Shape Shifter

Chapter 6- Hunted

This has been a very weird night. Everything is going wrong and it’s getting confusing. The people I assumed as friends appeared to have set me up to be chased by mutants. What would Dad say if he knew what happened? He wouldn’t just ground me, he’d imprison me. I smile at the thought. At least that’s one thing that can’t get much worse.

I look down at my trembling hands. They aren’t even mine. Just some person I made up to shape shift into. All this running is exhausting while holding form.

I climb to my feet. Running is not necessary because I am a shape shifter. This time it is a painful, slow process. I have to stop and rest several times before the new shape of a grown man takes place.

The loose clothing I’m wearing allows some room to make myself taller. But the jacket must go. Even by changing my appearence, my clothes are still recognizable.I throw it in a dumpster and make my way through the twists and turns of the alleyway, feeling as if my legs are made of liquid.

Soon the world opens up into the outdoor marketplace. Even at this late hour, the street is crowded with shoppers. The air is filled with the sounds of hundred of voices mixed with the bustling of various shop vendors calling and the trains roaring past in the distance. Colorful advertisements fill the sky, up to the top of the buildings that disappear into darkness. People mill around, laughing, shopping, talking. Being normal.

I take a deep breath and saliva gathers in my mouth at the smell of food. Making my way down the stairs, I take a careful look around. Nobody seems to take notice of one rather boring man among the crowd. Once I’m sure they aren’t going to find me, I’ll book it home.

Careful steps take me the direction I want to go. Every sudden sound makes me jump and think it’s Talon. I am tired, sweaty, hungry and just want to leave this place.

A shudder of nausea runs through me. I stop to wait for it to pass. When it fades, I keep walking. What was that? A few steps later, it happens again only worse.

Dizziness sets in. My vision begins to fade, people around me become blurry shapes. I have to get out of here. I take a step, the world tilts sideways. Another and my shoulder hits the pavement. Everything goes dark.

“Come on, kid. Wake up.”

I moan.

“That’s it. Stay with me.”

A man’s face that I don’t recognize fades into view. His eyebrows are lowered in concern.

“You took a hard fall. Are you okay?”

The murmuring of people in the background draws my attention to the onlookers. They completely surround me, holding back only with caution.

One of them has spiked dark hair. Talon. I jerk upright to see him better. If it was him, he’s dropped back into the crowd.

“Don’t move. Just take a minute to rest.” The man crouched next to me says. He tries to get me to lie down.

“He’s Starskye's son, isn’t he?” A nearby woman asks.

I look down at myself in horror. When I passed out it must have made me shape shift back. How many people saw? By the way they are standing back, it must have been a lot. The situation adds to my already upset stomach and I cannot stop from vomiting. Sweat gathers on my forehead while I sit gasping for breath. The curious onlookers have fallen silent.

“Move back, can’t you see he’s got the disease?”

I know the voice before Talon shoves his way through the crowd.

He leers over me. In the state I’m in, it’s all I can do to look up. The place where I hit his nose with the brick is all purple and red.

“Tyrus Starskye has been keeping quite the secret. To think that his own offspring is one of the mutants.” His lips curl in disgust.

“The very man that claims to protect us from this curse is part of the problem himself. I wonder what else he’s hiding?”

Talon tilts his head toward me. “This boy is killing us all with his disease. Every minute he spends among us, another will soon die.”

“You’re one to talk.” I sneer.

That earns a kick to the chin that sends me flat on my back. He turns and addresses the crowd in a loud voice.

“You’ve seen what he can do. He shape shifts. Who is willing to trust a person capable of such unatural ability? Is he not a threat to public safety?”

Nobody replies.

I close my eyes, feeling very much like the world has ended. It has in more ways than I can measure right now.

“Is there a problem here?”

I open my eyes to see two police officers standing in front of Talon. It’s hard to know whether to feel relieved or dispaired. They will stop Talon, but hand me over to the Watch.

“A mutant, sir.” Talon nods towards me.

“We will take care of it. We’ll need you to come with us too.”

I see Talon’s dark eyes dart to the side. Without notice he turns and takes off down the street.

“You just need to answer some questions!”

He’s gone before the policeman can even think about pursuing.

One of the officers helps me stand.

“Are you okay?” He frowns.

“N-not really.” I swallow. It’s a tossup between nausea, shock, and exhaustion right now.

“Your father sent us. He was very concerned when he found you weren’t home.” the other officer states.

My heart sinks. In a way, this is worse than being handed over to the Watch.

“I’ll let him explain things to you. But you do know that you’re in trouble, don’t you?”

“Yeah. I know.”

In one night, everything has fallen into more peices than I ever thought imaginable. And this is just the beginning of the storm.

________

Author's Note: 

Not sure about the pacing right now. I think it might be going to slow. What do you think? 

Please keep commenting because it encourages me to write more. I greatly appreciate you taking the time to stop by and read this. Thank you!