by Mel Todd
Her lower lip began to tremble, and she looked away from him, her hands falling to her sides.
“I just want Mom back.” Her voice quavered at the end and Charley found himself wanting to cry too.
“I know. I do too.” He looked around, taking in where they were. It would take them a few hours to get to the culvert and McKenna’s would be the first place they looked. “It’s Sunday. No one is at the lake, it’s too hot. Let’s head there. Carina never takes us there, so they won’t think about it and we can hide in the trees. If we sleep in animal forms, nothing will bother us.” He swallowed and pushed down the scary thought. “Maybe hunt as an animal?”
Jamie paled, wrinkling his nose, but Jessi’s eyes lit up at the idea.
“Just remember, if anyone sees a jaguar or a wolf, they’ll call animal control and they will call the cops. You know they’ll put out notices for us.”
“Oh,” she let loose a heavy breath. “Fine. But if I get a whiff of Mom or JD or Kenna, I’m following.”
Charley half smiled. “Me too. But I don’t think it will be that easy. We can’t fly, or are super strong, or follow them. I can’t feel them in my link at all. Can you?”
Jamie wrapped his arms around him and shook his head, even as Jessi clasped her hands behind her back, eyes shining with tears.
~No.~ They couldn’t even speak the words. Charley didn’t know what to do, so he turned and started walking, a bit slower now, headed to the secluded park. It had a winding lake, gazebos and lots of trees. They should be able to hide there without an issue. He hoped.
~Why aren’t we going to McKenna’s?~ Jamie asked, and Jessi sighed in exasperation.
~Because that is the first place they’d look for us doofus, then they’d take Charley away. That can’t have him. He’s ours.~
Those were the last words they spoke for a while, but her words made Charley feel better than he had since McKenna told him to run.
Day in the Park
Leash laws for local parks? While the knowledge that people can turn into animals is wide spread, people are saying that if you are in animal form in public places a collar with a contact number and a person who is in charge of you should be required. They say otherwise how can they know how to react? After all, it could be a wild animal as opposed to a person. This reporter’s opinion is that if you live in North America and you see a Siberian Tiger or a huge wolf getting a drink at the local fountain, assume it’s a person. Nod and go on your way. India might have more of an argument for this than the United States, given that it is not unheard of for a tiger to wander into town. ~ KWAK News
It took them a good two hours to get to the park. Part of that was making sure they weren’t near roads, so no driving cars could see them, at least not more than what they had to. They arrived at the park in the early afternoon. None of them had watches but Charley figured it took them until well after lunch to get here. None of them were hungry as they had all eaten well at breakfast and making sure they didn’t shift kept the hunger at bay.
They headed farther into the trees, looking for a good place to rest, and stay out of the way. A sour smell drifted through the area and Charley froze.
~Do you smell that?~
~Yes, what is it?~ Jessi’ voice had disgust in it even as Jamie took another step forward. Something moved in the darkness and Charley reached out, grabbing Jamie and pulling him back.
The undergrowth of the trees and bushes created odd shapes and shadows that could hide anything. Without conscious thought Charley pulled the twins behind him as one of the shadows moved closer.
A warning growl vibrated from behind him, and he glanced to see Jessi, bearing her teeth, teeth that were starting to elongate.
~Stop it. We were warned that was dangerous for us.~ He snapped his attention back to the front to see a man resolve out of the shadows.
"Got any food?" His voice shaky and a wave of rancid odor from his breath assaulted Charley's nose.
"No." he said shaking his head, even as he watched the man warily. He had experience as to the evil adults could do.
"Kay." the man muttered, shuffling out into the daylight of the park.
All three of them sagged a bit in relief as his figure faded.
~We'll need to make sure we find a place small enough that adults can't get into.~ Odd wisps of memory, of lessons he'd never learned, filtered through as he talked. Protect himself and his squad. Charley pushed away the thoughts. It made him uncomfortable and right now he didn't have the energy to deal with it.
