Continued from scene thirty-four
Chapter Seven
“What time is it, Donnie?”
“Ten-o’clock.”
“Peter, you heard from Mick?”
“Yes, Sir. he’s with Darrel and Borya trying to round up the cows that got loose just as planned.”
“Christian, any last-minute memories of Borya and Cathy’s interactions before we go in?”
“Remember the girl from Borya’s hometown? I think she’s here with him. Her name is Echo.”
“Matt, did anyone come in or out of Cathy’s house last night.”
“No, sir.”
“Then we’ll have to assume she’s embedded herself at another location. Let’s move. I can’t stand the thought of Cathy being locked up in there for one more night.
“Christian, is the window unlocked?”
“Christian!”
“Sorry, Robert. I kinda blanked out there for a minute.”
Robert, Matt, Peter, and Donnie, were all part of Elysian security. Mick on the other hand was hand picked by Karen for is trust worthiness. He did not know it now, but she was looking for another team member and this would be his first test.
“Christian, give me a lift so I can get through the window.”
“Dang, Donnie, you need to lay off the buffets,” I said struggling to get him in the air.
“Come on you puss, put your hear into it.”
Grunting harder my eyes began to flash and Donnie went flying through the window.
“Damn, son,” he yelled from inside the house. “You just about broke my neck.”
Looking out with his hand on his head, he said. “You could of told me you were going to shift.”
“I would have if i had know,” I replied.
“Christian, that’s going to be a problem if you can’t get it under control. Flashing eyes are one thing, but a involuntary full body shift is unacceptable.”
“Sorry, Robert. I’m still feeling a little light headed.”
“Well get it together, Cathy’s life is in our hands right now.”
Just then, Donnie, opened the back door and Robert turned his attention toward him, “Stay her and stand guard.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Moving to the basement stairs we all funneled down one by one, And one by one we began to gag. The smell was becoming overwhelming at this point.
“Rub this under you noses,” ordered Robert, “Unless you want to clean up your own vomit before we leave.”
As we rubbed the Vicks in, Donnie picked the lock without a hitch. The relief on Cathy’s face when we opened the soundproof box was overwhelming. She had been in there for over a week. Only receiving food and water once a day, along with a diaper; the old ones thrown out in the exchange.
“Thank God you found me. Did you kill the son of a bitch?”
“No, we need time to flush out his accomplice, so let’s go. Peter is going to shift and take your place, so he doesn’t get suspicious.”
“You can’t do that to Peter. I’ll stay; just make sure you get him.”
“I can’t leave you here. You’re too weak, and Doc’s waiting on you. So go behind the curtain with Peter and exchange clothing.”
“I can’t do this to you, Peter, my cloths are a mess.”
“It’s okay, Cathy, I will be alright, he replied softly.”
Stepping out, Peter asked. “What do you think, Robert.”
“You don’t match. Cathy has lost weight. Make contact with her and update.”
A shifter’s database of bodies remained the same as when touched. Only growing older when the body is used. Mick had not made contact with Cathy in months. Taking her hand, he made the adjustment, and the switch was complete.
“That’s better. Now get in; we’ll be back after the meeting.”
Cathy cried at the sight of herself being locked in the box. A frail body mirroring her own.
“Christian, send an encrypted message to Karen telling her we are on our way.”
Shift is an online work of fiction.
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift – Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
The story centers around shapeshifting.
I’m currently working on chapter Ten.
Timothy French 