The Evolution Trilogy: Hybrid, Complications & Return

by Vanessa Wester

  ‘Yes, well, you don’t have to worry about her. She means nothing.’

  Caitlin flicked her hair off her face. ‘I know that.’

  Even with that comment Steven internally groaned. The old Caitlin would worry about any girl Steven even looked at. The old Caitlin always thought she was not good enough for him. It seemed the old Caitlin had gone, vanished without a trace. It made him even more wary about introducing her, but it was too late to back down now.

  Once out of the car, Steven held Caitlin’s hand and they knocked on the door. Almost immediately, the door opened.

  ‘Steven, nice to see you again,’ Eilif said, he held the door open and stayed back, ‘and this is?’

  ‘Caitlin,’ she held out her hand, ‘we’ve met before under more strained circumstances.’

  Steven was taken aback by the confidence in her tone. Even Eilif raised his eyebrows.

  Eilif shook her hand and then waved his hand in the direction of the house. ‘Please, come in.’

  Steven kept his hand on Caitlin’s lower back as he guided her into the corridor.

  Eilif directed them further, ‘Make your way into the lounge.’

  Steven was relieved to see that no-one else was in the lounge. ‘Let’s sit down.’

  Caitlin shrugged her shoulders. ‘Sure.’

  ‘Can I make some tea or coffee?’ Eilif asked, ‘Catherine will be down in a minute.’

  Steven asked for a coffee, Caitlin a tea and they waited in near enough silence. He could not remember a time when he had felt so awkward.

  When Catherine and Isaac graced the doorway he felt a sense of relief and fear simultaneously. Isaac had the same stern look about him, he could not remember ever seeing him smile. Catherine’s eyes showed the concern she was trying to hide.

  ‘Steven, and I believe this is Caitlin. Nice to meet you,’ Catherine said, before she gave a weak smile. She did not move closer. ‘We have much to discuss.’

  ‘Yes, we do,’ Steven replied.

  ‘Emily is very sick, she’s dying. Did you realise?’ Catherine’s face was sad, she had to know the answer to that.

  ‘I thought it was a possibility. She killed my mother, I don’t really care what happens to her,’ Steven tried to sound matter of fact but it came across bitter.

  Isaac shook his head slowly. ‘She’s still your mother. You should always show respect, no matter what.’

  Steven scoffed. It was best not to reply to that one. It was lucky Eilif walked in with the hot drinks on a tray.

  After a polite passing around of drinks and a few subdued slurps, Catherine took her cue, ‘Why is Caitlin here? No offence dear, but what do you know?’

  Caitlin drew the mug towards her smug face, as she replied, ‘Everything.’ She took a long slurp of the tea which drowned out the sound of three heavy gasps.

  Eilif narrowed his eyes. ‘Then the question is why do you know and yet come here with no fear? I know you’re not scared of us. I know how to read fear.’

  All eyes focused on Caitlin, even Steven was curious about what she would say.

  Caitlin sipped her tea again. She took her time, before she gave a broad smile. Her eyes sparkled, her hair glistened and her red curls fell perfectly at the side of her face. She was so beautiful. ‘I have nothing to fear,’ she said, as she exposed her fangs.

  ‘What?’ Eilif sprang to his feet. ‘How is this possible?’

  Catherine put her head in her hands, Isaac said nothing.

  As Ingrid raced into the room all hell broke loose. She lunged at Caitlin, her hands in the shape of claws and screeched like an animal. Steven managed to block Caitlin and took the brunt of Ingrid’s anger. He felt the scratch on his face, and a trickle oozed off his skin. He pushed Ingrid away, but said nothing.

  Ingrid hit the wall and remained still, her face to the wall, only the sound of her heavy breathing echoed in the room.

  ‘Eilif, take Ingrid away,’ Catherine said, her voice calm, kind even.

  When Eilif put his hand on her shoulder she shook it off, but then after what sounded like a whimper they left. Steven was mortified. He could not believe Ingrid was so upset. He never meant her any harm.

