Skin Deep

David could tell that it was almost morning. There was never a satisfying answer to how he knew, just that he did. He opened his eyes despite the nervousness he felt since he knew where he would be. He looked around the morgue, studying the state it was in. Three other bodies laid on gurnied, waiting for the coroner to come back and start the autopsies. The men that he attacked last night looked like country folk. David couldn’t understand why he attacked them since they were usually some of the more dangerous targets to attack.

  He examined his body, focusing on the eight bullet holes that were still closing up. Only two of them would have done him much damage, so he knew that the three bodies were his only targets. He was positive that he had taken them out before he succumbed to the injuries, and was mistaken as dead, which he was, but only temporarily. He just wished he knew what had happened after the blood rage had taken over. What led him to his current predicament.

  David got up off of the table. He knew from past experience that he had to get out of there since the police would not be far off from the scene. They were not much of a threat to his safety, since he never stayed dead for long, yet breaking out of detainment was always more of a headache than it was worth. There was also the problem of their less lethal weapons. Getting shot enough times would send David to sleep, but a taser shock, or a blast of pepper spray would leave him on the ground conscious, but unable to defend himself. He had dealt with this before, though it was usually a frightened woman that would mace him before running away. Cops never went for the less lethal option when a gun was also available.

  The hallway was empty of any life. Neither cop, nor coroner was to be seen. The slight trace of dawn could be seen shining through the window. The staff was most likely getting organized, and would be in soon enough. David looked around, and headed for the door.

  A chill hung in the air along with a thick mist. It was warm for the crack of dawn in May, yet he still wished he had a jacket. He didn’t dare return home, since the police were most likely searching his place to better understand why he was in a group of four corpses. David sighed as the realization that he could never return there. He didn’t pick the apartment, but it had become a comfortable residence for him over the past six years. He also had to leave town now, since the authorities would be on to him now.

  He was sad knowing that he’d have to leave such a fertile, and entertaining hunting ground. It was really providence that brought him to this large southern town. thanks to a bus ticket on a target he took the last time he was on the run. He had greatly enjoyed the bar scene, with its live music. The parks were also a great place to take a relaxing stoll. The best part however was how there was always someone minding their own business by walking on the street. In fact David saw one now.

  At the end of the sidewalk was a middle aged woman coming towards him. She was someone who wouldn’t spark any suspicion, even if she was right on top of you. David knew that she would do, but he had to take her quickly. He usually liked to play with his food, but then again she was going to be more than food. He needed her for his get away.

  David started walking the way she was going. It was an old trick he had picked up, one that made him appear as if he was not a threat. He could hear the soft steps of her shoes, and he slowed down to make sure she would catch up to him. When he was sure she was only a few steps behind him, he bent down, and pretended to tie his shoes. Once he could see her out of the corner of his eyes, he pounced.

  David pushed the poor woman against the closest building, and grabbed her tightly. He waited for the scream that he knew would come, then opened his mouth as well. His proboscis shot out, and into her mouth finding her brain stem, and masterfully severing it just enough for his needs. He resisted the urge to liquify her brain, and drink the slurry. Instead he started his ghastly procedure.

  First he produced his front legs, which were several thin twigs with enough joints to make it appear almost tentacle-like. The legs felt around inside her mouth, moving into the positions needed to help to control her body. Next his head, and thorax made the journey into her esophagus, They disappeared into the same space that contains her spine, making a home where the brain stem was. Finally David’s body dropped, as his hind legs made the journey over. The being took a moment to attach its antennae into her brain, and connect to the spine. Giving it full control over her five senses. A quick shudder in the woman that was once named Vanessa told him that the conversion was complete.

  Vanessa took one last moment to say goodbye to her former body. David had served her well, and she was going to miss being him. He had been a trust fund kid with more money than he knew what to do with, so it was easy to have whatever kind of fun he wanted. It was like playing life on easy mode, and she sure was going to miss it. A quick scan of Vanessa’s memories had revealed that this was not going to be the case any longer.

