‘Let’s do this,’ Emily asserted.
It was an adventure, not a rescue mission. They pushed off the side and eased into the Amazon River. They were at the mercy of the Amazon rainforest now.
As they paddled, Anna made conversation, ‘Who should we choose for him?’
Without hesitation, Emily answered, ‘It should be someone old. Steven wanted us to respect his need to preserve life. At least, if the person is old he will know he did not take away someone’s entire life.’
‘Sounds reasonable, it should also prevent any suspicion of foul play.’
‘Correct.’
‘So you are sure you want to go over the border, into Colombia?’
‘Yes, the Cahuinari National Park. There are still a small number of indigenous people living there, who will not be missed by the general population. No-one knows how many really live out there anyway. We have to look for the weak in the community.’
‘I don’t think we’ve gone to Columbia in over ten years. It should be a safe option,’ Anna said, confident about their arrangements.
‘Just keep your eye out for those big cats. They will sense an easy target in Steven. We have to protect him at all costs.’
‘The cats might sense his weakness, but they will also sense our strength. We have nothing to fear. Have faith.’
*
The effort was immense but they had no intention of stopping until they reached their destination. Steven had stopped making much noise at all. His situation was becoming precarious. At last, they arrived and made their way to the caves constructed many years earlier. Using their unique strength, they worked together and pulled back the huge boulder that concealed the accommodation. It revealed a simple room kitted out with a basic table and chairs made from tree bark remnants. There were a few bowls and cups in the corner but everything was covered in cobwebs and dust. No-one had been here in a long time.
A few hammocks had been constructed using some material stretched between huge wooden sticks. Anna tested one out and was relieved to see it hold. ‘Go and get Steven.’
On her return, Emily placed Steven on the hammock and sat on the floor next to him, head in hands.
Anna took the opportunity to leave to get the supplies. She knew they did not have the luxury of time, and she had seen enough to know Emily was barely holding it together, so she made a decision as she came back in and placed the bags on the floor.
Anna knelt down beside Emily, and said, ‘I’m going to go to see if I can find a local village where we can find a suitable candidate.’
Emily gave a small nod, without making eye contact.
Anna could not help either of them by staying. Before she left, she glanced back at Emily, who was unmoved. It made her more determined. It was up to her to ensure everything turned out as it should.
***
Emily knew her emotions teetered on the edge as a million thoughts raced through her head. She had to stay in control. She had to keep strong, for Steven. She lifted her head to see if Anna was still there. Her shoulders drooped as she saw an empty space. Anna had put everything on the line to help her. She closed her eyes as she contemplated how much she owed Anna. There was no way anyone would have let her leave the community without Anna. Emily had to rise above everything that had happened in her life. For the first time ever, she would be the kind of mother Steven would be proud of. She would not let either of them down.
Perhaps it was the journey. She was probably just tired and hungry. She would quash her thirst when Anna returned. She could not risk leaving Steven alone; he only had a few days to go. The sound of Steven rambling again made her rush to his side. In a faint, whispery voice he mumbled, ‘I’m so sorry Caitlin – I love you.’
Caitlin had to be the girl – the girl he still loved. Emily slammed the ground with her fist and cursed. She could not believe it. It was another vicious cycle. If he could not let go of his feelings for the human girl, he would not integrate into their way of life. She would not allow him to repeat her mistake. A solitary journey in life was not a worthwhile prospect. When his change was complete, Emily resolved to make it her personal vendetta to find him an appropriate mate. He could not return to his previous way of life – it was impossible.
She knew he needed to eat, so she made her way over to the supplies and mixed some water with crushed fruit. With considerable care, she spooned some into Steven’s mouth. He gargled and swallowed, before coughing and spluttering half of the contents onto the floor. His eyes were sunken, his face pale. He had lost too much weight. She hoped Anna would return soon. Reluctantly, she took a piece of stale bread and soaked it in the juice and water to make it more palatable. Every mouthful was forced. Even though she knew she had to eat, she did not have the appetite.
