The Birth of Destiny


	Debbie leaned her armful of books against the wall as she fumbled 
with the combination to her school locker with her right hand.  Why couldn't 
the thing open easily?  Her arms were full of books, and it was hard enough 
keeping them balanced without the wretched lock refusing to cooperate.  
	"Having trouble Debbie?" a voice behind her asked.  She winced at the 
sound.  Oh, sure the words and tones were sweet.  But Marcy Auburn was 
never nice.  She was head of the cheerleading squad: she didn't have to be 
nice.
	"Nothing UNH, that I can't, OOF handle Marcy." she daintily replied.  
The books in her left arm were shifting around, and she was practically 
having to juggle them.
	Marcy chuckled diabolically, and walked up beside her. 
	"Looks to me like you have too many books to carry." she crooned, to 
the amusement of the other cheerleaders in the hall.  "Why don't I give you a 
hand?"
	Marcy reached out and grabbed one of the books at the bottom.  
Debbie could do little but stand there as they crashed to the ground all around 
her.  She looked petulantly at the books on the floor as the cheerleading 
squad burst into laughter.
	"Oh!" Marcy exclaimed with an evil smirk.  "Looks like I wasn't fast 
enough.  Next time you need some help bookworm, why don't you ask 
earlier?"  With that she spun and rejoined her friends, laughing as she walked 
down the hall.
	Debbie let out a resigned sigh and knelt down to pick up her books 
once more.  It wasn't like the other kids hadn't picked on her before.  She 
knew her place in the school: the mousy bookworm everybody made fun of.  
Still, it got old.  She didn't mind that she wasn't popular.  She didn't care 
that no boy would talk to her.  All she wanted was to be left alone.  Why 
couldn't people just leave her alone?  She'd never hurt anyone.  Was it so 
much to ask that she be granted the same courtesy?
	She was looking down, almost finished stacking when she saw it.  A 
paw!  An orange and black-striped paw, stepping so close to her she could 
see the claws scratching the linoleum floor!
	She quickly looked up, and saw a tiger walking past her down the hall.  
It didn't make a sound, but it's stance was tense.  Low.  Stalking.  It was 
hunting something.  It ignored her completely as it padded by.  She turned to 
follow the beast's gaze and saw the four cheerleaders, still laughing amongst 
themselves.
	The beast crept silently after them.  It was hunting them!
	Debbie gasped at the scene.  A tiger was running loose in the school 
hallway!  How?  How did it get in here?  But at the sound of her small cry, 
the image of the tiger vanished.  Just, vanished, as silently as it had appeared 
in the first place.
	She blinked quickly and looked again.  No, the tiger was still gone, if it 
had ever really been there in the first place.  Had she imagined the whole 
thing?  Was she cracking up?  What would the other kids say when she told 
them about what she saw?  What would her mother think?
	 She reached out with trembling hands and collected her books again.  
They wouldn't say anything, she decided, rising to her feet once more.  Her 
mother and the others would never know what just happened, because she 
wasn't going to tell anyone.  Not a soul.  Whatever else her mother might 
think about her, Debbie didn't want to add the word "crazy" to the list.  
Things at home were bad enough without that.
	The locker door finally opened, and she set the books inside and closed 
it again.

	"I'm home momma." She said.  She closed the walnut door slowly and 
gently.  Her mother hated it when the door got slammed.  Didn't want to hurt 
the wood.  Debbie then walked through the hall with its thick white shag 
carpeting, and into the massive family room.  Her mother was sitting on their 
equally massive leather couch, sipping at a martini.
	"Hello darling." She replied woozily.  Yep, her mom was tipsy again.  
"How was your day dearest?"
	Debbie meekly avoided her mother's gaze, and walked over to the 
huge fireplace and sat on the bricks that surrounded it.  Not that there was 
ever a fire in the fireplace.  Her mother hated the idea of ashes in her 
perfectly clean little house.
	"It was okay, I guess." She muttered.  Her voice was demurr.  "The 
cheerleaders picked on me some more again, but that's nothing new."
	Her mom stood up off the couch and set her glass down.  On a coaster, 
of course.
	"Really, darling.  You should try to get along with people better."
	"It's not my fault people keep picking on me mom."
	"Isn't it?" she said disapprovingly.  "You act so strange all the time, 
and you never do what any of the things the normal girls do.  It's no wonder 
they all pick on you."
	"But mom."
	"No buts."  Her mom then sighed.  "My poor, poor daughter.  
