The Evolution Trilogy: Hybrid, Complications & Return

by Vanessa Wester

  She did not move. Her body was at an odd angle on the floor. He put his finger to her neck to check for a pulse, a weak one remained. Emily was alive, he could not help thinking it was a shame. If she died it would not bother him at all.

  He took his phone out his pocket and called up Caitlin. ‘Caitlin, drive back. I found Emily. I’ll meet you on the road and explain.’

  He picked up the unconscious body, hurled it over his shoulder and started to make his way to the road. He had no idea what he was going to do with Emily, but it sounded like a good time to call his Aunt Catherine. Everything was starting to spiral out of control.

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  Chapter 48

  Normality

  Caitlin glanced nervously at the back seat. Steven’s mother scared her and yet Steven looked so much like her. The resemblance was uncanny. She had no idea what they were going to do with her. It appeared swimming was now out of the question.

  ‘I’m sorry about this. I’m sorry about everything. I should have left you alone. I should have protected you not made you one of us. I just…’

  Caitlin covered his mouth. ‘Don’t. It’s too late for that. Better that you found her. If she’s as dangerous as you say she is, it’s good we found her. There is no point in looking at the past now.’

  ‘We have to take her back to the community. You know that, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes, I thought you’d say that. It’s probably for the best. Life here would not work for us anymore, would it?’ She could not believe she was going to walk away from everything.

  ‘No, truth is I don’t rate either of our chances. I don’t want to become a killer and I don’t want to watch you become one either. I mean, not that you would, just look at what she is. We could be like her. I’m so sorry.’

  Caitlin watched his head shake, forlorn. ‘Stop it! What’s done is done. Make the call.’

  ‘Now?’

  ‘Now. Make the call.’ She needed to know what they were planning to do, especially since the addition of their extra baggage.

  ‘Okay.’

  ***

  Catherine was taken aback when she was pulled out of her mental agility lesson to take an urgent call. It could only mean one thing. Steven had called. It could be Emily, but she doubted her little sister would ever ask for her help. A minute later, she sat in front of the speaker system. Ian was already there. He did not look happy. She guessed it could only mean one thing. Steven did not want to talk to him.

  ‘Is it Steven?’ she asked, out of courtesy. She doubted she was wrong.

  Ian gave a curt reply, ‘Yes.’

  It was a good feeling to be right.

  ‘Steven. How are you?’

  ‘Catherine, glad you could come to the phone. I’ve been better, but then I guess you knew that.’ He sounded nervous.

  ‘Yes. I didn’t think you would call just to say hello. How’s Dad?’

  ‘I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but your father passed on. He did not want to live without Judith.’

  Catherine heard her intake of breath. She felt as though someone had ripped out her heart. Her knees buckled as she managed to sit on the chair next to her. She found it hard to keep her grip on the phone. With considerable effort, she forced the words out, ‘Did he suffer?’

  ‘No, not really, it happened quickly. I buried him next to Judith, like I promised.’

  ‘When?’ She was barely keeping it together now.

  After a slight pause, he replied, ‘A while ago.’

  She closed her eyes and swallowed. ‘You waited to tell me, after you promised to let me know. Why Steven? Why?’ A lone tear strayed and ran down her cheek.

  Ian snatched the phone away from her. ‘What the hell did you do to my father, you son of a bitch? I promised to protect you for them. What happened?’

  Catherine could hear Steven’s reply, ‘Ian, stop blaming me. It was not my fault. He gave up on life, not me. Anyway, I have to talk to you about something important. I have Emily.’

  Ian went rigid as he gripped the phone tighter. ‘Right, where are you?’

  ‘I’m in Ilfracombe. She was after my dad. All she wanted was him. She killed my mother. I need to know what to do with her, before I kill her myself.’

  Ian’s tone of voice changed, it became calmer and got to the point. ‘Can you restrain her?’

  ‘Probably.’

  Catherine could not believe the turn of events. Her younger sister had a lot to account for.

  Ian continued, ‘Are you alone?’

  ‘No.’

  Catherine rubbed her head and then played with a strand of her hair, her eyes fixed on the floor. Not only did Steven have Emily, but he had also got someone else involved. She could not let Ian ruin things. Without hesitation, she wiped her cheeks and snatched the phone away from Ian. ‘Steven, I’ll come over. I need to say goodbye to Dad. I’ll help you with Emily; she is my sister after all.’

  ‘The hell you will…,’ Ian trailed.

  ‘Ian, stop!’ Catherine gave him the evil eye. ‘I will come as fast as I can. Then you have to tell me everything. Can you do that?’

  She heard Steven sigh before he replied, ‘Yes, I can do that. But, please, come alone.’

  Ian started to rant. ‘He was my father too. We’re all coming over now.’

  Catherine held out her hand. ‘I’ll come alone. I’ll call you when I arrive.’

  ‘Okay, thank you, and Catherine?’

  ‘Yes.’ She wondered what was on his mind now.

  ‘Sorry, I did not let you know sooner about your Dad.’

  ‘It’s okay.’

  Apology accepted. What choice did she have?

