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  I set the bag by the wall and go back.

  I am usually at the city for at least an hour if not more. With everything I grab, I have to take back to the oak tree, so I can transform there and take everything back home.

  I go back for some bread, but as I sit on a bag of flour by the bakery, I hear yells from the end of the road.

  “Get off me!” a girl’s voice calls out. A few guards in red and black run by the bakery. I look down the road and see them cuffing a girl around my age. She wears only brown clothing but has beautiful caramel blonde wavy hair. Being arrested for not wearing the city colors, I suppose. I think sadly in my mind.

  I study her. Her eyes are a strange color. More like animal shaped eyes. The guards strap on the black cuffs on the girl and walk her towards me. I back away, but before they reach the bakery, the girl stops yelling, and the group is surrounded by blue smoke. A Morph! The Guards yell in the smoke and I hear a deep scream of a cougar. The huge cat leaps from the smoke and stands there watching the guards grabbing nets and ropes from their bags that are beside them.

  Chapter 6

  People from all around scream and run. Grabbing their children. The cougar looks around with crazed and angered eyes.

  What is she doing?! I think in my mind. She’s letting the entire Morph secret out! I am angered by the girl. She lets out another scream and swipes a paw as a guard puts up a shield. I should do something, but what? I must stay a cat or else they’ll know I’m a Morph too.

  Suddenly the cougar lunges for a guard but misses and gets even more aggravated. She lunges more and goes insane as the guards try to control her. I back away and feel the glass door from the bakery behind me. I look away for a second to watch the people fleeing in every direction. When I look back at the scene, the cougar girl falls to the concrete road. Dark black smoke fills the air around as the guards hold up strange looking masks to their faces.

  Did they just kill that girl? I look horrified at the cougar lying motionless on the ground. Suddenly her side rises, then falls as if she was in a deep sleep. I let myself breathe. They just knocked her out with Sleeping powder. A powder that puts you into a deep dreamless sleep.

  A luxury black Sedan stops on the end of the street and a person walks out. As she walks closer, I realize it’s the mayor of the Southern City. She wears a tight short red dress and a cropped black sweater. Her black hair is curly and cut up to her chin with a black fedora. Her eyes are dark with make-up and I don’t even want to know how she walks in those insanely tall black heels.

  “What do we have here?” She asks urgently in a smooth velvety voice.

  “A girl, but she became a cougar in seconds. We don’t know how this happened. We had to knock her out. She was going rouge,” a guard informs.

  “I understand. She was a girl you say? I heard of them. They call themselves Morphs, I think. Thank you for protecting the city. Have there been any more?”

  “Not that we’ve seen, but there could be.” My heart pounds. What if they find out there’s one behind them right now? Me! I forget about the bread I was waiting to steal. I’ve got enough food to last a few days at least. I run back to the oak tree and Morph back into my human self quickly. I grab my goods and spring up to the branch and climb over. I don’t care if I’m out of breath and feeling like I’m about to black out, I just sprint as fast as I can back home. But I never feel far enough away from the Mayor and her Guards. When I see my tall house through the trees, I slow down and casually walk in as if nothing was wrong.

  “I’m back!” I yell. My voice echoes through the house. “Hello?” Please tell me they didn’t leave!

  “Cali!” Aurelian calls from above. Seconds later she is running down the stairs.

  “I got lots of stuff.” I say through the gasps I’m making for air.

  “Were you running back?” Aurelian asks as she rummages through the stack of food I brought.

  “Yeah, I wanted to get back quickly,” I lie. Lying has become a kind of easy thing since I’m a Morph. It doesn’t take me longer than a second to think of what to make up. My sister nods as I hear the twins walking down the stairs.

  “Eat up,” I say as I sit down at the dining table. I turn on the TV and turn to the News wondering if anything is on about the event.

  “Today, a rouge Cougar went savage in the marketplace of the Southern City. Guards bombed it with sleeping powder and brought it to the zoo where it was contained in a cage for large cats. The cougar apparently was a girl who transformed into a cougar, but citizens of the city aren’t buying it. More of this story after these commercials.”

