Castle Vitale

Part 1: RUN!

I thought my chest was going to explode. I've never run so fast in my life.

"What do we do now?!"

I looked to my right, and saw Shanti, eyes wide and frightened. She was only twenty years old, and was just starting to really not be afraid of her own power. I remembered when I was like that. With a wave of my hand, I spun a car into a closed store window. "Left!"

We headed down an alley, still full steam ahead. We literally levitated over a twelve foot fence and kept going.

"Why are they after us?" Shanti asked. "Tigris, we didn't do anything!"

I couldn't tell her. "We gotta--" I took deep steady breaths. "We gotta keep moving." I took her hand. "Come on!" We moved in and out of crowds and I got her to the subway. "Okay, here's all the money--"

"What? No!" Shanti's eyes welled with tears.

"We have been training for this moment!" I told her, grabbing her hands. "Just get the rest to the rondevous, others are waiting, Shanti! They're too young to make it alone!"

"But I don't know if I can make it without you--"

"Yes, you can!" I hugged her, and said in her ear, "Get to the railroad, get to Kingston! You are the only one who knows the plan. I'll meet you when I can." I looked at her. "Remember everything I taught you. You do remember?"

"Yes," she nodded, but I could hear that she was afraid.

"I will find you," I whispered. I hugged her again. "I love you!" I pushed her away. "Go! Get the others to the railroad!" I watched her run away tearfully.

She looked back one more time. "I love you!"

"Love you too, go!" I whispered loudly, and after she went out of sight I whispered, "Love them for me." I began to shake as she ran down into the subway. I took off in another direction. I had to buy her time to get away, get the babies, and head to the station.

It's so funny how in the streets of a big city, people don't notice predators. People don't notice evil. Some do, and they just get out of there. They're lucky. They aren't level five psychics like me. I can turn into animals I touch. which is a last resort because it drains me, but not humans. If I touch beings, I can get glimpses of what is going through their minds, or their feelings. That makes me valuable. That makes me hunted.

I didn't realize it until my friends started disappearing. Then I began to hear stories, stories of the government trading us to someone, like a fee or a barter, or something. And as they disappeared, I started picking up the offspring left behind. Oh, we moved here and there, and always had to move by summer. They often got too close, I could sense them: the intent, the government files in their heads when I touched them accidentally at pit stops and places I worked. And then, one day, I touched a man who had my picture in his head. I was a dog at the time, so I went back to the others and told them we couldn't stay.

They could have. It was me they were after.

I sent word out whenever and wherever I could that if a psychic wanted to be free, it was best to go to Canada. The government wasn't as power hungry as the States, and when my father made it, he made some deal that we could have "special asylum," but we had to make ourselves known to them. It was better than being a lab rat. It was better than anything.

But I was stupid. I came back to this mess. I came back to this because of Captain James Scott. I pulled out my keyless keychain, and looked at his picture:

I can't think about him now, I told myself, swallowing my tears. I can't, but how I needed his strength. How I missed him! I took a deep breath, and ran into the night, trying to get lost in the crowd...

They were still trying to track me, I could feel it, good. I couldn't feel Shanti anymore, and I was relieved. That meant she was far and out of their reach, too.

I entered Central Park slowly, looking around and breathing the air. All I could smell was the usual: plants, water, animals, human excrement and marijuana with a dash of spilled liquors. Ew, but it was a comfort. That was normal for the place. I was heading past the zoo, and stopped. Should I change? There were so many I could change into...but if they knew that...

I was scared to death as I climbed close to the leopard habitat. One of them watched me as I disrobed. I'm being hunted. I won't stay, promise. I strapped my small pack onto my back, taking out a sundress, boy short and slip ons. My back was empty, but my clothes were free for the seeing. How can I get this to you?

Climb to the top, over my head. Throw down your things.

I did as told, watching my clothes waft down on trees above the leopard. If anybody knew any better they might think I jumped in. "Oh my God." I breathed. A whole bunch of different beings entered the zoo! I scrambled down and headed through the brush as quietly as possible, heading north. Where was a stray? Damn it, I need a stray!

Suddenly my prayers had been answered.

"Here, doggie, doggie, here, boy!" I called softly. The dog came to me, and I gave him my one of my cheese sticks. I pet him once and took off my clothes. In seconds I was facing him, his mirror image, except with a drawstring backpack holding my clothes. I trotted along easily through the bushes, finding Park Drive and heading north. Now gifted with dog hearing, those radios sounded like fifteen inch woofers.

"Any luck at the Children's Zoo?"

"Nothing yet."

"Uh, guys...? Got clothes in the leopard enclosure."

"Shit," a deep voice said. "Tranq 'em all. If one is her, she'll appear."

I suddenly didn't want to meet that guy.

I broke into a run. I had to find a way out! I made my way to Central Park Road and then to Belvedere Castle, where I could see them move.

They looked like a swarm. I kept running. I just needed to get to the exit. Then I could lie low and catch up to Shanti and the kids--

"Gotcha!"

I yelped as a net came over me. You gotta be kidding-a dog catcher?! I struggled against it.

"Oh, thank you you found him!"

I looked up to see the men who were chasing me close in on this idiot and me, one of them big and tall. They were all dressed in beige and black, like some sort of military team. I spotted the leader, whose eyes didn't look right...and gave me a bad feeling. He had a handsome face, but his eyes were one of a predator. I whined and tried to back away.

"Can I help you?" the dog catcher asked.

"You found our test subject," the man smiled, his features handsome, but his eyes were cold. "We'll take him now."

"How long has it been loose?" he asked. "We've been getting reports of this one for months!"

"Yes, well--"

"And can I see some identification?"

The man rolled his eyes. "I'm done." He pulled out a gun and shot him with a tranquilizer dart. "Now, you, my pretty-"

I scrambled as he grabbed me, and he shot my back leg. Then all went black.