  ***

  Steven kept his eye on Emily as the phone line went dead. He wondered how long she would be unconscious for. Perhaps he had overdone it. Caitlin leaned against the car, arms wrapped around her. Unsure or maybe a bit scared. He had got her into a real mess and, as far as he could see, there was no way to get her out. He had let her down. He had failed her. He didn’t deserve her. All he could hope for was that she’d want to go with him. It was not that easy to forget her reaction after the change. Would she hate him again if she did not like what she saw?

  ‘Penny for your thoughts?’ Caitlin said. She sounded at ease.

  ‘It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it. I guess you heard. My aunt, Catherine, is coming. She will help us.’ He could not tell Caitlin what he really thought.

  ‘How are we going to make Emily do what we say?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ he hesitated. ‘We could tie her up but I don’t think it will help. I can’t do that to her. She did it to me, I won’t stoop so low.’

  ‘That’s fine and all but how are we going to explain what I am? You’re going to have to tell her, you know that right?’

  Steven looked up into the trees, in search of inspiration or an answer. It did not come. ‘This is just a great big mess. Let’s go back to the house. We’ll try and keep her there. If all she wanted was my dad then she’s done what she came for. She’s killed Clara, the only person my dad loved. She won. He will also live out the rest of his days in mourning. I can only hope he might meet someone else in time.’

  ‘He’ll be fine. There’s nothing you can do.’ Caitlin walked up to him and gave him a hug.

  He nuzzled into her hair and took a deep breath. It was soothing to be with Caitlin. Together, perhaps, they would find some future worth living for. ‘Let’s make a move. If she wakes, let me know.’

  ‘I’ll drive. Then you can sit next to her. It would be easier if you were there when she woke up.’

  ‘Good idea. You always think of the best solution. Thanks.’

  ‘You don’t have to thank me.’ Caitlin smiled.

  ‘Yes, I do. I don’t deserve you. I love you so much.’ He watched her eyes come alight. He was a lucky man if she truly loved him.

  Caitlin looked up and met his eyes. ‘I love you too.’

  The reply was
even sweeter. He leant in and gave her a loving, tender kiss. All he could do was hope that their love would pull them through what was coming. A part of him wondered if love would be enough.

  ***

  Emily was convinced her spine was damaged. For the first time in years she felt real pain, but she would not let them know. She would not shout or scream or even move. She would make them think she was asleep. That way she could listen. She would find out about the girl. She had managed to open her eye for a split second as they talked, she was curious. The redhead was pretty; she had a feisty look about her. She could not dare look for longer. She had to play dead. Something told her there was something amiss. Steven had to have explained what he was by now, or she must have figured out something was out of the ordinary, and yet the girl, Caitlin she thought she’d heard, stayed. Why? She intended to find out.

  She would wait until they took her where they wanted to go. She would play along. They were right. Paul was best left alone for now. She could come back for him later. It would be interesting when Catherine arrived. Her sister still owed her one, for lying to her all those years back. Emily did not like liars. She nestled into the back seat and tried to ignore the thrumming on her neck and back. She did not think she could move her legs. Steven had done something to her. Inwardly, she shrugged it off. Human blood would heal her, it always did.

  ***

  Caitlin sat on the driver’s seat, adjusted it for her height, and then turned on the ignition. She glanced at Steven in the back, smiled, and then turned on the radio. Music would keep her mind distracted. She concentrated on the road and tried to block out the multitude of thoughts racing through her mind. She could not panic. She had to stay calm. She had to ignore the psycho sat in the back, also known as Steven’s mother. She had to prepare herself to meet up with another family member, Steven’s aunt Catherine. Would she be as crazy as Emily? She did not sound it on the phone, but nothing ever seemed as it was anymore. She also had to leave everything she had ever worked for behind.

  The thought did not hit her as hard as she imagined. Somehow a life of danger and discovery had an appeal that academia could not offer. With her degree she would have probably ended up as an accountant or teacher. A life she might have enjoyed, but nothing to a life in the Amazon. With waterfalls, no money, a shared community. It was bound to be better than an ordinary boring life.

  Then again, what if they did not accept her? What if they saw her as an aberration, a freak? How was Steven going to explain who she was, and why she was like them? She did not get the impression Steven had been at ease in the Community. Would it be any different for her? Would the grass be greener, sweeter, elsewhere?

  She focused on the track and started to sing along to drown out the thoughts. She had to stay positive. They would work it out. Of one thing she was absolutely sure. There was no way anyone could make her feel the way Steven made her feel. They were soul mates. If they were destined to be, life would show them the way. It usually did. She was sure everything that had happened was just a test. Now their real life could begin. Emily would be dealt with, and they would live happily ever after. The fairy-tale ending could happen to her.

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  Epilogue

  The Community

  The sound of footsteps storming down the hall should have alerted Anna. It did, just a few seconds too late. She dreaded to think what could have happened now. In the space of a couple of months, her twin sister, Emily, had gone missing and then her mother had died. She could still not get her head around that. And now her father, Jeff, had opted to stay away. She wished she knew what was going through her father’s mind. She could not understand why he was helping Steven. From what she’d heard from Catherine and Ian, Steven did not sound under control; it was madness to let him stay there.

