G8 caught a movement from the corner of his eye. It was F8 staring at her bum arm. Reaching over to her, he laid a hand on her good shoulder. “I know what you’re thinking,” he gently told her.
She shook her head. “All of you can go out and get jobs.”
“That’s because we weren’t shot,” T8 declared. “You need to get well enough first.”
N8 took a sip of coffee. “To be honest, I’m glad you’re staying behind.”
“Why?” F8 questioned.
“We’re having people coming here almost daily. Somebody needs to keep an eye on them. And someone needs to be here when the repairmen show up in case they have questions or need to leave instructions.”
“He’s got a point,” G8 agreed. “With your enhanced abilities, you’ll be able to tell if someone shows up to cause us trouble. If they do, you can place a quick call to the sheriff’s office.”
“So you think all of this isn’t over?” K8 softly asked, her worry and rising fear evident.
G8 shook his head. “As long as that place we escaped from still exists and is still in business, I don’t think we’ll ever be left alone. That’s the biggest reason why I’m hoping Biggs will take me on.”
“Your biggest?” T8 snickered. “What’s your smallest reason?”
Grinning, G8 straightened in his chair and threw out his chest. “I think I’d look damn good in one of those uniforms.”
That got a laugh out of everyone. It also released the tension that had been slowly building during breakfast. If there was one thing he detested, it was all the worry they were experiencing now. The fear that never quite went away. The dreaded anticipation of something occurring they had no idea how to handle or prepare for.
Pushing himself away from the table, he got to his feet. “I need to finish getting ready. Deputy Pridgett said he’d be here around nine to pick me up and take me to my interview.”
“Guess that’s my cue, too,” T8 stated before draining his mug.
G8 took one final look around at the group as it hit him. This could be the last time they’d be able to all be together at the table, sharing a meal, swapping bad jokes, teasing each other. Family. Familiar. Stable. Like they’ve done for years.
Now there’d be times some of them might be leaving for work early. Or staying late. Everyone’s schedule would be different.
Oh, yes, there would still be times when they’d manage to make it, but those would be few and far between.
Their old lives were over. The coming days and years would be both exciting and terrifying.
All they could hope for was to finally be able to live as normal a life as possible, like everyone else.
Although he had his doubts, G8 refused to let the negative aspects get to him.We gotta move forward,he told himself as he turned to leave the main hall.There’s no going back now, even if we wanted to.
2NEGOTI8
The soundof a car honk let G8 know the deputy sheriff had arrived to take him to the station. Giving his appearance one last check, he exited his cabin and hurried over to the patrol car. He noticed Pridgett staring at him squinty-eyed as he approached and reached for the door handle on the passenger side.
“Thanks again for the ride,” he told the man as he slid inside.
The deputy continued to give him a quizzical look, and G8 knew why.
“Every twenty-eight days I shed my skin. The same way a lizard or snake does. But it’s more like a chrysalis. You know, like a butterfly. Only I don’t have any idea what I’ll look like once it’s all over.”
The man grunted and turned to his steering wheel. “I was wondering if you were the same person.” He gave G8 another glance from the corner of his eye. “You look nothing like you did the other day. That’s some mighty strange metamorphosis you go through.”
G8 snickered. “You have no idea.”
“Have you ever changed into a, uhh, woman?”
“My appearance changes, not my gender.” G8 smiled to himself. He could understand why the guy had asked. “My physique also remains constant. So does my eye color. Everything else is up for grabs.” He chuckled, his gaze remaining on the road as they headed into town. “The others used to have a pool when it came time for me to change.”
“A pool? Like a lottery?”
