***
Ten minutes away from home, Ian noticed Steven retching over the side of the ship. The signals were loud and clear. Motion sickness had nothing to do with his problem.
‘Is he sick?’ Tomas asked. His overalls were soaked from hauling the fish into the enclosure. His bleached blond hair, slicked back into a ponytail completed the wet look.
‘Not sick, if you know what I mean.’ Ian rolled his eyes.
‘So, it’s actually happening then…wow,’ Tomas paused, rubbing his chin. ‘Does he need to go into isolation?’
‘We’re keeping an eye on him – but it’s not going to be long.’
‘Where will he be taken?’
‘I don’t know. It’s not my call.’
Tomas studied his face. ‘Who’s in charge then? I thought you always did it.’
Ian smiled. ‘Well, my twin sisters Anna and Emily are going to go it alone, apparently,’ he scoffed. ‘Anna always has a soft spot for helping Emily, even when it defies logic.’
‘Well, hell, I know she wants to help her sister, but…,’ he gasped, exasperated. ‘What does Juan have to say about that?’
‘I’m not getting involved. Last I checked he was furious.’
‘Emily’s never gone out to help with the change before, as far as I know of anyway.’ Tomas shrugged. ‘Can anyone else go?’
‘I don’t know, but Ingrid would be up for it – she’s taken a shine to the new boy.’
‘Girls only – sounds like a disaster. Shall I offer to go with them? Ingrid is my sister after all.’
‘If Ingrid goes along for the ride, then I agree you should go with them. Why don’t you convince Anna to take your uncle Juan along too?’ Ian suggested.
‘If you’re not getting involved, I’m not going there either. Juan is not happy Steven exists – I don’t think he’d want to help him become like us.’
‘Good point, we’ll just see if anyone sympathises. The last thing we need right now is for something to go wrong. Things are bad enough. This overcrowding problem is getting worse.’
Tomas leaned his head to the side and bit his fingernail. ‘Some of us think we would be able to defend ourselves if any human tried to take us on.’
‘Do they?’ Ian could not overlook the defiant expression on Tomas’s face. Perhaps he was not the right person to go for Steven’s change after all. ‘Do you share those views? Do you want to chance it out in the open?’
‘I’ve never really known a life out of the confines of our community. I left for the change, and went with my family to England last year. The first I barely remember. The second was cut short for obvious reasons. Saying that, I could not help but notice,’ he paused, as he rubbed his hands together, ‘how fragile humans are – compared to us. We could dominate them easily. And the fact that we can mate with them makes integration viable in the long run.’
Ian fumed. Uncharacteristically, he shouted, ‘And how would you explain your eternal youth? How could you justify killing innocent humans? You want to kill them, is that it? You are talking nonsense. Don’t talk about something you don’t fully understand.’ Ian knew Tomas was still young, his views immature.
‘Maybe,’ Tomas muttered. ‘But, there are many humans I could kill that are not so innocent. I’d be doing society a favour really.’
‘You’re not God. None of us are.’
‘I don’t think God exists anyway. We are the superior race on this planet – we deserve to live outside of our self-enforced borders.’
‘Have you told anyone else what you think, or are you just venting?’ Ian asked, subdued. Curiosity told him to calm down.
‘Just venting, you don’t need to think the worst of me,’ Tomas replied. With a wary smile, he added, ‘I still want to help. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t do a runner.’
‘If you ever did, I would find you,’ Ian chuckled, an underlying menace in his tone.
‘Understood.’ Tomas nodded.
‘Now, stop having too many ideas – they are dangerous after all. Get back to work,’ Ian ordered.
Tomas huffed before he turned and walked away.
Ian glanced at Steven and wondered about his chances. If he survived, the floodgates would be open for integration. The conversation with Tomas had left him cold. He knew Tomas was not the only one who believed he could live out in the open. Thoughts of integration had begun to spread like a virus, and it had started the day Steven arrived.
He had failed to anticipate the problem.