  Once they had gone, he noticed Isaac held Catherine’s hand. Caitlin had slouched back on the couch after finishing her tea, a bored, restless expression on her face.

  He gripped the couch, on edge. What Caitlin had done made things easier, but it had not exactly made for a smoother transition.

  The sound of the door made everyone turn to it, as Eilif came back in. ‘Ingrid will not come back for a while, she’s gone for a walk.’

  Steven broke the tense atmosphere. ‘There’s no easy way to explain this so I’ll just come out with it. Catherine, your mother was never bitten by the bats.’

  ‘Emily suspected it and told us. I didn’t want to believe her, but I guess it must be true and it explains a lot,’ Catherine was subdued, pensive.

  ‘You knew?’ Eilif asked.

  Catherine gazed in his eyes, ‘No, I didn’t know, but I knew something was different about her. I always did.’

  ‘You never said anything to Ian,’ Eilif sounded hurt, ‘he would have said something.’

  Catherine half-smiled. ‘There was not much to say Mum always said things that made me think that she was different, but it never added up and she never explained so it was best left alone. I mean, we had so much to deal with when we set up the community. We did not have time to dwell on a lot anyone said, we worked day and night at times.’

  Isaac nodded. ‘True. So, Steven, or Caitlin actually, how did you become like us?’

  Steven glanced at Caitlin, who smiled before she looked in the direction of the bookcase with an expression of utter boredom. He gave a deep sigh, ‘Jeff told me what to do.’

  Catherine’s eyes widened, ‘My father told you how to change Caitlin? But that goes against everything he ever believed in, it goes against everything he told us, it goes… oh.’ Her hands fell limp on her lap, her lip wobbled. ‘Of course, if my mum wasn’t bitten by the bats then someone had to change her. And that someone could only have been…,’ she fought to get the words out, ‘my father.’

  ‘This is very dangerous, in the wrong hands this information could lead to further problems. You must not tell anyone how to do it. It has to be your secret.’ Isaac narrowed his eyes and stared at Caitlin. ‘Do you know?’

  When Caitlin nodded slowly, his nostrils flared.

  Catherine sighed, ‘Steven, why did you tell her?’

  Steven shrugged his shoulders.

  Isaac’s cheeks reddened. ‘For years we have protected what we are and now both of you know how to do something none of us knew was possible. You must both come with us, and yet, do we want you in the community, exposing the truth?’ Isaac stood up and paced, as he held his hands in the air. ‘This will not do.’

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  Chapter 9

  Suggestions

  Caitlin had been taken aback by Catherine’s vibrant red hair, she was nothing like Steven. Isaac’s beard and general countenance did nothing to appease her, if she remembered correctly he was Jewish. It explained why he thought Steven should respect his mother, even though she was, in her opinion, a witch. The Ten Commandments took humanity to the limits, even though she had to admit they actually made a lot of sense. Yet, when her parents had driven her crazy she really could not just honour her father and mother, it was draconian. The thought made her pause for a moment; the chances were she would never see them again. She never, ever expected it to be an issue, but all of a sudden it was.

  She would never see any of her family or friends again.

  She swallowed involuntarily as she thought of little sister, Jeanie, and her older brother, Mark. She could not imagine a life where she never saw them again. They had grown up together, they shared memories. None of them had to leave any of their family behind. Steven had. She glanced at him, and for the first time considered just how tough the last
year must have been for him. He had lost his life. It was not a surprise he was willing to do whatever he could to hold on to it. She could understand why he would try to suppress the urge to kill.

  Then she considered Emily. Again, Emily had been forced to lead a life she did not want, and when she finally found love she had to leave her only son behind. She could not even begin to imagine what she had gone through, it was too hard to even contemplate. It made the fact she was so twisted, almost, understandable. She wanted to talk to Emily, she wanted to know more about her past. She had no idea how she would get the time alone with her. Steven was always by her side, she doubted they would leave her alone.

  ‘Are you going to stay here now? You’re not planning to go back to the apartment are you?’ Catherine asked, breaking the stilted silence.

