He went to a painting of a tall proud humanoid. She had tan skin and long multicolored hair. His finger went up and caressed her cheek. Dee found herself feeling jealous of a painting.
“Our mother. None of us ever met her, but we have all dreamed of her. They killed her for her genetic material. She is the only female they used in the making of us. If they had known how special she was, they would have burned everything she ever touched.
They used male animal genetics also. They made sure we were all born male. They wanted killers.”
Chapter Twelve
“You’re not a killer.”
“Yes, I am. I am exactly what they made me to be. I, we, took out every threat that came against them. Not that we believed the scientists or their people to be totally innocent, but we were created to protect them and we did, until they didn’t need us anymore.”
He walked up to another picture on the wall. This one was an animal that stood on all fours with lethal looking claws.
“He is one of the male animals who donated his genetic material, not that they asked him. Because of him I have claws when needed. He walked to another picture. Because of him. I can stand on two feet. All of the others you see here, each contributed to who I am somehow.”
He walked back to the picture of the woman. “She was a shape shifter. She had the ability to become anything she saw. Because of her, every strand of DNA I have works. I am a monster, kitten, right out of your nightmares. Only I am the monster that will never hurt you.”
“Let me see.”
“Kitten.”
“Let me see!” she was screaming now. She had to know. This wasn’t a game.
He took his shirt off looking at her with sad eyes. “I am still the same male, kitten. I would never hurt you.”
She just stared at him and waited.
He began to change. His body grew taller, his nails sharpened and became claws. His teeth became pointed. He became the monster from her nightmares. She looked into his eyes and screamed.
She was racing from the room and up the stairs. She grabbed her purse and ran into the bathroom, locking the door and hiding in the too big closet.
She listened for him. Listened to hear him in the room, pounding on the door. Listened for his claws to rake across the door in anticipation of killing her. She heard nothing. Silence.
She sat rocking back and forth waiting for the door to be destroyed as that monster came for her. When nothing happened she crept out and placed her ear against the door. Fear had her ducking back into her closet. She sat there for what felt like hours rocking back and forth clutching her head and reassuring herself she was not insane.
What should she do? She reached into her bag and called Rena. What were besties for anyway?
“Rena.”
“That male is corrupting you.” She gave a weak laugh.
“I know and it’s wonderful. Where are you, Dee?”
“I am at Nikos.”
“Is that good or bad?”
“Bad. It’s real bad.”
“What happened?”
“He turned into a killer and tried to eat me!”
“Did you hit your head?”
“No, Rena I am serious. He’s a monster. You have to get away. We have to get away. Save yourself. Niko will never let me escape.”
A silent fat tear slid down her face. She had always known she would not make it.
“Dee, where are you exactly?”
“In the bathroom, hiding in the closet.”
“Can I come get you?”
“Would you?”
“What are best friends for? Hang tight. I will be there in a few.”
Dee made herself comfortable on the floor and prepared to wait. It would take time for Rena to get here. Then she would have to fight her way past Niko. Poor Rena. She didn’t understand.
She heard the scratching on the door and tightened into a ball. The scratching sounded more like pounding.
“Dee? Unlock the door” That was Rena’s voice screaming into the bathroom.
“Rena?”
“Who else? I told you I was coming.”
What if it was a trick? Niko forcing her to come to the door?
“What’s the name of the boy that kissed you in the third grade?”
“Eww Jimmy Pepper. I am kicking your butt for forcing me to relive that memory.”
Yep, that was Rena. She ran to the door and opened it. She immediately hugged her.
“Dee is your hiding spot big enough for two?”
“Yes.”
“Good lets go.”
They crawled in and sat cross legged on the floor.
“Eat this.”
“What is it?”
“Just eat it and then we can talk. Remember, I am the older one. Don’t make me hold you down and force feed you. You know I will.”
Dee had to laugh. She had been sick once and hated the medicine the doctor had given her. Everyday Rena had come to her place, held her down and made her take the medicine. According to the doctor, she saved her life. There was no stopping their friendship after that.