Reveal (Cryptid Tales) (16 page)

He looks off for a moment, caught in his own thoughts.

Hugh chimes in, almost as if to help move the conversation along, “My grandmother, Gloria, had cancer. It was really bad too. Her parents were dying in a nursing home and she was going to be put in hospice. She really wanted to meet Jeremy. She thought it would give her something to hold onto as she left our plane.”

Ugh that’s sad.

Jeremy nods, “Once she discovered how I died, she convinced Alo and his father that they should perform a summoning, I was their family after all. They went to another tribe in Kentucky to perform the summoning. There is a large Cherokee group there who had experience with summoning. An old spirit-talker from Alo’s tribe suggested it. They were obviously quite successful and I was able to meet my sister. Once they summoned me they explained the ghost rules to me. Rules told to them by their ancestors. Since some Mosis can see ghosts they are our protectors. They help keep us safe from The Darkness and humans wishing to find us and use us as their play things. Also, as protectors they set our laws and they see to it that we abide by them. They also use us to help other ghosts they have come across, souls who want to cross over but have unfinished business on Earth.”

I interrupt him, “As fascinating as all this is Jeremy, what does my dad have to do with it?”

Hugh lays a hand on my lap, “Let him finish. You have to hear it all to understand. I don’t think he’s done yet, though I can’t hear it all.”

I watch as Jeremy nods at Hugh so he would know his assumption is correct.

“
When I returned to the children in Marksville we started traveling back and forth between the planes. It was valuable to us to help those who needed it. I was just about to go through a portal to our plane one evening when your father heard me. Over there.” He points to the steps right in front of the burnt down orphanage.

“
He didn’t have your gift of sight, but he heard me singing to myself. I had to trust him; it was rare that a human could actually hear me, and those who could usually only heard tidbits. This made me think he was a cryptid like my family. When I mentioned the word to him in passing he ate it up and started doing research. I had no idea how brilliant your father was. He began to do testing on himself and discovered he was part cat, a Mosi cryptid. I went to Alo to tell him of the discovery.”

“
Your dad was desperate to meet others like him. As you know, his parents died long before he knew about who he was and with no siblings, he had no one else to talk to. With Alo’s permission I told him how to find Alo’s tribe. They became very close. But Alo warned your father not to dive too deep into genetics, to maintain human relationships and to appear human for fear of retaliation by The Darkness. Your father thought this was all a rouse and dismissed the tale, until it was too late.” Jeremy sighs before continuing, I can tell this is taking a toll on him.

“
He began to isolate the genes that make you a cryptid. He had chromosomal evidence that proved what you are. Alo tried to warn him, but he didn’t listen. He thought he could cure diseases this way. Help people. If he could isolate genes, he could stop people from aging or getting cancer. But The Darkness didn’t want that. He loves to watch people suffer. Your dad started to feel like someone was watching him. Some of his notebooks started to go missing and vials were empty when he would return to his lab. James knew something was going on, so he attempted his most difficult experiment. Giving his cryptid genes to you.”

“
By extracting his own genes and putting them in you it would make your gifts stronger. It would awaken and cause your genes to regenerate. The night before he went missing, you got a shot didn’t you?”

I think back to that day, I had forgotten it until now. I guess I had blocked it all out.

Dad took me to his office and said I needed a booster shot. He promised me a lollipop when I was done, just like at the doctors. But he said I couldn’t tell Mom. It was a special shot for special people. I was six and didn’t think anything of it at the time, but now…

“
Yes I did, at Dad’s office.” I rub my back where the needle entered my skin. “I still have a mark.” I lift my jacket and shirt for Hugh to see.

“
In your back?” Hugh looks at me concerned.

Jeremy responds, “Yes, directly into her spine. It would be the fastest way to alter her genes. And clearly it worked. You saw and spoke to me the very next night. James didn’t expect the change to happen so quickly. Genes usually take years and generations to see a change, but since yours were already altered, he hoped it would only take a few months. We had no idea your genes would change so quickly.”

Hugh pushes on, “But why didn’t Chad get one?”

I answer the question that concerns Hugh so much. “He was too little. And he didn’t show any signs of abilities. My dad didn’t want him to become a cryptid. He just wanted me to be a stronger one. I think he already knew I had the gift.” It’s the first time I’ve put all this together and the first time I’ve called what I can do a gift and really mean it.

Jeremy nods in agreement as I look to him, “My dad knew they were going to take him, didn’t he? He gave me his genes to protect me?”

He simply nods. “And to protect himself. By using his own genes, he destroyed the evidence that he could manipulate genetics. If his research had fallen into the wrong hands…”

“
Like Malsumis?” I prompt.

“
Yes, if The Darkness had obtained this information he could alter people’s genes so that they would get all the horrible things in the world possible. Cancer, AIDS, ALS, would just be the beginning. No one would survive. He would basically commit chromosomal genocide.”

Hugh even looks shocked at this revelation.

“
Well then,” I say stretching out my hands in front of me, subsequently cracking my knuckles, “we’ll just have to get him before he gets everybody else.”

Let’s do this, I’m ready for war.

As Hugh walks me back to my car, we rehash our plan. We’re going to send another person’s DNA to the website project, its genius and fairly simple.

