Chapter 12:
"Okay, Scott. Just a little bit more. Okay. We're done. Press down here, and don't move your hand. I'll be right back. Do you have a band-aid, Mrs. Hayden?"
Scott was sitting in a small kitchen. Sunlight shined through one window, but the other part of the sky was cloudy. He continued to press down where the strange man had drawn blood, and he stared out the window, captivated by such contrast. He hardly registered the two adults that moved a short distance away from him, giving them the illusion that they were free to talk, but he was listening. And he heard every word that was being said.
"Here," and Mrs. Hayden opened a kitchen drawer and pulled out a box of band-aids. "Mark, why are you here?"
"To take Scott's blood. It's part of our deal. Remember?"
"Yeah. I remember, but the deal is that you draw his blood every year right before his birthday. He turned thirteen last week, and you came here and drew his blood. So, why are you doing it again?"
"Oh. Um… Just something got screwed up in the lab. That's all."
"Mark, we've known each other for a long time now, and I know when you are lying. You tell me the truth, or you'll never find us again. You'll never see Scott again," and Mark looked over at Scott. "What's wrong with him?"
"Has he been acting differently lately?"
"No. Actually, he's been very quiet. Is he sick?"
"I don't know. His bloodwork is different."
"What do you mean by different, Mark?"
"I mean that up to now, his bloodwork has been that of a normal healthy, human boy, but something's changed with him. I can't explain it, but I think that Scott is changing. I could be wrong, but I don't know."
"So, what do I do?"
"Unfortunately, there is nothing that we can do, Mrs. Hayden. If Scott were to become something more, I don't know, and if he were to change and be able to do things, then we would have to worry about the government stepping in."
"Aren't you the government, Mark?"
"I'm not military, Mrs. Hayden, and I have all the resources that I need to protect you and your son. However, if circumstances were to change, then my boss would overstep me, and he would decide Scott's fate. Now, I don't want that to happen, which is why I will try to keep these results to myself, but there is a need to be concerned. If he keeps changing, Scott might not be human anymore."
"Then, what," Mrs. Hayden asked, trying not to cry. "Can you protect us?"
"I will do my best, but you may want to explore other options."
"Other options?"
"Yeah. Other options," Mark Shermin said, and he leaned closer to her. "Run," he whispered, and Mrs. Hayden slowly nodded. "But don't worry. We have it all under control. Scott, here's your band-aid," and Mrs. Hayden watched Mark Shermin place the band-aid on Scott's arm. "See you next year, and happy birthday. Mrs. Hayden," and Mark Shermin walked out of the house.
Scott opened his eyes. Tina was driving a car that she had stolen from the parking lot at the rest stop. Scott gave no argument but just slipped into the front passenger-seat, and that was the last thing he remembered. Then, he realized that he was holding the booster shot that Mark Shermin had gave him, and he was about to inject himself when Tina stopped him.
"No, Scott. We're about to call it a night," and she pointed at a motel nearby. "Save it for tomorrow. You're gonna need it."
"Are we here in Winslow, Arizona," Scott asked her.
"We will be by tomorrow, if everything goes alright," but Tina seemed worried. "Scott, how did you save Mark Shermin?"
"I… I just knew how. Does that bother you?"
"Yes. It does. Scott?"
"Yes, Tina?"
"Are you human?"
"I don't know," and Scott looked down at the needle that he held. "You could have left me, Tina. You didn't have to stay."
"I care about you," and Tina reached over and took his hand. "Someone needs to protect you, Scott, and I guess that someone is me."
"Thank you," and he watched Tina pull her hand away. "I won't harm you."
"I know, Scott, but we don't know what's waiting for us in Winslow, Arizona. But I guess we will find out."
"I guess we will," Scott said as he looked out the window and up at a large, full moon.
