“Here, son, let me help you up,” said Kieth, referred to by most as Dr. Decker in Wilmington. “You took a hit to the head, so let’s step down off the stage and have a seat while I look you over.”
“My eyes do feel a little weird.”
A crowd formed around us as we sat at a nearby table. “Look straight ahead as I move my pin light back a forth,” said Decker.
“Karen, did you see that?”
“See what?” I asked before she could respond.
“Your eyes made a quick involuntary shift before turning back to normal. This is not unusual for someone under a lot of stress; you’re going to be okay. But in the future, be aware of this and cover them if you feel it coming on. You don’t want to accidentally expose yourself to a non-shifter.”
“You’ll get pinned as one of them reptilians if you get caught on camera,” said Horace Turbeville with a snort.
Everyone laughed and eventually made their way over to the banquet table, leaving me to my embarrassment.
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.
We made the hour-long drive to the tribes Southport Meeting Hall three days later, giving Karen plenty of time to go over her speech. She was all business and wasted no time getting started upon our arrival.
“May I have your attention, everyone. I’m sure you’re all aware of Jill’s mishaps by now, so I will get straight to the point and then introduce our new students.
“Last week, Jill Hanson was arrested after the body she was using triggered a facial recognition scanner. And this has become problematic due to the arrest of the real Becky White in Fairbanks, Alaska. In turn, Jill’s arrest video was leaked online, and similar instances are being posted to Youtube from around the world. Our cyber team has been uploading fake ones to discredit them and removing the real ones when possible.
“I have talked with all the tribal leaders, and we agreed to have everyone shift and stay in their originals until further notice unless your life is in danger. The only exceptions being those who have new verifiable identities, such as myself.
“So, If there are no questions, I would like to ask all of you to shift now.”
Seeing Karen in her leadership role was impressive. You could tell she had the full respect of every tribe member.
“Come on, Adam, I think you’ve been in your girly girl bod long enough. If you stay much longer, she’s going to trap you. Remember Kate? She’s still walking around Wilmington, talking to herself. Do you want to end up like that?”
“You sure know how to ruin a girl’s night,” he said, as red hair changed to brown.
“Everyone, if I can have your attention again, I would like to introduce our new students. First, we have Maggie Ried. Scott Bell is her teacher, and I believe most of you have already met with her.
“Maggie, do you want to come up and say a few words?”
Everyone watched as she confidently made her way on stage. “I just want to thank everyone for making me feel like family. I’ve never been happier than I am right now.
“We are family,” Karen interjected as others applauded.
And with that, Maggie stepped down from the podium, and Karen called me up. It felt like my heart was going to jump out of my body as I stood beside her. I hated being in front of a crowd.
“Many of you may also know of my own student, Christain Lore,” she said glowingly. “You may also know of our engagement. But I bet you didn’t know we are having a baby.”
“A Baby,” screamed Linda Wilson as the crowd broke out in cheers. “Our royal line continues. I’m so happy for you Karen.”
“Lets hear the lucky man say something,” yelled Keith Decker from the back.
Karen smiled and pulled me to the mic as three hundred and sixty eyes watched me fall to the floor.
“Baby, wake up. You fainted.”
“Place this wet cloth on his head,” came another voice as my eyes opened to those staring down at me.
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.
A week passed before I could wrap my head around it all. I was 28, a shifter, soon-to-be husband, and father. A good life, I suppose, but there was a sad side. Both of my parents died when I was five, and I have no one to share it with. But Karen assured me my mind’s eye will one day present them to me. And last night, I could have sworn I felt the touch of my father’s hand and the lips of a mother’s kiss on my cheek as I fell asleep.
“Baby! turn up the volume, their talking about Jill’s arrest.”
“That’s right, Susan, Becky White has pleaded not guilty to the assault and battery charges. And you’re not going to believe this. She claims her doppelganger did it.”
“A doppelganger!”
“That’s right, a look-alike and her lawyers have video of her doppelganger being arrested right there in North Myrtle Beach minutes before her own arrest here in Fairbanks.”
“You can turn it off now.”
“Do you think it’ll all blow over?”
“I’m not sure at this point. It may, but I need to call a tribal meeting to set some new rules to live by until it does.”
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.
“Really, Atlantis excites you? You didn’t act this surprised when I told you I could shapeshift.”
“I thought you were kidding, but I’ve learned to take everything you say and do seriously now.”
“Well, I guess that’s a positive.”
“Can you show me the Atlantis text?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“There isn’t any; my knowledge of Atlantis comes from the memories of my parents and their parent’s parents.”
“You can recall all of their memories?”
“Not all. As information gets passed from one generation to the next, bits and pieces get lost in the clutter. They’re there but harder to find. It’s taking me years to retrieve our somewhat compete shifter history.”
“Will I be able to retrieve it one day?”
“No, our ancient history can only be accessed by those with pure pedigrees. Meaning everyone in their family tree was given the gift by a parent.
“Those who obtain the gift through a teacher have a recorded history that’s been muddled by the memories of the plague’s younger children.”
“So you’re basically calling me a mutt.”
“Basically, but you’re a cute little puppy, and I love you just the way you are.”
“You know, you’re starting to hurt my manhood a bit with all the cute talk.”
“I’m sorry, babe. I’ll try to cut back. After all, the father of shifter royalty deserves respect.”
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.
After breakfast, I moved to the balcony for another cup of coffee. It felt good to be in my own body, and I was in no hurry to shift again.
Stepping outside with me, Karen asked, “Ready for a history lesson?”
“No, I just want to chill.”
Karen smiled. “So let’s begin. We are human, and all humans are shapeshifters.”
“Wait, I want to–”
“Don’t interrupt me.”
I was beginning to feel like I was no longer the teacher’s pet.
“IN THE TIME BEFORE TIME—how’s that for dramatic effect?”
I nodded, and she continued.
“There were three disasters, each with its own misery: a plague, asteroid impact, and flood; the plague being most devastating because it killed the adults, leaving their children to fend for themselves. Without their parents, all shapeshifting knowledge was lost, albeit for a few older ones who had already transitioned.
“As years went by, these loners searched for others like them, making skin contact with everyone they met. But encounters with non-shifters usually ended violently as these, now adult, kids had learned to kill or be killed. A new world was developing. One shapeshifters no longer fit in.
“Legends began to form around these misfits. Stories about werewolves, vampires, witches, and the like. And while these creatures did not exist. Many believed, and the sight of a shapeshifter in transition was all the proof they needed, which meant certain death for those caught in a frenzied witch hunt.
“Today, we face the same dilemma, but our enemies do not come in the night with torches. A new One-World Government is forming, and technology is their weapon. We have been able to hide in plain sight up to this point, but it’s becoming more complex, and some tribal outliers want to stop this new government from advancing any further.
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.
Timothy French 