“
I can’t believe you want me to take some guy’s hair from his room. Do you know what guy’s keep in their rooms? This is going to be so gross.” I stick out my tongue at him. Hugh wants me to steal the hair from his old roommate who now lives in a frat on campus. One thing I know for sure about college before being a student, frats are disgusting but are a great place for beer.

Hugh laughs, “Actually I do. You forget I
am
a guy. You might be surprised to find what I keep in my room.”

A devilish smile plays across his face and with that he grabs me around the waist and leans in for a kiss. His lips feel hot against my mouth. Hugh’s left hand slips down around the curves of the lower part of my back and he squeezes gently pulling me even closer. He slides his tongue in my mouth. I love kissing him. He tastes like coffee all the time, probably because he drinks it just about as much as me.

When we part I take a deep breath and kiss him gently on the cheek.

He smiles, “OK so all you have to do is grab a piece of Lance’s hair and trade it with the one Chad puts in the vial. Should be pretty easy.”

I respond, “Yeah, it should.” But honestly I’m not so sure.

“
You better pray I don’t get an STD from this. Because let me tell you, herpes would suck right now.”

“
You’re disgusting, there’s no way you’re getting an STD from a hair.” He says as he smacks me on the shoulder. I race him to the car and as usual I win.

We spend the rest of the day at the antique shop. I’m working alone so it’s not a big deal Hugh’s here. He actually helps me count the money in the drawer. It looks like they are still having some money troubles. I explain to Hugh how I’m looking at possibly working at the library at the college for some extra cash. He says that if I get the job he will try to get one there too so we can spend more time together. It makes me happy to have the opportunity to spend more time with Hugh. I would spend every waking moment with him if I could. And to get paid for it? Winning!

Again that night I have a dream about Wendy. She’s still in the house and her father isn’t there. There’s a woman this time. When I try to get a good look at her the whole picture gets foggy and black. I hear Wendy say the name Erika. I wake up coughing and wheezing. Something is not right with that girl and who the hell is Erika?

Several days later I arrive home after practice to see a certificate sitting on the kitchen island with Chad’s name on it. Seems he figured out the Autosomal DNA on the problem Mr. Spelling assigned.

Mom is sitting in the living room. She’s barely been home since I came back from Texas. I never even got punished for my mini vacation or hostage situation, depending on who you ask.

“
Hey Mom, how are ya?” I flop down on the couch. I realize pretty quickly I need a shower, rough day at practice, bleh.

She turns her attention away from the TV, “Good hon, you?”

“
I’m tired, rough day at practice. Sprints, you know how I hate them.” I rub my legs to get the feeling back in them, they’re definitely sore.

“
I always remind you to stretch. You really need to listen to me one of these times.”

She sounds serious, but she’s smiling.

“
I know, I know. Hey I saw that Chad gets to do that DNA thing. Are you really going to let him? I mean isn’t it a little weird?” If I can convince her to not let him do it, then I don’t have to steal hair from some guy I’ve never met and that would be a plus.

She frowns, “It is a little weird, but I’m surprised at you Shay, you’re practically the queen of weird.”

“
Wow, thanks Mom, super vote of confidence there.”

She laughs, “I didn’t say it was a bad thing, just who you are.”

If she only knew who, or what, I really am.

“
Anyway, I think it’s creepy and I wouldn’t let him do it if I were you.” I huff back at her.

“
Well lucky for Chad, you’re not me. He sends his vial out tomorrow, should be a very unique experience for him.”

My jaw hits the floor. “Tomorrow!?!”

Mom looks at me confused, “Yes, tomorrow. Shay, why are you being so irrational about this? Your attitude leaves something to be desired young lady.”

“
Whatever Mom, I gotta go. Hanging out with Hugh, OK?”

She shrugs, “Just be home before nine, you’ve got homework.”

“
No problem,” I yell as I run out the door.

I drive as fast as I can to Hugh’s apartment. We’ve been working on honing my skills there since we came back from Texas. Last week I spent almost two hours doing yoga. It mostly just felt like sitting and thinking about my body. The way it moves and works. Hugh said it would help me focus in times of stress. I think about my breathing now, but it’s not working.

I buzz up to his apartment while bouncing on my toes. Then I realize I’m still in my practice clothes and I still smell like I just came from practice,
super
. He uses the intercom to tell me to come up. I walk through the door and go down the hallway to the stairs. I climb them quickly, I need to get to Hugh. We need to find his friend now.

He’s already standing at the door when I get to the third floor.

“
Shay, slow down. What’s wrong?”

I speak right away,
thank God for track,
I’m not even winded. “Chad is sending his vial in tomorrow!”

His eyes go wide, “Tomorrow? But classes just started again. How did this happen so quickly? Come in, we’ve got to find a replacement hair.”

Hugh starts looking around the small living room. It’s meager with just a small couch and a coffee table. There’s no TV, Hugh can’t afford the cable bill. He just watches movies from the internet on his laptop. He’s close enough to the campus to use the college’s wifi.

Hugh finds a small address book near the couch on a small end table.

“
That’s new,” I say pointing to the little wood table.

Hugh blushes when I realize the place is cleaner than last time too. There are curtains on the window. He’s trying to impress me, how much cuter could he be?