Go back to the apartment, try and lay low

The apartment was warm as I stepped through the door. The smell of cooking came from the kitchen, along with the sounds of Alicia badly singing along to a Michael Jackson song. Normally she wasn’t a bad singer, but it was clear she wasn’t really trying to be good, just getting carried away in the moment. It made me laugh, as I went into the room.

“Can you moonwalk as well?”

“Ahhh, oh my God, Alex!”

She jumped up, clearly surprised at my entry, which just caused me to laugh more.

“I wasn’t expecting anyone to come in, woah. And I can totally moonwalk!”

“Oh really?”

“Hmmm, yes, although you’re just going to have to take my word for it. I’m not going to show you here, it would be too intense and amazing. Cleaning up your blown brains would be inconvenient.”

I just laughed even more at such a comment; Frank really was the luckiest guy in the world getting to date a girl as cute as Alicia.

“Speaking of amazing… how long have you been holding out on me?”

She raised an eyebrow, a teasing expression on her face. She seemed so satisfied with me, a fun energy circling around her.

Holding out on her…?

“Huh?”

I replied, really having no idea what she was talking about. The contrast between her sunny attitude and my own confusion just served to make me more concerned, only widening the distance between our attitudes.

“Don’t ‘huh’ me, acting like you have no idea what I’m talking about!”

My laugh was more nervous now, as despite myself my mind began to race. It was true that I had a million embarrassing secrets, especially since this whole ‘skinwalker’ thing had started. Although I really couldn’t think of any that would lead Alicia to be happy for me.

“I… I uhh… I really don’t know.”

“Still acting coy? You’re really going to **** me to just say it, aren’t you?”

I really didn’t know, and after a minute of expectant waiting Alicia’s impatience got the better of her.

“I can’t believe you weren’t going to mention that you’d gotten a new girlfriend!”

“Wha-what?”

“Don’t act dumb, Alex. Who else would she be to you? Still though, I’m kind of surprised. I mean, I figured after that date with Lisa, you were more into classic beauties. I wasn’t expecting you to be into the gamer, anime girl types.”

Alicia laughed, as my confusion deepened. As nerdy as I maybe seemed, I really couldn’t imagine any girls who fit that description in my life, and definitely none so close to me as to be mistaken for my girlfriend.

“Ahhh, Alicia, I’m really not sure who you’re talking about. I don’t know anyone like that. Or, at least, I don’t think so…”

Now it was Alicia’s turn to look surprised.

“R-really? Maybe I kinda misread the situation then, sorry.”

“Situation? What situation?”

It seemed both of us were more confused than ever now.

“So… you really mean you don’t know a cute girl, kinda short, pink hair cut to her shoulders, and a really girly, pastel style?”

Oh shit. Oh shit.

I knew exactly who she was talking about now. Panic stations started setting off in my head as externally I tried to keep my appearance normal. My memories flashed straight back to that library, seeing her walk alongside the other two as they stepped into the Krait room. That same girl, with the vibe that made me so uneasy, her innocent looks not quite offsetting the feeling of danger I was getting off her.

“Ahaha… Yeah… now I know who you’re talking about.”

Alicia relaxed now, in stark contrast to the horrible tension that was boiling in me. As far as she was concerned, this girl was somewhere between an acquaintance and a lover to me, some interesting character in a normal college experience. She didn’t know that this girl might be the one to end my life.

They’ve found me! They know, they’re investigating, it’s not just Candida, they’re closing in on me too!

“See, I knew you’d know her! Yeah, well, she came by looking for you earlier today. You were out, so I told her to come back tonight. She should be here pretty soon, I guess.”

“R-really? You told her to come back later? And… and she’ll be here soon?”

Fear was making me act like a fool. I knew it wasn’t slick, but I couldn’t quite help it. I was genuinely afraid, the possibilities of this group, and the things I’d read about them in that book, made me terrified of what they’d do to me. And if the **** methods described in that book were so old, who knew what kind of doctrinal advances they’d had since then, not to even get started on the advances in technology. Who knew what they could do to me now…?

