So I had to admit Raquel was probably right. My life of containment sometimes sucked, but at least
I had a home. One where I was wanted.
I shrugged, pretending I didnt care about school anyway. Yeah, cool, whatever. Ill talk to you later.
I felt her eyes on me as I walked out. Its not that Im not grateful to IPCA. I am. Theyre the only family I have, and things are better here than they had been in the foster system. But Ive been working full-time since I was eight, and sometimes I get tired. Sometimes I get bored. And sometimes all I want, more than anything else in the world, is to go on a freaking date.
I went back to my unit. I had a pretty nice setup. A small kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and the main room with my awesome TV. The white walls in my bedroom had long since been covered. One was dedicated to posters of bands and movies I liked. Another was draped with an awesome hot pink and black leopard-spotted curtain. A third wall was my canvas. I wouldnt call myself an artist, but I had fun painting whatever came to mindsometimes nothing more than just splashes of colorand changing it when I got bored. The paint was probably two inches thicker now than when I moved in.
I pulled on my favorite pair of pajamas and undid my thick braid. Somehow microwaving dinner and watching a movie won out over doing homework. I must have drifted off to sleep at some point, or maybe I was half asleep, I dont know. But Im sure I was dreaming, because I kept hearing a strange voice, almost singing. Eyes like streams of melting snow, cold with the things she does not know. Over and over again, that line, in the most haunting way. It was as if the voice was pulling me, calling to me. I wanted to answer. Just as I was ready to call out, another alarm jarred me awake.
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and reached over to check my vid screen for an announcement of what was going on. I pulled the screen up, but all it showed was a flashing red WARNING. Lots of help there. I pulled on my robe, grabbed Tasey, and poked my head outside. I knew alarm procedure called for me to stay in, but I wanted to figure out what was going on, and now.
I ran down the empty hallways; strobe lights were going off to warn any paranormals that couldnt hear the alarm, although you could feel the dang thing it was so loud. Reaching Raquels door, I palmed it. Thats the nice thing about being meall access, all the time. I ducked inside; she was at her desk, calmly rifling through some folders.
Raquel, I panted. Whats up?
Oh, dont worry about it. She looked up at me and smiled. Or rather, the thing wearing Raquels face looked up at me and smiled. Raquels face shimmered overWhat? I couldnt describe it. It was somehow featureless, with eyes the color of water. If it hadnt been wearing Raquels face, it would be like it wasnt there at all.
I forced a smile to mask my terror. Woke me up from the freakiest dream.
Im sorry. Ive got some work to do. Why dont you scoot along? It went back to the files.
Sure, as long as you dont need me. Turning toward the door, I casually walked closer to the desk.
Oh, Raquel?
Hmm?
I flicked Tasey onto her highest level. You dropped this. The thing wearing Raquels face looked up as I lunged forward and jabbed it in the chest with the Taser. Its water eyes opened briefly in shock before it collapsed to the ground.
Horrified, I made my way around the desk. I had heard of things that could eat a person alive and wear her skin. The idea gave even me nightmares sometimes, and my life was populated by nightmares. Please, not Raquel, I whispered, trying not to throw up. Raquel melted away, leaving the strangest thing I had ever seen. Which, given my job, is saying a lot.
NOT-ME AND I
My eyes couldnt seem to focus on the creature. They kept slipping down its sides, unable to find anything to hold on to. It wasnt invisible, exactly, but it was as close as a physical being can be.
Imagine trying to walk up an eighty-degree incline covered in six inches of ice. Thats what trying to look at this guy was like.
I was pretty sure it was a guy, at least. He kinda wasnt wearing any clothes, and I was grateful that hed collapsed in such a way as to cover himself. I was at a loss for what to do next when the door slid open and the real Raquel rushed in, followed by two security guards.
He didnt eat you! I threw my arms around her, on the verge of tears.
The guards rushed by us, and Raquel patted me stiffly on the back. No, she didnt eat me. She just punched me very hard in the face.
Its a guy, I said.
What is it? she asked. We walked over to look at him. The guards stared down, perplexed. One scratched his head. Big guy, a hulking French werewolf named Jacques. Werewolves are a bit subtler to see than vampires. If the moon isnt full, the only thing that gives them away to me is their eyes. Whatever color they seem to be to other people, I can always see the yellow wolf eyes underneath. Most werewolves are pretty decent people. And, since theyre extra strong all the time, we take a lot of them on as security. Of course, during full moons theyre on complete lockdown.