Different (27 page)

She became aware of Mary squeezing her arm.

"Jay,” she said. “I guess I can understand how you're feeling, but I've known you since you were five years old and believe me if there's anything wrong with you, then I wish everyone had it. You're one of the kindest, most considerate people I've ever met and nothing has changed that. To me, you're more like my sister than ever, so please don't ever forget that."

"She's right Jay,” Scott smiled at her, “We three are family now, and if you want, we can get specialists to take a look at you, but personally speaking. I think you're fine. I mean, it's not as though you're different from anyone else, is it?"

Jay looked at Mary who shrugged helplessly, as though to say, it has to be your decision whether or not you tell Scott about your healing powers. Jay sighed; even Mary had no idea just how great her difference was.

"I
am
different Scott,” she said. “Your grandfather was the only one who knew and he made me promise not to let anyone know.” Jay took a deep breath, knowing she risked alienating them. What would she do if Mary and Scott looked at her as though she was some kind of freak? But they had a right to know.

She stood and smiled wryly at them, “Granddad Tom said that I was a chameleon, but I'm different in other ways too. Let's go outside and I'll show you, perhaps it will be easier that way."

Ignoring their puzzled looks, Jay stood and walked out of the room and sensed that they were following her. She walked down the steps that led to the land at the rear of the house. Ahead of her on the right were the stables where they kept the horses. The girl who managed the stables was pitching hay down from the loft, she looked up and upon seeing them, she waved.

Jay waved back and pointed towards the cherry and chestnut trees that grew at the edge of the white rail fence that bordered the property. “Ok you two. Give me time to reach the trees then you come and try to find me.” She wondered how it was that she suddenly knew she could still become. There was not a doubt in her mind. Jay set off at a slow jog towards the trees.

It was cooler beneath the canopy of leaves and from there the stable manager would not be able to see that Jay was stripping off her clothes. A giggle escaped her lips when she thought of Scott's reaction ... when he got to see her without any clothes. She felt a mixture of embarrassment tinged with excitement at the thought.

Jay chose an old chestnut to hide behind, and just as she had as a child, she balled up her clothes and hid them behind a low bush. Then she pressed herself backwards, pressing her bare skin against the coarse hard texture of the bark. Jay concentrated and felt herself become, it felt as though she'd slipped into a favourite coat, warm, snug and secure.

Through slitted eyes, it was really tempting to close them and just bask in the serenity that flowed through her, she saw Mary walk past her. Her cousin gave her and the tree a cursory glance before moving on.

"Jay's around here somewhere.” Scott's voice sounded puzzled. “You don't suppose she's climbed up one of the trees?"

"I don't think so, she said your grandfather called her chameleon, they can change colour, can't they?"

"Look Mary, you don't suppose that Jay's flipped do you, I mean after all she's been through and everything?"

"No way, Hose'! Jay's as sane as I am,” Mary said. “I was expecting her to tell you about her..."

"About her what?” Scott interrupted. “What's going on, Mary?"

"Why don't you find her and ask her?” Mary quipped. “Perhaps she's watching us from somewhere around here."

Scott laughed, “But a chameleon ... ?” He shook his head. “That's a pretty tall order to swallow."

"With your mouth that shouldn't be a problem.” Jay said, Scott stopped in his tracks and spun to face her. Mary was looking past her scanning the other trees.

"You can come out from behind the tree now Jay!” Scott laughed, standing with his hands on his hips with his legs apart.

Mary looked at him and walked around the tree. “She's not round here,” she said.

"Oh, I get it. You two are in this together. Let's play a joke on Scott. Well, the joke's over! I know Jay's behind the tree."

"She's not here I'm telling you, it's no joke believe me. Jay is not behind this tree."

"She's right Scott.” Jay said stepping away from the tree towards them and they looked at her fearfully and took a half step back away from her until she unbecame.

"My God!” Mary cried as Jay's skin lost its look of lined bark and returned to its natural colour. Scott just stared; Jay made no attempt to cover herself from his scrutiny. In fact, she felt a little turned on by his gaze.

