Shifters (Shifters series Book 1) (3 page)

Chapter 3

The Mutants, the Diner, and The Young

–TANNER–

Okay, what’s happening? How did Ryland get the creepy guy
’
s knife? She was like four feet away, and then suddenly, she was standing right next to him, holding his knife.

What the heck?

Did he just call her Ry? That
’
s it. He doesn’t have his weapon. I
’
m going in. I run straight toward him and wrap my arms around his waist. He must not have seen that coming because he goes straight down on his back. At first, I think I
’
m doing great because he isn
’
t really resisting.

Ryland’s just standing there, in shock when she yells, “What do you mean
Shifted
?”

With that, I stop hitting him and just hold him to the ground. Well . . . I think I
’
m holding him. But then, with me still attached to his waist, he stands straight up.

“I knew it was you,” he smiles, eyes glinting in the moonlight.

I release his waist since it doesn
’
t seem to do anything to him anyway.

Ryland
’
s eyes have an ominous glow about them as they flit between green and yellow and blue. “What do you mean you knew? Shifted? What does that mean?” Ryland continues, still confused and short of breath. “Why are you following me?” she asks when he doesn
’
t respond. Is he still smiling? She holds the knife up in front of her and threatens, “I could kill you now!”

He holds both hands up toward her and says, “I know you can. Trust me; I know what you can do.”

“What are you two talking about?”
I interrupt.
“What’s Shifted?”

With his hands still up, the stalker calmly says, “My name is Kai. When you first shift, it’s difficult to control, so let
’
s please calm down. Maybe put the knife on the ground?”

Ryland looks confused. She starts to lower the knife.

“No! Ry! Do that Shift thing! Kill him!” I yell. Okay,
kill him
might be a bit excessive, but he
’
s a stalker. He came here armed. She shouldn
’
t just put the knife down because he knows her name and uses words she doesn
’
t know.

She raises the knife. She looks unsure, confused, anxious. The stalker’s face grows concerned. Then, both of them vanish in front of my eyes.

What the . . . ?

Suddenly, I hear them struggling behind me. Ryland is kneeling on the ground, holding her head. The creepy guy’s standing above her with the knife back in his hands. I bolt toward Kai . . . uh . . . the creepy eye guy. He’s instantly holding me back.

“How did you . . . ?” I ask, totally confused.

“Shifted,” he says plainly, almost as though he’s bored.

–RYLAND–

Of course my idiot brother would take over right at the part where he can
’
t freaking see anything. He missed the whole fight! And made me look like a total wimp.

It may have ended with me holding my head on the ground, but I got off a few good punches in that scuffle despite my shock at him following me into the crazy slow motion world I’d just discovered. Anyway, I could have stabbed him too, but there was a part of me that just thought
He might know who I am, what I am.

Plus, I mean, I
’
m twelve. I
’
m not a killer. I
’
m in middle school. And as much as the unpopular kids may say about me, I’m not really even that mean. I
’
m kind of a softy.

So, Kai says, “Shifted.” Like it
’
s nothing. No big deal that he can make everything slow motion like an action movie while he just continues on. What would be weird about that?

“How?” I ask.

“Enlarged glands or something like that.” He shrugs nonchalantly

“So, we
’re mutants?
” Tanner asks, shocked and horrified.

I chuckle at that. “I always knew you were a freak.”

Tanner glares at me, but Kai must feel safer. He puts his knife back into his backpack and slings it over his shoulder. “I can tell you all about it, but not here.”

Tanner looks skeptical. He probably doesn
’
t want to follow the mutant stalker to some unknown location in the middle of the night, but I nod. “I
’
m in.”

Tanner makes this tiny moaning sound. I almost burst out laughing. Sometimes he’s such a baby, but he follows me anyway.

So, we follow this kid for what feels like forever. We wind through all these run down old neighborhoods, hop a few fences, and finally arrive at this disgusting little diner. He grins as he holds open the door, like he
’
s led us to the lost city of El Dorado.

