[ The Shapeshifters. ] [A private Role-play for Rebecca and Jacob]

I felt, two shots to my sides hit my skin at the same time. I ignored them, and leaped at a man, knocking him down to the ground. My adrenaline was pumping through my veins, as I took down one of the last few men. I heard a yell; 'Leave them to die of their gun wounds! We'll come and find them tomorrow morning!' The last few gunshots rang out before the helicopters and trucks pulled out. Those. Sick. Twisted. People. I thought in vain, and ran over to Lilliana, who I noticed had multiple gunshot wounds. I stared at them. Lilli, you need to lay down... I thought, and changed into a human. My shirt was stained nearly solid red. I sighed, and took it off. Luckily all of the wounds were on my shoulder, and arm. Where they luckily, had all avoided vital veins or organs. I sighed in deep relief, but I didn't matter. With as much worry as I had about Lilliana, I didn't feel anything.

I knelt down beside Lilliana. "Please don't be dead. Please!" I yelled, feeling her pulse. Very slow. I immediately started doing CPR. Rabid, worried thoughts were running through my head. I yelled in pain, as my wounds started to sting, and burn. It was an indescribable pain. I continued to try to do CPR though.

I groaned, and my eyes, started to close, I felt myself roll over and hit the ground. The world went black around me.

__________ Sometime tomorrow ______________

I sat up, my eye blinking rapidly. The last thing I had remembered was rolling over and fainting. Was this a dream? I looked down at my chest, I had a warm new t-shirt on, along with new Jeans. I looked over at Lilliana, she was wearing fresh clothes also. I then noticed that I was in a large square room, we were both laying on separate beds. And the room was comfortingly cool. I had bandages covering all of my wounds. Where was I? Was I dead? Was I in a government building. That thought made me slip out of bed. I nearly yelled, as I put weight on my legs. I sat back down. A few moments later, the very same wolf-dog that had spooked Lilliana, was walking in on all fours. He looked up at me. And as I blinked, he had changed into a man with chiseled features. He was about Fifty and had short brown hair. That was about the same color as mine. Instead of having brown eyes, he had dark blue ones. I bit my lip. He looked so familiar. Like, I had seen him before. "Wh-Who are you?" I asked looking at the man. He spoke. "James Joseph Night." He said with a small smile. I glared at him. He had the same voice as my father. He had the exact same name as my father, and he even looked like him. "I'm dead... aren't I?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"No..." James said in a slow, soft voice. "Jake, you're alive. And healthy. So is Lilliana." He said with a small smile. I blew out a small sigh of relief. But, how could I trust this guy? It could be a government agent who can change into my Dad... I ran through questions my Dad would only know. "Your not my Dad, even though you have the same name as him... So where are we?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"Jacob. I am your Dad." James said looking down at me.
I gaped. "No... You can't be. My Dad died of lung cancer nearly ten years ago."
"I didn't. That was somebody who was covering up for me... So I wouldn't endanger you... or your Mom when I accidentally got injected by the disease. That you and Lilliana are also injected with." James explained.
I wanted to stand up and yell in joy but, I still didn't know if I could trust him. "What's the type of wood that my Yo-Yo's made out of, that you made?" I asked him sternly. He didn't hesitate one second.
"Cherrywood, with a cedar and pine edge and inside." He said pointing to the Yo-Yo on the table next to me. He really was my Dad. My Dad was alive. I held back a yell, and picked up the Yo-Yo.

I ripped my eyes away from my Dad. It was just unbelievable. For the past Nine years, I had thought he was dead. Laying in a grave somewhere peacefully. But, he'd been alive this whole time. I looked over at Lilliana, and saw that she was in pain. I quickly slipped out of bed, and limped over to Lilli. I shook my head. "I'm so sorry, Lilliana. I should have fought better. It would have prevented you from getting shot..." I said lightly, and looked into her pain-filled eyes. "It's all my fault..." I said looking away shamefully. My Dad had left the room. I stared out the window. Thick luscious trees lined the area. We weren't in Arizona or Mexico anymore... that's all I knew.

I stared at Lilliana for a few moments before turning around, and slipping into my bed. I closed my eyes, but it took about an hour for me to fall asleep. I quietly slipped off to dream land. First I dreamed about my fathers 'death'. And then about the bloody battle that had occurred so many hours ago.
I woke up with a startle. Sweat coated my clothes, and my face. I gulped, and sat up. I saw the night sky from the window. The stars twinkling among the moon. I looked over a Lilliana, before going back to sleep.

