Chapter Nineteen
Offer
Diablo stood before Sophie as she looked up at him, her eyes wide with curiosity but also fear yet Samson sat behind her still with his paws on her shoulders.
My offer is this." Diablo said "Do you know why myself, Rex and your friend are like this?"
Sophie shook her head.
"We were mutated." Diablo explained, then he told his story of his life to Sophie, and about how he was almost killed yet his life was spared yet at a cost.
"But how?" Sophie asked "How did you become what you are?"
"With this." Diablo produced the water bottle in reply, showing the contents of Mutopia's Well.
"A bottle of Water?" Sophie exclaimed "A Bottle of Water turned you into a Raven?"
"It's not just any water." Diablo said "It is the source of what we are."
"But how? Why!?" Sophie cried, her voice getting higher due to disbelief as well as impatience.
"I do not know how this water contains such properties." Diablo said "But all I know is, it will heal you and restore you to life even if you are a mere inch from death, yet at the price of your human form."
"I...I see..." Sophie breathed.
"Since I mutated." Diablo continued "I have found a new purpose in life, and Samson and Rex have joined me, according to the government, and the laws of the world, we do not exist, we live the way we choose, we follow our own path, we hide in the darkness."
Rex and Samson nodded in agreement.
"And because no-one knows about us, we can do exactly as we please, includng punishing those who have sinned of the worst kind, such as that Hate Preacher and his family, and those Red Necks that killed Samson and Rex before I mutated them."
Sophie's eyes widened in shock.
"The police are weak! Always held back and blocked by Red Tape! Yet we can do so much outside of the law! And no-one will ever know about us! So we can get away with Murder!"
Diablo smirked and his moonstone eyes flashed.
"And so, to come back to my proposal," Diablo continued "That you join us, drink the water, become one of us, and join my crusade in making those who have dodged the police and those hidden from human eyes pay for their crimes! And give victims the justice they deserve!"
Sophie stared at Diablo, her jaw dropped and she couldn't speak.
Samson and Rex looked at her wondering what was going through her mind.
So much was indeed going through Sophie's mind.
Only hours ago she had discovered her mother's dead body, and then she was attacked by Dale who admitted that he had murdered her, then after snapping and attacking him, she had fled.
Within the hours from her running away, she was sure someone must have discovered what had happened, and if her guess was correct, the police would believe she was the murderer, that she had committed a double homicide, there really was no going back.
Yet she was fearful of what would happen to her should she accept Diablo's offer.
Would she be subject to a more dangerous or scary life?
She trusted Samson, or Milo as he was once known, and even now, sitting there with him, she felt safe, safer than she had felt in a long time.
Sophie soon began to realise that the odds were against her, and because of what had transpired and what she had gone through before, there really was no other option.
Diablo cocked his head on one said as he watched Sophie think hard, his patience was starting to wear thin, but he knew he had to be patient if he was to keep the trust of his followers, and if he wanted another disciple to add to his team, he had to be a good leader.
Finally Sophie looked up.
"I...I..." she stammered.
"Yes?" Diablo asked "Do you hesitate?"
Sophie shook her head.
"No." she said "I have thought about your proposal, and I know where I am now, if I return home, more than likely the police will label me a murderer and I'll have no supporting evidence to back my claim of being innocent, especially since I battered Dale to death, even though it was defence, I'll still be done for manslaughter, my life is over anyway."
"Then you wish to be reborn?" Diablo asked, hope welling within him.
Sophie was about to answer when she felt Samson's hands squeeze her shoulders.
"Listen Sophie." he said "If you take this step, I promise you, I will be there, and look after you, you do not need to do what we do, but we will protect you and keep you safe, you will no longer live in fear."
Sophie looked at Samson, his eyes genuine and kind and he stroked her shoulders.
"I've never lied to you before." he said "And like I've looked after you at the Pussy Parlour, I will continue to look after you now!"
Sophie looked hard into Samson's eyes again and seeing the same trust in him, she nodded.
"I believe you Milo...um...Samson." she said to which the Panther smiled.