The sun rose high in the sky and all he wanted to do was sleep. The emotions of the last day or so exhausted him.
~Let’s find a good place, then maybe take a nap?~ Jamie asked, his voice hesitant. The homeless man added a level of danger they hadn't expected. That, and since being able to turn into cats, the twins hadn't found naps as awful as before. Sleeping meant time to recharge and they all needed it.
~Yes.~ Jessi agreed, and they began to move deeper into the less populated part of the park. They passed boxes and sleeping bags, the three of them grouping tighter together as they moved. Charley felt doubt creeping in as they looked around.
It took a bit but they found a tree that had fallen in among a bunch of others. It created a hollow that they could use. With all the time in their animal forms, squeamishness about bugs had disappeared, along with worry about getting dirty. They pushed their bags back into the overhang, then went to collect pine needles. It took a bit but they had a warm area, far enough back anyone wandering through couldn't see them.
A few of the homeless had watched them with narrowed eyes, eyes that made Charley's skin crawl.
Remember, you can shift and bite, you know how to protect yourself and Jamie and Jessi.
That thought helped as they cuddled up, watching the sun move across the sky. The little thing they created helped cool them off as they lay there, touching and needing the contact.
~Should we eat, or save the food?~ Jessi asked, but there was no sense of hunger from her.
Charley closed his eyes, just listening and playing with the idea of shifting. It would make the ground more comfortable.
~Save it.~ He said into the mindscape, taking comfort from their links, though the dark ones for McKenna, JD, and Toni ached. He could feel Jessi shifting around and narrowed his thought to just her. Jamie had already slipped into a drowsy feeling.
~You okay?~
~Fine,~ she snapped, then sighed a bit. ~Want mom.~
Charley didn't open his eyes, just sent what reassurance he could down the link. His own fears didn't help. The image of the trees around them and the shadows flickering through the canopy of leaves solidified in his mind. A squirrel scurried across the space between two trees, then raced up a trunk.
His breath caught in his lungs, and he didn't move. ~Jessi are your eyes open right now?~
~Yeah, watching the squirrels. Think I could catch one as a cat?~ Her tone idle, and very cat like, but he knew she hadn't shifted.
~The squirrel that just jumped from one tree to another and is now chittering at a raven?~
Jessi stilled, her body going tense next to his.
~I thought your eyes were closed?~
~They are~ He swallowed hard. ~I think I'm seeing through your eyes.~
There was silence in the bond and he heard her release a long slow breath.
~This more of that dream stuff that feels old and new at the same time?~
He didn't open his eyes, instead looking through hers. ~I don't know. But we need to see how far away this works. If it works as an animal, it would be kind of neat.~
~Yeah.~ She fell silent for a bit. They both listened to the people around them. ~You think they are okay?~
Charley heaved a sigh. ~People are mean to each other but McKenna is tough. You saw that. She let them whip her, you saw all the blood, and she never broke for them. I hope they’re okay. I hope they are coming home to us.~ Even his mental voice broke a bit on that and Jessi leaned i
nto him a bit, though she didn't look at him.
~Yeah. Mom's tough. She made it without our dad. She won't leave us behind.~
~You never talk about your dad. Did you like him? Was he nice?~ The wistfulness in his voice.
Jessi shrugged. ~Don't know. Never knew him. He died before I can remember him. Mom never talks about him. But she still has some pictures. But,~ Jessi shrugged again. ~what about your dad? Not your stepdad.~
~Same except I don't even know who he is or was, except he might have had the last name Davis. And well, my mom wasn't much of a mom. You're lucky. If my mom had been like yours…~ he trailed off.
He saw her attention get grabbed by the squirrel racing across her vision and he let it go. Maybe someday they would talk about this but now wasn't it. He shut all the memories and worries firmly away. With a bit of mental effort he disconnected and pinged McKenna's link again.
Sleep didn't claim him, not quite, but he drifted, letting in thoughts and memories that he knew weren't his.
