Cope

Chapter 13

      "Girl, step away from the primate,'' the man cautions. The creature furrows its brow and growls. The female scientist has a dart gun in her hand.

      "No, he's not dangerous. He's my friend,'' Shina responds. The man rubs his face.

      "Girl, that is a wild animal. We don't want you getting hurt or even killed by it!'' the woman orders.

      "Why do you want it?'' Shina inquires.

      "It escaped from our lab,'' the man replies. "That is all.''

      "You were experimenting on it, weren't you!'' Shina accuses.

      "Why should we tell a stupid girl?" the woman begins. "The creature is our property and we're here to collect it." The man glares at the woman prompting her to stop talking.

      "That is no concern of yours,'' he says in a low voice. "Now, stop being difficult and stand aside.'' The creature bears its teeth and steps forward. Then, Shina hears Cathy and Ethan. They come up from behind Shina. Cathy screams in terror at the sight of the creature.

      "What the Hell is that?!'' Ethan exclaims. The creature rears up and roars at the couple.

      "SHOOT! NOW!'' the man orders. The female scientist takes aim and shoots her dart.

      "NO!'' Shina jumps in front of the creature attempting to use her body as a shield. The dart hits Shina in the left shoulder puncturing her skin. A clear liquid is released into her. Shina yanks the dart out of her shoulder but immediately feels lightheaded. She stumbles backwards and falls on her back.

      "Shina!'' Hancock yells running to her side. The world begins to go black. The last thing Shina sees is the creature roaring as it charges at the scientists before she blacks out.

The next day...

      Shina slowly wakes up in her bedroom. Still groggy from the injection, Shina could make out Hancock sitting in a chair beside her asleep.

      "Hancock...?" Shina asked. Hancock stirred and opened his eyes. "Shina, you're awake," he smiled standing up. He put his hand on her shoulder. "How do you feel?"

      "I feel okay..." Shina rubbed her eyes. Then, she remembered. "The creature! What happened yesterday?!" Hancock stepped back at the sudden question. He rubbed his arm nervously.

      "Shina... it's dead," Hancock said quietly. "The creature beat the woman practically to death. The man grabbed her and high-tailed it away from here." Shina could feel the color drain from her face as her jaw hung agape.

     "No... I can't believe it,'' Shina says quietly. She begins chuckling quietly. "This has got to be a dream. Just a bad dream!'' 

      "Shina...'' Hancock said tenderly stroking her hair. Shina screams the loudest that she's ever screamed.

      "I'm dreaming! I have to be!'' Her eyes start gushing tears. "Please... go." Hancock stared helplessly. "Go!" Hancock flinched but did as he was told. Shina held her head in emotional agony sobbing uncontrollably. Her tears also came from feelings of anger. Anger at the scientists who wanted their play thing back. Shina knew that the creature was a being with a soul! They were a bunch of heartless characters with no concern for others.

      Shina laid back in bed with her eyes swollen and hot. In an instant, she lost all drive to do anything. Eat, move, interact with another person. That dark feeling she felt before surfaced again.