Sophie sighed as she closed her locker. School just wasn't the same without her friends. As she exited the door to the school building she half-expected to see her old friends waiting for her outside, just like the old days. But Sophie was not really surprised when she found herself alone. The WSA was a long walk from her school. Sophie was sure her old friends were probably already busy with their new friends at their new school.
"Why the long face?" said a voice behind her.
"Come on, Roland. You know why," said Sophie, turning and expecting to see her friend.
Instead Sophie found herself staring at a very scaly abdomen. She slowly looked up and saw the face of an unknown reptile. The uplifted animal was huge, at least nine or ten feet tall. Its scales were a dull brown, with several small spines lining its skull and protruding from its long tail. Tan shorts hugged its waist and thighs tightly and an undersized tan tank top struggled to cover its chest. The Animalian wore no shoes, standing on the balls of its three-toed feet. Its hands also only had three digits and a thumb, each ending in a wicked-looking curved claw. The reptile's head was completely smooth and devoid of hair or ears. The tips of its sharp teeth hung just below its upper lip.
Sophie could not identify the species of the reptile, but she was not worried. Sophie had met several uplifted animals and they were often friendly, despite their fearsome appearance.
"Um, I think you are in the wrong place. The WSA is in Animalia. I was on my way there, I can show you...."
"No, I am in the right place. It took me a long time to get here, but I am exactly where I want to be, " said the reptile ominously.
Sophie nervously began to back away. Although this reptile was civilized, there was something seriously off about it. She didn't like the way it was looking at her, like a cat watching a canary.
"Okay, then. If you don't need my help, I guess I will be on my way," said Sophie as she turned and began to walk away.
The reptile kept pace, its long strides allowing it to easily catch up to her.
"But you didn't answer my question, Sophie. Why are you so sad? Is it because you miss your friends? It can be so hard on your own, so lonely," said the reptile.
Sophie stopped and turned around.
"How did you know my name?" said Sophie as she carefully examined the reptile. "Who are you?"
"You don't recognize me? I' m hurt, " said the lizard, placing a clawed hand against its chest. "Then again, I have changed a lot since you last saw me. The price I had to pay to get out of Costa Rica."
Suddenly it clicked. Sophie finally recognized the animal. It had been difficult because she had never seen one in person, at least not a live one. No one had before now. But the shape of its body was unmistakable. It was an uplifted Tyrannosaurs.
"Heather?!" asked Sophie with shock.
"Aw, you remember me. I am touched, really. I was not sure you would, " said Heather, smiling widely. Her smile suddenly turned to a frown. "But I never forgot you. You or your friends. How you ruined my life and tried to send me to prison. No, I never forgot you, Sophie. And I have never stopped plotting my revenge. I almost had you guys when you returned to fix up that rotten hotel. But there were always just too many people around. Well, I don't know if I would call them people. Freaks are more like it. Freaks like me. But now, finally, here we are, all alone..."
Heather advanced slowly towards Sophie. Sophie backed away, tripping and falling to the ground. Heather leaned down, her large jaw just inches from Sophie's face.
"Please....please don't infect me," whispered Sophie.
Heather's eyes went wide. Then she reared back and laughed maniacally.
"Infect you? You think I want to uplift you with the virus inside me?" said Heather between chuckles. Her face suddenly darkened. "No, I am going to kill you, Sophie. You and all your friends who made me this way. I'll get them all. But I'll start with you. The weakest one, the vulnerable one, the most guilty...."
Sophie leaned back and closed her eyes as Heather opened her jaw and leaned in....