24 Mutation

Raine exhaled loudly. The girl was still very young… but she needed to know what happened to her. It was her responsibility to explain the changes the little girl would go through now that she was infected. But before that, Raine wanted to know what happened before Stella got infected.

Mia could not see everything in the CCTV footage as the attackers jammed it.

"I will explain everything Stella, but before that, can you tell me everything that you remember happening in the vacation house. Let me know if you can recognize whoever did that to your grandfather, okay?"

Stella nodded and said, "They were really scary. They looked like monsters… Like how I had become…" Stella breathed.

"You did not become a monster, Stella," Raine immediately commented.

"Then what did I turn into?" Stella asked.

"Hmm, we often call them mythical creatures and not monsters. I usually call them mytures in short. You know there are many kinds of mythical creatures. Like vampires, werewolves, mermaids, griffin, dragons, sphinx, ogre, goblins, golems, and more." Raine added with an awkward smile.

The little girl's forehead creased in confusion.

"Hmm, the creatures who attacked your grandfather's vacation house are called werewolves. They can shapeshift into a wolf from their human form. Just like in the movies… Have you seen one?" Raine asked and the little girl shook her head.

Raine cursed under her breath. She thought it would be easy for her to explain and make the little girl understand but now it seems like she thought wrong.

"If a rogue werewolf or myture bites or scratches a normal human like you, then your body will undergo certain changes just like how you transformed," Raine explained.

"Like some kind of mutation?" Stella asked.

"Yes, exactly! You go through some kind of mutation. Your body is still adjusting to those changes, but once you manage to control it, you can shapeshift into a cute little wolf that doesn't look scary. You just need to work hard and learn how to do it. But don't worry because we will help you," Raine replied.

"In biology, especially in genetics, a mutant is an organism having a new genetic character arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is generally an alteration of the DNA sequence of the genome or chromosome of an organism," Stella mumbled in one breath which startled Raine.

"Are you a walking Wikipedia?" Raine jested to ease the tension.

Before she could continue, the telephone on the bedside table rang, which Raine answered.

"She's a genius, Boss. A prodigy."

It was Mia who called to tell her more details about Stella. They were watching Raine's interaction with the little girl with the help of surveillance cameras.

"We need to get her blood sample. Stella is behaving differently from others that got infected," Lyne commented. Levi and Mia nodded in agreement as they continued to watch the screen.

On the other hand, Stella seemed to be in deep thought as Raine sat on the couch to join her.

"Then I'm a mutant and not a monster. Mythical Creature sounds too outdated and old-school. Who would believe in such things in this day and age? But I guess I'm the living proof that it is real," Stella whispered. All of this would be a lot to process for an average child but at such a young age, Stella managed to understand and give an explanation of everything that happened.

Raine sighed. The little girl had a point. They now live in the modern world and mythical creatures did sound ancient.

"You're right Stella. From now on, we will call your kind "mutants". It's indeed a better term than a mythical creature. Wow, kids, these days are so brilliant!" Raine commented with a grin.

"But, those who attacked us are not like me. They are certainly monsters," Stella's voice cracked and this time, she completely broke down. Raine had to pull and hug her to comfort her.

"It's alright dear. You're safe now. All you need to do is learn to control yourself whenever you shift into a werewolf," Raine reassured her. But the little girl was finding it hard to stop crying. She had experienced too many things and had hidden her emotions from all of them. Now that she felt safe, she finally let go and continued crying until her body eventually began trembling. Before she could say a word, her body started shaking like she was having a seizure.

Lyne was quick to enter the room with a tranquilizer gun.

"Boss!"

She aimed at the little girl that Raine was hugging even as she transformed into a werewolf.

Raine raised her hand, signaling Lyne not to shoot. Raine stroked Stella's back which became hairy since she shifted into a werewolf.

"Shhh, it's alright, Stella. You're safe now. You have to calm yourself, dear. Can you do that? I think your emotions are triggering your shapeshifting. Try to calm down and just think of good memories instead. I'm sure you can come back to your human form again if you calm down. Once you master controlling yourself, then you can shapeshift into a cute little wolf instead of a werewolf." Raine encouraged.

Stella followed her and in time, she was able to go back to her human form.

"Get me some new clothes for her, please," Raine instructed Lyne as Stella's clothes got torn when she shapeshifted.

"Ah, I guess I have to buy a lot of clothes for you from now on, dear," Raine commented with a cheeky smile.

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