"Then you wish to mutate?" Diablo asked, a smile curling on his beak.
Sophie nodded and Diablo unscrewed the bottle and pour a small amount into a plastic cup.
"Now remember Sophie." Diablo confirmed "So we are clear, once this water touches your lips, you will mutate, and there is no going back!"
"I understand." Sophie said with a nod then Diablo handed her the cup.
Sophie took the cup with trembling hands.
"Please." she said "Do you mind if I have a moment alone?"
"Of course Sophie." Samson said before Diablo could speak "Take your time."
Diablo reluctantly agreed and walked out of the area, Rex following and Samson squeezed Sophie's shoulders before moving away.
"Take as long as you need Sophie." he said bowing his head and following Diablo and Rex to the stairs to lead down to the lower level, yet still remained close to watch Sophie.
"This is a huge thing for her Diablo." Samson hissed to the Raven, "After all the crap she went through, she's lost a lot all in one day!"
Diablo nodded showing he agreed, yet he still twitched a little, hoping Sophie wouldn't take too long in taking a sip of the water.
"She seemed pretty quick to make a decision." Rex whispered "I wonder what she'll turn into?"
"Guess we'll find out soon enough." Samson whispered back.
As soon as she was alone, Sophie looked at the water in the cup and she took a few breaths trying to gather her courage, she wasn't sure what she would turn into, but she would have to deal with it when it happened.
Placing the cup on the ground she put her hands together in prayer then closed her eyes.
Images of her dead parents floated before her and she wondered what they would think, she knew they loved her so much and supported whatever decision she made, but this was something else.
"Mum...Dad..." she whispered "I know you're up there, and in the Kingdom of Heaven, my first choice after what I did to Dale, I wanted to die...but...suicide is not the way out, after I was told many times by others I'd go to Hell if I killed myself, but this...this is a new way out...and I might be able to help others, and make sure they don't suffer like I did, I wish I had spoken out sooner about Dale, but I was so scared...scared he would make his threats real."
Tears streamed from her eyes as she remembered the torture she went through to protect her mother, yet it had all been in vain.
"I promise you mother, daddy, I won't let anyone else suffer, I suffered, and so did you, but I won't let anyone else suffer because of selfish black hearted monsters...As God is my witness, I take a new path and be reborn to help others."
After a while of praying and contemplating, Sophie opened her eyes and began to whisper the Lord's Prayer as she placed the cup to her lips.
"...God be with me..." she whispered as she poured the contents into her mouth then swallowed the liquid before taking a deep breath.
No sooner did the water go down her throat than she felt a sharp pain course through her body, almost like her skin was starting to burn.
A scream erupted as she felt her bones start to spasm and she fell on her side writhing in agony.
Samson and Rex watched in horror as Sophie screamed like it was the end of the world, yet Diablo just watched contently.
"You went through the same process." the Raven said causally "The pain will go as quickly as it came."
Samson wanted to go in there and assist yet he didn't know what he could do to help as Sophie spasmed and screamed as her body began to change.
Something began to emerge from her skin, like something was trying to get out of every cell, and soon all three mutants saw white feathers appear and her hands began to turn a pinkish white then she grew talons from where her nails were.
Then they saw her mouth and nose connect and form a short beak and her hair began to fall out before being replaced with long white feathers.
"She's turning into a bird?" Samson exclaimed as he watched then he jumped as Sophie screamed again and she was flipped onto her front as two large white wings grew from her back and opened up.
Diablo also watched in fascination and he remembered the pain he went through especially when his wings had emerged.
Sophie screamed again and clawed the ground then she flopped in a dead faint on the floor as her screams ceased.
No sooner did she stop than Samson ran over before anyone could stop him.
"Sophie!" he cried "Sophie? Are you alright?"
He knelt to her side and turned her over, showing that she had passed out due to the pain.
Rex and Diablo walked in to observe.
Rex looked concerned as he also knelt down to assist whilst Diablo gave them some space.
"Sophie?" Samson asked again analysing his friend's new form.
