Pitch spent hours alongside the Black Eagle soldiers looking for any signs of where Vance might have gone after the attack on the farm but even with his ability to see outside the normal visual spectrum there was nothing. No footprints in the grass, no blood trail, no cocky ass note bragging about getting away with stuff. Pitch figured that Vance must have left using the gravel road before the corpse was found and without notice. So he asked to see security footage and after checking it found that there was a moment where a guard came in from out of line of sight and started moving amongst the others.
This guard then worked his way inside and after a while back out, slowly working his way out of the area without raising any suspicion. “You might want to consider having designated posts so guards can report when there's a guard out of place. Not a single person questioned the extra head or his patrol.” The farmer nodded. After checking everything and having no way to really track Vance at the time the two started getting ready to leave with Pitch being clearly frustrated.
“Grah! Dammit! That bastard is still out there.” Ishwada grumbled. “Settle down now.” Pitch grabbed at his hair and pulled lightly. “I can't, I'm responsible for every death that he and Abe cause, it's my fault they escaped. If I hadn't rushed in there half cocked-” Ishwada slaps his hand on Pitch's shoulder. “Hey, I was just as eager to try and kill that thing as you. We both should have taken a moment to rethink but it felt like it was now or never. So don't start with that.”
Pitch took a few breaths, more out of habit than anything. Ishwada hummed. “Where does the air go when you breathe?” Pitch knitted his brow. “Eh?” Ishwada did a motion with his right hand. “You don't have lungs and you're clearly taking in then pushing out air. What exactly is going on there?” Pitch thought for a moment. “I think I'm just drawing air into the mask and compressing it inside with my body.” Ishwada tilted his head. “So that whole fake body of yours is like one big lung?”
Pitch shrugged. “My normal body is my skin, stomach, eyes, ears, and mouth when I'm in my true form. Though this form comes with a working eyes and mouth. Not sure how the nerves of the mask connect to the nerves of my natural body though. Honestly, by all means it shouldn't work at all. Then again, it's not like the rules we normally follow matter when it comes to Cryptids.” Ishwada nods and looks at a few notes. Pitch grabs the cheese wheel for Cuda and the two go to their vehicles. “I'm thinking that Vance only went here because he knew about it and had no plans outside finding other Cryptids to eat.”
Pitch nods. “This means the best way to get him right now is to track down the other Cryptids that escaped. Hand me a list and we can get started.” Ishwada hesitated for a moment before writing down a list and handing it over. Pitch gave it a once over before getting in his jeep. Pitch ran his hands over his face with a sound of exasperation before driving home. Once there he gave the list a second look. “Banshee, Yuki-onna, Chupacabra… A Wampus? Whut the fuck is a Wampus? And finally a Raiju. I'm somewhat familiar with Raiju. Japanese Shinto folklore. Servants of Raijin, said to be weasel-like or wolf-like creatures that are basically the lightning bolts that strike the earth given form.”
Pitch sits in a chair and sets down the list, taking a moment to relax before grabbing the tablet with the Cryptid files to look up the monsters on the list. Knowing the folklore or mythology around a Cryptid species that's been around a while only gets one so far. Pitch goes by alphabetical order and locates the file on the Banshee. “So it's either tied to the fear of loud sounds or something similar to an Onrio where it's born from the strong emotions of a single person giving it a human appearance. It can fly, scream loud enough to break things, and hearing it can cause heart attacks. The specimen they had was estimated to be hundreds of years old. I guess you can carbon date a Cryptid?”
Pitch continued down the list, learning as much about the abilities and habits of the various Cryptids on the list. He then closed the tablet and looked at the Watt Pistol he had been given to use by Ishwada. He looked over the weapon on the outside. “Electrical engineering is my thing, something I started learning before this stuff happened. Maybe I could take this apart and learn how it works. I'll send a request for one of every type of infantry weapon so I can tinker around.” Before he could get started however, there was a knock at the door. Pitch went to answer it to find it was Cuda.