She rinsed the cloth with some water and placed it over his feverish brow. His temperature was soaring out of control. She could not understand why she felt so broken, her emotions a mixture of concern, anxiety, frustration, self-pity, and regret. The overpowering sensation was fear. Not fear for her, fear for her son. She had no idea what would become of him, or if she could actually help him in the end.
*
Finally, after nearly a day of waiting, Anna returned to relieve the lonely vigil. The sun had just started to rise, giving way to daylight and you could hear the rainforest coming back to life. It was raining hard, the sky overcast and gloomy. It gave the atmosphere a feeling of impending doom. Anna found Emily slumped over Steven, sleeping soundly. She did not want to disturb her, but time was precious. She walked up to Emily and shook her shoulder gently. ‘Emily, I’m back.’
Emily woke up, startled and panicked. ‘What is it? Did I fall asleep?’
‘It’s alright, nothing has happened. Some sleep will do you good,’ she said. The fact was, Emily had red, crazed eyes and looked terrible, but Anna was not going to break the news to her sister.
Emily placed her head in her hands, as if she was forcing herself to think. ‘Did you find someone?’
‘Yes, it’s about four hours from here. There is an old lady who is on her deathbed – a perfect candidate.’
‘Good, that’s good,’ Emily repeated.
Anna could see Emily’s hands were shaking.
‘You need to feed – let me keep an eye on him so that you can go.’
‘Is there any human scent in the air?’
‘No. You might get lucky and run into a Puma. I managed to sink my teeth into a juicy tapir out for its nightly hunt. It didn’t have a successful hunting trip.’
Emily smiled at her sister. ‘It’s the circle of life. By the way, thanks for everything. I know I’m not the easiest sister in the world, but I’m grateful for what you’re doing. I know Juan disapproves.’
‘I’m not doing it to be a martyr. You’d do the same for me, right?’
‘Right,’ Emily replied.
***
It was easy for Emily to reassure Anna. Anna never needed help. As she walked out to the entrance, she glanced back one last time – Steven looked depleted, haggard. There was no more time to waste. She made her move. Outside, Emily took a deep breath and focused. A jaguar had been through here. Following the scent, she stalked the jaguar and picked up speed – she was silent, but deadly. She knew she was getting close so she leapt up on the tree and scrambled up the bark.
In the distance, she saw the jaguar lying down on the mossy floor, its tail flicking up through the air, relaxed and unsuspecting. In her well-practised stealth mode, she circled the location to surprise the animal from the rear. With an enormous leap, she landed behind the cat and snapped its head. Big cats had large claws – she did not want to risk it fighting back. As her teeth extended, she sank them into the jaguar’s neck and took her fill. Energised, her maternal instinct kicked in. Now she was up for anything.
Once back, panic ensued. Steven was worse, his skin shrivelled, face gaunt, and his breathing even weaker than before. Emily zoomed up to her son and lifted him up carefully
. She turned to Anna, resolute. ‘Lead me to the village.’
Anna nodded and pushed the boulder aside to give Emily access. Then she looked at Emily, winked, and started to run. At a pace no human could match, they raced to save Steven’s life. Emily prayed everything would work out – it had to.
***
‘There it is,’ Anna whispered, relieved.
The village was quaint, lit by a series of fires scattered around. A few of the locals remained, as they made preparations for the next day. The air reeked with human scent. It made her mouth salivate. Glancing at Emily, she saw the familiar longing in Emily’s eyes. She did not want to think the worst of her sister, but at least she appeared focused. If she didn’t have a full stomach there would be no way to resist. The sun had just about set, leaving darkness in its wake. This was good. The cover of night gave them protection. The last thing they needed was to be seen.
With a nod of the head, she signalled to Emily. Anna walked towards the back of one of the huts. With the use of sign language, she motioned her sister to wait as she surveyed the area. Finally, she nodded to encourage Emily into position. Moving over to the clearing alongside the location, Emily placed Steven on the ground.
