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Chapter 2

Pliv's POV

The platform to the exit was run down and decrepit, the benches were rusted and the tiles

cracked. The entrance was barred by rusted turnstyles and wooden boards with caution tape

wrapped around it. The lights were broken and it smelled heavily of rotting paper and other

items.

“Urgh, don't puke, don't puke," I said to myself, catching the scent of whatever was

around.

“It's kinda dark, might want to turn up the light," said Righty.

“And see what's making that smell?" Asked Lefty. A shudder ran down my spine, I don't

know if it was from me or one of the other two, but the silent agreement to not do that was made.

We approached the wooden barrier, trying to find a way around it that didn't reveal that

we had moved in. The police were obviously going to be after us after what had happened. Even

if the local cops weren't yet, the national agencies would be. I didn't want to risk them finding

me, or someone stumbling into the tunnels.

“Fuck the stealth stuff, here," said Lefty. I felt my body move on it's own as it charged at

a hole in the wall.

“Ughhhhh… Lefty…" I muttered. My body became lighter and my head fell down,

flying through the hole and into the world outside. It guided upwards, floating up to the usual

height of my body.

I caught a glimpse of myself in the reflection of a broken window, seeing that I had

turned into a long streak of yellow light, my three heads floating within it. The light slowly

turned from a streak back into my regular body, forming it slowly again, as if it was some kind

of slime that was taking shape.

“What the fuck?" I asked.

“Something our body can do now," said Lefty.

“You had no idea that it would work," said Righty.

“It was worth trying!"

“Guys, or, me, or… fuck it. I have no idea what to call you two," I said.

“Guys works," said Lefty.

“I mean, you're a guy, and we're you, so guys works," said Righty.

“Okay, fine. But please, stop fighting," I said. “Look, I seriously don't know what's going

on with my, or our…"

“Singular, my," said Lefty.

“Like I said, we are you," said Righty.

“Okay, fine. My body is all weird and changed now. And I don't know what to do. I can't

go to the hospital because the agency will come and get me. The same for the police. I can't go

home because they'll have that guarded, not to mention if I still have my lease there. I can't go to

my job because of everything…"

“Pliv, I get it, it's a lot but…" said Righty.

“We already know… Maybe warm food will help after all," said Lefty. “Just take your

mind off of things?"

“It certainly couldn't hurt. Hey, Ralphie's is around the corner. It's usually good, and

affordable," said Righty.

“Yeah, but um, we might want to cover up," I said, looking down at myself. I was still

wrapped up in my patched up blanket and foot wraps.

“Yeah… Hmmm, I got an idea," said Righty. “One without us diving into a wall head

first."

“Hey!" Exclaimed Lefty.

“Just relax," said Righty. I walked over to a pile of furniture and old clothes that had been

thrown out into the alleyway, once again not under my own control. My fingers ran over the

fabrics of the furniture and clothes that were left. It was a random assortment, sure, but to him he

saw something else.

My claws extended from my hand, cutting away at the materials, collecting wool and

cotton mostly, while tearing away some pieces of metal.

“Okay, and…" said Righty as I held up a piece of fabric that was torn away. The yellow

liquid came from my fingers and palms, encasing the materials in it, making it change form and

shape until it turned into a black and gray hoodie.

“Sweet," said Righty. “It worked."

“Yeah, um… how?" I asked.

“Well, these were alive at some point right? So, we can change it," said Righty.

“Yeah, just don't make a whole new plant out of it," said Lefty.

“We would need a whole plant for that, not just part of it!"

“Guys, focus," I said. “Hmmm, and maybe…" I grabbed some of the metal pieces and a

zipper from the pile we had gathered. I arranged them around the jacket, covering it with the

yellow fluid, and seeing the metal fuse with the fabric. It was studded with a zipper that ran

along the front of it.

“Hell yeah!" Exclaimed Lefty.

“Nice, maybe we can sell some clothes for money," said Righty.

“After we find a way to wash them… so we should find some clean underwear?" Asked

Lefty. “And make some other clean fabrics."

“How about late at night at one of those twenty four hour laundromats? Find one with the

clerk asleep?" I asked.

“Nice, up until we can afford a place to wash them at," said Lefty.

“Or a place in general," said Righty.

“One thing at a time. First, food so we don't starve," I said. I made a shirt, a pair of pants,

a pair of shoes and a mask. The entire outfit combined covered my entire body, hiding what I

was. Righty and Lefty ducked down into the hoodie as I put the hood up, heading down the

street.