“Why here?” I ask, raising my left eyebrow. I
’
ve been practicing that look. Pretty nifty, huh? I am the master of skepticism.

His grin fades, and he frowns at me. “I like it here. They don
’
t ask questions. It
’
s cheap, and it
’
s open late.”

Tanner shrugs at me and walks inside. Now that we
’
re here, I guess he
’
s no longer afraid we
’
ll be murdered by the knife-wielding mutant stalker boy. Too bad, what a crazy way to die.

We sit in this awful fake leather red booth in the back. Half of the stuffing is falling out of this huge gash in the seat. Was that made by a knife? Maybe we aren
’
t so safe after all.

The table is this hideous aqua blue color and covered with stupid Americana paraphernalia, license plates and stuff from an eighteenth century farm. Pick one decade, people.

“So,” I say firmly, “Who are you?”

Kai smiles at me and bats his thick black lashes, “I already told you; I
’
m Kai.
”

This guy thinks he’s so dreamy with his muscles and perfectly tousled silver-blond hair and his gorgeous shifting eyes and . . . I am so not taken in by this. He’s just a boy. A creepy boy. With information I need.

That’s all. I swear.

“Yes, Kai, I’m aware of that. But who are you?”

Kai shrugs, shaking the hair from his eyes. “I
’
m a kid, like you. Just your run-of-the-mill fourteen-year-old mutant Shifter.”

“And what,” I say, leaning forward, batting my eyelashes, “is a Shifter?”

He grins at my ridiculous attempt at flirting. Clearly that’s not the way to get information. He sees right through me. Plus, Tanner looks like he
’
s about to puke.

A pudgy, older waitress in a yellow dress comes over to ask what we
’
d like to drink. Tanner and I start to order water, but Kai cuts us off and orders three chocolate milkshakes. She nods, frowns, and shuffles off.

When she disappears into the kitchen, Kai returns his eyes to mine. “Shifters have enlarged glands. This allows them extra bursts of adrenaline among other things. They use these chemicals to move. Quickly. But only when there’s some sort of imminent threat. It has to be triggered, so to speak.”

Tanner shakes his head, trying to wrap his brain around this information. “So, you’re just moving really fast?”

“Correct,” Kai answers, waiting for the next question. He’s a little too pleased with himself if you ask me.

“But why didn
’
t we know about it before now?” I ask. “I mean, I
’
ve been scared before.”

Kai smiles again, proud to know all the answers. “It hits right around puberty for most Shifters, unless some traumatic event triggers it early.”

I feel myself blushing. Do we have to discuss puberty? I mean, Tanner
’
s here. It has nothing to do with Kai being cute or anything.

“Why haven
’
t we heard of Shifters before?” Tanner asks. I don
’
t think he
’
d be buying this at all if he didn
’
t just see me vanish.

Kai shrugs. “It
’
s kind of a secret. Don
’
t want the government to find and experiment on us all.”

I don’
t buy it. He knows more than he
’
s saying. “What about our parents?”

“If your parents didn
’
t tell you, my guess is they
’
re not your parents. They must be normal, or Ordinaries as my parents called them. They don
’
t look like you.” For the first time, I feel his eyes brush over me. Heat creeps into my cheeks.

Tanner snaps, “
Not our parents? That’
s ridiculous!”

We all pause as the waitress reenters the dining room carrying three old-fashioned glasses filled with thick brown liquid, topped with fluffy white cream and a bright red cherry. Chocolate.

We all take our shakes politely. I dig into mine, suddenly realizing how little I ate at dinner. Tanner doesn
’t touch his.

I must have already accepted David
’
s earlier statement about our parents, but this is news to Tanner. He must be in shock. “It
’
s true, Tanner. That
’
s why I called a meeting. I overheard David say it during the study.”