Anna returned to the hut on the far side of the village, and peered in through the makeshift window. In the middle of the room lay the old woman. A young woman slept close by. Anna slipped in, covered the old woman’s mouth and carried her out. The old woman blinked in momentary confusion, but as soon as she looked into Anna’s eyes, she accepted her fate – resistance was futile.
Chapter 39
The Change
When the old lady was placed next to Steven, Emily looked into her aged eyes and spoke softly. ‘I take your life for my son to live. You have lived your life. Now, you will enable his life to begin. It is an honourable way to depart from this world. Please think of that as your final thought. Thank you.’
The old woman closed her eyes in submission.
Carefully, Emily moved Steven towards the woman’s neck. The woman’s artery pulsed right next to his mouth. Using her sharp fingernail, she dug into the artery causing some blood to spurt onto his lips. As the blood entered his mouth the reaction was instant. Instinctively, Emily licked her lips. Like a baby, taking a hold on its mother’s breast for the first time, Steven formed a suction cup with his mouth over the area and drank the woman’s life out of her. Once finished, Anna cleaned up the woman’s neck and covered up the area with the natural concealer they used. There would be no visible sign of the assault.
Emily cradled Steven in her arms; she could see the life returning to his face. Out of the corner of her eye, she was aware that Anna was lifting the limp lifeless body.
All they could do now was wait.
***
It took a considerable amount of effort for Steven to blink. A simple thing he had taken for granted over the years. His eyes tried to focus on his surroundings. All he could see was a blur of green. The pace of motion seemed impossible – was he dreaming? Instinct made him want to move, to check he was actually awake, but something told him to wait. He needed to get a grip. As every second passed his senses began to snap open. He kept perfectly still and took stock of the situation.
Steven tried to recollect his last actions, but nothing could explain why he was slumped over someone’s petite frame. A person, or woman he suspected, of this size should not be able to carry a man of his build so easily. Either way, if she was a woman he should be able to hold his own. He had never been a coward.
With his hands clenched into fists, he tried to regain some control. The moment he moved, motion stopped. A swift effortless action followed and he found himself on the ground. The cold, damp moss hit his body and caused an instant shiver. A muffled groan escaped.
‘Are you okay?’ A female voice. Soft, full of compassion. It seemed out of place somehow.
He studied her face. The eyes. They were familiar. They were just like…his.
The memories started to surface and he flinched. Adrenaline surged through his body, and one by one, the visions engulfed his mind.
The family he had taken for granted.
The woman he loved.
The life he wanted.
All gone.
What had they done to him? Or more importantly, what had he done? One memory lingered, persistent – Caitlin. In an ideal world, he would replace the face in front of him with hers. If everything he remembered was true his life was not worth living. As bewilderment gave way to anger, he narrowed his eyes. Even though groggy, he mustered the strength to get up and face Emily – his mother. He would not give her the satisfaction of helping him further. She had done enough.
Determined, he stood tall and raised his head, his eyes focused on hers. There was no way he would leave his real life behind. There had to be a way to get everything back.
‘What did you make me do?’ he snarled.
A mirror image crept up alongside. Twin sisters stared at him. They wore beaming smiles as though proud of themselves. It figured.
‘How can you smile like that?’ he asked, as he shook his head in disbelief.
Emily and Anna looked at each other, before they burst into laughter and embraced. Then Emily stretched out her hand to touch his shoulder. In a knee jerk reaction, Steven stepped back.
‘You’ve changed, Steven,’ Anna announced.
‘Well done, Sherlock. I figured that one out all ready. You let me kill someone, didn’t you?’ He looked at Emily.
‘You fed off an old lady, she was practically dead,’ Anna replied. ‘Her death was graceful – she accepted having a part in saving your life.’
‘She said that to you?’ His tone unbelieving.
‘Well, she did not need to say it out loud. It was in her eyes.’
‘I bet,’ he laughed aloud. With a strong hint of sarcasm, he added. ‘I doubt she had any choice.’
