Freak of Nature

chapter Twenty-Three



After twenty-one hours on the road, between trains stops and layovers, the train finally pulled into the station. She was certain she hadn’t been followed. Search teams were probably still combing the woods for her.

When Kaitlyn got off the train in Fort Lauderdale, she had a feeling she had been there before.

Could her instincts have taken her home? The thought scared her. What was she going to do, just waltz back into her old life?

She was way beyond that point.

Maybe she could get back on the train and go further south, or even west. But there was something about the coast line that was drawing her in, so she shouldered her bag and started walking. Palm trees lined the road. For some reason this made her miss Quess, and their walks. A palm tree could never replace her favorite birch tree.

Kaitlyn wandered down the highway, following the signs that said “Beach”. She crossed a large bridge. Cars whizzed by, and a few of them honked their horns. She had no idea what that meant. The smell of the salt air tugged at a memory. She was getting fragments, but nothing strong and overpowering like the earlier memories. She must have spent a lot of time near the ocean in her past life, which would explain the pull.

A parking lot edged up against the sand, and Kaitlyn mounted the long boardwalk that led down to the beach. Neon lights ran down the length of the boardwalk. People sat on the edging, bikers road by and few people skated past her.

She left the sidewalk and stepped onto the sandy beach. The grey-blue ocean spread before her beneath a sky of white, fluffy clouds. There were couples walking hand in hand or sitting on blankets near the water while their children made sand castles. Kaitlyn pulled off her shoes and stepped barefoot onto the warm, gritty sand, making a straight line for the water. No one gave her a second glance. For the first time in her new life she felt invisible. She was just another person enjoying the beach. The thought was comforting, even though she knew it was far from the truth. She would never be truly human again.

It felt so natural to step into the surf. The ocean waves lapping against the sand and her feet had a calming effect on her. Almost like the way Lucas calmed her mind.

She noticed some people were sleeping on the beach, and she wondered if she should do that as well, but her sensors flashed Caution. After a quick scan, she realized she needed to find a hotel. Reluctantly, Kaitlyn made her way across the beach and back to the main road.

Several hotels lined the street, many of them flashing Vacancy signs. She entered the first hotel and greeted the clerk behind the counter.

“I would like to stay the night, please,” Kaitlyn said.

“Of course.” The older woman turned to her computer and started clicking on the keyboard. “One night will be ninety-seven.”

Kaitlyn reached in her bag and handed the clerk a hundred.

“No, sorry. We need a credit card to keep on file.”

Kaitlyn stared at her blankly.

“A credit card. You know, the plastic card with one of these symbols.” The clerk pointed at a sign on the counter.

Kaitlyn’s scans recognized the five colorful emblems. Within seconds, she knew what each stood for and she knew she didn’t have one.

“I don’t have one of those,” she said, holding out the hundred dollar bill. “I only have cash.”

“Company policy. No card, no room.”

Kaitlyn shoved the money back in the side pocket of her bag before she slung it on her shoulders. “Do you know of any hotels in the area that don’t require credit cards?” she asked stiffly.

“Sorry, dear. Those kinds of no-tell-motels are across the bridge on the bad side of town.”

Why did everyone keep saying bad? Bad people. Bad side of town.

Kaitlyn pushed the glass door open and stepped back outside. She didn’t need to sleep, but her body needed to recharge, and if she stayed awake too long it would drain her energy. And when she was on the run, that wasn’t ideal. She needed to find a place to rest for the night. She also needed to find a change of clothes.

Follow your instincts.

Kaitlyn walked, letting her feet take her wherever they wandered. Off the main highway and deep into a residential part of town, she passed colorful Spanish-themed houses with brilliant green lawns beneath the spray of sprinklers.

She had been wandering for two hours when a wave of familiarity washed over her. She had been here before. The sun had set and the street lights came to life.