"Hey, put your eyes back in your head,” Mary said, being the first to recover from the shock. She punched Scott on the arm. “Haven't you seen a naked girl before?"

"Not this naked girl, no!” Scott grinned and then averted his eyes slightly. “Jesus Jay, you gave me quite a scare, for a moment you looked a bit like that woman from that advertisement. Do you remember Mary, the deodorant advert where the woman was being chased by a big cat and she blended in against the trees?"

"Oh I remember it. We had that one advertised in Britain too!” Jay said.

"I think you'd better get some clothes on. Scott's still getting himself an eyeful!” Mary said. “How did you do that and do you always change back as soon as you leave the tree or whatever?"

"I don't really now, I've always willed myself to unbecome. That's what I call it, becoming. It feels as though I'm apart of whatever I'm becoming. Do you mind if I try something before I get dressed?"

"No, you take as long as you like.” Scott grinned, wriggling his eyebrows and adopting a lecherous expression. “We don't mind in the least, do we Mary?"

"No, I suppose you might as well make his day. What is it you want to try?"

"Well, I've always become an inanimate object but I wondered if I pressed against a person whether I could become them?"

"You get yourself right over here and press up against me.” Scott held his arms open in invitation.

"Thanks, but I was thinking of Mary, it might be a little hard to concentrate if I was pressed up against you!” Jay grinned.

"You've got that right, anyway he'd never manage to keep still with your butt pressed up against him, that's for sure. You can try it with me if you like, although I must admit I'm a little scared."

"Look Mary, if you start feeling funny or anything just tell me and I'll stop. Ok?"

"Well all right.” Mary nodded. “Let's do it!”

Jay backed herself up against Mary and concentrated upon becoming and she heard Scott gasp and looking down she saw that her upper body seemed to be wearing a sweater and her lower half encased in jeans. She stepped away from Mary who was looking at her and shaking her head.

"My God!” Mary said, “We're twins. Even you're hair has changed colour. It seems impossible but every bit of you has changed! Except at the back, it's like a blurred image of the front of you"

"She's right, Jay. If it weren't for your back and your feet ... which are too small to pass for trainers ... even I wouldn't be able to tell you apart."

"I think I'd like to see how long the effect lasts. It's time to show you something else.” Jay said.

"You mean there's more?” Mary asked wide-eyed.

"Yes. Scott you used to run for the track team at college if I remember. Do you still keep in shape?"

"You betcha! I work out two or three times a week at least."

"Is that work out or make out?” Mary asked innocently and Jay choked back her laugh.

"Both!” Scott said nonchalantly, “Now, what have you got in mind, Jay?"

"A race, me against you. How far would you say it was to that stream down there?”

She pointed below them to the stream that flowed between the wooded hills.

"About a mile maybe less, I'll give you a head start if you like."

"No, I want to give you one. You see that rock just past that jack pine? I'll start when you get there."

"Jay, are you crazy or what? That rock's only about five hundred yards from the stream and there's no way...” He broke off when he saw Jay's determined look.

"Well, all right then, but would you please turn back to yourself, I liked it better that way."

"I bet you did,” Mary said.

"Later, Scott, there's no way I'm racing against you while I'm butt naked. At least my body's camouflaged like this. So give me a signal when you're level with the rock.” She watched him lope down to the stream his long legs carrying him nearer with every second. As he reached the rock he raised his hand and increased his jog to a sprint and Jay launched herself after him.

Her feet pounded on the grass and seemed to spring her forward with each step. Jay felt power sweeping through her legs and she burst out of the trees, past the rock and Scott was about two hundred yards in front of her. She pumped her legs harder and saw the startled expression on Scott's face as she flashed by him and when she reached the stream and turned; he still had a hundred yards to go.

Scott reached her and doubled up sucking in great lungs full of air, until he finally straightened up and looked at her in awe. “I don't believe this,” he said. “You've just run about a mile in under a minute, about forty seconds would be my guess and you're not even out of breath. God-damn-it Jay, you're amazing!"

