Kristy felt like a madwoman. A torrent of so many emotions flooded through her, most her own, but not all. How could she not feel a bit crazy though? She knelt on the floor of her living room, hugging her chicken-shaped husband, and exchanged her emotions with his in some psychic connection that made no sense to her rational mind-but felt perfectly normal after feeling Colin’s impressions of the power. She felt sad, scared, angry and devastated, but far more than that, she felt so much relief. Her husband may be some kind of psychic, shape-shifting chicken that was a dumbed down version of himself, and the person who did this to him was still out there somewhere, but… He was home and alive.

  What else could she ask for?

  Well… other than him looking like the real Colin, that is, but from the feelings Colin shared of things, she got the impression that if she fed him enough human DNA, he could change into a human. What he would look like and how to feed him human DNA without crossing any moral barriers was a different story entirely, but she had faith that they would figure it out. They had always figured things out as long as they met things head on together.

  Kristy shook her head and laughed at her own thoughts. She really was a madwoman, wasn’t she? She looked down at Colin and he met her eye with one of his.

  “Home,” Colin said and nuzzled into her.

  “Welcome home,” She said and squeezed him affectionately.

  Colin stepped back, flapped to regain his balance, and cocked his head before opening his beak to speak, “Jenny home?”

  Kisty nodded, knowing what he meant, she looked at the clock before answering, “Jenny will be home soon. The school bus will drop her off in a few minutes.”

  Colin made a strange, shrill sound that didn’t fit a chicken, then repeatedly tapped his claws on the the ground while singing “Home, home, Jenny home.”

  “You got us into some deep shit this time, Colin. You realize you cured my cancer right?”

  Colin nodded an affirmative, “No pain.”

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  “You are literally a cure for cancer,” Kristy said in a whisper. The implications slowly hitting her, “That alone, would be enough for them to take you away, but you can also transform. Whoever did this to you has more power than we can handle, Collin. What if they’re looking for you? They’re still paying us, so I doubt they would let you go so easily. What if they hurt us?”

  “No,” Colin stamped his foot protectively.

  Kristy couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of a chicken showing so much bravado.

  …

  Jenny hadn’t come home.

  Kristy saw the bus arrive at the corner and then continue past her street without stopping.

  “Jenny?” Colin asked.

  “I’m not sure, but she should have gotten off the bus.” She pulled out her phone and dialed Jenny's teacher, Sheryl Dodley.

  “Hey Kristy, how are you feeling?” Sheryl said.

  “I’m fine, Sheryl, thank you. Is everything alright with Jenny?” Kristy said.

  “What do you mean?” Sheryl said.

  “Well the bus didn’t drop her off, so I was wondering if you held her after for some reason and forgot to call.” Kristy said, feeling a slight amount of uneasiness.

  There was a long pause before Sheryl responded, “Jenny never showed up to school. You didn’t keep her home today?”

  Kristy’s stomach dropped and she clenched the phone tighter, “That’s not funny at all, Sheryl.”

  Sheryl responded with four words that shattered Kristy’s world, “I’m not Joking,”

  “What do you mean she never came to school? You mean to tell me that nobody has seen her for hours? Why didn’t you call me?” Kristy said in a panic.

  “I’m so sorry, Kristy. I just know how hard things have been for the two of you recently and kind of assumed you and Jenny took a personal day. I… I’m so sorry. I can help look for her.”

  “No that’s okay, I’ll just look in her usual spots.” Kristy hung up without saying goodbye. Sheryl didn’t deserve that, but Kristy was not in the mood for niceties. She had a really bad feeling about Jenny.

  Kristy dialed officer Higgins, but he didn’t pick up again. Kristy texted for him to call her as soon as possible and then slammed her phone onto the coffee table.

  “Jenny?” Colin said in a worried tone.

  Kristy looked at Colin. Just when she got him back, this happens? Kristy felt like the world’s worst mother in that moment. She should have paid closer attention to Jenny. How could she let this happen? She opened her mouth to tell Coling the story, but only two words came out, “Jenny’s gone.”