Parahuman (Parahuman Series) (22 page)

     “I’m
kidding.” She said rolling her eyes. “You should have seen your face. Like
anyone was going to believe I wrestled with a wolf and received no injuries
during the assault. I told them I was using the ski pole as protection and got
lucky when it jumped at me impaling itself on the pole. It happens all the time
in the movies.” She said this casually, as if it were really so. Devan couldn’t
be sure since he didn’t watch a lot of movies. “They were a little mystified
though on how I got the door open. I just told them that it had been really
shaky, possibly from others trying to get in and that it had given easily when
I finally tried it.”

     “Did
everyone seem to believe your story?” If she was doubted people would talk.

     She
nodded. “Nobody questioned whether I was telling the truth, everyone was just
glad I was safe.”

     “And
no one made any mention of me?” This was the vital detail. If he had been
observed going into that building with her then talk would abound, and that
would be too much of a risk. This incident was sure to become public knowledge.
 

     “I didn’t
hear anyone say anything, and no one approached me about it. Believe me; if
anyone had seen you they would have said something. I think everyone was more
focused on getting to safety then what the person next to them might have been
doing.” The smile she gave him was one of reassurance.  

    
Unfortunately, they couldn’t be certain of that. Only after the story had
circulated and everyone recounted their own narrative of the events could they
be certain he wasn’t in it.

     Laney
walked up to his dresser to examine three wooden animal figurines. “These are
really detailed,” she observed, picking up the eagle and turning it over in her
hands. Her head swung his way. “You made these?” She asked, possibly impressed
if he deduced correctly from her raised eyebrow.

     Mouth
full of egg Devan could only nod. 

    
“These are all very distinct animals; the bald eagle, a jaguar…”

     “Jaguar.”
Devan corrected.         

     She
threw a look his way before continuing. “A lizard of some sort, and a monkey of
another sort.”

     “A salamander
and a gibbon monkey.” He supplied, gulping down his fourth sandwich.

     “I’ve
been lucky enough to see a bald eagle,” she stated, setting down the eagle and
picking up the jaguar. She ran her fingers along the spine of the animal as
though petting it. “Why these animals; is there something special about them?”

     Wow!
That couldn’t have been a more perceptive opening question. What could he
possibly say?  “I do have an affinity to them.” He acknowledged vaguely. It was
hard to break years of secrecy.   

     She
turned around to face him; her eyes narrowed. “You seem to have an affinity for
many things. You’re an amazing trekker and climber. You’ve taken on a mountain
lion and a wolf. These are beautiful figurines you’ve carved. It would appear
as though you play an instrument, unless it’s just for show.” She gestured
toward his guitar and took a deep breath, but only so she could keep going.
“The books in your room are not the normal variety seen in a teenager’s bedroom;
architecture, a collection of math volumes that I’ve never heard of, science,
physics, and other daunting literature. Sheesh, where’s the sports magazines
and other risqué reading material.” She ended her tirade standing at the end of
his bed, hands on her hips, looking at him in frustration. It was surprisingly
intimidating…and she seemed to be waiting for some kind of reply. Though he
doubted it was what she wanted to hear he answered the only question he heard
in long-winded discourse.

    
“Sorry, no sports magazines.”

     She
just looked at him for a few seconds than her eye brow went up and her lip
twitched a little. “And the risqué material?”

     Devan
considered that for second. “Well, I do have a journal on human development
with lots of illustration.” 

    
Laney’s lips began to quiver and she gripped them with her teeth almost
painfully. Her body started jerking and one arm clutched her abdomen tightly.
Devan was starting to become concerned for her mental and physical wellbeing
when giggles suddenly erupted from her mouth. His apprehension started to ease,
but then tears began to fall from her eyes and her giggles became shaky with an
undertone of a sob.

     
Devan was at a complete loss. Just like last time when she cried he had no idea
what to do. She continued to shake, laugh, and sob; whipping at her eyes and
sniffing her nose. Sniffles! He could get her some tissue.

    
Rushing into the adjoining bathroom Devan grabbed some toilet paper. Hurrying
over he thrust the tissue into her hands. She brought it up to her face mopping
at her eyes and blowing her nose. A feeling of helplessness engulfed him, and
he hated it. He needed to know what she required to make her feel better.

     She
inhaled and exhaled unsteadily before looking at him with a small smile. Her
green eyes were bright with tears, but they also held amusement. “That was an
awesome stress reliever. I soooo needed that.”

    
Devan’s eyes widened in shock. What just happened?

     With
a watery grin on her face she reached out and patted his arm. “What you said
was too funny and it set off all the emotions I’ve been holding in for the last
two plus hours. The fear of the wolf attack, the anxiety of whether you were
okay, the distress at seeing you bleeding; it all bubbled forth into that
maniacal laughter you just witnessed. Disturbing, but therapeutic.”

     Devan
stared down at her hand upon his. Contact with her no longer caused him to
freeze up. He was becoming accustomed to her touch; in fact…he yearned for it.

     “I’m relieved
that I was able to assist in your stress relief.” He had no idea at the time
that his words would help her, but he was pleased that it had worked out that
way.

     The
hand on his arm clenched sending arrows if electricity up his limb. “I never thanked
you for what you did back at the school.” Her gaze was intense as she stared
into his eyes. It was making Devan feel really warm and uncomfortable…well,
maybe uncomfortable wasn’t the correct word.

     Devan
tore his eyes away and looked out the window to gain composure. “Thank you, for
covering for me and probably saving my life.”