“What?” Tanner asks with wide eyes. “We
’
re adopted?”

Kai puts down his spoon and looks at me, his face ashen. “Did you say your parents have a study? Like a group meeting?”

“Yes,” I say to both simultaneously. “
David, our parent’
s Bible study leader said they weren
’
t our parents. They were worried we weren
’
t safe.”

Kai stands up abruptly. “That must mean they
’
re close.”

“Who?” Tanner asks, sounding so much younger. He
’
s huddling there, spoon in hand, looking lost and upset.

“The Shifters. The real ones. From where we
’
re from. They
’
re here for us, The Young.”

Chapter 4

Dad Has a Plan—He Thinks

–TANNER–

I was
not
acting like a baby. Seriously, Ryland’s always teasing me about my size. I just can
’
t believe we’re ready to follow this creepy mutant guy though alleys and backyards to who-knows-where? At this point, I
’
m pretty sure our bloodied bodies won’t be discovered for weeks, but Ryland is like, “Let
’
s go!”

If this guy was missing one of his eyes or had a disfiguring scar, I
’
m pretty sure she wouldn
’
t have been so quick to follow him. But no, he has to look like some Disney Channel star, so off we go! Isn
’
t this the guy who just pulled a knife on you?

Evidently, Ryland left out some key details before our little adventure tonight. So, we
’
re sitting in this cheap diner, talking to the guy stalking my sister, and I learn about being: 1) adopted, 2) a mutant, and if that
’
s not enough, 3) hunted by some crazy people called Shifters. And if all Shifters can do what my sister and this guy can do, that
’
s a pretty big deal. Talk about a lot to take in for one night!

It was fun watching Ryland swooning over him, I have to admit. She
’
s always been the one guys are trying to impress. Now she
’
s batting her eyelids and talking in this super sweet voice. Hilarious.

So, Kai says he’ll take us home. “It
’
s not safe,” he says, as we walk out of the old diner.

“We
’
ll be fine.” I look around, trying to figure out exactly where we are.

“Of course,” he says. “It would just make me feel better if I walked with you.”

“Tanner, it
’
s fine. I think we should stay with him,” Ryland pleads.

Oh, my God. Seriously? She is totally crushing on this guy.

“Fine. If it makes you feel better,” I tell her.

Actually, I have no idea where we are, and I don
’
t want to admit I
’
m not exactly comfortable in the dark in a strange area. One more thing to add to my list of things I never plan on doing. Kai does seem to know his way around.

I
’
m not exactly sure how we got home, but when we try to sneak in, both of our parents are sitting in the dark waiting for us.

Dad stands up, saying in a hushed but stern whisper, “Where were you? Your mother was worried!”

I
’
m standing in shock. Dad seems really mad. I don
’
t really remember seeing him angry before.

Ryland just flips. Not even trying to be quiet, she yells, “Mother? Really? Is that what you are?”

Dad doesn
’
t know what to say.

Mom makes a shush sound before whispering, “Quiet, you
’
ll wake your brother and sister.”

“Are they my brother and sister?” I ask quietly, hurt.

Mom just stands there, stunned.

Ryland walks right up to her and says, “Are we even related at all? ‘Cause that
’
s not what David said in your precious study today!”

Mom
’
s eyes flit between my sister and my dad. The funny thing is dad
’
s expression is closer to relief than shock or pain. He takes a deep breath and sits down.

A small voice speaks up from the kitchen doorway, “What
’
s a matter?” Bryce is standing in the doorway holding Peanut, who’s rubbing her face and looking at us through sleepy eyes.

Walking over to them, mom says, “It
’
s nothing, Sweetie. Come on, you two. Let
’
s go back to bed.”

Bryce walks into the kitchen, handing Peanut to Mom and saying, “It
’
s okay. I was having a bad dream anyway.”

Mom starts to take Peanut out when her little voice asks, “Is it ‘cause of the Shifties? Did they find Ry and Tan Man?”

