Fall into my confusing journey

Chapter 8

"Bzzt! Dispatch. This is android 01137 report. We are clear in my area. No children or teenagers in my vicinity. Repeat: we are clear."

I shivered at the monotonous voice on the other side of my hiding place. The droid was really close, and my hiding place was really small.
A shrub. My hiding place is a shrub. Definitely not the best. I just hope that both, I don't get spotted and that the shrub isn't home to another deadly creature.

I glance down at my watch. 12:10. Already passed midnight. Where are Sophie and the boys? Were they safe? Have they already been caught and taken back to the City?

As I was crouched on the ground, worrying, something snuck up beside me. "Hi." I startled, but when I saw the shadow again, I calmed down some.

"You're surprisingly calming. You know, despite me just falling off a cliff because of you." I whisper, turning towards it. It laughed. Wait, it almost sounds feminine...

"Yeah, sorry about that. Didn't mean to scare you. Are you okay?" Instead of answering, I asked, " Are you a girl?"

She stiffened. I smirked. "You're lucky. You have a better gift than me." She scoffed, shaking her head. "It's more like a curse."

I grinned. "Sometimes that's how I feel about my power." She sighs and says, "At least it doesn't effect how you look." My jaw drops. "You look like this 24/7?"

The shadow seemed to shake her head. "No. Only at night. During the day I look like you. A regular girl."

I nodded. Then I realized the android's treads weren't making noise anymore. I peeked over the bush. The android was nowhere to be found.

I glanced back over to where the girl was sitting. "What's your name?" She seemed surprised at my question and was quiet for a moment. "... Sera."

I nodded and held out my hand. She hesitates, but then sticks her hand out too. When I tried to shake it, my hand passes right through.

I laugh. A real one too. It feels like my first real laugh in days.

I never go to school, because I used to be homeschooled. My first time I went to school, my teacher sent me back home with complaints. Apparently the students found me more interesting than the lessons. So I didn't have friends to make me laugh about their boy dramas.

Howl and I met when I first moved in, years ago. Before we met, I convinced myself to not bother making any friends because we were just going to move again.

He followed me everywhere until I finally admitted, "Fine! We can be friends." To be absolutely honest, he was really annoying. But at least I had one friend... until Sophie started following Howl.

Then Sera cleared her throat to gain my attention, snapping me back to reality. "Oh! Right. My name's Autumn." I blushed furiously.
This time, it was her turn to laugh. :You should see your face right now.: My head snapped over to face her. "Did you just communicate telepathically?"

She nodded and said, "I didn't tell you, but I'm a shape shifter. I'm so good at my little gift, that I can even morph my brain to send communication waves. You know, all the science-y stuff."

I grinned at that. "Cool." I said. "Come back with me." Again, She tensed. I rolled my eyes adding, "I mean, come with me. We're going to a home for... people like us."