New Age

Chapter 34-The Last Dance

It was the end of the year and every year; Wisteria High holds a dance afterschool. Milinda and Addy were officially a thing and were sitting chatting away like nobody's business. Me and Scarlet were living our best extra lives and dancing like nobody was watching. People were finally able to grapple with the fact I was a werewolf and were actually complimenting my tail and ears. I had worn a long black dress that me and Scarlet both agreed looked amazing on me. Just in case something happened, I had worn my necklace that, I now know, has Lin just trapped inside it. (That's why I haven't been able to hear in my head lately) Scarlet wasn't feeling as horrible about her sister just disappearing. She said that "Kelly should've seen it coming! She's awful to everyone so of course karma was going to bite her in the butt one day!" We were all having an overall great time, but something was just off. Like someone had been watching us this whole time, or like someone had planned this all out. That all came crashing down when I heard Lin trying to get my attention. "Zena hey! ZENA!"

"One sec I'ma go to the bathroom." I said to Scarlet as I walked away to the bathroom. "What is it?! I was having a great time man, what do you want?" I said continuing to walk to the bathroom. "Something isn't right man! I'm telling you! -" said desperately. "Ok fine I'll believe you on that, something is off. Let's go to the roof, it smells like sweat and smoke in here anyways."

I walked onto the roof top and closed the door behind me. I walked up to the ledge of the railing and looked out upon the city. With the fair gone the city went back to how it was, quiet and peaceful. The cool night breeze was cold but just enough to be refreshing. "Alright what do you-"

"Didn't expect to see you up here Zena." I turned around startled but it was thankfully just Scarlet. "My god you almost gave me a heart attack! I didn't hear you at all!" I said laughing as I caught my breath. "So why are you up here? Oh, and nice dress by the way." I was about to respond but paused "Wait...we bought this dress together, I thought you remembered?" I was curious about how she would respond. "Oh, shoot I totally forgot!" She said laughing awkwardly. "Hey, you sound kinda bad you sure you don't need to go rest." I said, just now noticing her voice was more raspy than normal. "Eh I'm fine! I can last the rest of the night." I wasn't paying attention to what she said as much as I was paying attention to her eyes. See Scarlet has heterochromia, from my perspective, her left eye is blue with a black sclera, and her right eye is red with a white sclera. This Scarlet's eyes were both gray with a black sclera. "What's wrong Zena? Something catch your eye?" She said as she giggled, that giggle soon turned into a laugh, and then into hysterical laughter. "Y-You're not Scarlet...Are you?" I said unsure backing up and bumping into the guard rail. Scarlet seemed to melt in front of me, still laughing and, reformed into a figure I hadn't seen in a while. "Well done 005 you did! You figured I was a fake, an imposter even. I haven't been that honest with you so let's formally introduce ourselves. I am Jake also known as 001 and I am the first of many, artificial shapeshifters.

All I could do was stand there as Jake bowed down to me as if he had just finished a play. "Why are you only showing yourself now, you liar?" I said starting to walk to the roof's door to warn everyone. "Hey, we don't need to call names here." He said, offended. "Why are you here, you freak of nature! What do you want from me!?" Jake looked up at me and got up from his bow. "That is a much simpler question to answer. I want to give an opportunity." I stood there confused "W-what do you mean?" I asked, still trying to inch my way to the door. "You know how people like us are treated. You're treated as a beast that can't be contained, and I'm, well you said it already, a freak of nature."

"What the hell are you getting at?!" I yelled before he could say anything else. "What I'm trying to say is, I'm giving you a choice. You could, come with me and we could change this world, no matter what it takes. -" He said with a smirk "Or you could stay here and be continuously tortured by multiple people. Who knows, even Scarlet might turn on you." I stopped trying to get to the door and thought for a moment. "What do you mean 'change the world no matter what it takes'? What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Jake looked at his nails "Oh you know, fighting, controlling multiple people-" he stopped and looked at me "the casual killing of people who won't obey-"