The Anomaly

The Next Day

News reports scramble to ready their set. The anchor adjusts their shirt and clears their throat. 

"Good morning everyone, this is Carol with your eight in the morning news report on CBA news. Last night there were reports of gunfire and loud roaring from Doctor Paul's facility that houses dark spirits for study and research into the dangerous creatures. Upon further investigation, Doctor Paul has been confirmed dead along with many other recorded dark spirits. Hospitals and police forces will be on high alert to detect the rebirth and activities of any escaped dark spirits. If you have any questions please contact loc-" The channel changes.

"Jeez shut up already," Darren says which gets a laugh out of everyone in the room. 

"Hey, I was watching that," Samantha says with a smile.

"Why would you need to worry about any of that?" Darren asks.

"Oh you know, maybe because she is a dark spirit," Wilson says.

"Or the fact because she is responsible for Doctor Paul's death." Milo

"Don't forget about the hallway," Darren says.

"Actually I've been trying to," Milo says with a shiver. 

Darren had managed to convince his parents to let Samantha live with them off the story of her parents being killed in a robbery at their home. He was careful to mention nothing of Samantha's spirit and when they asked they said she was a lizard. Technically not a lie. They were currently out shopping so mention of Samantha's true nature wasn't an issue. Darren was laying on his bed flicking through channels. Milo was sitting on the chair he had for his desk. Samantha had claimed the beanbag and Wilson sat on the floor. 

"Oh, go back, that's a really good movie," Wilson says pointing at the TV.

"Please we've seen that movie like fifty times." Darren continues to change channels quickly. 

"I'll bet thirty dollars Samantha hasn't seen it." Wilson challenges. 

"Do you even have thirty dollars to bet?" Milo asks.

"Well, I've only been outside for a little over a year so it's not a fair bet anyways." Samantha points out. 

"Speaking of, the only reason you were free before was because you were a part of an experiment. I'm sure Doctor Paul cut corners to actually keep you out here. How do you plan to do anything now?" Milo asks. Samantha was quiet for a second.

"Well, I'm not sure. Rava hasn't been free like this in years. The world is very different from back then though." Samantha explains.

"Free isn't the word I'd use," Darren says grumbling. None of them were happy with the idea of Samantha having to live in the shadows for the rest of their life.

"Hey, we can help out. Take her to see places, try different things, we'll basically be her caretakers slash parents." Wilson says chipper.

"I'm gonna ignore that you said the word slash there," Samantha says giggling.

"This is likely our only way to survive. We will have to be very dependent on you for the foreseeable future." Rava uses Samantha's voice to speak. This was becoming more common, wearing Rava in the open around them. They weren't opposed to it but occasionally I could see them tense up. 

"I wouldn't mind that." Milo smiles at Samantha. 

"You live here so I don't have much of a choice," Darren says uninterested. 

"Don't act like you're not happy about it." Samantha jokes.

"Yeah, your right." He admits. Samantha's ear twitches.

"Your parents are back." She says, looking over her shoulder at a corner of the room.

"Jeez, you're like a radar," Wilson says with a small laugh.

"Good thing keeps us out of danger," Milo notes.

"After she gets us in danger." Darren smiles. Samantha is quiet. 

"We don't blame you for anything Samantha. You just wanted a normal life." Milo says when she notices Samantha's silence.

"Yeah, it was interesting being imprisoned. Now I know to not get in trouble." Wilson smiles.

"You didn't know that beforehand?" Samantha asks finally.

Though life with her friends was certainly fun and entertaining there was always an odd tension with them. Out in public, at stores, restaurants, and other places. The risk of being identified. Not being able to trust others with Samantha's secret. 

Though such a great anomaly in their life was a burden to bear they gladly held it. Along with the burden the world had now. The facility that held these spirits was heavily damaged, and the lead researcher and container of them was dead. Understanding them would take decades now, and controlling them effectively would take even longer. 

Though it was entirely possible that someone like Samantha could be the host for a dark spirit. Calmer, more collected, and civil. Maybe the dark spirits would use this opportunity presented to them to change like how Samantha had tried to. Though that path for her was gone now.

She may act normal now but she knew at the end of the day the things she had done were irredeemable. Not that she wanted to change anymore anyways. She enjoyed being calm around certain people, and simply knowing she had the power to break anything against her. The power was a rush, confidence, it was addicting. 

She never would have learned about this part of her without Doctor Paul, however. 

Without him creating an Anomaly.