She gently pulled me back and waited for me to get my footing before relinquishing the reigns to my body. I look around and there is nothing left of Stephen. My stomach is full, and my body grew tired. "Where is his body?" I ask her. "Don't you know that panthers don't waste a meal?" she sassed. I laugh, there is blood everywhere but not a bone of Stephens body in site. I'm covered in his blood and I will not leave this house like this. "Pack a bag with the most essential things you will need and book a flight."
"We need to leave this place as soon as possible. There is no need for you to be here." She said. I did as told, I pack a bag that I can carry with some clothes, a small bag of toiletries and some shoes. I pack my emoji school backpack with all my important documents, thankfully when the social worker took my case, she had me take my passport out. Don't even ask me why but I have it, after packing everything I will need I look for something to wear.
I pull everything with me to the front of the door in the living room and go to my parent's bedroom to shower all the muck and blood off me. After I was ready, she took control again but didn't push me back this time. "You need to know what we're capable of, we are one and you need to master our gifts just like I do. We need to be a synchronized unit. Move and feel as one. You're mine just as much as I am yours." She walks with purpose as if we have been together all our lives.
She walks back towards my bedroom that it's the last down the hall. She lifts my right hand as I feel it get hot once more, I look and find it ingulfed by flames. I know this shouldn't be normal and that I should definitely be flipping out, but I am not. This feels as normal as breathing… soothing even. Like a part of me that was dormant and now is awoken. She touches my bed and furniture lighting it in flames as she went. She looks at the photos of my grandmother and me before she died that I had on my nightstand.
It's the only picture I had of her and one where I was truly happy. She took the photo out of the frame and took it for me. "Thank you…" I whisper gratefully. She caresses my cheek lovingly and goes on with her task. She walks around the whole apartment lighting everything she can. "What are you doing?" I ask after a while. "We can't leave trace of anything, so everything needs to burn." She answers. I didn't ask any more questions and wait until she finishes.
I pull my backpack on and pull the bag with my clothes with me. First stop is the bank, then the airport and get the heck out of dodge. I pull my hoodie over my head to cover my face and walk towards the back entrance of the project. I avoid everyone, which is easier said than done. I take my bus pass out and wait for it to arrive. "To where should I take the plane ticket?" I ask Nahlexa. "Florida." She answers and lays to rest in the back of my mind.
She looks as if she really is sleeping but I know she's paying attention to everything around me to keep me safe. The bus arrived half an hour later and I sit in the back. I look inside my backpack making sure I didn't leave anything. I really need my cellphone right now; I could book a flight and don't have to wait when I get to the airport. I get off the bus and walk towards the bank. I take my cards and ID out to hurry things along. "I need to see an agent; I would like to take a large sum out of my account." I say to the receptionist as I fill the paper with the amount.
She nods her head and adds me to the waiting list. I wait patiently for one to call my name and thankfully I didn't have to wait long. I gave the agent all my documents and the paper slip with the amount I wanted. "Is there a reason you want such a large sum?" she asks, I frown suspicious. That is no one's business much less hers, I worked my butt off since I was ten years old to save everything I could, and I won't let anyone tell me what to do with it.
"It's my money and I want that amount, for what? That doesn't concern you." I say folding my arms in front of my chest. She frowns not liking my tone, but she can't do anything. The account is under my name, she nods and does as I ask, she took a large manila folder with her to get the cash. I sign the papers she needs, and she gives me my folder. I put it inside my backpack and ask them to call me a cab. "Why do we need to leave the island?" I ask as we wait for the cab to arrive.
"Our scent is potent; you weren't born a panther, so you didn't go through the stages of our growth. I chose you already being a fully grown panther. You only being sixteen makes things a little different and complicated. We need to control my pheromones and my scent. Right now, it's only me controlling it and its barely working. We can't be tracked; we need to disappear for our safety until you're ready to fight. Our scent will be everywhere in that building and every place we have gone since we shifted. Even with the fire, whoever wants our people dead will find it. So, we need to put as much distance between us as possible. You need to learn to control our gifts, shifts and how to fight in both forms." She answers.