Project Rescue - A Shifter Novel (NaNoWriMo19)
Chapter 11 - Drug Shifters

Recap

He nodded his head, waiting on me to get up the tree, then he shifted and headed off to the village. I was scared to death. I had every right to be. I hoped he knew a few people who could help keep me safe but I wouldn’t be able to stay in the group, not for long. I knew there were young men trying to jump the ladder to become drug runners, for a lot of cash. And, if they were looking for me, my picture would be in every one of their pockets. What a mess.

Manuel came across a couple of drug runners on his way to the village. “Have you seen this girl?”

Manuel POV

Awe, shit, Manuel thought. Manuel was taught to never lie. He shifted back and looked at the picture. “Heard some others looking for this girl. I’ll tell you as I told them-”

“-don’t worry about it. We’re in a hurry. If you see her...”

I nodded my head and shifted quickly, heading towards the village. Shit, shit, shit! Seri was in more trouble than she thought. If all the drug runners had pictures of her she was going to be shit out of luck. I’m going to need to replace a place to hide her out. But, where?

Seri’s POV

I was laid out on a branch, one that connected to other trees. Almost as if they were the animal superhighway. I shook my head at myself. I stopped and tilted my head, rolling my ears forward.

“Have you seen this girl?” I heard someone ask.

“Heard some others looking for this girl. I’ll tell you as I told them-” I heard Manuel tell whoever was looking.

“-don’t worry about it. We’re in a hurry. If you see her...” The other person said.

I needed to get around these men. I needed to run along the highway and shift, hoping my masking spray will hide me. I didn’t want to take the chance of my spray not working. I knew what I needed to do immediately. I had to get back to the campsite and let them know to lie, lie as if their lives depended on - which it did. Boy did it.

I ran until I got close to our campsite, then I shifted back and put my clothes on. I ran the rest of the way there, listening for voices that didn’t belong. I couldn’t hear any new voices but I wasn’t sure. So, I stepped out from behind a tree and looked around. Greg looked around as I put my finger to my lips, waving him over.

“Be right back, guys,” he said, before walking toward a white-faced Seri.

I walked backwards a little. I didn’t know how I was going to explain myself but I had to. I needed them to keep their mouths shut.

I whispered to him, “I’m in trouble and all of you will be too. I’m sorry, I thought I was safe from someone I don’t want in my family. It’s not my ex-husband it’s my grandfather. He’s a killer and dope boss. I didn’t know he had a house in Brazil until a few minutes ago. But, if his drug runners come up and show you a picture of me and you don’t lie, not only will they kill me they will kill you. All of you. If you can’t lie without freezing up, sweating, looking away, or anything don’t lie tell them you saw me at the boat docks in Brazil, trying to get a ride. Please, this for all your safety. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I’m scared.”

“I knew something was up. You could handle weapons too well. I’ll talk to the others and tell them what I told you. We usually don’t have problems with the drug runners,” he laughed. “We can sing Kumbaya all during the day and at night.”

“That should keep them away but remember if you can’t lie well, like Daisy, Bobby, Ted, and Tiny, then don’t. Manuel, our guide, told them he was asked at the docks and he would tell them as he told them. They cut him off but I worry it won’t work. So, tell them I was looking for a ride in Brazil. Please.”

“I will. Be safe,” he said as he walked over to everyone and whispered to them.

I grabbed my backpack and pulled out my masking spray, throwing a hat on my head and ran back until I was far enough away. I didn’t shift all the way, only shifted my hands into claws, climbing up the tree, moving away from the marks. I followed the animal superhighway, moving back towards Manuel but not as close as last time.

I heard a low whistle about twenty minutes later. I followed it back to him. I didn’t even see the treehouse. It was hidden so well that I almost missed it. Manuel held the door open as I ran inside and stopped abruptly. I was sure hoping this was the council or Manuel was a dead man.

“Seri, this is the council. Still want to talk to them?” He asked. I nodded my head yes.

Manuel introduced everyone, making sure to let me know a little about them. I felt a little better but I’ve had so many bad experiences I was still a little leery. After the introductions were over Manuel went to the porch of the treehouse.

As you know, my name is not Seri but I can’t give you more yet. I have copies of everything I have in a safe place,” I started out saying.

“We know who you are, Selina, we knew your parents. Actually, they are both from our village,” a council lady said.

I started, scared suddenly. My heart was pounding again, my hands sweaty. “How?” Was all I could get out.

One of the men, Paulo, said, “You were born here, not in Florida. They put your birth in Florida as a home birth to hide you from his dad - your grandfather.”

“Well, he didn’t do a good job. I was raised with that, that monster. It was torture every day. Body and soul torture,” I stated, pounding on my chest.

“He felt as if he stayed here he would bring shame to the village, we didn’t. We tried to get them to stay and raise you here but to no avail,” Paulo said quietly. “His father was bound and determined to run them off. Somewhere there were autos. When we found out they died in a car accident we knew he killed them. Why? We never knew.”

“Because of the inheritance. I had a large insurance payout and money my father set aside. But, I’ve never seen a dime of it. I wondered if he knew I was in the car?”

“You were in the car?” The lady asked.

“Yes. The police said they didn’t know how I survived with barely any scratches. They found me about twenty feet from the car.”

Paulo looked at Esmeralda. “Do you think she shifted early? Her dad did.”

“It’s possible.”

“Hello, I didn’t shift until I was twelve, not when I was one,” I huffed.

“Sorry,” Esmeralda said. “We didn’t realize how young you were. You were born a few days before you left and we didn’t get the information about your parents until three-years later. Information is not the best here, well, except for the drug runners. But, we under no circumstances mingle with them.”

Emanuel asked, “Do you have the information with you? We won’t take it from you but we would like to have a copy. We need to stop him from totally corrupting the rainforest. Sure, there will be others but they aren’t as bad as him. Even though we can’t stand them we know it’s a never-ending problem.”

“I do have with me but I don’t have a copy to give you,” I answered.

“Can you give them to Manuel? He can copy them and give them back to you. Can you trust him?” Emanuel asked, then started chuckling. “He’s my grandson.”

I laughed with them. I did trust Emanuel and Manuel, not sure why but I would take it. I gave them my only copy of the documents, wishing I would have made a copy so I could have a copy on me, I felt naked without it.

Manuel walked back into the hut. “I promise I will give them back in about an hour.”

I nodded my head, putting my arms around myself. I was distressed about everything. I had never been this scared in my life. People were looking for me. I might have put the group in danger. Manuel had to go back to the group. My head and my heart seemed so heavy.

“I’ve got you. I’ve already met someone and taken him to their campsite and whispered to them about not telling the new guide about you. Not to talk about you, not to mention your name at all. I also picked up your rucksack.”

“Would the new shifter smell me?”

“No way, you were still coated in that masking spray. And, let me tell you, that is some nasty shit. ” He shuddered, making me quietly laugh.

“Where am I staying now?” I asked, waiting to hear the worse.