Chimeras

It was an unusually warm winter afternoon as she and her spouse, Roy drove the short distance to the more remote part of the county. Carline actually enjoyed the scenery, and was grateful they drove in silence on the one lane highway, passing the cliffs, sea, and trees further into the woods.

She wore a simple black satin dress, hair pulled into a slightly bouffant chignon, wide dark sunglasses, a la Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and red lipstick. She had carefully applied her makeup today, and wore her more expensive jewelry, and pulled her special black pumps and handbag out of the dust bags today. Even though she should be impressed with the day’s transformation, she couldn’t be.

Depression had her again the past few weeks and this today was a stark contrast to her more bohemian or rather non existent everyday look of momma jeans, ill fitting t-shirts and dirty and unstylish shoes and hair do. Bohemian would be a compliment. All she could feel now about anything and everything was detachment, and no one could tell.

She walked into the venue set in a beautifully lit outdoor space with a few long banquet-style tables lined up. She approved of the decor which was dramatic and romantic with the greenery and deep garnet flowers on the tables, exposed wooden chairs, string lights overhead and gold candles on the tables. It was slightly gothic and matched her mood and the backdrop of the forest.

She sighed. She felt a little uneasy. Normally she’d feel the buzz and excitement of the festivities but today she was just here for her best friend Margo and it was also a major yet intimate event for the community. At least she was able to pull herself together for Margo.

She knew Margo since sophomore year in high school. Margo was like an older sister or mother to her, even though Carline was a week older than Margo.

Margo was the studious one, the one with the highest moral compass she’d ever know anyone to have, sensitive and sensible. She suffered in her highschool and early adult years, abandoned by her mother, kicked out of the home and an unwed mother at 17.

Margo managed to finish school, raise her two children, maintain her career, and even achieve higher learning while Carline bounced from job to job and relationship to relationship throughout all these years. Yet Margo was generous with her time with Carline and even handled her with patience and care.

So for Margo, Carline would pull herself together, force her spouse to show up too and she would get outside herself, celebrate her friend and be cheerful and excited. God please don’t let me expose how I’m really feeling tonight.

They were early and Roy was itching to get to the bar. “Can you get me a dry martini, extra olives?” She asked.

She sensed his excitement at her willingness to partake in his favorite pastime. She internally rolled her eyes and made way to the empty table with the retaining wall of green ivy, facing the rest of the venue tables and the stage in front of the old barn where a giant projector screen hung.

Other people started to arrive, Roy also brought her drink and she lit up a cigarette as he headed back to the bar where he and some other men hovered at the bar competing for attention from the two female bartenders. Margo’s husband wouldn’t be one of those guys.

She looked up and saw a tall elegant yet casually dressed man in cream slacks, and black blazer with longish black hair walk past her all around the table to her side. It was him! He was getting closer to where she sat. She was astonished because he was a well known celebrity.

His face was flawless. No wonder people say he’s immortal! Beautiful skin, dark eyes and hair, mostly dark beard. What could he possibly be doing here in our town? Normally she’d be freaking out, but she wasn’t and why wasn’t she?

She looked up and smiled wryly. It was clear he intended to make contact. “How do you do?” He asked in an unsmiling gaze, and husky voice.

“I’m fine, thank you. How are you doing?” She asked, for lack of a better response. Quickly followed by, “Here, ah, I’ll put this thing out,” talking about her cigarette.

“No worries.” Deep voice. “I assumed this was the smoking section.”

She smiled wryly at him again and for the life of her, she again, could think of no better response. She contemplated the idea of making small talk out of politeness but every time she found herself in these situations, she geeked out and made things weird. She just didn't have the energy for any of it these days.

If she started making small talk, she’d be a total weirdo or she’d somehow seem facetious and she sometimes didn’t mind that, or worse she’d get an over enthusiastic audience and fan in return. Not that she was so gorgeous, she knew she was okay looking but guessing what got people was how accommodating she was, and she could be really cool too.

She definitely wasn’t the prettiest girl in the room. She eyed the young slender model types with long hair and flowing light dresses coolly.

That’s what it is. Smoking section, nonchalant look, trendy black clothing, plus she looked like money today. Little did people know that most days she was a slob. The female version of the dude.

Sure enough, the man to the left of her moved over one seat. She laughed to herself and looked up, as Margo and her husband Aldo came to the table. I may look money but Margo and Aldo were money.

