Vpd's posts

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I was only a child when I first had my encounter with the shifting creature. But I remember it vividly, all these years later...

Only five years of age at most, I was in the woods playing, as I often did. Alone. I found comfort in my time spent wandering the meadows that peaked through tree lines. I spent much of my time imagining scenarios and friends that would accompany me on my journeys, as I climbed over the rocks in heroic conquests, or slayed beasts with the legendary blades forged by the Guardian's themselves.

One day, however...I found that I wasn't entirely alone. Someone - or perhaps, something - was out here. Waiting.

I remember it clearly: I had just found the lair of the feared dragon whom I had promised the King I would slay. It was a small cave, hidden by the overgrowth of vines and vegetation from the forest. I approached the cave, nervously...but I knew this was my duty.

I made my way inside, and to my relief, there was nothing but an empty space. Water dripped from the rock walls, and the only creature inside was a small rodent. I remember smiling softly, approaching to offer it my knightly assistance. To my horror, I watched as the small creature glanced up at me; limbs growing from its body, disfigured, distorted - it had an almost oozing presence as the form changed. In seconds, what was once a small and fragile little animal was now an eerily large and gruesome creature. Eyes plastered its entire body, shifting around on its skin every time they shut. Its head was split into multiple sections, with jaws that had rows of the sharpest teeth I had ever seen. The body itself was changing in color almost as constantly as the whole form itself was morphing.

In my horror, I dropped my weapon and ran. I ran as fast as I could, desperate to leave - to flee, to go anywhere. Anywhere but here!

I glanced back, hopeful I was not followed. But that was not the case. The creature began to change once more - no longer a large, mangled mass of shimmering ooze, but rather now a form that was more familiar to me. A deer? It caught up to me, running at my side. It seemed...almost curious of me.

I paused, wondering if perhaps...I was quick to judge this creature. It stopped as well, looking at me with beady eyes. I reached my hand out, patting it on the snout. It stood in silence for a moment, studying me. I felt...a sense of ease come over me. Perhaps I had just imagined everything. Perhaps I had overreacted. Perhaps I--and then, blackness.

The snout of the creature morphed, encasing my hand in the odd substance, traveling rapidly up my limb. Within seconds, I was fully engulfed in it. Yelling. Screaming. Desperate. Oh, how desperate I was to escape. For someone to rescue me, the brave knight who was sent to slay the beast for the kingdom.

But no help came.

Yes, I was only a child when I had my encounter with the shifting creature. And I stayed that child for many years. I went to the markets. I went to school. I played with other children. But no one ever knew what happened to me that day. No one ever knew who I actually was.

I was a child. I was a bird. I was the teacher; the clerk at the market; the dog that slept at your feet.

I was Myraj.

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Officer Garry waits under a streetlight for his fellow officers to arrive. As they approach, he gives them a slight wave and smile.

"Good job finding evidence of Vontell down at the Ampere River, Garry...you did well." He gives Garry a proud pat on the shoulder, making Garry rub the back of his neck, somewhat bashful.

"You uh...can thank the others for that... they're the ones who found everything..." He trails off slightly, frowning.

"Should I try hitting up his landline again?" Officer Milly yawned, already tapping into her phone before the others could respond, "I'd really like to save ourselves the trouble of walking all the way there."

"Don't see why not..." Officer JC sighs, looking around the dark, empty streets of the city, "It's been a while, you'd think he would have picked up by now if he was home... I'm beginning to wonder if-"

"Hello?" Everyone immediately stops in their tracks, listening in, "Yes, hi, Vontell Cappala? This is Officer Milly with the VPD. Hold on, I'm putting you on speaker phone."

She pulls her phone back from her ear, shooting JC a smug 'told you so' expression before tapping the button on screen.

"Hello... I apologize..." Vontell sounds out of breath, "I've just arrived home and I'm exhausted, I've had quite a night..."

"So we saw," JC sighs, "We're glad to hear you're safe. We found evidence of a struggle down by the river and found some of your personal belongings. Are you alright?"

"Oh!" Vontell laughs faintly, "Yes, right. I'm sorry if I caused a commotion, I'm fine. I just had a little confrontation with a rather wily Grindylok, but I made it out safely."

"Grindylok..." JC frowns, running his chin, "You don't suppose that's a suspect in this case, do you? It would answer a few questions..."

"Hm. But raise a few more, right?" Milly shrugs, "Heard that before."

"I wondered that as well, which is why I decided to conduct a little investigation of my own..." There's a moment of silence, and Vontell quickly picks up on the air of disapproval, "Foolishly, I may add! Regardless, I can safely say that while troublesome, it is not our culprit. Did you happen to find my notes?"

Notes? JC and Milly look at each other in confusion, before glancing back at Garry, who just smiles and shrugs innocently.

"My notes go over my own private investigation into this. I'm a bit of an expert into strange occurrences around this city, you see. And after eliminating the Grindylok there's only one more lead I have..."

"Which is...?" JC asks, trying so hard to be patient, but feeling so desperate for answers.

Vontell's calm voice turns deathly serious, "A shapeshifter. And by all accounts, a clever one. It's known as Myraj and you should be careful, officers. It can take the form of humans... My theory is that it's been staying very close to your investigation. Why else would it always be one step ahead?"

"Close...?" JC glances back at the other two, his brow creasing, "How close...?"

"Close enough to tamper with evidence. Close enough to lead you down an incorrect path. And close enough to keep tabs on all the information you know... I would be careful with whom you share this knowledge with.."

But it was too late for the officers to heed Vontell's warning, because the creature had heard. JC and Milly could only watch in horror as "Officer Garry" made himself known.

"Hey... Dudes... Case closed..."

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