing. Like an animal, she dashed on what seemed like all fours, when she used her hands to gain traction. Putting her shoulder down, she rammed the wooden railing, hearing it creak and break. She fell about eleven feet, but only seemed like three feet. Landing on her toes, she tripped, knocking over furniture as she busted through the hallway, going for the door, she busted through, the hinges behind ripped from the wood. The grass was cold to touch, but the air was painted with flashing red and blue lights.
Her eyes adjusted, and she saw in front of her cop car. "Holy shit, what the fuck is that thing?" Looking to the two police officers, her heart dropped when they drew their guns. "Get on your knees!" Jolin started to panic, a deep throbbing in her ears. With their guns aimed at her body, she kneeled. Attention started to get drawn from the other houses, and now some started to come out of their houses. Jolin's breathing slowed but suddenly spiked when his hand touched her wrist. An unknown kick jump-started her heart, as it continued to pump more adrenaline into her veins. The tubes flashed bright red, a little purple churned with the color. She grasped his forearm with her hand. The officer shrieked, even more so when she lifted him off the ground. "Holy fuck!" His partner stared as his body started to rip. "Shoot you fucking moron!" His partner shrieked. Raising his gun, Jolin saw the motion, but in a slowed manner. It gave her an advantage. Swinging him around, she let his heavy body go, watching it swing across the lawn. A loud shrill yell made her lose her focus. "Get off of me." One groaned. Walking to the police officers, a whizzing bullet caused her to flinch. Looking back, she locked eyes with her aunt, a serious look on her face. Distant radio static caught her attention, and looking back she saw the police officers getting up. One stayed on the ground, nursing his arm which seemed to hang limp. Her ears picked up a faint siren in the background. "Shit."
Jolin turned to run but yelped from intense pain in her calf. "Can't run now, can you?" The police officer looked at her deep in her cat-like eyes. 
Jumbled thoughts bounced around in her head, and until a deep growl came from her throat, she thought about running again. Now she was set to fight. Raising his gun, her heart rate spiked, triggering a fast reflexed jump. A blind fury took over her vision, as she felt a sharp stab into her abdomen. Jolin's hand was on his chest, pinning him down. Despite his efforts of trying to push her off him, he couldn't, and when he pushed her thighs away, he felt his wrist getting crushed by a powerful force. He yelped, trying to pull away from her.
Red covered her vision, a black hue in the center of her sight. Soon that hue had cleared and she saw the blue and red flashing lights. More cop cars had shown up and were surrounding the lawn. Red blood and purple blood were on her hands and her arms. How many gunshot wounds had she sustained? A black van pulled up, and our soldiers marched.
Bigger guns.
She stared, snarling and breathing heavily. Her tail was always whipping around, a few cuts and blood had been stained on the thicker part of her tail.
If you have any chance of running, now is the time!
Jolin shuffled a little before booking it across the lawns. A few scattered screams erupted, and one sound she singled out was an order from what she thinks was the captain. "Shoot it! Shoot it now!"
Expecting a sharp pain in her spine, she felt a soft pinch in her neck. The colors of the world started to blur together. Slowing down, she rubbed her neck, feeling a dart swaying loosely out of her skin. Yanking it out, she examined it. "Shit..." her hands started to numb, and her legs felt tingly. Starting to drop, the first thing to go was her tail, then her legs, then her arms, then her back, then her head. Now she was on the ground, the world swirling around her. Dizzy and confused she stared up at the darkened sky before black started to plague her vision. The world faded underneath her limp body, and before she could think, her mind went blank, and her vision cut.