  Everything was going wrong.

  The community was far from settled. The whole place was in upheaval, questions had arisen that no-one had ever considered. Views that were always on the periphery of the community were now discussed openly. It was not a positive development. These were not good times. She would go as far as to call them dangerous times.

  The loud knock on the door brought her back to reality. When it swung open and she saw it was Ian, she groaned. One day she would get locks.

  ‘Anna, we need to talk.’ He eyes were puffed, his face haggard.

  Regardless, she would not cut him slack; he was always on her case. ‘What now?’

  ‘It’s not what you think,’ he said. His head drooped low. ‘Dad’s dead.’

  She was not expecting that. She swallowed and fought to keep it together. ‘When?’

  ‘We don’t know. Steven didn’t tell us, the bastard.’ His eyes widened and he scowled. ‘Steven called to tell us he buried Dad with Mum. He has Emily, and it appears he’s got someone else involved. Catherine has agreed to go to help him, she agreed to go alone. I don’t know what to think anymore.’

  Anna frowned. ‘Catherine? Since when has Emily ever wanted to talk to Catherine? And who is this other person?’ It all felt like a dream, it made no sense.

  ‘You’ll have to talk to Catherine. Get some sense into her. She told Steven she would go alone, but if you convince her maybe some of us can follow to help. Steven doesn’t need to know we’re there. Trust me; I’m just as curious as you are about the third person.’

  ‘Yes, I’ll talk to her. Is Dad really dead?’ She found it hard to believe.

  ‘Yes. But, we have other problems.’

  ‘More?’ What more could possibly go wrong?’

  ‘People are getting restless; you need to calm them down. They’ll listen to you. They don’t want to do what I say. For the first time… ever… I have lost control.’ He slumped on the sofa.

  It was always sad when the mighty fell. Anna could not understand why now, after so many years, Ian had finally decided to ask for help. He was such a control freak most of the time. He couldn’t handle it when things didn’t go his way.

  In a firm voice, she replied, ‘They don’t need me, they need Dad. Now he’s gone, what can I do?’ Her throat started to constrict.

  Ian shook his head, his eyes wild. ‘We have to find a way to stop the talk. Can you imagine what would happen if they find out Dad’s dead?’

  Anna paused and thought about the quandary. Quietly, she added, ‘We’ll have to arrange for a meeting. Then we can flesh out the issues.’

  ‘A meeting?’

  ‘A meeting with the community, we have to keep people in the loop. The more they don’t know, the worse it gets.’

  ‘Yes, of course. First, we should meet up with the originals. Explain what happened. I know that the older ones, in particular, are worried. Hell, I am. I never gave much thought to dying.’ He was rambling.

  Anna could not remember ever seeing him so insecure. ‘Okay, I’ll arrange it.’

  ‘Thank you,’ he sighed. ‘Try and keep Dad’s death to yourself for now, we’ll talk about it in the meeting.’

  Anna nodded. Once he had left, she sat down and closed her eyes.

  A mixture of emotions raged through her head. As much as her brother tried to act confident in front of everyone else, he was as mild as a pussy cat behind the scenes. Catherine was no better. She had barely said anything since they’d returned. What could they say? We lost Emily, and Mum died. What they should have said is Dad needs you. She felt like she had let her father down, she should have been there. It was a mistake to leave him alone.

  And now Steven was with Emily and someone else, a stranger. Unless, it was the girl he left behind. It was nothing short of a disaster waiting to happen.

  Anna never doubted that Emily would find a way out someday; she always suspected that when the opportunity arose Emily would take it. Even so, she had to admit it surprised her. She never expected Emily to abandon Steven again, not when he needed help. Then again, the choices Emily made never failed to amaze her.

  Steven also sounded volatile. They
had no idea what Steven was capable of, especially since he had a friend along for the ride.

  Therein lay the problem.

  A lot of people in the community could not understand why Steven was allowed out in the open when they were kept within the confines of the community. If they did not do something soon those that were restless would demand the right to leave. Ultimately, she could not blame them.

  In the history of the community there had never been any violence within its walls. Something told her the tide was changing. This was a new era, a new way of thinking. It was dangerous, unknown. It was not something she would be keen to witness, especially if things turned sour.

  Her shoulders hunched down and she curled up in a ball, her arms wrapped over her legs. Then she let it all out. Her chest heaved as the tears fell for her mum, dad and estranged sister, Emily. Her twin sister was so different and so reckless.

  Anna feared the future.

  She had no way of predicting what was to come and what they would discover. She had the feeling life in the community was going to change. Utopia was not meant to last forever.

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  The Evolution Trilogy

  RETURN

  Back to Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Southampton, England, September 2011

  Caitlin turned as she stuffed the numerous leaflets into her bag. Her curly, red hair was in the way again. She really hated it, one day she would go short. Her cheeks burned as she got flustered. It was no surprise she was on edge. It was the first time she had lived away from home. Finally, she had become a student. Not to forget the fact she had her own place, away from her parents. She gave a sly smile at the thought.