It's been about 5 minutes of driving so far. We've managed to pick up a few more students by now. I decided to just sit in the back corner, laying as low as I can. I don't want to stick out just yet.
I know this peace won't last long. It'll be a matter of hours before the first duel of the semester starts. And with the tension building every second to find out their rankings, my peers may even do it sooner. I hope some manage to keep it in until the school does it's official test for orientation...
Every semester, the school gives out a ranking test to see how well we can shift and how we use our animal side in a fight or under pressure. I personally think it's a way to control us. I mean, with every student being a hybrid of some sort, the possibilities are almost endless.
For the record, I'm not looking forward to first period's orientation. It's not my first time doing a test like this, given my unique condition in this world. But this doesn't stop me from worrying.
As soon as I shift, they'll document my hybrid side. And if o ever have to shift in the future, I'll have to be with that animal or plant so I don't become something else. If I do, I'll be in trouble.
As you can imagine, it'll be hard to explain my predicament to my peers. The teachers and officials know a bit about me from my transfer papers, but still. I'm an outcast in this world. And there's nothing I can do...
_*_*_*_*_
(Meanwhile under the school)
_*_*_*_*_
There's a dark room, lit only by a single overhead light. In the room, there's a table with files and paperwork on it. Three men stand by the table looking at the contents of the table together, discussing what's on them.
"Let's see who joined us this semester." the biggest one says. He has no hair and wears a black suit. His face is otherwise handsome if not for the disturbing look in his eye or the creepy smile on his face.
"There seems to be a lot more kids than last year, that's for sure." another says. This one wears a button up shirt with a plaid-like pattern on it. His face is a bit more gruff. He doesn't seem to have shaved a lot recently.
"Is there anyone that sticks out? I need someone powerful soon." the last one says. This one wears a white coat, similar to that of a scientist. On his face, scars are poorly hidden by concealer. His attitude seems almost curious, but hostile at the same time. He is the boss of the two others.
"This one, Sir." the one in the black suit claims, pointing to a specific file. He paused for a moment before continuing. "She seems to fit our specifications and needs, plus her hybrid form claims to be Unique"
"Unique?" the boss man says. He is shocked a bit. There's not a lot of unique these days. With children born at the rate they are and the living things known by scientists and the like, how could there be something new so often? He was intrigued by this information. It was in his nature.
"Go on! Tell me! What else does it say on this individual? What's her name?" the boss man continues. His subordinate did not continue for quite a minute and he got a bit frustrated at waiting for all the information he could get on this individual specimen. He needed to know these things if he were to accomplish his goals.
The man in the suit gulped. His mouth was suddenly dry. Too scared to continue, the other grunt next to him continued instead.
"Her name is Ari, last name XXXX. She is 15 years of age. She's one of the new transfers we're accepting this year from out of state due to the student swap program. It claims she has the ability of multiple hybrid transformations. However it doesn't specify what these are, boss." the man in the plaid-like top explains.
"Interesting..." the boss exclaims. His smile widens and his scars stretch with it. His frightening smile reveals pointy teeth. His face starts to elongate as he shift begins. The bones crack and change to that similar to a rat and a tail buds from behind and pokes out the long white coat.
As a scientist, his curiosity know no bounds. As a powerful boss, he's ruthless enough to do anything to satisfy that curiosity of his. It's a bit ironic that his hybrid form is of a rodent, as he offhand to experiment on them. But he feels no kinship to them as he mercilessly tests them when no hybrid captives are available.
Soon the changes stop as he reached his most rat-like hybrid form. It's huge, about 7 feet tall now at least. His nose twitches as he sniffs the air, anxious to meet his new specimen for himself.
...End of Chapter...