"A Dove!" Rex exclaimed "A white Dove!"
"An appropriate transformation." Diablo said "From what I saw, she's a Christian."
Samson confirmed Diablo's assumption with a nod "She is yes, a sort of comfort to her in a sense."
"Interesting." Diablo said quietly.
Samson held Sophie and continued to talk to her quietly until she gave a gasp and opened her eyes showing them to be the same human eyes she had before.
"Hey!" Samson said with a gentle smile "How you feeling?"
"Samson?" Sophie coughed "I...I don't know what...how.." she brought a hand to her face then felt the soft white feathers as well as the beak she had rather than a mouth and nose.
"What? Huh?" she then saw her hands, or rather her scaly pinkish white hands and the sharp talons that adorned them.
"What? What happened to me?" she asked then she looked at Samson and Rex again.
"Mirror..." she gasped "A mirror..."
Rex looked around and found a piece of broken mirror amongst the debris in the abandoned church then handed her the shard.
Sophie shakily held it up and she saw her new features for the first time.
"Sophie..." Samson began yet Sophie gave a shriek as she stared at her reflection, seeing her face was covered in white feathers, her hair had been replaced with long white feathers and she possessed a pale yellow beak.
"What did I turn into?" she dropped the shard and felt her face before the tears fell again.
Samson instantly pulled her close and hugged her.
"It's okay Sophie." he said "Rex and I went through the same feelings and I know this is a lot for you to take in, but we're here for you, I promise! I'm not going anywhere!"
He hugged Sophie close then looked at Diablo who observed Sophie.
He was pleased that she had mutated into a bird like him, and hopefully once she learnt to use her wings she would be good helping Samson and Rex who could not fly, or be an observant from the air if it was needed.
"This will take a while to get used to Sophie." Diablo spoke "And now you have mutated, there is more you need to know."
Sophie looked up from Samson's chest at Diablo.
"What?" she asked forcing the words out.
"With this new body, you can do so much with it." Diablo gave a smile then opened his wings "You like me have the ability to fly, and I can hep you, also your new body has given you more enhanced strength as well as healing, you are indeed more stronger and powerful than you ever were as a human."
Sophie looked behind her and saw her wings to which she again jumped in shock and her wings flapped almost knocking Rex over yet he got out of the way.
"Careful there love!" he said to which Sophie muttered 'sorry'.
"Also." Diablo said "You will need to choose a new name, since you are reborn, Sophie no longer exists, your old life is gone, and you need to re-name yourself."
Sophie swallowed hard and looked down as she took everything in.
There was truly no going back now, she had accepted the terms, and she had drank the water, she was a mutant and she had to get used to it.
She was still shaken by her unpleasant experience as she mutated and she wasn't sure how long it would take to get used to her mutation.
"I have to say Sophie." Samson said as he observed her new form "Your mutation does suit you, you are a Dove, a symbol of purity, and of love and kindness, and you were always one of the kindest most gentle people I knew."
Rex agreed.
"Samson always spoke highly of you." he said.
Sophie looked up, a slight brightness lighting up her soul as she listened to Samson and Rex.
"Embrace this new chance Sophie." Samson said looking into his friend's eyes "Forget your old life, forget it all, join us, and be part of a crusade against those who have sinned, yet have not been punished and help those in need, help those who are ignored, and live a life you please, with no restrictions."
Sophie looked up again and saw all three mutant men's eyes were on her, awaiting her answer.
"What say you? Sophie?" Diablo asked.
Sophie swallowed hard and narrowed her eyes.
"Not Sophie..." she said in a low voice "Sophie is gone..."
"What do you call yourself my newest Disciple?" Diablo asked with a smirk.
Sophie took a deep breath and started to stand, Samson instantly helped her up along with Rex.
"My name...is Chastity..."
So Sophie accepted Diablo's offer and she drank the water! She's mutated into a White Dove and calls herself Chastity! Did any of you see that coming?
So Diablo has gained another Disciple, and what will be the next move from there? And will word go back to Mutopia about another soul gone missing?
Stay tuned to find out!