  I put the mute on and look around. What was that girl thinking? Transforming into her animal form in the middle of a city?! I can sort of understand why she did it. She wasn’t wearing the city colors, so they arrested her. She got mad and transformed. But that’s still no excuse to let out our secret.

  The commercials turn off and the News starts again. “Breaking now. The cougar that attacked the Southern City is now waking up. But is the story of it transforming into a cougar from girl form, true? We just caught it on film from the Southern City Zoo’s security camera. One moment a cougar, the other a girl. Watch,” a black and white video appears and shows the cougar lying in a metal cage, then Morphing back into a girl. The girl wakes up and appears to be terrified. “Mayor Zara now is talking to the terrified city live, explaining that there could be more Morphs as she calls them.”

  The screen switches to the front of the mayor’s mansion in the Southern City. The mayor of the City stands there with people shouting at her. Her black hair glistens as lights shine upon her. She wears too much dark make-up and I wonder how she ever became mayor. She’s too self-centered. “People! People! We have the cougar under control. Don’t worry. I will put her to death tonight for disloyalty and attacking the city,” I gasp as she says the girl will be killed. “I’ve seen the video footage and believe that there could be more Morphs out there. Scientists and the technicians who work hard to develop our technology are working hard now on trying to come up with equipment on eliminating these monsters. Morphs are dangerous! Look at the cougar girl, for instance! She nearly killed the people at the marketplace! Do we want these creatures roaming the land attacking our cities and people?”

  The crowd around the mayor shouts and screams. “No! They’re a threat to society!”

  “No, we don’t!” The mayor says. “We must kill them all! They all are dangerous! We want to live and not be attacked by these monsters! Now who’s with me?!” The crowd goes insane again.

  “Shut it!” I scream at the TV. “Not all Morphs are dangerous!” I smack my hand on the dining table! Anger fills me. How dare she insult us! How dare she say that about us Morphs! We are good people! We wouldn’t hurt anyone! The cougar girl was just mad that she was being arrested for not wearing the stupid outfits!! My face and cheeks burn with the blood rushing to them. My hands shake from the aggravation.

  “The scanning equipment to eliminate these creatures should be done by the end of this week. ‘til then, the Southern City will be on lockdown. No one shall leave their homes without Guard’s supervision. If you shall leave without a Guard, you will be arrested, treated as a Morph, and killed.” I glare at the TV. I try to give the worst glare I can. I think evil thoughts in my head as I listen to the mayor say things about Morphs. I should stop watching it. I should just leave, but I don’t. My siblings walk in the dining room and look at the TV too.

  “What’s going on? Why are you yelling?” Aurelian asks.

  “Nothing,” I say dully, turning off the TV. I walk out of the dining room and into my room. What will happen when the equipment comes out? Will they scan everybody in the city to see if any Morphs live among them? If that’s so, then I’m safe, but not the Morphs who live in the Southern City. My body shakes from anger and fear. The hatred towards the mayor fills my whole body now. I must do something. I must save those who are in the city, but the city could kill me. I’m tor
n in different ways. I could either help the Morphs and risk being killed, or I could stay here and be killed by the guilt of not helping anyone. Either way, I’ll die anyway.

  Chapter 7

  The end of the week comes fast. In the morning on Sunday, I wake before my siblings. I go down in the dining room and turn on the small TV. I turn to the News again and find Mayor Zara speaking live.

  “Yes, the equipment is ready. We, as in me, and all the new Morph Controllers, or Southern City guards with the most training, will scan every house in the Southern City today. The city will still be on lockdown, so don’t go outside at all again today. We will give you a pass once we are done scanning you, so you can go outside your homes.”

