Hybrid (eBook)

“Knock, Knock.” Shane said, opening the front door with the hidden key he found under mat.

“I’m almost ready. I made coffee if you want. I’ll be down in a second.” Parker hollered from upstairs. The house remained the same way he left it after bringing Parker home. He noticed a pile of wet muddy running clothes on the kitchen floor. He peeked out the door leading to the porch, noticing the muddy sneaker prints leading up to the back steps. Parker went for a run. Her change began. He pulled out his cell phone and ran this fingers across the screen keyboard to send a text. He slipped it back into his jacket pocket.

He was afraid this would happen before he had the chance to explain the side effects of the drug to Parker. The amount of time before it ran its course till the change began varied with each patient. While she may not like what the ultimate goal purpose of what the change represented, at least she had her life back.

He experienced the first side effect on at the Advant facility in the Maldives and not too far from the beach. He got up with the urge to flee. It resembled the fight or flight mode many humans face during the change from human to hybrid. He wound up missing for three days because he swam in the ocean, played with schools of fish, and wrestled with the sharks. His coach and team mates were worried sick and missing a game, left the team using their back up quarter back. Needless to say they lost the game.

The average human, wouldn’t have survived a hour below the sea depths, let alone a three day underwater adventure. Finding his way back to shore was easier than he thought when he concentrated on sounds of human life, he followed it. He should have stayed beneath the deep waters, because once at the facility the wrath of Dr. Ng, the mad scientist as he was known to the other affiliates, made the sharks look like harmless gold fish. Parker hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting the doctor yet, but hoped she would when the time came. He was glad Parker didn’t meet the same fate and grateful he was there to help her through it all.

“Miss me much.” Parker stood in the middle of the kitchen with her arms behind her back and a pale glossy smile on her lips. She was relieved and happy to see the handsome face of her fiancee when she walked into his waiting embrace.

“Beautiful.” Shane held Parker out at arms length and his eyes followed every inch and curve of her body in the fitted gray and black wool dress. She definitely had the look in her eyes he thought. The tiny specks of bright gold radiated around her pupils, a color that wasn’t present yesterday when he dropped her home. A sign that she had under gone the full change. She was a hybrid. Everything from her hair to her skin showed signs of youth and vigor. Her smell is what attracted him the most. The fresh, clean scent, like a new born baby invaded his nose. He took in her essence. He wanted her, but he stomped down the hunger. There was so many things he had to tell her, but had to take his time.

“Stop, you’ re making me blush.” Parker smiled, shy under Shane’s piercing eyes. His gaze held hers and for a brief moment, she saw what he was thinking about her. The need and hunger was apparent which brought a moment of panic to Parker.

“I think we should get going. I don’t want us to be late.” Parker released Shane’s hand and hurried out the kitchen to grab her things. She felt strange, dizzy almost after she saw into his mind. How did I do that? Her breathing increased. She held on to the back of the couch to steady her weak knees. I need to get it together, she mumbled to herself.

“Sit down for a while. We won’t be late. I’m a board member remember? Nothing begins until I get there.” Shane took Parker by the arm and she eased her body against the cushions.

“I’m fine, just a little dizzy.” Parker said trying her best to beat the dizziness that over came her.

“Here drink this. It will make you feel better.” Shane handed Parker a glass of water and watched her drain it in one gulp.

“More?” Parker shook her head. “Thanks.” She said in a soft whisper.

“Water helps everything.” Shane answered.

“Strange things have happened to since I’ve been home, but I guess its just the side effects of the drug. I need to call the doctor because I have a lot of questions. I couldn’t find the names of any of the doctors and an address for the lab.” Parker eased herself of the couch taking her bag and looping it across her body. She adjusted her knee length wool coat and fluffed her hair. She gazed at Shane’s worried frown for a moment, then clearing her throat she asked, “Do you want me to drive?

The Advant Pharmaceutical Company opened in the early eighties during the height of the fitness boom in the United States. Obesity and cancer were at its all time low which contributed to the companies motto to “keep America healthy and disease free.” However, with the fast food industry gaining momentum with the super size craze and more foods genetically modified, the sudden shift from healthy Americans now replaced the diseased and overweight. Advant worked with other nutritional food companies and schools to implement healthy eating plans caused debates, with the people speaking out against being told how and what they should consume.

The country lashed out with numerous protests that they have no right to get involved in what they feed their families when the job markets were at its all time low and eating healthy meant spending more five dollars on organic milk as opposed to a gallon for a dollar at the local grocery stores. Still they pushed laws to cut down on super size meals, banning soda, sugar and citing franchises as the cause of the expanding waist sizes of the country. Advant prided itself on the work they did, helping to make the country a better healthy place by any means necessary.

“It’s good to be back.” Parker draped her jacket over the chair in her office and admired the view of tall buildings in her beloved city. How she missed New York City. She couldn’t wait to take a long walk down the streets taking in all the sights and sounds of home. Yellow cabs zoomed below, amid the bustle of early morning commuters getting to work.

“Nothing has changed much, expect more protests and a possible talk of a rebellion set to take place throughout every major city, starting right here at City Hall.” Shane stretched his long muscular legs out and laced his fingers behind his head.

“A rebellion? I fell asleep before I could listen to the entire news report.” Parker said, turning her attention to Shane. He looked handsome, as her eyes trailed his body. His suit pants hugged the bulging muscles of his thighs. A definite show of his athletic built.

“What are you looking at?” He asked with a smile on is face and his eyes still closed.

Shane’s comment startled Parker, leaving her stunned. “How am I ever going to get through all this work? So tell me more about this rebellion? When is it set to take place?” Parker busied herself with the numerous hologram tabs opened on her desk. Shane’s presence in her office left her flustered and found it hard to control at the moment being around him.

Shane smiled and filled Parker in on the troubling state of affairs now plaguing the country. “Before you entered the hospital, rumors circulated of more franchise closings and small business restaurants if they didn’t meet the food regulations implemented. The people were told by an inside source who worked for the government genetically modified foods were developed to be consumed by low income households. There are sources who claim Advant was behind GMO’s to kill off the unproductive population, so instead the President has implemented the cleanse, wait what did he call it, right, Project Cleanse is set to take place in,” Shane checked his watch, “ sometime tomorrow. The world is coming to an end so let’s blame Advant.”

“Yes I heard of the project.” Parker scrolling through holograms of different dresses for her work. She thought about changing her wardrobe to celebrate the new beginning of her life. Her work long forgotten.

“The government created these foods to kill off the people in low income areas? I can’t understand why that would be a just cause by the government.” Parker said taking a seat, baffled at the news.

“The inside source exposed this conspiracy which spans well over the last twenty four years. The destruction of the city and the country over the deluge that inhibit our shores, all quoted by the rest of Advant’s board of trustees in the documents. It’s a fascinating read.” Shane nodded.

With furrowed brows, Parker sat back in her chair not sure how to process the information. “None from you I hope?” Parker said, relieved when Shane with pursed lips, shook his head. “The government basically found an easy way to do away with your tired poor and huddled masses. I find this all hard to take in, but there is now more of a just cause to the rebellion.”

“City Hall is packed with people from all the boroughs ready to have their voices heard. Things will get bad before it gets better. It will cleanse the city. We all need cleansing.” Shane replied.

“A lot has happened since I’ve been gone, more than I anticipated.” Parker questioned, looking at Shane’s...