The In-Between

By Holly Isaacs

Melanie found out at a young age she was unique.  Her best friend Mitch was the only person that didn't make her feel like a freak of nature because she could change her physical appearance.  While trying to find her place in the world, Melanie stumbles into a place between this world and the next.  A place created to help others but was almost destroyed by an evil that could drain the very light of life from you.  The In-Between shows Melanie that she is capable of more than she could have dreamed.  She is also in more danger than she has ever imagined. Along the way, Melanie will need to learn to trust others with her heart, and she may just need to sacrifice everything for those she loves.

 

Previously published under the pen name Elise Kitman.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Holly Isaacs
• Release date: Sep 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215879849

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Walking Into a Nightmare

Slipping into the night I could feel my body integrate with the darkness allowing me to conceal my presence from those that passed by. This was a talent I had long ago perfected. My mother had once told me that I could become anything I dreamed of. Later in life, this became far truer than I ever would have guessed; starting with the fact I could shift my physical features.

When I was a little girl, I had dreams of being a lawyer, an airline attendant, a scuba instructor, and on occasion, I dreamed of being queen. Never in a million years would I have guessed that I contained the only talent that could not get me a good job but could get me into a heap of trouble.

It was nice to leave work early even if it meant walking down the dismal darkened street alone. I worked because I wanted to, not because I had to. It gave me something to concentrate on other than my past. Good jobs were hard to find; especially when you lacked skills suitable for decent employment. So, the fact that I worked in a rundown bar on the lower east side of town was no surprise to people that cared to pay attention, which most did not. I was not an idiot by any means. The simple fact was that I had only a general interest in everything and a strong interest in nothing. Some would say I just have not found my calling in life. Little did I know things would soon change.

The hours at the bar were bad and the clientele was worse. Drunks that mauled the waitresses, fights every night, and the disgusting clouds of smoke that sought me out and cling to me made me smell like a giant ashtray. My job consisted mainly of cleaning up after everyone. I may not make tips like the waitresses, but I didn't have to put up with half as much harassment either. I took great pains to stay out of visual radar. Sometimes those pains were quite physical. Still, I couldn't complain too much unless someone was overindulgent enough that they couldn't hold down what they swallowed. Yuck!

Longing for home I subconsciously picked up my pace and then realized that if I didn't want to be seen I better slow down. The home I grew up in was long gone. Leaving me only memories of the parents I cherished. The laughter shared on sunny days in the park while my parents watched me play was years ago and held close to my heart. Now my home consisted of my best friend Mitch and his darling Darlene. We lived in a two-bedroom apartment that felt too small even on the best of days. Darlene resented my presence and made every effort to let me know that if I disappeared off the face of the earth, she would feel no remorse.

Being on my feet for the last 6 hours did nothing for my disposition and I was finding it difficult to hold my current form in check. The disgusting filth of society slithered past me hardly taking notice. Though there were a few occasions when someone would take a second glance and it made me realize that my concentration was slipping yet again; something that happened occasionally when I was tired. I picked up my pace again deciding it was best to get home and off the streets as soon as possible. I dreamed of collapsing into my soft bed and praying I could hold myself together until I reached it.

I caught the glimpse of a black car driving slowly as if they were looking to pick up a prostitute. I tightened my hold on my appearance and kept moving. The car dove to the curb and came to an abrupt halt a few feet ahead of me. Curiosity got the best of me as the window went down and I couldn't keep myself from looking as I approached.

Damn it, Melanie! What the hell are you doing walking around in the middle of the night in this neighborhood? exploded the voice from the car. A smile crept onto my face, and I wondered how he always knew how to find me. Get in this car right now Missy or I swear I'll drag you into it.

I wrestled with my thoughts for a moment and decided it wasn't worth the argument and I was too tired for a physical confrontation unless it meant imminent death. Besides the car looked like a nice cozy place to nap before reaching the comforts of a nice warm bed. Mitch got out and pulled me to him in a bear hug before shoving me into the car and taking off. I scrambled to get my seatbelt on as he barely missed side-swiping a cab.

Would it kill you to call me to come to pick you up? It's a good thing Sam called me to let me know he let you go early. Damn it Melanie you need to quit that job.

Mitch, I love you dearly, but you are not my father. You are not my brother. You are not my boyfriend. And you are certainly not my keeper. I can take perfectly good care of myself. He only glared at me from across the car seat, so I kept talking. I don't need protection. You should know that by now. Especially since you figured out what I'm capable of doing on my eighth birthday. I swear you have gotten worse over the years. Of course, you have had all those years to perfect the term 'overprotective'. If I could wipe your mind clean, I would do it just to give myself some peace.