  I get up and walk to the kitchen in my dull, angry mood. I toast a piece of bread and go back to watch the News. Apparently, they are filming the scanning part live because when I get back to the dining room, guards in black and red bulky uniforms are surrounding a house, scanning the family. They scan the people with a large black gadget that examines them with a red laser. About ten or fifteen seconds later, the gadget beeps loudly and vibrates. The boy who was being scanned turns terrified as the guards surround him and pin his arms behind him. I drop my toast on the ground in shock. What are they going to do to that boy? I turn off the television just before the death. A small shriek comes up my throat. How could they just kill an innocent soul like that? It’s like they have no heart or mind! That boy was a Morph, but Morphs have done nothing wrong! The boy didn’t deserve to die! The cougar girl didn’t even deserve to die! She was just angry! Don’t take it out on the rest of us! Just let us be! We’re the same as you all, just can turn into animals! My throat swells as I think of the boy’s face. What if that’s me next? What if they come outside the city and scan every house they find? What if, what if, what if?

  I try not to think about it, and try to believe that I’m safe, but am I really? I am now, but what if it happens tomorrow or the next? I get up from the table shaking. I want to walk away, but I also want to turn the News back on and see who else the city murdered. I go outside. Away from the TV and outside in the fresh air. I practice with my spear a little, but not very well. I’m still shaking from the boy’s death and the mayor, and the guards, and everything else that’s happening.

  I’m outside for at least an hour. I put my spear away and sit on the front steps. The sun is dull behind the clouds and gives out a gray color. The trees stand tall as their leaves dance around from the soft wind.

  “Cali!” Aurelian’s voice calls out seconds later. “Calico! They're killing everyone at the Southern City!”

  “Don’t be watching that!” I say, concerned that it will scar her for life.

  “I wasn’t. I turned on the TV and it was on,” Aurelian sits next to me. I put my arm around her and try to think of a way to explain what’s happening. Just in case she asks. “Why are they doing that?” She asks softly. I knew she would ask that.

  “Um… you see, there are people there that can,” what’s a good way to explain what a Morph is without sounding crazy? “You see, there are people who can turn into animals. They proved it earlier this week. A girl attacked the Southern City while I was there. The mayor of the city, well, she thinks all those people who can transform, are dangerous.”

  “Oh, so that’s why you were yelling the other day? Cause the mayor said that stuff about those types of people? How they’re bad?” I nod and try to fight back a few tears. “I only saw the mayor smiling as they killed five people, but she said that they might go out of the city in a few days. Is that bad Cali?” My heart speeds up. Outside of the city? They will find me! They’ll kill me! “Are you okay?” Aurelian asks, noticing my fear-stricken face.

  I nod and get up. “I’m just afraid for the Morphs, that’s all,” and terrified for my life.

  “Morphs?”

  “People who can transform.” I walk in a circle unsure where my mind is leading me.

  Aurelian nods then gets up too. “I’m gonna go have breakfast.”

  “Okay, change the channel of the TV or turn it off.” As soon as my sister is inside the house, I fall on the ground shaking. They’re coming outside the city! They will find me! What will happen when they do? Just kill me? Will they let me negotiate with them? Will they send me to jail? So far, I’m more on the first thought. All the other Morphs, they’ve just straight up killed. Why should I be any different?

  Minutes pass and I haven’t moved. It began to rain about five minutes ago. Not a downpour, but not a light mist either. Tears can’t escape my eyes, but I’m too scared to cry. I finally gather enough strength to walk inside. When I do, the TV is on again. I switch it to the News, then see Mayor Zara and shut it off immediately, not even bothering to see what she was saying. All the words I heard where “coming soon”. Whatever that was about.

  Days pass and the tension of waiting for the Southern City to get here has been building inside my chest every day. I hate waiting for this, but at least this gives me time to think of what I will do if they arrive. I must stay alive for my siblings. I’m pretty much all they’ve got. But how will I stay alive? I’m sure the Southern City has everything they need to catch me if I do somehow escape. They’ll probably have the whole house surrounded.

  It’s Saturday today. I sit on the front steps again thinking of many plans that end up failing. I’m just wasting my time thinking about them. Suddenly I hear a door open from upstairs. I forgot! My parents are home today! There’s always home on Saturdays!

  “Hello mother and father!” I yell and get up.

  “Calico! How are you, my dear?” my mother walks down the steps to me.

  “I’m good, you?” I lie about the ‘I’m good’ part. I’m exactly the opposite of good.

  “Great! It’s summer now. I’ll be home every day!”