‘Well no,’ interrupted Anna. ‘But, it was not a painful way to go and she was near death anyway. We hoped that would give you some comfort.’
‘It gives me sooo much comfort. Thank you. Are you insane? I killed her! No matter what,’ he glared. ‘I still have a conscience.’
Anna smiled. ‘And for that we are glad – otherwise you would be on the road to becoming a killer. The fact that you feel regret and compassion is a good sign. We should all respect any life we kill for our survival,’ Anna said, giving Emily a sideways glance.
‘So? What now?’ he asked, as he looked from one identical face to the other.
‘We thought you’d never ask,’ Anna remarked, her tone playful.
It worried him.
If he had been asked a year earlier to describe his first year at university, he would never have expected it to involve the Amazon jungle. And yet, here he was. Everything he had taken for granted was gone. Everything he thought he knew was wrong. His survival instinct had overcome any thoughts of compassion. He was a killer. He had killed someone to survive. A life to spare his was the price of avoiding death. How it had happened was a complete mystery. He was confused, disorientated, lost. And yet, he could not help noticing the change in his physique. A surge of energy pulsed through his body, as his muscles arose from their dormancy with a vengeance. He felt as if he had just won a swimming race – it was exhilarating. He was not tired anymore. He was strong – invincible, just disorientated.
‘Okay, let’s try something,’ Anna said, as she clapped her hands together. ‘Focus on the trees. Listen carefully, and then say anything you want and wait.’
Steven was dubious, but he was game. He had practised this many times before the change. A rustling sound in the trees made him look up. Forming a cup with his hands, he whistled. Almost instantly, a magnified sound returned. It happened so fast. In a split second, he calculated the distance.
At the adjacent tree, he started to climb whilst holding on to the branches. It amazed him. He was quick and nimble, as he scaled the tree in seconds. In the exact spot he antic
ipated, an unsuspecting monkey sat cleaning itself. A laugh escaped, as he jumped off the tree without thinking. He landed perfectly on his feet. He shrugged his shoulders and gave a half-smile. He should have broken a leg. ‘Obviously, I have fine-tuned senses and reflexes – human echolocation, right? I also have stronger bones by the look of it. Am I indestructible?’
‘No. You can be injured and killed like any human,’ Anna replied. ‘But, even on the point of death, if you drink human blood you will be rejuvenated. Human blood is our healer.’
He thought about this for a few seconds. ‘I don’t need to drink it all the time?’
‘No, you eat, drink and sleep as normal. The only catch being, every week you will need to supplement your diet with a mammal’s blood to survive. Human blood is the only blood that can heal. We believe animal blood keeps us fit and healthy.’
‘I feel stronger,’ Steven said, picking up a stone, ‘can I crush this?’
‘Try,’ Anna challenged.
Squeezing the stone with one hand, he barely managed a visible dent. ‘I guess not. So much for superhuman strength,’ he shrugged, as he bit his lip.
‘The gift of eternal youth is not something to scoff at young man.’ Anna adopted a preachy tone.
Anger surged through him. ‘So what can this gift do for me then? Why would I want to live forever?’
‘It’s not an issue of what you want – it’s the way it is,’ Emily blurted out, her eyes crazed.
‘Well, I’m not sure I accept that. I don’t want to live like a recluse, in a small community where my movements are monitored and controlled. I may not want to live like you at all. What would you do to stop me, if I decided to leave right now?’ he challenged.
‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you,’ Anna warned.
‘Anna, don’t,’ Emily said. She held her hands up to her face, as though she could not watch. ‘Steven there is nothing out there for you. We are your family. Think of your friends. Jensen is keen to see you again.’
Steven started to back away.
‘Stop moving back, Steven, I’m warning you,’ Anna repeated.
‘Steven, please, I’m begging you. Don’t try to escape – there is nowhere to go,’ Emily pleaded.
He had no idea what Anna would do – it was probably an empty threat. Mind made up, he turned and ran. The pinprick sensation at the back of his head was the last thing he remembered.
Hybrid (The Evolution Trilogy) Page 25