Whatever am I supposed to do with you?  Do you like being a misfit?  An 
outcast?"
	Debbie paused a moment before slowly shaking her head. 
	"No, mom.  I don't."
	"Well, then why don't you do something about it?  Why don't you try 
out for the cheerleading squad next year?  You know that I was a cheerleader.  
And I was very popular."
	"Oh please momma, not that again.  I tried out this year, and the year 
before that.  I'm just not cut out to be a cheerleader."
	"Oh pooh!" her mother fumed.  "Anybody can be a cheerleader.  You 
just have to work at it, is all.  You have to want it."
	"Momma, I'm not graceful or strong enough.  And the others on the 
squad don't want me anyway."
	"You just don't want it bad enough I guess."
	"No, that's not it at all."
	"Don't you talk back to me, young lady!" her mother angrily said, 
stabbing a finger in her direction.  "You can be anything you want, if you 
want it bad enough.  But you like being a misfit.  You like making me the 
laughing stock of the country club.  You like embarrassing your poor old 
mother."
	"Momma, I."
	"Be quiet!" she cut Debbie off with a wave of her hand before picking 
up her martini and turning toward the kitchen.  
"My only child wants to be a freak all her life!" she complained to the 
air.  "What's a mother to do?  Stupid little girl.  Can't even make friends at 
school.  Why oh why do I even bother to care, when she doesn't?"
	As her mother stomped off to refill her glass, Debbie heard something.  
A low, menacing growl.  It sounded deep and threatening. 
	She stood up and quickly looked about the room for the source of the 
sound.  They didn't have any pets.  Her mother said that dogs and cats were 
even messier than children.  There were no animals in the house to make 
such a noise, so where was it coming from?
	All at once Debbie put her hand to her throat, and felt the vibrations 
there.  The growl was coming from her!  She was making that sound!  But 
how?  Why?  
	Debbie then heard the doors to the liquor cabinet close, and suddenly 
realized that her mother would be back in a few seconds.  What would 
happen, she wondered, if her mom caught her standing in the living room, 
growling like a feral animal?  What would her mother do?
	Best not to find out, she decided.  She quickly turned and ran out of 
the living room and up the stairs to her room.  As she touched the doorknob, 
her growl abruptly stopped again.
	"Mom's right." She cried as she sulked into her bedroom.  "I am a 
freak."

	She'd never cared for sports in general.  And she disliked football in 
particular.  Especially high school football.  Debbie wondered how many 
new microscopes the school could purchase for just a fraction of what it 
spent to keep a set of stands and a grassy field. 
	But her mother had insisted she go to the home game.  After all, it was 
only a mile down the road.  And it would do her some good to get out and 
mingle with her fellow students, she said.  Debbie had tried to explain that 
she "mingled" every day at school and really didn't feel like joining in any 
more extracurricular hazing.  But, her mother insisted, so off to the game she 
walked.
	The game was over.  Debbie was walking home now, her hands in the 
pockets of her blue jeans as she plodded along the sidewalk.  Traffic was 
heavy right after the game let out, but by now very few cars drove by. The 
streetlights were far and few between also. The houses around her had large 
yards and thick shrubbery surrounding them. 
	Her mind was awash with thoughts.  What was happening to her?  
Was she cracking up?  Was everyone right, calling her a freak and a wierdo 
all the time?  Why couldn't her mama love her?  
	She was so caught up in her worries that she almost didn't see the man 
standing motionless in the sidewalk, blocking her path.  She gasped in 
surprise, and froze in her tracks.
	"Uh.  Hello." She said to the stranger.
	The man in the black t-shirt stared silently at her for several seconds.  
They felt like hours.  He then finally produced a bottle from someplace and 
tilted it up to take a deep drink.
	"Hello Debbie." He said to her, lowering the bottle.  "Did you enjoy 
the game?"
	She cocked her head to the side, trying to make out the young man's 
features.  "Say.  Don't I know you from somewhere?"
	"Depp.  I'm Depp Towers.  I used to be the team's quarterback.  
Haven't you heard of me?"
	She shook her head.  "No.  Sorry." she replied.  "I don't know the 
difference between a quarterback and a dollarback."
	The man took another quick drink and regarded her with a steely gaze.  
	"You're kidding.  You don't remember the great Depp Towers?  The 
quarterback who led this school to a regional championship last year?"
