Mutant

Twenty-Seven

Arch sat in the mayor's office staring at an old portrait of one of the past mayors who had ran office 2010-2011. This was all he wanted to do, look at the portrait and be by himself.

How could he even think of killing Damich? Was he that mean? Was he that evil? No matter what he was, the burden still hadn't left him.

The door knocked.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Emmer."

"Alright."

Emmer and some other kid walked in.

"What's wrong dude?" Emmer asked.
"You look like you just killed someone."

Arch chose to skip the subject.
"What are you doing here?"

Emmer came by his desk and slapped a notebook in front of him.
Arch quickly read it and gave it back to him.

"Aliens?"

Emmer catered out a smug smile.
"Not just any alien. Zaragost aliens. This is what has been causing all the adults to die. This is what has been causing all the mutations. This is what caused your telekinesis."

Arch was baffled. "But how? Where did it come from?"

"The aliens came from a disease, Arch. I did some looking in my dad's notebook and found that the disease was called Zaragost, after Ronald Zaragost. There had been some sort of accident back then, and how they're saying it's happening all over again. That this disease could have mutated into Remirda Town and turned into aliens. And I believe it's true because this has to be the only explanation."

Arch played with his chin.
"Do you think it was aliens that killed my sisters and my mother?"

"Most likely," Emmer said.

Emmer then introduced Chandler to Arch.
"He's the one who saved me from the Zaragost. He's a hero man,"

"Nice to meet you Chandler. I'm Arch. Do you have a mutation?"

Chandler nodded. "It's just recently happened. I don't know where it comes from, but it is electricity."

"That's c-ow!"

Arch slapped his back. It stung at first but then it went on to being rashy.

"What's wrong Arch?" Emmer asked.

"It's this stupid back. It's been itching since the first day I took office. I don't know what's happening."

Emmer looked around Arch to search for some clues. And then he saw it. A piece, and just a piece of feather. The feather easily floated on the carpet floor. Emmer went up and picked it.

"A feather," Emmer said. "I just found it on the floor."

Arch looked at it with curiosity.
"What does it mean?"

Emmer tapped his glasses. There was only one way to figure this out.
"Look Arch, I know this is going to sound wrong but..take off your shirt."

"What?"

"Just do it."

Arch obediently swung off his draped t-shirt and threw it on the ground.

"Turn around," Emmer ordered.

Arch turned around.

Emmer and Chandler jumped back in surprise.

"Dude!" Chandler awed.

"I know." Emmer said.

"What is it?" Arch asked.

On top of Arch's smoldering back, a long thick bone began to grow and grow. The bone came along with red forming meat. And then at the end, white feathers were layered.

Arch was growing wings. And not just any wings, angel wings.

"Dude, you just grew wings." Emmer remarked.

"Angel wings," Chandler added.

The wings shuddered.

"That probably explains the itching." Arch said. "But how am I going to put my shirt on?"

"Wait here," Emmer said as he ran out the door.

While he was gone, Chandler said "So your mutation is telekinesis and angel wings?"

"Apparently so," Arch said.

Emmer came back with a butter knife.
"Give me the shirt."

Arch handed him the shirt.

Emmer took it and laid it on the table. Then he took the butter knife and began to cut out slits on the back of the shirt.

He handed it back to Arch.
"Try it now,"

Arch tried the shirt.
"It fits."

The two wings had gone through the slits, making it easily suitable.

Emmer continued to gawk at the majestic wings in fascination.

"I wish Ellie was her to s-"
Emmer paused for a moment.
"Ellie! Where is she?"

Arch hummed in thought. He hadn't actually thought about that.
"We need to find her."

"But she could be anywhere," Emmer countered.

Arch looked at the notebook.
"These aliens, could they have taken her?"

"That's a possibility," Emmer muttered.
"The Zaragosts can be pretty cruel."

"If so, then we should probably follow their trail." Arch said.

"How?"

"We can just go back to where Ellie was and see if there is a trail. What do you say?"

"That's what I just said. But yes, I agree. I say we find some aliens."