“Oh hey Cuda, come to get your Gouda?” Cuda chuckled. “You said you'd drop it off but I guess you forgot.” Pitch sighed and grabbed the cheese wheel to handbit to Cuda. “Here Cu, sorry about that.” Cuda grabbed the cheese. “You owe me an explanation.” He said in a serious tone. Pitch blinked. “I'm not sure what you mean.” Cuda pointed angrily at him. “I may be a jock, but I'm not an idiot. That PMC you are helping out, the one that handles strange things, was there for that serial killer that was after me as well.”
Pitch sighed and sat on the couch indicating for Cuda to sit down. *I planned on explaining things eventually anyway.” Cuda moved and sat down. “What the hell is going on around here, how is my sister involved, and why does it feel like everyone is ignoring the increase of weird shit and people going missing?” Pitch waved both his hands at Cuda. “Calm down man, I'm getting to it.” Pitch takes a few deep breaths. “I've already thought over how I would have this conversation a dozen times over, so I guess I'll start by being extremely blunt. Monsters, are real.”
Cuda raises his eyebrow. “I'm going to just roll with that and ask how that has anything to do with the serial killer or the dead cow.” Pitch sighs. “Are you being intentionally obtuse? The serial killer thing was a cover up, sort of. Vance is, or rather became, a monster. I'm not going into too much detail but he's loose and he killed the cow. By the way, not a cow but I'm not getting into that right now. Black Eagle is responsible for killing, containing, and providing cover stories for the monsters while NexGen does all the research to find better ways to fight and counter them.”
Cuda scowled. “Look man, you're normally a straight shooter, but do you really expect me to believe-” Pitch raises his hand, cutting Cuda off mid sentence and his srm dissolves showing the shadow-like tentacle underneath. “Holy shit!” Cuda exclaimed as he leaped backwards into the chair so hard he flipped it. “What in the hell- how in the hell-” Pitch restored the arm to normal. “I became a Cryptid six years ago and originally joined NexGen looking for answers. Now I help Ishwada and Black Eagle track and either contain or kill other Cryptids. Vance also turned into a monster of a different variety and he was the serial killer.”
Cuda stands up and fixes the chair. “Vance going psycho doesn't surprise me. Does Kat know about your… condition?” Pitch let out a short laugh. “Hah, she was the first one I told. She's known since before we started dating.” Cuda got back into the chair, sitting once more, rubbing his face with his hands. “I have so many questions.” Pitch passes over the tablet. “Take your time looking through this. The files are quite thorough.” Cuda looked down at the tablet then up at Pitch. “Thorough enough to include reproductive stuff?” Pitch groans. “Seriously? You find out monsters exist and one of the first things you ask is: can they fuck? What is wrong with people these days?”
Cuda starts skimming through the tablet. “Well this says that they are either created from or pulled here from another dimension by strong emotions, so it's actually a good question as to whether or not they can… self replicate.” Pitch sighed. “Most Cryptids can't reproduce sexually. The few that can fall into two categories. Those that reproduce because of their root, and those that can technically reproduce because they convert the bodies of something that was a normal creature before it became a Cryptid.”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Cuda continued to skim the tablet. “So because you used to be human…” Pitch let out a loud groan. “If I have sexual organs in my true form, I've yet to find them after six years. I became a type of Cryptid that might split into two like an ameba but considering I'm the first human hybrid of this type there's a lot that's unknown about the differences between myself and a normal Umbran.” Cuda nodded as he continued to scroll. “Huh, this has info on Cryptids on human relationships. Bah, it's all written in this medical jargon. That's not sexy at all.”
Pitch rolled his eyes. “It's an official report for people that have to deal with these things in a police level, not a monster fucker smut fiction.” Cuda chuckled and set the tablet back down. “I'll have to read the test later otherwise I'll be here for days.” Pitch shifts in his seat. “You freaked out hard at first but now you seem really chill about all this. About me.” Cuda shrugs. “You're still you right? Despite what happened. Kat trusts you, and that's enough for me.” Pitch gives a nod, happy to have another ally that knows the truth.