    
Fingers whispered softly over his injured arm. “Is this where someone says
‘well I guess were even’, because I don’t think I could leave it at that.”

     Devan’s
attention returned to her hand, skimming softly over his arm. It was small
compared to his, delicate, and smeared with blood. Devan finally took note of
both their appearances. Laney only had small amount blood encrusted on her both
her hands and some on her shirt; while he had dried blood coating his chest,
arms, and hands from holding his arm secure.

    
Standing, Devan walked into the bathroom and wet a washcloth with warm water.
Returning to her he tenderly took one of her hands and proceeded to wash off
the blood.

     “I
can do that.” She protested.

     “Let
me, please.” Devan didn’t understand his need to care for her, but the urge was
strong and he wasn’t going to fight it. She accepted without further argument.

    “You
have an interesting tattoo there on your back.”

    
Devan’s shoulders stiffened in reaction to her query, which in turn set off a
procession of twinges down his arm. He had completely forgotten about his back.
The things that slipped his mind around her were going to become too numerous
to count soon. He was always aware of the mark on his back and how he had to
keep it concealed, just like his eyes. That he’d taken no notice of it the
entire time in her presence was…uncharacteristic. It was like his subconscious
was telling him something or maybe it was his instincts that were speaking to
him. Either way he came to a decision about whole situation.

     “In
six years no one has seen that mark, but then these last four days have exposed
more than that.” Devan conceded quietly. Finished with her hands Devan stood
and walked back into the bathroom to clean the washcloth, and then wiped at the
dried blood on his arms and chest; clearly conscious now of her silent bearing
and gaze focused on the mark covering his back. Since it still didn’t bother
him he recognized that he most likely had been subliminally aware of her
attention.    

     Laney
was silent as Devan washed up quickly. Walking back into the bedroom he grabbed
a t-shirt out of his dresser pulling it over his head careful of his injured
arm. His shorts had blood on them so he grabbed an extra set and went back to
the bathroom.

     “Uhm,
just give me one minute.” Devan said, holding up the shorts as explanation.

     “Of
course.” Laney smiled and waved her hand. “I felt the same way earlier after I
smeared myself with the wolf’s blood; couldn’t wait to get out of that shirt.”

     Devan
understood immediately what she had done to validate her story of killing the
wolf. That she had made such an effort to establish her story pleased him, but
it also gave him a sense of disquiet that she had to become involved. Shutting
the door he stripped out of his shorts, cleaned up the blood that had seeped
through, and pulled on the clean shorts. He opened the door to see that Laney had
sat down on the bed, but she jumped up at his reemergence. She looked over his
clean cloths and smiled.

     “Feel
better?”

    
“Much, thank you.” Taking a couple steps into the room Devan halted awkwardly
in the center of the room and turned toward her. It would probably be a good
idea if she was sitting down for what he had to tell her.

    
“Please sit back down.” She did as he asked. “What I’m about to tell you, you won’t
be able to tell anyone. Brett and my life depend on it.” Devan’s grim words had
her sitting up straighter, distress covering her face.

     “Are
you running away from abusive parents?” She asked, sitting gingerly back on the
bed. 

     There
was a certain irony to that question. Devan didn’t have parents, but he was
running from people who ultimately had him created and could end up being
fatally abusive.  

     “No,
but I need to know if this is a secret you can keep Laney?”

    
“You’re not running from the law or doing anything illegal are you?” She asked
hesitantly.

     “No; actually
it’s the people chasing us that are breaking the law.”

     She
frowned in concern. “If it’s as serious as you say then I promise that I will
take this to my grave.” Her declaration resulted in a chill down Devan’s spine.
There was a definite possibility that danger could come her way if she talked.

     “I
mean it Laney, if I suddenly disappeared or if something happened to me you
couldn’t say a thing to anyone. It could expose you to some dangerous people.”
Devan stressed urgently. The thought of anything happening to her tore up his
insides. “It might be better if I left you completely in the dark. Brett and I
could just leave and I wouldn’t have to worry about drawing you into something
that might ultimately be unsafe for you.” He was torn by indecision, which
wasn’t customary for him. Normally, once he established his course of action he
never wavered, but when it concerned her everything became muddled.

     An
expression of dismay washed over her face. “What do you mean leave, and what do
you mean if something happened to you? These people who are looking for you,
they
want to harm you?”

     “You
could say they want me dead or alive, and they wouldn’t be above killing those
they think might know anything about me.” Devan wasn’t sure if he was trying to
scare her away or just warn her of the seriousness of the circumstances. He was
in a dilemma on whether he wanted her near him and in danger, or far away from
him but safe. When she heard the whole story she would probably run as far from
him as possible.

     “I
don’t know if I would be able to keep whatever it is to myself if you showed up
dead
. Are you sure these people really want to hurt you?” She asked
incredulously horror, her eyes wide.

     “All
they’re interested in is my body; it doesn’t necessarily have to be alive when
they get hold it.”

     A
look of confusion crossed her horrified expression. “What do you mean, they
want your body?” Her eyes roved over him looking for something anyone could
possibly want.

     This
was the crucial moment. Devan took the proverbial head first plunge. “I’m not a
normal Homosapien.” Devan paced over to the window, not wanting to see her face
when he revealed the next part. “I wasn’t born of two parents; I was actually
assembled in a laboratory. I’m a genetically engineered hybrid created from a
human embryo altered with animal DNA.” 

     There
was complete silence behind him. He didn’t even hear breathing.

    
“Breathe Laney.” Devan kept his eyes on the trees. After he heard a large
whoosh of air being exhaled he continued.