  Steven glanced at Caitlin for a moment, ‘I’m not sure it’s best for us to stay here. Besides, what are you planning to do with Emily?’

  Catherine looked away, distant.

  Isaac answered, ‘We will have to take her back to the community.’

  ‘Has she fed?’ Steven asked. His eyes darted from Catherine to Isaac.

  ‘Not yet,’ Catherine answered, as she got off the chair and made her way over to the large sash windows and gazed out. ‘She will have to. We can’t take her back as she is. We can always sedate her. I will make sure she poses no other threat.’

  Caitlin raised an eyebrow. It was a bold statement.

  ‘Catherine, why don’t you go with Steven to the apartment to get their things? Caitlin you stay here,’ Isaac said, his tone authoritative.

  Caitlin wanted to protest, but she held it back. He did not trust her, yet he had also given her the chance she needed. ‘That’s fine, Steven, you go, I’ll stay. I can look after myself for a while, lucky there’s Wi-Fi. I can easily kill a few hours.’

  She could see them all flinch as she used the word kill, they were an oversensitive bunch.

  ‘Are you sure?’ Steven placed his hand over hers and gave a slight squeeze.

  Caitlin smiled, ‘Of course.’

  Steven got up, whilst Catherine moved away from the window and stood by his side, ‘I could do with some fresh air.’

  ‘Then it’s settled,’ Isaac said.

  Once Steven and Catherine left, Isaac made to leave the room, ‘Caitlin, I don’t suggest you go anywhere without telling us first.’

  ‘I wouldn’t leave,’ she replied, her tone dry.

  ‘Good to know.’

  Finally, she was left alone. She picked up the iPad from the table and checked her Facebook page. Her friends were up to their usual antics, she did not dare reply, like or comment. She browsed her wattpad account and found a few good stories online. She had always fancied herself as a bit of a writer. She could certainly write a good true life story now.

  She wondered if anyone would know if she went upstairs, she did not want to bump into crazy Ingrid. Head in hands, she closed her eyes and tried to think. As she did the strangest thing happened. She could hear them. In her mind, she could visualise their rough positions and map out almost a 3D visual of the house. It was bizarre, yet exciting. Isaac was in the front room, which had to be a study of sorts. At the back of the house, she could sense a smaller more feminine body, Ingrid. And at the top of the house there was someone else, someone weak, Emily.

  If she went out of the window she could get to the top quickly, without alerting them. Then again, Isaac would hear the window open and think she was running away. She would just go up the stairs, and say she was looking around if anyone asked. If she had to stay she would have to find a room anyway, she could bluff it.

  As she went up her eyes were drawn to the old pictures. Even though she had seen them before, there was something about black and white photos that made her feel nostalgic. She carried on up the stairs, conscious of the fact that at any moment someone might come to challenge her. But, as it turned out no-one did.

  Hand on the door handle she hesitated for a split second. She knew Steven would have serious issues with what she was about to do. Either way, she did not really care, she wanted to talk to Emily so she would. She gave a half-smile, she had never been able to do anything selfish or singular in her life. There always had to be a first for everything. Her hand pushed the handle down and she eased in slowly.

  The stench hit her hard. It had only been less than a week since she last saw Emily, but from the look of it she had deteriorated badly. It was hard to think the skeletal figure on the bed was the woman she had first seen. Her hair was completely white, her face shrivelled, eyes depressed, and her arms looked like brittle bones. It scared her to think she might look like that one day. She pushed the thought aside and moved closer.

  She sat on the chair next to Emily and whispered, ‘Are you awake?’

  Emily’s eyes opened quickly. A hoarse, whispery voice replied, ‘I knew you would come.’

  ‘You did?’ Caitlin gave a slight huff.

  Emily’s lips curled slightly at the edges, ‘Of course, you want to know about the life you are about to lead. And you figured I was the only one who could give you an insane, but honest, answer.’

  Caitlin was impressed, she couldn’t have said it better herself.

