"Don't worry, "said her boyfriend. "I know all about it. When I saw that Mary Lou was missing, I went to get your help to find her. When I couldn't find you, and saw a pile of torn clothes I was afraid that maybe she had eaten you or something. I was gathering supplies to go hunt her down, when I noticed that a bunch of other things were missing. I didn't think an alligator would stop for supplies, but then I remembered the strange store we shopped at earlier. I grabbed one of the shampoo bottles, and the label explained everything."
Of course, she thought, it was the bath I had earlier. She did feel strange after the scrubbing, but then again she always felt strange after they sedated her.
"What exactly does it do?" asked Mary Lou, as she edged closer to Adam, but still out of sight.
"I didn't understand exactly but the impression I got was that it caused the person and the animal that came into contact with it to sort of switch traits, causing each of them to become a hybrid of both species." said Adam, as he too walked closer to Mary Lou.
Yes, she thought, it all makes sense now. She lost half her height, and Evelyn gained it. Her arms and legs became thinner and more limber, while Evelyn gained her beautiful scales and claws. This definitely has possibilities, she thought, as she smiled wickedly. She might have found a new mate after all.
"Of course, that's probably why we got them so cheap. I mean who would want to become a monster like that. " said Adam with a laugh.
Mary Lou stopped walking, and sneered. He thought she was ugly, she thought angrily. She gripped the extra growth vials in her satchel so tightly they almost shattered. She lifted the vials up to her face.
He wants a monster, maybe I should show him a real monster she thought angrily.
Adam sensed that she had stopped walking, and immediately realized his error.
"Oh baby, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way. I love you no matter what you look like. Please just come with me, and we'll work it out somehow. " said Adam.
Mary Lou's cold heart was almost touched. The fool was right, her mate does truly love her, she thought. And a male with that level of commitment would make a good mate. She quickly replaced the vials in her satchel and began walking forward again.
"We have to hurry, though. There are others from the zoo down here, looking for Mary Lou. We need to get out of here before they find you." said Adam.
"Promise you won't find me hideous, " said Mary Lou, sweetly.
"Of course not, please come to me Evelyn." said Adam with urgency.
Mary Lou stepped out of the darkness and into the light for Adam to see. Adam was appalled by what he saw. The creature was more hideous than he had imagined, towering nine feet tall, covered in a thick scaly hide dotted by short spines. The creature had an hourglass figure, but appeared bulky and full of hard muscle. The limbs were long, but thick with long feet and hands ending in sharp claws. The face was hairless, and looked exactly like Mary Lou. A strong odor wafted off the creature; it was hard to tell if it was the natural odor or the stench of the sewer she had been hiding in. Adam tried hard not to look shocked, but it took all his strength to keep from vomiting.
Mary Lou recognized his revulsion, and it took all her strength to keep from ripping him apart on the spot. She knew she was beautiful; these hairless apes just didn't know true beauty when they saw it. But he will know soon, she thought with a smile.
Mary Lou pretended to be embarrassed, and hid her face in her claws. "I'm hideous," she cried softly.
Adam walked up to the creature, and gently placed his hand on her arm. "You will always be beautiful to me, " said Adam. Mary Lou was again touched by the courage and love the fool's mate had. She lowered her hands, and hugged him, pressing him close to her chest. The smell was even stronger up close, and Adam again had to restrain his bile, but he truly loved Evelyn so he endured.
"Thank you, mate. You don't know how much that means so much to me, " said Mary Lou with something approaching sincerity.
Adam quickly loosened himself, and backed away slowly. "Mate? What do you mean by mate?"
Mary Lou was taken a little by surprise. So he's not as dumb as he looks, she thought. He will make a good mate.