“Margo!” She got up with a wide smile to hug her best friend and said hello to Aldo.

The well known actor unexpectedly stood from his seat to formally greet and shake hands with Aldo and Margo. They were clearly acquainted, mostly with Margo and in a business capacity.

“How are you?!” Margo seemed a little flustered and Aldo already looked a little impatient. “Here, sit down.” Carline said.

“Are you by yourself?” Margo asked.

Carline shook her head and hiked her thumb over to the bar. Aldo asked Margo if she wanted anything and in classic Margo, a girly fruity and sweet drink was her choice.

Margo sat in the seat to the front and right of Carline. Long blond hair, pink cheeks and floral patterned dress. The women normally complimented each other on their outfits, and makeup, but Margo seemed a little stiff and even slightly angry with Carline.

The handsome man made a few cheeky remarks that Margo entertained and left Carline feeling more off.

Roy and Aldo came back to the table and dinner was served. The men talked. Roy asked Margo about her work, at that question Aldo interjected and said, “Margo, aren’t you going to speak up and ask Carline?”

“Ask me what,” she looked at them confused?

“Carline, what happened to my laptop the day we met for lunch?”

“It should be in my trunk, Margo. I haven’t touched or moved it since that day.”

“Yeah but why didn’t you tell me you had it? Or why didn’t you remind me.”

“Margo, I took good care of it. Here’s my keys. Check for yourself.”

She took the keys from her purse and quickly slid them across the table over to Aldo. Unbelievable! She thought, even though she lied because someone could have broken into her car. She simply forgot about the laptop.

The past few years she had to pussyfoot around these two. She sensed jealousy from Aldo. He was constantly coming up with things that Margo would have to address Carline about. This was another non issue she had to fix, but she was offended.

Why did she have to be responsible and remind someone of their belongings. How many times has she gone back to Margo’s for a lost item that she left behind? She assumed this was one of those times. Margo was supposed to know it’d be safe with her.

This was more than being angry about not reminding her. It was more an accusation of attempted theft or tampering, something she’d never do. Let alone do to Margo. There must be something of a sensitive nature on that laptop.

“You know Carline, I’ve always worked hard for the things I have. Aldo and I both work very hard for us and for our kids.”

“Margo, what are you trying to say?” Carline almost wanted to cry. After all this was happening in a public setting.

“She saying, ‘There’s no rest for the wicked and cheaters, never prosper,’” interjected the handsome man.

Carline realized this was a set up, she didn’t believe for one minute that Margo would think Carline was trying something funny, and this asinine comment of his just confirmed that he was also in on it.

Just then the dessert came. It was a slice of decadent German chocolate cake, with chocolate frosting. She could only poke at it while everyone else but the man ate gratifyingly.

He sat positioned toward her in his chair, studying her. She took that as a sign of interest, but in what she didn’t know because all she could tell was that he had sinister motives. All she could sense was that she was vital, more vital to his plan than he was.

He started speaking to them, or her. His non-existent smile appeared. “I came to tell you about our plans, and the plans for the future and what will come to pass, not for humanity but in mankind.”

In mankind? She thought. Not good for humanity but changes in mankind. Aren't we there already? If you don't like what you are, in society today you can completely alter it. Especially your outward appearance. Change on the isnide is much more difficult to achieve.

He went on describing the advancements in biological research with stem cells and embryogenesis.

“There are certain alternatives and Margo, our team, and I have mapped out the specifics.”

From nowhere his voice suddenly came on the speakers and he wasn't just addressing her but everyone in the entire room.

She started to hear a buzz about the room. Some gasps, and people looking at their phones and leaving their tables.

“What are you talking about?” Carline asked. What’s going on? How big is this? Was he the spokesman for this?

He was more. This was the antithesis of everything good.

“You’ll see. Oh Carline, when have you ever cared about anything aside from yourself?” The stranger asked in his signature husky voice.

She looked around the room as some people seemed to be in a panic. The projector was turned on to the news. People were sharing the news on their phones. Naming major cities, not just in the United States but all over the world.

The screen displayed hundreds of them released into the cities. They were adult humanlike creatures...blue with scales, green and mucousy, hairy bodies with claws...all horrific and in combinations you couldn’t imagine! They stood upright or hunched over with serpentine or feline eyes and had the ability to use superhuman strength.

Half-human, half-animal.