  Though Vanessa wasn’t necessarily poor, she also didn’t have a lot either. She was a waitress at a common twenty four hour breakfast restaurant, and was currently on her way to her morning shift. She was walking because her car broke down almost a year ago, and she had yet to save up for a new one. For the most part, it seems, years of her being kind to the wrong people had left her in a bad spot. Luckily for Vanessa that was no longer a problem.

  The plan was close to underway. Vanessa headed back to her house to pack a bag. With no car, and little money she knew how to get to where she needed to go, and be mostly unseen. It wasn’t like she needed much to live. The humans that she fed on were an infestation on the planet, and her excretions were enough to keep the body alive.

  With a full dufflebag, and the trashiest clothes she had, Vanessa set out on her mission. It was still early for her to guarantee a ride, so she walked back to the street that the morgue was on. She could see that the police had found her old body outside, and had roped the section of sidewalk off as a crime scene. She giggled a little as she thought “If they only knew” to herself, then continued down the street.

  It wasn’t far to the edge of town, but starting down the country highway was only the beginning of her journey. She knew that the next several weeks would be difficult for her, but in the end she would come out on top. Vanessa considered trading in her body for someone a little wealthier, but she kind of liked this body already. Being a woman had its own advantages for her, namely how easy it was to hunt, and stock her prey. Most people expect men to be the predator, and if they start noticing one following them around they get nervous. A woman never really had that problem.

  She had walked down the road for over an hour before traffic started to pick up. Most of the drivers were in the process of commuting and couldn’t be bothered to pick up a hitchhiker. She had lost count of the amount of cars that had passed by her before one stopped.

  “Where are you heading?” an older man yelled from the car.

  “West.”

  “Any west in particular?”

  “Not really. I’m just doing some traveling.”

  “Well then, hop in. I can get you nowhere west in particular.”

  Vanessa smiled as she climbed into the car. She thanked the man, then studied her surroundings. The back seat of the sedan was messy, not necessarily trashed, just covered in duffle bags, and boxes. She then looked at the man. He was most likely early fifties with a receding salt, and pepper hairline. He wore thick glasses, and sported a well kept beard.

  “Doing some traveling yourself?” She asked as she gestured to the back seat.

  “No, not really.” He said with a bit of pride. “Right now I’m studying several invasive species that have hit the south east. By the way, the name’s Colin.”

  “Vanessa.”

  “Nice to meet you Vanessa. So what is it that has you going west?”

  “Just traveling really. I never stay in one place for too long.”

  “Why’s that?” Colin asked with a sincere tone of concern . “Are you running from something?”

  “No, nothing like that. I mostly just like seeing new places. I get bored with the everyday.”

  “Not me, I like my routine. For instance, I stop at the same diner everyday for breakfast, and I am right on time. Don’t worry, it’s my treat.”

  “That’s mighty kind of you. I could definitely eat.” Vanessa said, as she thought about how this man could be useful to her. She didn’t want to change her suit so soon, let alone try life as Colin. She did however need a car, and less conversation. After a little bit of debate she made up her mind. She’d let the man have one last meal, then she’d eat right before he’d start the car.

  “So where is this restaurant?” she asked.

  “Just a few miles down the road. We’ll be there in no time.”

  No time at all past till the car pulled into a diner’s parking lot. It was the same brand of restaurant that Vanessa worked at before David got to her. She found it kind of amusing how he would die in this parking lot. In fact she found it so amusing that she chuckled a little bit before going inside.

  “I understand your reaction.” Colin said as he sat down at a table attached to the counter. “These places tend to get a bad wrap, what with the quality of patrons this place attracts after midnight. Luckily the breakfast run tends to be nothing but outstanding individuals trying to have a small comfort before their daily grind.”

  Vanessa looked around at the few people in scattered booths. No one looked particularly sinister, and actually would make a great meal. The waitress came, and took their orders. Before long their food came, and they started eating.

  “So, tell me a little about yourself.” Colin said. “I know you’re running from something.”

  “I wouldn;t say I’m running.” Vanessa said a bit taken back back from the bluntness of the remark. “Like I said, I just get bored, and leave.”