They would have to step up security. No-one could ever be allowed to escape. A fine line now divided his role as protector, from that of a potential prison warden. This was not something he was proud of. How could he make people understand that a life outside their walls held no added benefits? A childhood saying popped into his mind and he cursed. It was human nature after all – the grass is always greener on the other side.
***
It should not have been possible for Steven to throw up any more, yet the bile kept on coming, relentless. As he spat out another mouthful, his throat reacted and throbbed, irritated by the acrid acid. With a loud and guttural cough the sickness subsided and he leant his head on the side railing. A few minutes later he attempted to lift his head, but he couldn’t, every movement an act of torture.
‘You alright there, Steven?’
Steven glanced over his shoulder, disoriented. It was just Ian. In a raspy voice, he managed to reply. ‘I think so. I don’t know what’s come over me. I’m not usually seasick.’
Ian seemed to hesitate before he spoke. ‘I hate to break it to you, but, I have good news. It’s not motion sickness.’
‘It’s not?’ Steven stared, bemused, just before the realisation set in. ‘It’s the change, isn’t it? How much time do I have left?’
‘I’m not sure, it’s different for everyone.’
‘So, soon I’ll become a killer,’ Steven sighed.
‘No-one thinks piranhas are killers – it’s their nature. They were born carnivorous. You know, it’s ironic. Even though the human species is constantly dominating the world, by killing animals for food and using up any available natural resources, they consider themselves civilised. Why is that?’
Steven groaned internally. He did not think he could cope with another lecture. ‘I guess I don’t know the answer to that. It just feels wrong to have to kill another human being.’
‘Some tribes considered cannibalism normal in the past,’ Ian added, smug.
‘Sure,’ Steven replied. He was too tired to argue.
‘Look, forget this, just go and get a drink and freshen up. We’ll be back soon.’
Steven dragged his feet. He could not believe the change was nearly upon him. A part of him was relieved the suspense would soon be over – finally, he would find out what his future had in store for him. On the other hand, any premature relief was short-lived. Soon, he would have to kill another human being. The main question was would he develop blood lust, or was it true that he was not destined to become an insatiable, immortal vampire? It did not matter to him if they never used the term vampire, the facts spoke for themselves. If he was going to drink human blood to survive – he was going to become a vampire.
With a sigh, Steven shuffled inside and made his way towards the kitchen. Once at the fridge he gave the door a tug. Even the small effort of opening a fridge door seemed too much. Eventually, it eased open to reveal exactly what he needed – a bottle of homemade lemonade. In no time at all, he had downed it in one.
‘Thirsty?’ Tomas asked.
Steven had not heard him come in. ‘Just a bit,’ he admitted.
‘You’ll get thirsty for more soon,’ Tomas scoffed.
‘I know.’ Steven looked into the distance. He understood the pun.
‘Don’t worry,’ Tomas continued, as he took out another bottle of lemonade. ‘You’ll feel right as rain in no time.’ He walked away and gave a low, throaty chuckle.
Steven stared at a spider scuttling a
cross the floor and followed it, entranced by the freedom he observed. Only when the ship shuddered to a halt did he look away. He tried to find the spider again, but it had vanished and he felt a pang of jealousy – he wanted the same liberty.
Out in the open, Ian faced him again. ‘Just go Steven, you’ve helped enough. You need your rest today.’
Steven nodded and concentrated on following the path. Once inside the entrance, he made his way back along the usual route, not really paying much attention. His legs felt heavy and his head throbbed. He had no idea how long it took him to get back to his room, but as soon as he got there he threw himself on the bed and passed out.
***
‘You’re back,’ Emily scowled. ‘Finally. Where’s Steven?’
‘He’s gone already. He needed to rest,’ Ian snapped.
‘I told you not to let him go out anymore, but you did not listen,’ she rambled.
‘Emily, stop lecturing me on best practice, you’re not exactly an authority,’ Ian smirked.
Emily narrowed her eyes. She would not give him the satisfaction of replying. She was too worried about Steven to react to her brother. As she swept her hair off her face, she turned to leave.