“Yeah, why? I thought you’d be happy. She was really cute, and she has such a fun vibe. I thought it seemed like she might be good for you. You always seemed like you were trying to blend into the background, so maybe hanging out with such a bright girl, so unafraid to stand out, might be good for you, you know?”

“Haha… yeah… maybe…”

I walked out of the kitchen, Alicia looking back a little concerned, before she just continued on with her cooking. How serious could it be, really? We were all just college students, looking to have a good time and enjoy our youth. It wasn’t like Alex was up to anything too crazy, like **** or anything. How bad could it be?

On the other side of the door, I knew exactly how bad it could be. Exactly the kind of fate that would meet a disgusting, evil skinwalker, captured by hunters empowered by righteous anger, ridding the world of monsters one at a time. Nevermind that I was just an ordinary guy until a few weeks ago, just trying to live a regular life. As far as they were concerned, none of that mattered compared to what I was now, and what I’d be until they put me down.

What… what should I do? She might get here at any moment…

My heart was racing in my chest, as ideas flitted from one side of my brain to the other faster than I could keep track of them. I’d been so naïve to think that it was just me learning about them, warning Candida and thinking I’d be in the clear. They were good at their jobs, of course they could find me, and make a move against me. I just… didn’t think it’d be this soon.

Calm down, calm down! Okay, so, they’re coming, but there’s still somethings you can do!

No matter what, I needed to hide. Like, right now. Ideas of hiding in the closet, or under the bed came to me, childish thoughts that would have made me laugh if they weren’t so depressing.

No… that’s not going to work. Think! I’m more than human now, and if I want to survive I have to use every inch of my powers. It might be too late to find a skin to hide in outside of the apartment building, as they could be watching the entrance now. I need to take someone that’s close, and readily available. They could even be at the door of the apartment now!

All of this just relayed the sense of urgency I was now feeling. Whatever I did, it needed to be soon, and that meant I’d need to wear one of my flatmates right now.

But which one…? Which one would give me the best chance?

I already knew Alicia was in the kitchen, and she’d make a good choice, all things considered. A happy and upbeat blonde girl who loved the outdoors and always had something positive to say would be the ideal wholesome cover for a creature that, as far as Mortiferis was concerned, was a disgusting and perverted fiend. Plus with Alicia, I knew for sure where she was. Maybe if there was a struggle, her boyfriend Frank would come and help me too? He was in amazing shape, and between the two of us we should be able to overpower that small, pink haired girl.

Thinking about it, Frank himself was another great choice. Powerfully built, with a body sculpted by long hours in the gym, Frank offered the ideal physique for taking down anyone. When it came to any kind of physical altercation, he was my best bet. Then again, I didn’t know if the hunter would be carrying any weapons, or something unexpected that would give her an advantage in combat; Frank’s muscular physique would immediately trigger warning bells for them, and there was no way they wouldn’t be mentally prepared if he tried something.

Next up was Jessica; the bitchy red-head. Personality wise, Jessica was a cruel and dominant sort, but wearing her and feeling her confidence might be exactly what I needed right now. Her personality would be ideal for offsetting the nerves I felt, not to mention that out of the girls I lived with, she was the physically fittest, from her own long hours in the gym. Admittedly, she mainly trained in a way that would amplify her already high levels of sex appeal, but she offered the best compromise between being physically powerful, and an unexpected attack.

Finally, there was Grace. Short, shy and busty, she was the accidentally sexy introvert wallflower whose own social anxiety kept her locked away from everyone. Her personality wouldn’t exactly offset my nerves, though in comparison to my own it might actually make me feel more confident just in general. She also offered the ultimate surprise attack; playing her role, wearing her body language and her sweet, quiet voice, no-one would ever expect such a gentle girl to viciously surprise attack them. Maybe in her skin I could turn that pink haired hunter, and have my way inside Mortiferis de Infornem…