  “Awesome! I’m sure Aurelian will be excited to hear that!” I try to act like myself but it’s hard right now.

  “Sad about the Morphs?” My mother asks. I nod, and she hugs me. My face must show a lot of my emotions.

  “It’s okay. I heard they’re coming outside the city soon too. But you’ll be fine. They won’t hurt any of us because no one is a Morph.”

  Ha! That’s what you think. I think in my head, looking at my mother. I try not to imagine what it will be like if they come. I try to shake that thought out of my head.

  Chapter 8

  The rest of the day goes by in a blur and so does Sunday. Monday, we all went to the beach and today, we all stayed home playing games. It was raining every day, except Monday. I think everyone was noticing my dull mood. I tried to act myself, but I just couldn’t get away from the fear inside me.

  On Tuesday night, my mother pulls me aside from the others and looks at me silently.

  “Cali,” she says in her gentle motherly voice. “Are you… are you a Morph? Is that why you are acting so scared and quiet?”

  “No,” I answer back too fast.

  “Tell me the truth, Calista. We can help you. We can bring you to the Western City for protection. They have told us that all Morphs are safe there. You have full protection there. Just tell me if you are one.”

  “I’m not a Morph.” Why can’t I tell her the truth? Maybe because I’ve lived with the secret for so long that I’d feel guilty telling them now, knowing I should have told them sooner. Or that my life would change forever and deep down I fear that change.

  “Okay,” my mother smiles at me but with the smile she uses when she is defeated by us. The smile that tells us she’ll go along with our words even though she knows it’s not true. I know it very well. “I believe you.” She kisses my cheek and then walks up the stairs.

  As I get ready for bed, I listen to the rain outside. The wind makes the branches of trees lash at the windows fiercely, but I ignore the sounds. I wrap my hair in a low bun and get my brown capris on and my black T-shirt and jump in my bed. The storm beats at my window as I lay here. I don’t feel tired. There’s a str
ange feeling inside my body that’s telling me something is off. Telling me that something might happen tonight. I ignore the feeling and close my eyes, entering a dream of being in the forest with a large bear.

  The doorbell jolts me awake. Darkness is all I see at first. Under my door, however, is a dim stripe of light. I hear my father’s voice calling out from the entryway. Seconds later a rumbling sound like a truck pulling up sounds from the front. Trampling feet run up the stairs and I see flashing lights under my door like flashlights. My heart beats so fast I’m surprised I’m still alive. What’s happening? Who’s here? I spring out of my bed and swing the door open.

  “Mom!” Aurelian calls as she’s pinned to the wall by a Southern City guard. Another guard scans her. The scanner is silent, and they push Aurelian back into her room. I realize it’s the same machine gadget they used to find out if someone is a Morph. They can’t scan me! That thing will go crazy by me!

  The two guards don’t see me and head into my brothers’ room. They kick the door open as my brothers yell. I run in the room and punch one guard. The other one notices and grabs me. Somehow, I get free in the tangle of arms yanking me to the ground and run to Aurelian and grasp her in my arms.

  “Are you okay?” I ask urgently, shaking. She nods and hugs me tightly. I look across the hall and see my parents being scanned too. It’s the Southern City! They’ve found us! I shake from fear as chaos rummages through our home. “I’ll be back. Be good! I love you! Take care of the family. You are the oldest now.” I hug my sister and then run down the stairs. I must stay alive for my family.

  “Cali!” Aurelian screams out. I try to block her voice from my head. I run out the front door as a few guards see me. They call for me, but I keep running. I reach the front steps and see the sun just barely peeking up over the horizon. I run down the steps but trip on the last one. I catch myself on my hands and push myself up. The guards are following me and tossing down dark purple nets. One lands on my left ankle and I feel sharp thorns grab my skin. I feel the blood on my ankle as I scream from the pain. What kind of net is this? I look down and see that the purple net has giant dark green thorns on it, clasping onto my ankle. A blinding red laser moves over me and an irritating beeping sounds over the yells. The lights from the headlights of the truck blinds me as it pulls up beside me.