~Jamie, I want you to try something.~ Jessi's voice in his mind brought him fully wake.
~What?~ Jamie ask as he stretched. His mind always seemed more ordered and contained than Jessi. Her mind always bubbled and fizzed. It was never calm in her brain.
~Close your eyes and feel down our link. Can you sense me.~
~Of course.~ Where Jessi would have been exasperated, Jamie just answered, waiting for the next bit of information. The differences between the two always amused Charley. Even in the place where they were held he had always known which black cat was Jessi. She couldn't be still for anything.
~Now, see if you can find my eyes.~
~Huh? Oh. Interesting.~ His tone abstract and intrigued. ~How did you figure this out. I can see through your eyes.~
~Cool, huh? Charley figured it out.~ Jessi bubbled even as she wiggled, unable to sit still.
~Let me try it with him.~
On the other side of the connection Charley could feel Jamie reaching for him but he never reached deep enough to touch his eyes.
~Odd it didn't work?~ Jamie sounded disappointed but still interested.
~Huh? Let me try.~ Jessi spoke even as her mind reached out. Charley, since he actively looked for it, felt her through the channel and deeper into him. ~look at something,~ she demanded.
Smiling a bit, Jessi was Jessi, Charley looked at the lake in the distance, people starting to show up as the day cooled off.
~It worked. Let me try you, Jamie.~ Like a cat with a new object of interest, Jessi started experimenting and Charley watched as she tried things he wouldn't have thought of. But even as she did he searched the “not memories” and came up empty.
Wefor would know.
The thought caused pain to slice through him because Wefor not being here meant no McKenna.
By the time Jessi was done, and she'd started to get bored, she determined she could see via Charley and Jamie, and they could see via her, but they couldn't see through each other. Hearing, sight, sound, and taste. Jamie had finally given in and tasted dirt to determine that one. They all agreed the dirt here tasted nasty.
The sound of a horn grabbed their attention as a food truck, one with tacos pulled up.
"We have any money?" After so long speaking in their heads it took him a second to flip his attention to Jessi talking.
"I've got twenty," Jamie offered, digging in his bag.
"I grabbed the money McKenna gave me," Charley offered, pulling out three tens and three fives. "I don't spend much of it." He'd never had money before and couldn't help hoarding it, just in case. He'd grabbed it on automatic, just like the knife.
"Yay. Tacos?"
Charley glanced at it. It was a good deal, usually three small tacos for two dollars, and if Jessi did it with her big eyes, they'd sometimes gave her an extra one.
"Here, take five dollars and give them your big eyes. I'll stay here."
She flashed him a smile, grabbed the five and scampered out, Jamie at her heels. Watching them for a minute, he looked around and sighed. Being a kid sucked. They couldn't stay here for long and he didn't want to go to a home. He wanted McKenna. But right now he couldn't see any other options. Digging out McKenna’s phone he looked at it but didn't power the phone on. Instead he shoved it back down into the depths of the bag and focused on Jessi. Sure, enough he could see through her eyes. It seemed odd and cool at the same time.
Probably the same range as our mindspeak. This could be useful.
He listened in amusement as she gave the vendor her big eyes and brightest smile. The man melted, giving her eight tacos and a bag of broken chips for her five dollars. Smiling brightly at him, she headed back to Charley with her bounty in hand. They spent the rest of the afternoon eating, playing with the new ability, and watching the world. They didn't talk about the families they were missing.
Day Alone
The manhunt for McKenna Largo and Percival Alexander and the others is still ongoing. An 800 number has been set up for tips and the police and FBI are scouring all traffic cameras, trying to locate the path of the vehicles. At this time the children of the people taken are staying with friends. Though social services has been contacted, there are no comments at this time. ~KWAK News
Something woke Charley up. He sensed Jamie and Jessi nearby, and the grass he was curled up on didn't register for a minute. A figure cloaked in shadows and foul smells poked at him. "Come with me, sonny. I have use for you." Cold grimy hands clawed at him, trying to pull him from the warmth of their little den.
