"How is this possible? I thought I was the only one. And how did you find me? Sure, you can be a morpher...thing just like me but how did you know I was one?" I felt the words tumble from my mouth, an unceasing waterfall of questions. Darn my word barf.

          Pretty-boy jeans gestured to the bed with a smile, still an exact replica of me. "Is it okay if we sit down? We'll probably be talking for a little while."

         I shrugged. It isn't like I'm going to be sleeping anytime soon, so why not? "Sure Pre-" I stopped. Was I just about to call him Pretty boy jeans to his face? That settles it. I need to know his name. "You can sit down as long as you do two things."

         He stops from where he was about to sit on the edge of my bed to give me an appraising look. Ugh. My face should never try to do that. "What two things?"

          "Tell me your name and turn back into yourself. It's giving me a split personality disorder talking to myself." I cringe inwardly at my own joke. Come on Kyla, why are you doing this to yourself.

           "I am Damien. Damien Blackwood. And I will change back into my normal state of being, but I will need to have the use of your bathroom" He says quickly, like he doesn't want me to press as to why.

          Curious, I ignore his tone and press on. "Why? Afraid of my wandering eyes?" I smirk. 

           He blushes. "No. When I transform back from a different state, my clothes do not transform with me. They disappear."

           "And transforming in my bathroom will help you not be naked how?" I raise an eyebrow at him. "I don't think my bathroom is equipped with male clothing. At least, it shouldn't be."

          He strides into my bathroom and brings out a bundle of clothing. Huh, maybe my bathroom was equipped with male clothing. "I planned ahead. I knew you wouldn't trust me without me morphing, and I knew I wasn't going to explain why I was here naked. Hence, the clothing."

           "Well, then go ahead and morph so you can explain what you are doing here." I'll just wait here. What could be so important he couldn't wait to tell me at school? He looks about my age, so he has to go to school, right? I've never seen him there before but that's not surprising. I'm not the most observant of people.

          "Kyla,"  Damien's voice sounds. I jump. The irritation in his voice reveals that he's said my name multiple times. Wait. I didn't tell him my name. 

          "Hey-". He cuts me off with a pointed finger at my bedroom door. The one I painted with blue except for a flower filled outline of my name. Oh...that makes sense.

          I bounce on my bed. "So, are you ready to explain now?"

         He sighs. "Yes. But you should not be so excited about the explanation." I drop my shoulders in an exaggerated slump. He starts to grin and stops himself with a little shake of his head. "I came here to tell you that you are in danger, Kyla. Stop messing around."

         I freeze. Danger? That doesn't sound so good. "What kind of danger?"

          "The worst kind. Government funded danger. There is an organization known only to a select few. Those they are hunting if they are lucky, and those who fund it. It's called the T.A.K. Squad." His voice is serious but I let out a snort.

          "The T.A.K. Squad? Really? Was Nail Squad already taken? How about-" I stop myself at the sight of his glare. "Okay, fine. Continue." 

          "It stands for the Track and Kill Squad." I shiver. Okay. Maybe it isn't that funny. "They ruthlessly eliminate any trace of abnormality in the U.S. We are one of their highest priorities. We cannot be tracked, because we can change forms. We cannot be put on a wanted list for the same reason. And because we change forms, our scent cannot be picked up by their hounds." Now its his turn to shiver, and to rub a scar on the back of his neck.

          "What are their hounds? What's so bad about them?" I ask, almost too afraid to hear the answer. Thankfully he doesn't answer.

         "Trust me. You do not ever want to have the misfortune of finding out." He shakes off whatever memories resurfaced and continues. "The T.A.K. Squad has eliminated the friends and families of thousands of Alters. That is what we are. Once the Squad gets to them, they disappear without a trace. The only way to know if it really is the Squad is the symbol." 

           I flash back to the night my parents went missing. I walk home from school as always, my backpack dangling from one shoulder. I see a police car drive past me in the direction of my house, sirens blaring. I brush it off as nothing until the second one races past. Then I start to run. When I reach my house, both of the police cars are in the driveway, blocking the garage, and the front door is open. I rush inside the house. "Mom, Dad," I call. No answer. I try again. Still no answer. I run up to their bedrooms. Everything is there. Not a hair out of place. I run through the whole house searching for my parents. No one is there. No one except for the police officers outside. I run out to the driveway, wondering if they know what happened. There are no clues. Nothing except for the mysterious swirled symbol left on the garage door...

          I grab a piece of paper and a pen from my bedside table, and start drawing. In moments, I recreate the symbol that's haunted me for five years. I show Damien the drawing. "Is this it?" His eyes glance over the paper, and his mouth drops open in shock. Bingo.

          "When did you see this symbol? And, more importantly how are you still alive?"

           I sigh. I hate bringing up my parents' disappearance. It causes people to pity me, and I hate pity. "This symbol was painted on my garage door the night my parents disappeared five years ago. I was at school when they disappeared, and I haven't heard from them since." If what Damien says is true, then I guess I won't ever hear from them again. 

           "Five years ago? Kyla. We have to leave. Now." The harshness of his tone causes me to shiver with fear.

            "What? Why do we have to leave?" I ask, utterly confused.

            "If they left their mark on your garage door, if they abducted your parents, then they have been watching you. They must not have been sure if you were an Alter yet, otherwise you would already be dead. But now that I have come to visit you, a known Alter? They know. And if they know then you are in danger." His voice is deadly serious. "And because they know, they are coming to kill you right now.

So what do you guys think of this chapter? I know it was kind of short, but the next chapter is longer. Anyone want to create the symbol for me? I know some of you guys do designs....

Shoutout to @Sarcasticcountrywolf for the name Damien. You get the chapter dedicated to you ^-^ If you gave a name but didn't win, don't worry, I'll have plenty of opportunities.