  “Usually when people decide to move, they do a lot of planning beforehand. They make sure they have a car, or at least know how they’re getting to where they’re going. If someone is running from something, they tend to grab a duffle bag, throw as much clothes in there as they can, then find the fastest way out of town.”

  Vanessa sighed, and stared at her waffle for a bit longer than she should have.

  “I may have gotten into some trouble. The law is not really looking for me, or anything like that. It was just a good idea for me to get out while I could.”

  “I guess I can accept that answer. Honestly I just want to help. I like helping people. I do it everyday with my job.”
 
  “Those invasive species can be a real disaster to the ecosystem.” She added half heartedly.

  “That they can, and it’s my job to wipe them out.” Colin said with a stern resolve in his voice. His expression had changed from the nurturing old man, to a hardened defender of the Earth. “When these insects make a home in an area, they destroy everything that was already there. Some of them will go on a feeding frenzy, killing the local flora, and fauna. While others will be a little more devious, and destroy only what they need to survive. Those are the hard ones to find, because they know what they are doing.”

  “Sounds like you’re giving these bugs a little too much of a personality.” Venessa said with an air of concern in her voice. “I mean, they’re only bugs.”

  “Honestly I’m not giving them enough. Take what I’m currently chasing. We call these bastards puppet mosquitos. Nasty bugs, too. They burrow inside their prey, and wear it around as a suit.”

  Vanessa dropped her fork as the realization of what Colin was talking about overtool her. Being linked up ro a human brain had given her access to the emotional palette of humans. She found some of them quite enjoyable. Fear was one that she rarely felt. So when it did hit her, it was intense, and in this case crippling.

  “Sounds terrible.” She muttered, as she realized that everyone in the restaurant was looking at her.

  “They sure are,” Colin said smoothly. “And it is currently my job to take one particular one out. My organization has been hunting it for decades now. Not the species, we get most of them after hibernation when they crawl up from underground. In this one case a very specific mosquito, which has been one step ahead of us for far too long. I was lucky enough to be in the area this morning when a corpse was found outside of the morgue that took it the night before. After checking the cavities that should have held the brains of the accompanying cadavers, I had my confirmation that something weird was in this area. After that all I had to do was watch one security tape, then drive till I found you. I wish I could say I was that skilled, but really it was all luck.”

  “Well then, you got me. What’s next?”

  “I’m afraid you are in for a shock.”

  As Colin muttered the words Vanessa noticed the waitress directly behind her. There was no time to react to the needles piercing her shoulder, as the strong electric current coursed through her whole body. Within seconds everyone in the diner was on top of her using zip ties to confine her arms, and legs. Someone even placed a military grade ball gag over her mouth to prevent her escape from the body. When she was properly tied up, she was given several more zaps of the taser until she passed out.

  Waking up was a nightmare for the puppet mosquito. It was no longer Vaneesa. As it looked around it saw its entire body spread out on a wooden board. Each of its legs were stuck in place with sturdy metal spikes. It tried to move, but every jerk brought a new pain that flooded its nervous system. The mosquito forgot what it was like to feel real pain from his real body.

  “We thought a spreading board would be a fitting end to you. I’ll probably hang you in my office.” said Colin, as he entered the room from a catwalk. “You have no idea how many people I’ve just made jealous by bringing you in. Anyways I know you can’t communicate with me, so I’ll just answer the questions that I know you have.”

  Colin walked over to the edge of the railing, and looked the mosquito dead in its many eyes.

  “Yes I am a part of the organization that you monsters tell stories about. No we are not called the boogieman’s boogiemen. Yes most of us really like that name, and yes you have about ten minutes left to live. We know that your species has a rather temperamental respiratory system, so we’re going to flood this room with  poisonous gas, and just let nature take its course. Any questions?”

  The puppet mosquito just stared blankly back at him. Doing nothing to elicit an answer.

  “Good.” Colin said as he started for the door. “I’d say it's going to be quick, and painless, but that’d be a lie.”

  The mosquito watched as Colin disappeared out of sight. It could hear the pump starting on the fans, and knew that it would be over soon. A life of hunting, and terrorizing strangers flashed in front of its eyes, and it couldn’t help but feel proud.