Monster Republic by Ben Horton

Cameron. And you know what? After a month or two, you can’t argue with the truth any more and you learn to accept what you are. But you, you’re special. And I’m Sorry but you don’t get the luxury of time. You have to wake up and accept what you are now.’
    ‘Huh.’ That sounded like a raw deal to Cameron.
    ‘And if you really need more proof, here itis.’ Rora glanced left and right, as though making sure there were no passers-by to catch sight of something they shouldn’t.
    And then she changed.
    It was like watching a werewolf movie. Rora’s already-dark eyes deepened to solid black and her fine auburn hair grew rapidly, thickening to fur all over her morphing features. Her fingers flexed and stretched, scalpel-sharp claws snicking out of the tips. Her mouth swelled and she peeled back her lips to reveal a serious set of fangs. She was still very much human-shaped, but there was more of the fox about her now than ever.
    ‘There now,’ she said. ‘That’s something you can’t argue with.’
    She was right, Cameron was lost for words. All he could do was stare at her while his brain struggled to catch up with his eyes.
    ‘And before you ask – no, I don’t have a tail.’
    For a moment Rora eyeballed Cameron. Then, almost imperceptibly, her mouth twitched into a grin, and Cameron foundhimself smiling for the first time since he had woken in the lab. It felt strange, as if his face had forgotten how to do it, but there was a funny sense of relief at the same time, even if it did hurt his stitches.
    ‘So,’ he said finally. ‘Fox. Bloodhounds.’ He gestured around the park. ‘Are you expecting a load of toffs in red jackets to come jumping over the hedge on horses?’
    Rora’s smile faded. ‘This isn’t a joke, Cameron.’
    ‘I know,’ he replied. ‘But if all this is true – what you said about me being the first of a new batch – then there could be more people like me.’ Cameron pictured a face exactly like the one he had seen in that reflection. ‘More monsters.’
    ‘Well, I guess we know which one of you is the brains of this outfit.’
    Cameron’s heart skipped a beat.
    He and Rora spun round simultaneously to face the figure standing in the shadows between the trees. The shape was little more than a silhouette, but Cameron knew who itwas. He’d know her voice anywhere.
    ‘Marie?’
    Part of him wanted to rush forward and give her a huge hug, but something stopped him. In the chaos of his visit home and their flight to the park, he had forgotten about her again, and he felt another hot flood of shame. Until now, he’d had no idea she was even alive. Would she understand if he told her how crazy things had been?
    She stepped lightly towards him, her movements as graceful as ever, and Cameron suddenly felt ugly and self-conscious, wishing he could hide his hideous new face. Then he remembered – Marie had been standing just behind him when the explosion happened. She must have been hurt too.
    ‘Are you all right?’
    ‘I’m fine. I’m better than fine.’
    Marie’s voice was soft, but there was something in the way she spoke that unsettled Cameron. As she got closer, he prayed that she was telling the truth; that she wasn’t hurt or scarred.
    Marie stepped into the light.
    She had lost her lovely hair, he could see that much. It was close-cropped – like a soldier’s – and he thought he could pick out the ridgeline of a scar on the side of her head. She was wearing combat trousers and a short vest that showed off her slender waist.
    Coming up close to him, Marie took hold of both his hands and tilted her head towards him. Cameron gazed into her face, and suddenly he knew that everything was going to be all right.
    Marie smiled her beautiful smile.
    ‘Reckon you can fly, Reilly?’
    And then she hurled him halfway across the park.

chapter seven
school reunion
    Cameron crashed into a tree, the impact knocking the wind out of him. But it was nothing compared to the blow