I woke up at around 8:30 to a shaking to my shoulder. My eyes sprung open. There staring at me, was my Dad. I sat up rubbing my head. My arms ached, and stung, but I ignored it. I pursed my lips as he shoved a small tray of food into my hands. I looked over at Lilliana who also had a tray but was staring at it like it was poisoned or something. I decided not to say anything. I thanked my father lightly, and started to eat. It ached to chew, but it felt good to have food in my stomach. I sighed again, and set the tray back down. I didn't say anything to Lilliana, as I tried to stand up. It still hurt. But, not as bad as a day ago. I sighed and limped out of the door. My mouth hung open. The inside of the building was wood, with a light creamy ceiling. My Dad came out of a door and looked at me. He didn't say 'Good Morning' or anything. He just started explaining. Even though, I hadn't asked any questions. "We're in the hills of Northern Utah. I found you both laying on the ground unconscious on the Mexican side of the border. I immediately noticed that you were Jacob, and the person next to you was Lilliana. You've both been on nearly every News Network. The government has large rewards on you both." James said with a grimace.

"So... Are the news stations telling the truth about what's happening? About how the Government wants to ruin the earth?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"No. Of course not. They've called both of you mass murderers, and you're both looking for more victims." James said, sitting down in a soft looking armchair. "I'm sorry, I haven't gotten to either of you sooner. I had barely any idea where you were... until I saw that a women had seen a Black bear, a Leopard, and a White Fox. I know that you're the bear, and Lilliana's the Leopard. But... who in the world is the White Fox?" He asked raising an eyebrow. I explained, still standing in the same spot, that I had been for five minutes.

"Lilliana. Listen, If I had told Jacob about this, what in the world could I have done? The government wasn't going to come after either of you until you turned Eighteen, and the disease activated itself. And, so you know. I've protected you, and Jacob both of your entire lives." James said calmly, letting her poke him in the chest. I bit my lip. "Lilliana. Please. I can fight my own fights. And I've thought about all of this, but I've put it past me. Yeah, my Dad's lied to me for nine years. But, it's for a good reason..." I said, approaching her and putting a hand on her shoulder.

I crouched down next to her, even though I knew she would more then likely push me away. The more she said, the more it made me angry at my Dad. Yeah. How did you protect us? You weren't ever around in my life. Never. Not after January 12th 2000. I realized James was looking down at the both of us. "I don't know what that ugly backstabber told either of you. But, I'm sure you've both noticed that people have stared at each of you your whole life?" I nodded slowly. So did Lilliana. "That was me, and my brother; Mark." He snapped his fingers. An old crabby looking man stood in his place for a few moments, and then he snapped his fingers again, and a female Zookeeper stood in the old mans place. And then she turned back into James. I eyed him warily. This is exactly what 'Jessica' had said. I frowned. "How do we know that you aren't some government agent who got a hold of the disease like 'Jessica' did?" I asked raising an eyebrow. "And as far as I know. You could be some lady like M.L." I said through gritted teeth. I didn't care if this was my Dad, I wanted to get this information out.
James just smiled. "I read you The Hobbit nearly every night before bed, Jacob. Nearly every night. If we finished it, we would start it again." I bit my lip. That was something my Dad would really only know, unlike the yo-yo where somebody who was an expert on wood could have inspected it. I stood up. "I trust you." I said slowly, looking down at Lilliana.

I pursed my lips as my father returned through the door, that he had come out of. "Don't get to used to this place. I'm not trusting anybody except for you. Anymore. Even my Dad. He still has a weird aura about him. And I'm only about 50% sure he really is my Dad. So, we're leaving. Tonight. I might even be able to make a couple of fake passports. I'll just need to get the same paper they use in the real ones. Mine's in my backpack. So, I'll just need to edit that one a bit, and then make one for you." I stated in a soft whisper. So my 'Dad' wouldn't hear.

I shook my head. "You're not going to get rid of me that fast. I'm coming with you. You might as well. I'll just follow you, if you refuse." I said, placing a hand on her shoulder. After a few moments, I sighed, and sat down on the couch that was a few feet away from me.

I followed. Watching her pack her bag, I asked, raising an eyebrow; "What's your plan? Are we leaving tonight...? Or right now?" I grabbed the yo-yo off my table, and started to lightly play with it. After a couple of moments, I rolled it up, and slipped it into my back pocket. I leaned up against the wall, waiting for my reply.