“Yeah,
Mom
,” Ryland asks pointedly. “Is it because of the Shifties? Did they find Ry and Tan Man?”

Mom stops in her tracks with her back to us with Peanut
’
s sleepy eyes looking over her shoulder.

Bryce pulls up a chair. Sitting down, he says, “This sounds good. There
’
s no way I
’
m missing it.”

Dad quietly says, “Elizabeth, it
’
s time.”

Mom stands for a long moment then turns around, placing Peanut on her hip so they’re both looking at us. Mom’s actually tearing up. Dad gently motions for her to come back in.

“You are my children!” Struggling through her tears, she says, “
I don’
t care what anybody says! I raised you!” She motions to Ryland and me. “I
’
m the one who bathed you, fed you, changed your diapers.” She storms right up to Ryland and says, “Don
’
t tell me I
’
m not your mother. You wouldn
’
t even be alive if it weren
’
t for your father and me.”

“What does that mean?”
I interrupt.

Everyone turns to look at me. Peanut starts squirming so Mom puts her down. She runs over to Ryland and reaches her arms in the air.

Ryland breaks her stare with Mom to pick her up. Peanut gives her best pouty face and says, “Don
’
t fight!”

Ryland immediately softens. Her eyes well up as she pulls her little sister close.

“I
’
m sorry, P,” she apologizes.

Bryce speaks up, “So where were you guys?”

Everyone looks at Bryce, then back at us.

I give Bryce a look.

“So? Where were you?” Dad asks.

“It was Ryland
’s fault,
” I volunteer.

–RYLAND–

Of course, Tanner would blame me! Right after Peanut gets so upset, which means I can
’
t even defend myself. I shouldn’t have to explain myself to these
. . . people
. Pretend parents.

I sigh, “We were investigating.”

“What does that mean?” Dad snaps.

I shrug noncommittally, bouncing Peanut when I do. “Just wanted to know who
’
d been following me. No big deal.”

Tanner would be eating this up, my getting in trouble and all, if he weren
’
t right there with me. Mom looks like she could shoot lasers out of her eyes. Maybe I can do that. That
’
d be cool.

“Someone’s been following you, and you decided to what? Follow them?” Mom is incredulous, too angry to be frightened for us.

“Yeah,” Tanner says hesitantly, “I didn
’
t want to go with him, but—”

“Go with who? Where?”
Dad demands.

“To this nifty old school diner. We had chocolate milkshakes. It was cool.” I answer, as though that will go over well.

“Who
exactly
did you go with?” Mom asks, slowly calming down.

“This Shifter, Kai.” Tanner jumps in, thinking he
’
s helping.

“Oh, my God!” Mom almost passes out just there, I swear. It
’
s crazy. You
’
d think the mother of two Shifters wouldn
’
t freak at the word.

“Chill, Mom, he
’
s cool,” I say.

“Shifters are
not
cool.” Dad tries to keep his voice even, but he
’
s terrified.

Dad. Dad is terrified.

“They’re really dangerous,” he says. “In fact, they killed . . . they killed so many people. They killed your parents.”

Dad
’
s eyes go all misty, remembering, but all I can think is my parents were murdered. By Shifters. Like me. Why?

“Let
’
s all sit down,” Mom says softly, her anger flowing out of her as if it were never there. “You see, it all started a long time ago.”

“A long time ago?” Tanner asks, sitting down. “How can that be when we
’
ve never even heard of Shifters before?”

I have to admit, Tanner can be a smart kid. You know, when he
’
s not too busy being completely useless.

“That
’
s the thing,” Dad says, “We
’
re not exactly from here.”

“Not from here?” Bryce chirps. I almost forgotten he was here.

“No, son,” Dad says. “We
’
re from,” he gulps, unsure of how we
’
ll react, “another planet.”