The city itself had changed since my mutation. The sun was, for the most part, gone. The

sky was permanently dark, but yet it was still warm enough, like the sun was still heating us, but

the light was gone. It was called the Perma-Eclipse by the news, since they were into naming

things for themselves.

The street lights were changed to always be turned on, solar powered lights were replaced

by any number of things, but the city had another trick. The large billboards that lined the city's

walls bathed the streets in colored lights. Just about anything flashed on the screens, coloring the

city, and leaving Neon Ridge coated in, well, neon colors. Fitting for the city I guess.

The others I walked by had embraced it as well. Wearing glow sticks on their clothes or

carrying flashlights, just so they were seen by the passing cars. Assuming their headlights didn't

show them, or if they could look up from their phones for more than a second. But everywhere

you went, there was only a dark sky, and a colorful city. Even the shadow of the new nuclear

power plant was painted like a rave.

I walked down the streets, making sure to quickly duck by anyone that was walking

towards me. A few students from Neon Ridge University drove by with glowing paint on the

back of their windshield. A school bus with Christmas lights strung around the top of it stopped

to let kids onto the bus. And crosswalks were illuminated by spotlights now. Everything had a

light on it, other than the homeless.

They were gathered around dumpster fires, sleeping in boxes in alleyways, with little to

nothing to light them. I wondered if I should let them into the subway, to be protected by my

light. But it was too risky, too many chances to get tracked down by anyone posing as one of

them. Too many options. I had to play my cards safe, and keep myself safe.

Ralphie's was a local dive, decent greasy food at a decent price, and something that

would fill me up enough. I looked at my wallet, seeing a few dollars that I had left over.

“Okay… not enough for a feast, but a decent meal," I said. My wallet flipped close as I

headed into the restaurant. The fluorescent lights above nearly blinding me as I walked in, the

booths that seemed to stretch on end, and the counter was the only place with anyone around.

“Seat yourself," called out the waitress from behind the counter. I simply nodded and sat

down at a booth in the back, away from the door. I just wanted to keep my head down and get

something to eat. I was half tempted to ask for it to go before I even sat down, but I needed to get

out of the tunnels.

The eyes of my only head not tucked away into my jacket drifted over to the window,

taking in the little bit of light that was still out there.

“It's waaaaaayyyy too dark out. And it's only seven in the morning," said Lefty.

“Shut up," I said down to them.

“We're talking in your head. Nobody can hear us," said Righty. “Don't worry about

that."

“Fine," I said.

“Hey, Mister, what can I get for you today?" Asked a voice. I turned my head to see a

young female panther standing next to me. She was wearing a pink shirt and blue jeans with a

white belt that held some glow sticks. Her shirt had some reflective tape on it and she was

holding a notepad and pen. She didn't look that old, maybe fresh out of high school, and now

working here.

“Our house specialties are the Ohio Omlete, and the Egg Nachos. What can I get you

started with today?" Asked the girl.

“Oh, um, just water for now please," I said, trying to keep my eye out for anyone else.

“Shara, Ralphie needs help in the back. Can you help with the dishes?" Asked a grown

female panther as she hurriedly walked up to us with a basket full of dishes. She was wearing a

waitress apron with a similar set of street clothes underneath. She looked distraught by

something, as she quickly acquired the napkin dispensers from the table I was at.

“Sure mom," said the girl. “I'll be right back with your water in a second." She turned

around and walked back down to her booth near the waitress's counter.

“Sorry, let me get this from you," said the older panther. “Keeps you busy with kids, you

know."

“Yeah, she's your daughter?" I asked.

“Yeah…" said the mother, with a growing look of concern on her face. “So, can I start

you out with drinks or…?"

“Um, just water for now please. Your daughter was about to get it," I said, trying to put a

smile to my voice. My face was pretty much fully covered, so she couldn't tell if I was smiling.

And the lack of lips probably didn't help either.

“Water, okay, and do you need a few minutes or…?"

“I'll need a second," I said.

“Okay, I'll be right back."

“Thanks." She walked off and I snuck my wallet out of my pocket, looking through it.

Only a few dollars were inside, and only a few items on the menu were cheap enough for it. My

eyes darted across the menu, trying to find a good option.

“This sucks," said Lefty.

“No shit," said Righty.

“I get it, but what's our other options?" I asked. “We don't have…"

A deafening bang rang out, breaking me out of my thoughts. My eyes darted up to the

front door, seeing two armed men with obscured faces standing there. One with a handgun, and

the other with a smoking shotgun pointed at the air.