‘Emily, stop, I need to ask you something.’ There was some urgency in Ian’s tone.
Even though she did not want to talk to him anymore she stopped. ‘What do you want now?’ she spat.
Ian stared at her and asked in a calm voice. ‘I know you want to go with Anna. Can you please reconsider? Whatever you think of me, you know I can help you.’
‘You’ve done enough already,’ she snapped. ‘I’ll go with Anna.’
‘Is Ingrid going too?’ Ian asked, a bitter tone seeping through.
‘Of course not, who mentioned her?’ Emily asked, her eyebrows furrowed.
‘She did. You know that she’s taken with Steven.’
‘Is she? Well, I think he’s got a few admirers, so she can just join the queue. It’s just going to be Anna and me. We will cope. I know you men seem to think that woman are incapable of doing things without you, but trust me, we’ll be just fine.’ Emily stormed off with her nose held high. She loathed her younger brother.
As she approached the corridor where Steven was staying, she saw a commotion up ahead. Someone was being carried away in a stretcher. She rushed up to intercept them, fearing the worst. As she neared the stretcher, she saw Steven writhing uncontrollably in a comatose state. He was foaming at the mouth. It was time.
‘I’m coming with you,’ she shouted, as she stared into Steven’s expressionless eyes.
She hated the change.
Once they had arrived at the preparation chamber and placed Steven on a bed, Emily took hold of his hand. He had stopped convulsing, but his face was covered in sweat, his jet black hair matted against his scalp. His body quivered and his breathing sounded irregular and forced. With her other hand, she reached out and stroked his face. She could still see a flicker of the little boy she had left behind. A tear crept down her cheek and she wiped it away. She needed to stay focused.
‘Is it time?’ Anna placed her hand on her sister’s shoulder.
‘Yes, we have to leave,’ Emily replied.
Anna walked around her sister and crouched down to face her. ‘Emily you don’t have to pretend that you don’t care. Embrace the fact that you are scared and worried about him. He is your only child.’
Emily looked up, tears streaming down her cheek. ‘What have I done? Why did I…?’ She could not finish the sentence, as she found herself gulping for air before she erupted into a hysterical sob.
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Chapter 38
It’s Time
Anna embraced her sister and smiled. Finally, the ice had melted. Crying would help ease Emily’s tension. She could feel her own mood start to lift as the tears took away some of the pain. Emily continued to shake for a few more minutes until she started to calm down and breathe normally, through a stifled sob.
‘Better now?’ Anna tried to sound reassuring. She would be there for Emily.
‘Definitely,’ Emily admitted, with a childish giggle.
‘You know, you have nothing to be ashamed about. For too long, you’ve kept your distance. It’s not weak to show emotion. You are human too, even though you think you are a monster. Now let’s sort ourselves out and make your son better.’
‘Yes, Mum,’ Emily teased. ‘You always were better than me at knowing what to do in a bad situation.’
‘Maybe, but I don’t know if I would have been selfless enough to leave my son for his own good,’ Anna admitted.
‘You would have done the same thing if you thought there was the slightest chance he would be able to lead a normal human life.’
‘Maybe … you know, what I don’t understand is – how did you keep your emotions to yourself for all this time?’
Emily faltered and then answered, ‘Self-preservation. I did not only lose a son – I lost a husband too.’
Anna gave her a final hug, and winked. She would go and get the bags and equipment ready for the journey.
Anna had a heavy heart, as she watched Emily carry her son like a baby. Now, she looked like a mother. Even though Anna had seen grown men or woman being carried away like feathers in the past, it still looked strange to see her petite sister effortlessly lifting her nearly twenty-year-old son.
The dugout was loaded with bags and supplies. Emily placed Steven carefully in the middle and covered him with a blanket. He was still shaking and running a fever.
Emily sat in the front, Anna at the rear. They were ready to go.
‘It’s time,’ Anna said, giving the best reassuring smile she could muster.
‘Let’s do this,’ Emily asserted.