Cuda puts up a finger. “I do have a question or two though. If Doppelgangers can shape shift to the point they can change genders, wouldn't that make the gender fluid?” Pitch sat there in silence for a long moment before tossing his hands in the air. “I mean I guess. Biologically speaking.” Cuda chuckled. “Also, since you used to be human but now you're a Cryptid would that make it a transition of species? So technically speaking you're a trans person.” Pitch gets a bit uncomfortable at that assertion. “I don't think trans people would appreciate the comparison considering I've got a bit of a reluctant vampire situation going on.”
Cuda chuckled. “I was just teasing. You shouldn't be so serious all the time. Anyway, I should take my cheese and go.” Cuda then got up, grabbed his cheese, and headed to the door. “I'll see you around James.” Pitch nodded. “If we are in private or it's just your sister or Ishwada you can call me Pitch.” Cuda paused. “You… chose a different name? Wouldn't that make James your dead name?” Pitch groaned. “I technically died and got reborn so keeping the old one felt weird.” Cuda gave a nod. “Makes sense. Also Ishwada knowing the truth and being chill with it is definitely something I didn't expect considering he's the leader of the monster hunters.”
Pitch hums. “I've made myself useful in dealing with other Cryptids.” Cuda gives another nod. “Anyway, laters.” He closed the door behind him and left. Pitch let out a long and exasperated sigh, relieved to have finally taken care of getting Cuda in the loop. Now Pitch could relax.
Vance ran through an alleyway and turned a corner into another at high speed. “(I know I saw you, you little shit. Get back over here.)” He continued to chase after a person he saw. “(James, you little fucker, don't you dare run from me.)” He turned another sharp corner to a dead end where James stood with his back to Vance. He spoke with a distorted voice. “I already had my fill today, you should have left well enough alone.” Vance ran up and slammed his hand on James' shoulder. “No James, I'm not going anywhere. We still have unfinished business.”
Vance then turned James around to see his pale face, black eyes, and sharp toothy grin. He let go and took a step back. “You're not James. Are you some sort of old school Doppelganger? I've already eaten a Doppelganger.” The monster smiled even wider. “Ah, so you thought I was the other guy. And I sense you feel a strong and primal hatred for him. This hatred… is mutual. I seek the destruction of the one you call James as well. Though I'm not currently in a hurry. Building up my strength and all that.”
Vance got the same skin crawling feeling from this entity as he did James but it was slightly different. The best way to describe it is that unlike James he sensed actual malice from this entity. “I've been doing the same, getting myself ready for a rematch. Eating different kinds of Cryptids to gain their powers.” The entity tilted its head, then smiled again. “I see. That's an interesting ability for a Cryptid. Since we both want the one you call James dead, I suggest… an alliance. A collaboration of sorts. Born out of this mutual loathing.” Vance considered the proposal for a moment. He was normally a lone wolf, but whatever this guy was he definitely wanted a crack at it and knew he wasn't ready to take one. So for now, why not keep him within reach.
“Sure, why not. I'm Vance.” He reached out a hand to shake the entity’s. The entity looked at the hand before grunting. “Call me Abe. I will not be partaking in that gesture. I'm not fond of physical contact.” Vance takes his hand back. “Understandable. It seems we have a mutual understanding and a goal.”
Not long after Cuda left the house, there was a second knock on the door. Pitch let out an exasperated sigh. “Who could it be now?” He went to the door to open it. This time it was Kathryn. She was holding a massive bag of pre-popped popcorn and some DVDs. “I heard you had an emotionally stressful day today so I was thinking we could put on a movie and cuddle on the couch.” Pitch stood there for a moment before going back in and holding the door open for Kathryn to enter. The two quickly picked an old B movie about a giant octopus and sat down together munching the popcorn as the movie played.
“It's strange that we can both enjoy these sorts of movies, all things considered.” Pitch commented. Kathryn let out a short and soft laugh. “These older ones are so cheesy they might as well be comedies today. Good for a laugh and lord knows we both need one.” Pitch chuckles and noms on popcorn. “Yeah, munching on popcorn and watching old B movies and Kaiju flicks is definitely nostalgic for me. My dad and I would regularly do Kaiju Klash marathons when I was still in school.”
