A creaking sound wakes me from a sleep I didn’t know I had entered. The blue light from the news station creates an eerie light in the empty apartment. I groan and sit up, scratching my head. For a moment, I have not a clue whether it’s morning or night. The time on the bottom of the TV screen says it’s two in the morning.
A shuffling sound from the direction of the door. Somebody is in here. That would be what woke me. I stay very still, listening to my increasing heart rate while i try to decide what to do. Should I pretend to be asleep? Jump out and surprise the intruder while I have the element of surprise?
The sound of shoes on the hard floor come my way. Whoever it is can’t see me yet because the back of the couch is facing him. I frantically scan for something- anything i can use to defend myself. I hear breathing from above me, I feel the couch shift with the weight of someones hands on the back. I squeeze my eyes shut, then slowly, throat tight in fear, look up.
“I thought you were asleep.”
I sigh in relief. It’s only Dad. He must just be arriving home. “You scared me.”
He ignores this. “Why aren’t you in bed?”
“I fell asleep.” I push myself upright. My heart is still pounding and i will myself for it to slow down.
“Well get to bed. You have school tomorrow.”
Like I need to be reminded. “I saw you on TV earlier.” This is how I tell him that I knew where he was when he didn’t show up.
“Yes. It was last minute. Priority. We’ll have to spend some time together this weekend.” He’s not looking at me, but watching something on the news.
Priority? As in I’m not? I try to hold down my temper, telling myself I’m just cranky from waking up. “Yeah that would be great.”
“Once the new law passes you’ll need to be more careful when you go out, Kevin.” Dad’s mind clearly isn’t on the present topic.
I sigh. “When have I ever not had to be careful?”
He gives me a stern look. “I’m serious. You could get in a lot of trouble if people suspect anything. I don’t need that right now.”
“I’ll keep a low profile.” I say, even though it’s pretty much impossible considering I am the son of one of the most important men in the city.
“You better. No more going out at night either.”
My feet are under me and I’m standing facing him with the couch between us. “Come on, Dad! I don’t stay out late.”
Well, he doesn’t need to know the half of it.
“No. From now on, when you get home from school, I need you to stay home unless it’s with me.”
“That’s not fair!” I cry “It’s like you’re keeping me prisoner.”
“I’m keeping you safe.” he shoots back.
“You’re keeping your reputation safe.” I say in disgust. “It doesn’t matter what I want.”
His hands are still on the back of the couch, fingers curling inward. “Everything is not about what you want. There is a bigger picture here, Kevin. I’m trying to protect you.”
“From the rules you made.”
“Those laws are a step in the way of finding a solution for the disease.”
My mouth opens with the intentions of harsh words. All that ever leads to is a fight I can’t win. So I close it, and choose my words a little more carefully. “I don’t care about that. You never let me do anything, going out is the only thing I have to look forward to. It’s boring here by myself.”
YOU ARE READING
Shape Shifter
Science FictionThe people on Nita are plagued with a disease that leaves survivors with unusual powers. Kevin, a teenage boy with the ability to shape shift, is the son of the man in charge of trying to stop the mutations. He was told to keep his powers a secr...