It was an adventure, not a rescue mission. They pushed off the side and eased into the Amazon River. They were at the mercy of the Amazon rainforest now.
As they paddled, Anna made conversation, ‘Who should we choose for him?’
Without hesitation, Emily answered, ‘It should be someone old. Steven wanted us to respect his need to preserve life. At least, if the person is old he will know he did not take away someone’s entire life.’
‘Sounds reasonable, it should also prevent any suspicion of foul play.’
‘Correct.’
‘So you are sure you want to go over the border, into Colombia?’
‘Yes, the Cahuinari National Park. There are still a small number of indigenous people living there, who will not be missed by the general population. No-one knows how many really live out there anyway. We have to look for the weak in the community.’
‘I don’t think we’ve gone to Columbia in over ten years. It should be a safe option,’ Anna said, confident about their arrangements.
‘Just keep your eye out for those big cats. They will sense an easy target in Steven. We have to protect him at all costs.’
‘The cats might sense his weakness, but they will also sense our strength. We have nothing to fear. Have faith.’
*
The effort was immense but they had no intention of stopping until they reached their destination. Steven had stopped making much noise at all. His situation was becoming precarious. At last, they arrived and made their way to the caves constructed many years earlier. Using their unique strength, they worked together and pulled back the huge boulder that concealed the accommodation. It revealed a simple room kitted out with a basic table and chairs made from tree bark remnants. There were a few bowls and cups in the corner but everything was covered in cobwebs and dust. No-one had been here in a long time.
A few hammocks had been constructed using some material stretched between huge wooden sticks. Anna tested one out and was relieved to see it hold. ‘Go and get Steven.’
On her return, Emily placed Steven on the hammock and sat on the floor next to him, head in hands.
Anna took the opportunity to leave to get the supplies. She knew they did not have the luxury of
time, and she had seen enough to know Emily was barely holding it together, so she made a decision as she came back in and placed the bags on the floor.
Anna knelt down beside Emily, and said, ‘I’m going to go to see if I can find a local village where we can find a suitable candidate.’
Emily gave a small nod, without making eye contact.
Anna could not help either of them by staying. Before she left, she glanced back at Emily, who was unmoved. It made her more determined. It was up to her to ensure everything turned out as it should.
***
Emily knew her emotions teetered on the edge as a million thoughts raced through her head. She had to stay in control. She had to keep strong, for Steven. She lifted her head to see if Anna was still there. Her shoulders drooped as she saw an empty space. Anna had put everything on the line to help her. She closed her eyes as she contemplated how much she owed Anna. There was no way anyone would have let her leave the community without Anna. Emily had to rise above everything that had happened in her life. For the first time ever, she would be the kind of mother Steven would be proud of. She would not let either of them down.
Perhaps it was the journey. She was probably just tired and hungry. She would quash her thirst when Anna returned. She could not risk leaving Steven alone; he only had a few days to go. The sound of Steven rambling again made her rush to his side. In a faint, whispery voice he mumbled, ‘I’m so sorry Caitlin – I love you.’
Caitlin had to be the girl – the girl he still loved. Emily slammed the ground with her fist and cursed. She could not believe it. It was another vicious cycle. If he could not let go of his feelings for the human girl, he would not integrate into their way of life. She would not allow him to repeat her mistake. A solitary journey in life was not a worthwhile prospect. When his change was complete, Emily resolved to make it her personal vendetta to find him an appropriate mate. He could not return to his previous way of life – it was impossible.
She knew he needed to eat, so she made her way over to the supplies and mixed some water with crushed fruit. With considerable care, she spooned some into Steven’s mouth. He gargled and swallowed, before coughing and spluttering half of the contents onto the floor. His eyes were sunken, his face pale. He had lost too much weight. She hoped Anna would return soon. Reluctantly, she took a piece of stale bread and soaked it in the juice and water to make it more palatable. Every mouthful was forced. Even though she knew she had to eat, she did not have the appetite.
The Evolution Trilogy: Hybrid, Complications & Return Page 25