Eve Part 1

There was a little naked girl at the seaside, heading in the direction where the water level receding. She was cold and shivering but she didn't know why she felt this way. The temperature in the colonies has always been set to the perfect degree for human life. The girl with her lips bruised from the cold was trying to understand what the problem was in her body. A voice echoed in her mind.

[Heat loss was detected. Please find a heat source.]

When the water level reached her knee, the girl noticed that the soft sand floor turned into stones. The trees on the beach came into her view even though the girl didn't know what the tree was. Something green and soggy wrapped around her ankle. The girl screamed and started running towards the coast.

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Jason counted seventeen people in total, including those who walked with him. Many of them wore old clothes and had no shoes. A woman stepped forward. She had joined Jason's little group in the forest. Her highlighted blond hair and manicured white nails make the woman look like she just got out of the beauty salon and her tatty clothes did not fit at all. She stood next to the Rex.

Amelia broke the silence, ''I do not approve of having a person in the heart of the forest. This is our temple.''

''Your disapproval is taken into consideration, Amelia. Jason, do you believe I'm the Rex now?'' Rex asked. His stance was strong, his face was expressionless. All shape shifters were looking at Rex while Rex turned his face towards Jason. He was bigger than his body, filling the environment with his energy.

''I never doubted. What can I do for you and for your pack? Rajid said that you were having some... separations in the pack. Is this the reason for the murders? Do you know who the killer is?'' Jason asked in a row.

''If I do know who the killer is, he would be dead by now. Our pack's matters...'' Rex glared at Rajid, ''do not concern you. Nobody challenged me properly, I don't have a rival anyway,'' he gazed at Amelia. ''I also remind you that not all victims are semi lions. Murderer has nothing related to our pack without victims. This is not surprising as there are many semi lions in the city. Listen, Jason. We know you are a certified hunter. We want you to start a city-wide hunt.''

Eyes turned to Jason. ''Guys... I am just one hunter. How can I organize a city-wide hunt? Are you even aware of what a city-wide hunt means? Every single shape shifter will be under suspicion. Hunters from all over the continent will come here to hunt you and they won't have to be accountable to anyone. You will be banned from leaving the city. I don't understand why you want this.''

''We've been told you know people you need to know to start a citywide hunt. We will cooperate with you, what could go wrong? I'm tired of losing my pack members, Jason.''

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Meanwhile, there was a little girl on her knees at the foot of a tree on the coast. She was covered with sand and leaves, trying to stop herself from shaking. She pulled her knees to her chest and put her head on her knees. Everywhere was full of foreign voices to her: waves hitting the shore, leaves rustling with the wind, strange creature making strange noises on the tree branch... She looked up at the creature on the branch.

[A living being detected. Please wait for the comparison with species in the system...]

[A plant detected. Please wait for the comparison with species in the system...]

[Analysis of the water is over. The salt content in the water is too high. Please do not drink it.]

[Your body temperature is still low. Plea--

The girl muted the artificial intelligence. The purpose of AI was to assist her in her mission, however, it could not be said to be of much use for now. She sighed and closed her eyes.

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''What could go wrong? We are talking about hundreds of hunters and shape shifters. We should ask what could go right. Please, Rex, there's no way things don't get out of control. Report other victims to the police and let them solve the case. They are good at this. Shape shifters are citizens too and police are responsible for their safety.''

Jason's ribs hurt with every breath he took. Even though the sun was not visible, the sky was getting lighter which meant Jason had been awake for almost twenty-four hours. He wants to go home and sleep, not to discuss about murders and shape shifters.

''We both know it's a lie, Jason. What do you know about shape shifter history?'' Unfortunately, Rex was apparently in the mood to chat.

Jason sighed and rubbed his forehead. ''Before 2nd Adam and before Armageddon, at the golden age of science, there was a scientist who was working on transforming humans into a faster, stronger, better at hearing, better at sight, and faster healing upper specy. At one point his studies focused to pass on modified animal genes with these and some other characteristics to humans. He did not succeed. The test subjects did indeed have these characteristics however they were like animals stuck in human bodies. They began to lose their minds.''

Jason paused to clear his throat and decide how to proceed with his story. He sighed again, looking at the first lights of the sun, and continued. ''The scientist acknowledged his failure and ended the study. All test subjects were destroyed, or he thought so. The modified genes had evolved and started to replicate themselves. Today we know that it is a virus transmitted by blood or other body fluids. Historians believe that one of the researchers fell in love with a subject. That's how the virus got out of the lab.''

Jason paused again and he saw the puzzled faces staring at him. 'Are they surprised because of I know those or because of they do not know?' In any case, he completed the story. ''According to what is told, virus played a major role in the Armageddon and most legends about shape shifters originated in this period of history. Not much different from vampires. Vampires were produced for the war on purpose. Killing machines with blood all they need. A2A, when gods and goddesses roam the earth, all gods and goddesses of light cursed vampires, and since that day they turn to ash if sunlight touches their skin. Fortunately, God Panwa pitied the people affected by the mutant virus and give them full moon night so they can free the animal in them for one night of the month and live freely on the other days. This is how shape shifters came about.''

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At the coast, under the first lights of the sun

The little girl realized that she had fallen asleep after waking up. She looked up to see what woke her up and saw the man in front of him.

''... .... ...'' Man said in a language the girl did not know. She activated her AI while the man speaking.

[The voice analysis started. Sounds are comparing to languages ​​in the system... Please keep waiting for the comparing... Please keep waiting for the comparing...]

The girl looked at the man. He was not tall or short and had a slightly muscular build. His only distinguishing feature was his bright yellow eyes. The man was talking about something, standing three meters away from the girl. When he stepped forward the girl the girl took a step back. The man stopped. [{.....} Analysis is completed. The Language is determined as English. The translation process is starting. Please wait for the translation process... Please wait for the translation process...] The man laughed and his eyes sparkled with joy.

[The word 'mermaid' is classified as a mythological creature from the legend of the origin earth... The word 'mute' is classified as a kind of disability. The translation process is twenty percent complete... The words 'lion, wolf, lizard' classified as wild animals. The translation process is thirty percent complete... Please focus on listening for a better experience of translation...]

''I... .... mermaid..... ... .. right? Mermaids... .... .... ... curse... from..... . .. . .. mute. .. ... human form.. ..... .... ..Never... ... ... ....just lions.... ...lizards... wolf... ... ... Surely.... joy... .. ..... .to kill a mermaid.''