Hybrid: Chapter 14: Unfair Grounds

Finding a parking spot was tough; it was a popular day to be at the fair. They waited in a massive line just to get to the gravel parking lot, and wait in an equally long line to pay for their spot. It was a good hour drive down there, so it felt good to get of the car and stretch.

"Ready?" Evelyn asked.

"More than," Keith replied.

The two of them along with Mrs. Kitteredge made their way toward the gate. It wasn't a gate like a gate to a fence, but it was massive like an entrance to a massive amusement park, which it was, but individually funded rather than by a whole company.

The state fair always had huge draws  they had massive roller coasters, kiddo rides, and all kinds of contests from eating to animal to strength contests. They had petting zoos, mirror mazes, art markets, sales booths, and always, always tons and tons of food. There was so many more attractions, but they weren't going to any of those. They made their way to the massive amphitheater. Unlike other state fairs that have some random band playing music off in their own corner without getting much attention, the Washington state fair had a massive theater with tons of seats and a massive pit. It even had giant screens for showing the action on stage. On top of that, the stage itself was massive, easily capable of hosting 2 large orchestras or 3 small ones, still leaving room to spare.

Evelyn's mother gave them their tickets, they scanned them, and headed in through the turnstiles. After the long drive, they watch made a beeline for the bathrooms. Keith made it out first and waited by an empty table. Once the women made it out, they started the long walk to the theater.

"How're you doing Keith?" Mrs. Kitteredge asked him. "With all the walking so far?"

"I've been better," he responded not willing to admit the discomfort he was in. "It's a nice change of pace from lying down all day."

"I can imagine."

It was about a 10 minute walk to the theater entrance. Mrs. Kitteredge pulled out a second set of tickets to get into the outdoor theater. The pit was already pretty crowded, mostly teenagers and "legal adults," but a good number of other ages of people as well. The trio found a spot right in front of a support to the elevated bleachers behind them. The show should start any minute.  

"If you two want to go and join the mosh pit, go right ahead, I'll be back here." Mrs. Kitteredge offered.

"I'm fine here thanks," Keith politely replied. He was already uncomfortable with the number of people there already, he didn't want to be closer to them.

"Whatever floats your boat," she shrugged. "Oh, I brought some water bottles if you two want some."

"I'll take one," Evelyn said. "Please."

Her mom pulled a bottle out of her purse and casually tossed it to her. Evelyn snatched it out of the air, twisted the cap off, and took a large swig.

"Thanks," she said as she set the bottle down on the wooden fence behind them.

A man walked on stage, sat down, and started fiddling with the drum set. All of a sudden he stomped on the bass drum, the lights flared, and two more people came running out in stage as the music started. Keith smirked, he knew this song from the second it started, and he liked it quite well too.
Lindsey twirled around, ran back and forth, and was utterly mesmerizing. Keith closed his eyes, he always imagined running down a corridor to this song. He pictured it in his mind, the cold metal walls with foggy windows rushing by him as he ran. Except something was different. There was something behind him. It was chasing him, gaining on him. He felt the heat from it sear his back. Something twisted in his stomach, and he tripped  his eyes shot open and he gasped. He was panting and had sweat dripping from his forehead. He felt sick as if he was going to vomit. He clutched his stomach.

"Are you alright?" Evelyn asked with immense concern.

"Uh," Keith groaned, "I'm not feeling to great, I'm going to step out for some air."

"Are you going to be alright?" Her mother asked.

"I'll be fine, just give me a minute to gather myself back up."

Keith headed toward the outer fence of the pit. He leaned against a corner between where a brick building and the roof over the stands connected. The little corner was nice and private with a support beam to the bleachers blocked a lot of view. Keith closed his eyes, and took several deep breaths.

Slow, steady, even.

His brief mental relaxation was interrupted by the warmth of another body, and Evelyn's voice.

"Hey," her voice slurred.

Keith's eyes shot open. Her "playful" expression was the first thing Keith noticed, followed by her dilated pupils, imbalanced posture, and finally her water bottle she dropped on the ground.

"Evelyn, are you alright?"

She pressed up against him, her hands caressing his shoulders.

"It's you who isn't," she said playfully, all of her words slurred. "Oh, I found your problem," she said as she reached her hands around the back of his neck, toying with the clasp on his claw pendant.

"No, Evelyn, what are you doing? This is a bad idea."

"Nobody will see us, I just need to feel your scales."

She pulled the claw pendant off. Wing caught it before it fell below his waist. He transformed, and Evelyn reached her hands up his shirt and around his back gently caressing him. It felt nice, but wrong.
He felt her put more and more of her weight on him, pushing him up against the wall behind him. She ground her body into his to the beat of the music.

What the hell has gotten into her? What the fuck is she on? She's not the kind to do drugs, somebody must have slipped something in her drink when she wasn't looking. If someone drugged her, they'd want to claim her. Oh shit.

Right at that moment a pale faced, man with grayish skin came around the corner. He took one look at Wing and drew his gun from his sweat pants.

"I-I don't know what the hell you are, or if I'm tripping balls, but you let her go or I'll shoot!" He yelled over the building music.

Evelyn was between him and the gunman, making her exposed and him trapped, unable to do anything. His mind raced for ideas, but none came. The man slowly approached them. Right as the music built to a massive climax, a new figure walked around the corner and strangled the gunman. Wing didn't sit there in shock because of someone saving them, he sat there in shock because of who, or more appropriately what, saved them.
The man slumped down to the ground limp. The tall figure stood up. He was an anthro dragon just like Wing.


"Hey, looked like you could have used a hand. My names Grant, but you can call me Rhaegos."