She turned left down Green Street and walked to the end of the cul-de-sac. Without a thought, she came to a stop in front of a large white stucco home. The porch light was on, and lamps glowed from several windows. She stared at the wooden swing on the porch, and images flashed before her—sitting on the swing with her parents, and later, with Evan. This house had been her home. Her body tingled with excitement. Her parents were behind the door.

She fought the urge to run up the stairs and ring the doorbell. It would be cruel to come back from the dead. Her parents would never understand. Her excitement quickly turned to overwhelming sadness.

Kaitlyn hung her head and spun on the ball of her foot, leaving without a single glance back.

On autopilot, Kaitlyn took a left down Sanders and a right down Oakwood Drive. Evan. Her body was pulling her to Evan. She wanted to resist, but her feet kept moving forward. Just one peek. She wanted to see him, she had to, and then she would leave.

She was watching the pavement, lost in her own thoughts, when she heard laughter. She looked up to find a couple walking towards her—a blond-haired guy and a beautiful blonde girl.

Kaitlyn’s body revved up, and just as quickly her body stabilized as her sensors overrode the fight or flight impulse.

Evan.

Her eyes met his, and she forced her face to stay blank.

“Cassidy?” His voice was incredulous. He abruptly let go of the woman and stepped forward.

Cassidy. Not only had the IFICS taken her old life, they had given her a new name.

“Excuse me?” Kaitlyn pulled her hat down lower.

He was silent for a long time, his girlfriend shifting uncomfortably behind him, and Kaitlyn in front, standing still, her heart hammering.

“I’m sorry.” He shook his head, his face pale. “You look like someone I once knew.”

Kaitlyn covertly scanned Evan and was surprised to see he had a wedding band on his left hand. She glanced over at the blonde—she wore a matching band. Kaitlyn gritted her teeth; he hadn’t wasted any time moving on. She kept her face expressionless.

“It’s uncanny, really. The resemblance.” Evan’s face looked pained. “It’s like seeing a ghost.”

The blonde woman came up and grabbed his hand, squeezing it. “Sorry, sweetie,” she said. Addressing Kaitlyn, she added, “He lost someone once. Any girl with dark hair and your build always stops him in his tracks.”

“It’s okay.” Kaitlyn was proud when her own voice didn’t waver. “I saw a movie once where they said everyone has a twin.”

“We should go, babe,” the blonde murmured to Evan.

Evan’s eyes were glued to Kaitlyn’s face. It was making her uncomfortable.

“Your friend’s name was Cassidy?” Kaitlyn asked the question before she lost her nerve. “What happened to her, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“She was murdered. A long time ago.”

A long time ago? Kaitlyn opened her mouth to ask “how long?” but Evan spoke again, turning to his wife. “The resemblance really is uncanny, isn’t it, Rachel?”

The woman nodded in agreement, her sapphire gaze regarding Kaitlyn seriously. “Yes. It is eerie. Come on, babe. Let’s leave this poor girl alone. We’re sorry to bother you.”

Kaitlyn nodded but didn’t say anything more as the woman took hold of Evan’s arm and pulled him past her. She could smell his cologne as he passed, his eyes catching hers one last time. Kaitlyn breathed deeply; the scent was so familiar. She continued down the sidewalk, her hands still shaking from the encounter.

How could he have replaced her so quickly? He was married?

Something wasn’t right. Quess had said Evan was twenty-one, and it had bothered Kaitlyn at the time, but she wasn’t sure why. If she was only seventeen, had her parents let her date a twenty-one year old? A cursory scan of state laws told her that was illegal.

She was murdered. A long time ago.

How long?

Kaitlyn waited until Evan and the blonde had turned a corner and were out of sight, then she took off at a steady run. Lucas had warned her she was faster than humans, and she needed to be careful not to draw attention to herself. A six mile per hour pace seemed adequate. She ran through the streets and came to a stop before the first store she found. The store had bars on the windows. She had obviously ventured into the bad side of town.

Taking a deep breath, Kaitlyn walked through the door and grabbed a soda and some beef jerky. After she paid the cashier, she asked, “What is today?”

“Monday. All day it’s been Monday.”

Kate shook her head. “I mean the date and year.”