Tanner looks like he’s going to lose it. We
’
re mutant orphans from another planet being hunted by our own people—who, by the way, murdered parents we never even knew we had! It
’
s a lot to take in.

“You need to understand,” Mom cuts in. “We didn
’
t tell you because we didn
’
t want you to feel like you didn
’
t belong. We just wanted you to be safe and happy.”

“What about me?” Bryce snaps. “You couldn
’
t have told me?”

“Oh, honey,” Mom croons. “The nightmares were enough. We didn
’
t want you to know how real they were.”

Bryce pales.

“You see,” Dad begins, “On our planet, the Shifters rule while us Ordinaries work for them.”

“It was nice enough. We weren
’
t slaves; we were left to pursue our own talents, but there were those that were discontent with being considered secondhand citizens,” Mom continues.

Bryce nods mutely, eyes wide. He must remember some of this.

“One d-day,” Dad stutters slightly, nervous, “There was a prophecy. A young Shifter would change the balance of things, make the Ordinaries rulers again.”

I shake my head. This is all too crazy. There
’
s no way this can be true, but . . . “
The Young,
” I say. “They
’
re hunting down the Young to avert the prophecy.”

Dad nods mutely. Mom looks pale and weak.

“So, you fled here with us?” Tanner asks, unsure.

“
Your parents,
” Mom says, her eyes filling with tears, “tried to bring you here, to safety. But, they had to . . . they gave you to us. Before . . .”

Mom can
’
t continue, and I know. I know they died to save us. They died to give us a chance.

My parents died for me.

“So, you see,” Dad says, “Shifters are,” he shudders, “evil.”

“
Not Kai, Dad,
” I say. “He
’
s only fourteen, like Tanner.”

Mom
’
s eyes go wide. “Fourteen?”

“There are others,” my Dad says. “Others like you who escaped to the lost colony, to Earth.”

I shake my head. Is Kai an orphan too? Does he know this prophesy? “How did he find us?” I ask.

Dad furrows his brow. “He must know a way to discover other Shifters, and if he does, they will too. You
’
re no longer safe here.”

“It
’
s okay,” Mom whispers. “They haven
’
t Shifted yet.”

I shake my head, afraid to tell them the truth.

Lucky for me, Tanner is here to ruin my night and admit it to them. “Ryland has!”

Mom and Dad both turn to look at me, ghost white. I glare at Tanner. “I . . . I Shifted tonight. I was scared when Kai pulled a knife.”

“He what?” Mom practically shrieks.

I grimace. I probably should’ve left that part out.

“It was because Ryland tackled him,”
Tanner continues.

I’m so dead. Thanks, Tanner.

“He thought she was a Shifter,” Tanner tries to explain.

Dad
’
s mouth hangs open for a split second too long. Is that pride I see in his eyes? Is he proud of me?

“Then they have to leave?” Bryce asks.

I feel a rock in the pit of my stomach. Somehow, I know he
’
s right. We aren
’
t safe here. If they were willing to kill our Shifter parents, they
’
ll have no qualms about our Ordinary ones.

“No!” Mom gasps, almost pleading with Dad.

He looks pained, unsure of what to do.

“Yes,” I say, resolute. “We
’
re leaving. We
’
re going with Kai.”

Tanner looks at me like I
’
m insane. I do my best to tell him with my eyes. He has to understand. We have to leave. To protect Mom and Dad and Bryce and . . . surely no one would hurt little Peanut, would they?

He looks frightened and angry with me, but I see understanding dawn on his face. He knows why we have to leave. He knows they won
’
t be safe if we
’
re here.

“
You aren
’
t going off with some kid you just met,” Dad snaps. “We have a plan, David and I. We’re going to hide you. Everything’ll be fine.”

But I know he
’
s wrong. I know it won
’
t work. I know we have to leave.

“Okay,” I say. “Okay, we can do that.”

Tanner meets my eyes, and I know we’ve silently agreed. We’re leaving. For them.