He barely kept the quirk of a grin off his handsome face. You wouldn't know what to do without me. I'm the closest thing to a shrink you've got my little chameleon. Besides, don't you think you have enough superpowers? Let someone else have the power to manipulate memories.

He reached across the seat and took my hand, gripping tight when I attempted to pull away. Look, we've been friends a long time and I can't bear the thought of something happening to you. If someone should find out about you, God only knows what they would do. Someone must watch out for you. I figure that since I'm the only one that can see you through the changes; then it was meant to be me. And he wasn't talking about puberty.

It was amazing that I could find someone in this world that didn't think I was a freak. He once told me that no matter how I altered myself he would always know me. We had fun testing that theory as we grew up together. It gave a whole new meaning to the game hide-and-seek. Of course, I had additional advantages over him too. Whatever gave me the ability to shift also increased my other senses. My hearing and eyesight were better than his but best of all; I could sniff him out like a bloodhound.

So how could I find such a great guy and have only feelings of friendship towards him? My parents told me that we all had someone waiting for us and that I would know when it was right. It was an overwhelming pull that felt like it would rip your heart out if you couldn't be with that one person. That didn't sound like love to me, but who was I to say? Even at twenty-two my closest relationship, besides my parents, had only ever been my best friend, Mitch.

Mitch was beyond handsome. He was what most women would call gorgeous. His thick eyelashes fluttered over sky blue eyes. He kept his tawny brown hair buzzed and managed to look like he just stepped out of a GQ magazine. He had broad shoulders and was well muscled from working out and running every morning. I loved him dearly but when I looked at him, I only felt the deepest of friendship. After the death of my parents, he was all I had.

Changing the subject I asked, So what's with the car? Steal it? I knew better but teasing him was a defense mechanism I had cultivated over the years. Depression was a constant struggle as I had no family and only one friend. Mitch was the only person that understood the struggles of my abilities. He had saved me from more than one unprompted change that could have given away my little gift.

Cute. He glared at me from the corner of his heavenly blue eyes. But I could sense the smile in his voice. I bought it today because mine broke down again this morning. I had to take a cab to work after they towed the car. Then I had to take a cab to a car dealership after work. You left to go shopping before I got up and left Darlene to fend for herself all day. I know you didn't go home before work, so God only knows what she's been getting into.

This made me cringe because I was worried, I knew what she was getting into, my closet. Darlene was a nosy pain in my rump. Don't think I didn't notice that you changed the subject. I'm serious that I want you to quit that job. We can afford it with me working at that law firm now. He had taken the childhood lawyer dream seriously. Winning an argument with the man was nearly impossible.

Yeah, that would go over really well with your darling Darlene. She has to work but you're going to take care of me like a dependent. You can't even claim me on your taxes. I don't think so. Besides, it's not that bad of a job. No one will ever recognize me, and you know it.

I don't give a shit what Darlene thinks about it. I'm going to protect you and if she doesn't like it then she can leave. Besides, she hasn't gotten a job yet.

My God, do you listen to yourself? I choked out. You won't even let yourself have a relationship because of me. And if you don't knock it off, I may take off. He was staring at the road and practically white-knuckling the steering wheel. I knew he was getting more aggravated with each word, but I couldn't stop myself. You need to quit this Neanderthal attitude and go on with your life. So, what if I can do a few parlor tricks with my appearance? I am not some kind of God for you to awe over. As I ended my tantrum, I watched the anger leave him. Like a spark of a flame being doused by water, the blue of his eyes clouded over with a hint of gray fog. Somewhere in my little speech, I hit a soft spot. His face never truly gave away his feelings. I just knew how to read him after all our years together. He would make a great lawyer someday with that ability. It already made him one heck of a poker player.

Mitch looked like a Neanderthal alright, the kind that most girls followed around like a puppy dog begging for treats. It was disgusting. Those same girls had a way of treating me like a nuisance; a piece of chewing gum stuck to the bottom of your best pair of heels. And currently, that's what I was to Darlene; better known in my personal and internal conversations as The Skanky Bimbo. It might be longer to say, but it was more accurate in description. The woman did not own any clothes that covered more than the bare essentials. I'm surprised she was never mistakenly arrested for prostitution. It disgusted me that Mitch enjoyed some brainless twit that couldn't dress in clothes that covered about as much as a bikini. The sad part was that I had no other friends, girls or otherwise. Mitch was my only friend and that