The older woman looked at her through narrowed eyes. “Are you being fresh with me, child?”

“No. I was in an accident and sometimes I forget things.”

“Oh, you poor thing. Amnesia?”

Kate scanned the definition and nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Amnesia.”

“It’s the twenty-eighth of September, 2014.”

Kate wobbled on her feet, but managed to compose herself before the cashier noticed her panic. The mechanism that overrode her balance set in place, whirled, and she felt better.

Twenty-fourteen.

“Thank you.” Kaitlyn turned towards the door, her thoughts clouded.

“Honey.” The cashier pushed the bag over the counter, her dark eyes concerned. “You forgot your bag.”

Kaitlyn thanked her, grabbed the bag, and nearly ran from the building. She stopped on the sidewalk, the hot sun beating down on her. Her world had tilted.

Three years had passed since her accident. Not several months, like she had thought. Where did that time go?

Kaitlyn needed answers, and there was only one person who could give them to her.

Lucas.

Her mind was racing. How could this be? She was so distracted she didn’t notice the group of guys up ahead. She heard someone whistle and her head snapped up, and she stopped in her tracks.

“My my, what’s a girl like you doing on this side of town? Slumming?”

Slumming? She didn’t respond. There were four of them, and she didn’t need her sensors to know they were going to be trouble. She really wasn’t in the mood.

“Cat got your tongue?”

“Why would a cat have my tongue?” She asked innocently even though, thanks to the slang chip, she knew it was yet another human saying that made no sense.

“Comedian. We got a funny girl.” A tall guy with tattoos all over his muscular arms, and neck stepped forward. The leader. His chest was puffed up like a rooster.

“I don’t want any trouble.” Kaitlyn said calmly. In her mind she was going over avenues of attack.

“Well, sweetheart you are on the wrong side of the tracks. Trouble is all you find over here.”

“That’s a shame. You shouldn’t let a train track decide if you are good or bad.”

A couple of the guys laughed in the background.

“Feisty, I like it.”

“What’s your name?” Kaitlyn asked.

“What’s it to you?”

“I’d like to know your name before I kick your ass.”

“You and what army. I’ll tell you what’s going to happen.” He flicked a knife out of his pocket. “I’m going to tear your clothes off, and then make you beg for it. Once I’m done with you, my boys are going to have their turn.”

“I don’t think so.” Kaitlyn, felt her body relax. She welcomed the chance to take out her anger on these jerks. Her mind flashed back to the girl that was raped and the man who caused the end of her life and the start of her new one. As far as she was concerned, the world would be a better place with four less bullies. Someone had to teach them a lesson, and it might as well be her.

The guy licked his lips and took a step forward.

In a blur Kaitlyn slammed her elbow into the crook of his arm. The knife clattered to the ground. Kaitlyn kicked it away. The guy’s eyes widened in surprise. The other three moved forward, but the tough guy waved them away.

“I got this bitch.” He snarled, his eyes flashed with anger.

He lunged forward, and Kate side stepped causing him to loose his footing. Kate took the advantage and slammed the heel of her open palm into his chest as he fell forward. She heard his ribs crack. He fell to the ground coughing blood. The three guys looked at each other.

A stocky bald guy of average height and wide shoulders came forward. She found it funny that they came one at time when they would have had a better chance if all three attacked. Not much of a chance, but still.

Kaitlyn got into position with her legs bent making it easier to pivot and deliver strikes to her opponent. The guy cocked back his arm and threw a wild punch which Kate deflected easily. She sensed the guy on the ground move, but she knew he wasn’t a threat.

Go to your opponent, Frank had told her. Never show fear. Move forward. Don’t hesitate; they wont expect it. The grueling hours of training had paid off. She acted reflexively.

Pivoting on the balls of her feet, Kaitlyn delivered a swift kick to his larynx, crushing his wind pipe. The guy dropped to his knees and grabbed his throat. She advanced towards the last two, but they took off in a sprint. She could chase them down, but she had a train to catch.