Kathryn wiggled in her seat a bit. “Do you… want me to change the movie?” Pitch shook his head. “No, I've had plenty of time to process the death of my parents. Let's keep watching.” The movie continued and progressed to a scene where the octopus reaches a dock and starts grabbing people and tossing them or squeezing them. It picks up a lady and just flails her around as she screams a low budget old movie scream. Kathryn began to squirm in her seat again as she nommed on popcorn, her thighs rubbing together as she wiggled in place.
Pitch noticed her fidgeting and stopped going for popcorn. “Everything okay? You look like you need to use the bathroom. I can pause the movie if you want.” Kathryn let out a small startled whimper when Pitch spoke, as if she didn't expect him to notice her fidgeting. “That's uhhh… not the problem. As we've grown more intimate I've started picturing different aspects of our future including but not limited to the progression of our romantic and eventually even sexual relationship. I've imagined, fantasized even about it and in many of those fantasies you are in your true form. So I've started to develop a… attraction to a certain type of… media.”
Pitch raised an eyebrow as he looked at Kathryn who was still squirming but trying not to. “Eh? So you've… developed a thing for tentacles?” Kathryn blushed hard. “K-kinda. I mean it's the most natural way you'd interact with me in a physically intimate way. I know it might not do much for you cause even if you can make a part of your body more sensitive I don't think you have a way to… reach climax and complete things on your end.” Pitch chuckles and gives her a kiss on the cheek. “Well at least you find both my forms physically and sexually attractive in your own weird way.”
Kathryn was still blushing as she grabbed Pitch's face and went in for a kiss on the mouth. The two shared a deep passionate kiss as Kathryn put the bag of popcorn to the side of the couch as she moved onto Pitch's lap as she continued. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself in further, deepening the kiss. After a bit Pitch pushed Kathryn just enough away for him to talk. “Slow down Kat, I get you're all worked up right now and have probably been a little worked up since I nearly died, but I want to be sure we are both absolutely ready and sure we're going to take the next step because it's what we actually want and not us simply giving into the moment.”
Kathryn smiled and blushed. “I was only thinking of making out with my boyfriend, maybe some light dry grinding with clothes on. Nothing more.” Pitch smiled lightly. “You're a bad liar and dirty minded.” Kathryn looked away a bit. “Is that... A bad thing?” Pitch chuckled and kissed her on the lips gently. “You're cute when you're embarrassed. My adorable little dirty minded nerd.” Kathryn fake pouts. “I'm not that much shorter than you.” She then lets out a giggle and kisses Pitch again, laying him on the couch as she starts making out with him once more.
The two get more into the motions as Kathryn begins to wiggle on Pitch's lap and run her hands on his chest while kissing him deeply. She brings her hands down and slides them under his shirt to have skin on skin contact. Pitch responded in kind by moving to grab her by the hips and ass as she wiggled and grinded against him with increasing fervor while the kissing also increased in intensity as Kathryn and Pitch started swapping tongues as well as saliva.
Kathryn let out a soft gasp as she pulled away with a slightly confused face. She took one hand off his shirt and moved it to Pitch's crotch. Pitch smiled at her. “I figured if it still worked as normal I'd definitely be bricked up right now so I decided to mimic the effect.” Kathryn blushed. “I have some mixed feelings about that since technically you are faking it but you did admit under normal circumstances you'd be aroused enough for that and you're making up for a shortcoming of the mask over your true form.”
Pitch moved his hands to Kathryn's hips under her shirt. “Did you want to continue? I can remove our shirts.” Kathryn considered her options. “I want to continue but if we keep this up I don't think I'll be able to stop myself. So I think I'll move to the bed and go to sleep.” Pitch nodded. “I'll lay by your side while you sleep then.” Kathryn got up, but hesitated to leave the room. “I am curious as to what you were packing as a human though.” Pitch chuckled. “Maybe I'll show you next time.” Kathryn blushed hard. “O-okay. But just so you know I want our first time together to be with you in your true form.” Kathryn turned off the TV and the two went to the bedroom to cuddle.