  ‘So, listen carefully. They’ll figure out that you’re here soon enough. It’s lucky for you Steven is not, his hearing is outstanding. The others have better things to do at the moment,’ she chuckled.

  ‘I’m listening,’ Caitlin said.

  ‘The community is a jail. It might sound fantastic to you, don’t bother denying it, I can tell you think it is where you want to go, but they’ll not let you leave it. If you want that life then go, but if you do make sure you keep your eyes and ears open. Don’t give them any reason to doubt you. It took me too long to hide my true feelings, you must hide yours. I can see the hunger in you, I heard it. Be good to my son, but don’t let men rule your life. Make your own choices, make your own destiny. Then help my son do the same, please. I never wanted to hurt him.’

  ‘Why did you kill his mother?’ Caitlin fiddled with her nails, ‘I need to understand what could make you do something like that. I’m worried I might do something just as stupid one day.’

  Emily grimaced. ‘It wasn’t stupid. That woman was not his mother and she was in my way. I only wanted my true love. Shouldn’t you do everything in your power to have your true love?’

  ‘Within reason,’ Caitlin said, she knew Emily was a nutcase but she could not deny that love had made many people kill. Deaths of passion – what a way to go!

  ‘I had every reason to do what I did,’ Emily hissed, ‘I’m not as crazy as everyone thinks I am. I’m just prepared to go to extremes to get what I want, are you?’

  Caitlin stared at the antique lamp, the glass moulded like a tulip bulb on a brass stand. ‘I have to go.’

  Emily’s eyes glared, ‘Don’t leave me like this. If you help me when we get back to the Amazon, I will help you too. Do we have an agreement?’

  Caitlin flicked her hair off her face and raised her eyebrows, ‘Why would I want to help you?’

  ‘For the same reason you’re here, I’m the only one who’ll give you an honest answer. You know it’s true, and you know you feel sorry for me. I have to make amends to Steven. I will find a way to help you both. But first, I need to get better. Think of a way to help me and I will help you.’

  ‘I’ll think about it.’ Caitlin left without another glance. She was stupid to think someone like Emily could do anything to help them. But, at least she had some answers. It was possible to get just as crazy as Emily, she had to be careful. She needed to start listening to Steven, and the others. They were the ones she should trust. They were the ones that knew what was best for her, not Emily.

  ***

  Emily allowed herself a slow smile. The seed had been planted, she had given it some water and now it would start to grow. The girl, Caitlin, was weak. She was no match for her. She would make her do exactly what
she wanted, with some carefully planned manoeuvres. It would help her son in the long term – she did not want him to become as righteous as Ian. He needed to live a full life, not a life full of restrictions. She did not know why she knew Caitlin would come to see her, it was strange.

  The girl wanted to know what she could become. Emily could have shown her the full monster, but she did not want to scare her. It had taken every last bit of control she had to keep her teeth from extending. She needed Caitlin to feel sorry for her, and if she played her cards right again, she stood a chance. Emily knew she had a habit of ruining every fresh chance she got – she did not want to get it wrong again.

  It was her son’s future as well as her own that was at stake.

  Back to Table of Contents

  Chapter 10

  Explanations

  After all the bags had been packed and stowed away in the car, Steven sat on the passenger side and fiddled with the radio. If he found something good to listen to he could suppress the need for much conversation. Catherine had barely said anything so far, it was promising. He settled on Heart, a station he had grown to enjoy whilst at university. The idle chatter of the presenter was perfect background material, before the music started.

  ‘Steven, I have to ask you something. Can you give me an honest answer please?’

  He knew the lack of conversation was too good to be true.

  ‘I can’t promise anything, but you can try me. I reserve the right to stay silent,’ he chuckled.

  Catherine could not suppress her smile, she had to like his dry sense of humour. ‘Okay then. Do you trust Caitlin?’

  ‘Why do you ask?’ Steven did not want to sound defensive, but he could not help it.

  Catherine nodded, ‘As I suspected. You don’t know what she has become, any more than you know what you are. I am guessing it was not a calculated decision. I am guessing that you acted before you had time to consider the implications of your actions.’