Jay sighed. She didn't want to amazing; she wanted to be normal like everybody else! “It's not much fun Scott. Ever since I can remember, I've had to hold myself back and not let anyone see that I'm different. Can you imagine what a circus it would be if anyone found out? The press and the government would never leave me alone. I'd probably be arrested for studies by their scientists. I'd never be free again!"

She saw sudden understanding in his eyes as he nodded slowly.

"I guess I never thought this thing through.” he said. “It must be really frustrating never being able to show how good you really are, having to be in control all the time. I'd find it pretty hard to live like that.” Suddenly he grinned mischievously. “But it's good to see that you're back to your old self Jay!"

She looked at him puzzled for a second and then glanced down at herself and saw that she had unbecome and was standing in front of him naked again. Jay saw the desire in his eyes, and was acutely aware of her own urgent needs. She wanted Scott to make love to her, to feel his hardness inside her. She slipped into his embrace and tugged at the buckle of his belt savouring the feel of Scott's hands that were busily roaming over her body.

Freeing his erection, she grasped it and looked up into his eyes. “Do it to me, Scott,” she said. He raised one of her legs so that it was draped over his hip and positioned himself to make the thrust that would make her a woman.

Then over his shoulder, she saw Mary who was still sitting almost a mile away on the tree stump. Her vision seemed to zoom in and there behind Mary were two men who were stealthily creeping through the trees towards her. Jay pushed Scott away from her and all thoughts of sex from her mind. The men stealing up on Mary were both carrying guns.

Scott was picking himself up off the grass when Jay tore past him. She was running. Running faster than she'd ever run before, and then a cry ... a challenge ... burst unbidden from her throat.

Mary was sitting on a tree stump facing the stream and Russell could see down below her. He moved silently through the trees, skilfully avoiding stepping on anything that could snap and alert the girl. Blake, who was on the right, was pretty good too, Russell thought, as they closed in on the unsuspecting girl.

The cry froze him, it was a sound he'd heard once before and he felt the unfamiliar taste of fear in his mouth. The girl he'd been concentrating on leapt to her feet and then Russell saw the blurred form of naked woman rushing towards them and he knew instinctively, it was the freak. He felt unable to move as the woman without even breaking her stride stooped and grabbed something off the ground. In one fluid movement, she launched what looked like a small rock and it flew past his head. Blake cried out in pain and fell to his knees clutching at his chest.

Released from his paralysis, Russell ran for his life and threw an arm around the Slymond girl's neck and jammed the muzzle of his gun against her throat. Seconds later, the naked Jay Mallard reached them.

"One more fucking step and I'll blow her head off!” Russell thumbed back the hammer of the automatic and tried desperately to hide his terror. Close up, the naked girl looked normal. She had stopped and was standing glaring at him from about five yards away.

Blake staggered towards them, his automatic in one hand and his other hand clutching his chest. “I'm going to kill you,” he shouted and raised his gun, aiming at the freak's head.

"No!” Russell snapped. “We need her alive, call the car and let's go!"

"Scott get away, run!” The freak shouted and for the first time, he noticed Scott Mallard running up the hill towards them.

Blake fired a burst towards the man but his aim was way off and Mallard dived behind a rock.

"Call the fucking car, Blake!” Russell cried, keeping all his attention on the freak. “Let's get the hell out of here!” He breathed a sigh of relief as Blake spoke into his radio and then he heard the car speeding towards them.

"We're going to the dirt road to meet the car. If you try anything, I'll kill Mary! Now get moving!”

Blake hung back covering the boulder behind which Scott Mallard had thrown himself. Russell gestured to the freak to lead the way to the car and he kept his automatic pressed against Mary's head as they followed. They reached the car and the driver was already waiting with the doors open, but Russell wasn't taking any chances.

"You!” he said, glaring at the naked girl, “Lean over the hood and put your hands behind your back. Cuff her!” he said to the driver. The girl did as she was told and as the cuffs were snapped around her wrists, he felt himself relaxing slightly. Even she wouldn't be able to snap high tensile steel.

"Put her in the back,” he ordered, and only when she was sitting on the rear seat did Russell push Mary in after her. He sat next to Mary and waited. A few seconds later, Blake, looking distinctly pale and breathing heavily, climbed in the passenger seat at the front.