"Hey, let go of me." He yelled pulling his arm from the person, their touch making his skin crawl.
"Come with me, I know you're running from the cops. Come or I'll tell them where you are."
Fear gripped his heart and for a minute, one that lasted an eternity, he was back in the closet, Gerry leering at him and threatening him. Holding things over him if he complained. That he'd kick his mom and him to the curb. That'd he'd kill her and make it look like an over dose. That he'd sell Charley out to people with a taste for young boys.
His mouth dry, he froze - unable to fight as the figure grabbed him and pulled him out, away from Jessi and Jamie.
A low growl echoed around them, and a black jaguar stepped out of the den. Ears laid back, lips pulled away from sharp fangs, and a warning growl as she stalked forward.
The growl snapped him out of his memories and fear and he yanked his arm away as Jessi cleared the remaining distance in a single leap, her tail a whip lashing from side to side.
The person, a woman he thought from the high-pitched shriek, tumbled backwards, glaring at them.
"I don't think so. Get out of here or I'll let my friend have lunch. She's hungry."
Jessi took another step forward lowering her body. While compared to her mom she wasn't impressive, but up close a fifty plus pound cat intimidated most people. She matched the size of a large lynx.
"Freaks," she hissed but kept backing up as Jessi kept stalking forward. They'd decided to have one of them shift just in case they needed to do something or chase away rats.
Charley tugged on Jessi's tail when it looked like she might keep stalking toward the person already crab crawling backwards away from them.
~She’s not worth it. Don’t.~
Her tail flicked in his hand, but she quit moving forward. He could feel her rage bubbling in her.
~How dare she. What did she want?~
Charley suspected he knew but didn't answer her question. The twins didn't need to know what life was like.
~You okay?~ Jessi turned to look at him, ears perked up and whiskers pointed towards him.
~Yeah. Want a bath, but I'm fine.~
Jamie crawled out looking at them. ~This is scarier than I expected it to be.~
Charley wanted to laugh. This didn't qualify as scary, not yet. But he didn't want them to know what scary was. So how did he fix this?
~Curl up, it’s too early to be up and moving.~ Jessi came back and curled up a
cross his and Jamie's legs. He fell into a restless sleep, her warmth helping keep him grounded.
The light of the rising sun, mixed with the explosive amount of bird chatter pulled him up, as well as the cold breeze across his legs. He woke to see Jessi standing at the entrance, stretching, her tail twitching back and forth as she watched the birds hopping around in front of their little cave.
~I'm a bit hungry. But should we eat what we have?~ Jamie asked, still curled up in the back.
~We should probably save what we have if we can. I saw some geese by the lake with eggs. Jessi, do you think you can eat raw eggs in cat form? My stepdad used to eat them raw. He’d just suck them down.~
Jessi had dropped into a sphinx pose though her tail still lashed. ~Maybe. If I can, it would be better. Me shifting again would probably be bad. I can stay as a cat if you need.~
Charley frowned but didn't say anything. They needed to be human, but a few days especially after spending a week plus as a cat she'd be fine. Right?
~We can go get them. Jess, you wanna follow in the shadows?~
~Yes.~ her voice held excitement and Charley smirked. She would never be one to sit still and wait for anyone. That bugged him in the back of his mind but he didn't know why.
~Don't call attention to yourself. I'll stay here to watch our stuff. ~ Jamie offered yawning. He curled back up.
~You be careful. Change if you have to but we need to go find some food. This place should be quiet today, it's Monday.~
~I can yell really loud.~ Jamie curled back up, pillowing his head on his arm in the small area.
~You'd better.~ The idea of anything happening to any of them made him sick to his stomach.
Charley stood up and stretched. His mouth tasted awful but grabbing a toothbrush hadn't occurred to him. A feeling of dread seeped in, what else had he forgotten? How else was he putting them at risk?
~Water first? We can hit the drinking fountain first.~