	"Ah." She softly exclaimed.  "Now I remember something.  Yeah, I've 
heard of you.  You got thrown out of school because of some scandal or 
something, late last year.  Something about you hurting a girl."
	"And do you believe those stories?" he asked, smiling.
	She shrugged.  "I dunno.  I haven't heard much.  The others in school 
don't exactly talk to me alot you know."
	He nodded, and reached out to take her hand in his.  "It's no fun, being 
an outcast, is it?  Care for a drink?  Makes your problems go away."
	She shook her head, and tried to pull her hand away.  His grip was too 
firm though.  "Um, no thank you." She nervously replied.  "I really need to 
be going now.  My parents are waiting for me."
	He stepped off the sidewalk and into a yard, pulling her with him.  
"You never answered my question." he said, more insistently.  "Do you 
believe what people have been saying about me?"
	She struggled to pull away, but he was bigger and stronger.  She 
slapped at his hand, trying to break free.
	"Stop it." she cried.  "Depp, Depp you're hurting me!"
	He tossed the bottle aside and grabbed her with both hands.  
	"You know, you really should have listened to those stories.  Because 
they are all true!"  He turned her around and pushed her down by the shrubs.  
	Debbie cried out in fright as she landed on her back in the grass.
	"Depp, stop!  Please don't!"
	He stood above her, and quickly undid his belt.  
	"So you didn't like the game, huh?  Well, I'll teach you a game you'll 
enjoy a lot!"
	"Help!  Somebody!  Help me please!"
	"Oh, yeah." he chuckled as he dropped his jeans to his ankles.  "Keep 
screaming.  I like it like that."
	She was trembling, too scared to move.  He knelt down, and put his 
hand on her knee to force it aside...
	...when suddenly, she began to growl again.  Not low like before, but 
strong.  Enraged.  Dangerous.  
	Depp stopped, and looked across at her.  For a couple of seconds, he 
just stared at her, unsure of what was going on or what he should do. 
	Finally he grinned at her and thrust her knee aside.  "And here I 
thought you were still a virgin." he laughed.  "So, you like it violent, do you?  
Maybe you'd like it doggie style, eh bitch?"
	"Wrong species!" she said in a deep dark baritone voice.  Baritone?  A 
dainty little girl like her?
	The change in her voice made Depp stop again, puzzled.  "What did 
you say?" he asked.
	"I said, wrong species!"  Debbie replied in the same bass voice as 
before.  
	Then her knee jerked up quickly, catching Depp square in the nose.  
He yelled out in pain as he rolled off her, clutching at it with both hands.
	"Oh!" he screamed.  "Oh, you goddamned bitch!  Oh!"
	"Some people just never learn..." she grumbled as she rose to her feet.  
She felt like she was a spectator in this whole drama.  Like somebody else 
was talking for her, controlling her body.  She was just along for the ride.  
	Debbie savagely kicked him in the groin.  Hard.  Twice!  Saying as she 
kicked him  "Wrong!  Species!"
	Depp's eyes crossed, and he lowered his hands to his crotch as he 
curled up into a fetal ball.  Debbie saw the blood flowing out his nose as he 
moaned and fell over.  Had she really just done all that?
	*yes, you did* a voice inside her mind quickly replied.  *But he'll 
recover soon.  We must escape while we can.  Come.*
	She turned toward the sidewalk once more, and ran down the road as 
fast as her legs would carry her.  She only went a block or two before her 
aching legs forced her to stop.  Debbie ducked into the hedges of a nearby 
house, and crouched down low.
	"Okay." she said, gasping for breath.  "Okay.  Just what the hell is 
going on here?"
	*We are escaping a rapist.  What do you think is going on?*
	Debbie covered her face with one free hand as she gasped and sobbed 
behind the bushes.
	"Oh.  It's finally happened.  I've snapped.  I'm hearing voices inside my 
head."
	*You haven't snapped Debbie.*
	"And they are talking back to me too!  Oh god, help me!"
	She heard, or rather felt, a deep chuckle somewhere.
	*Would you rather I didn't talk to you?*
	"Yes!  Yes, just leave me alone!  I don't know who you are or..."
	*Sure you do.  You know perfectly well who I am."
	Shaking her head, she said "No.  I don't.  I don't know you at all."
	*Close your eyes then.*
	"What?!"
	She then felt a soft presence on her shoulder.  A strong, comforting 
hand, if you will.  
	*If you will close your eyes for just a moment, you will know who I 
am.*
	Debbie paused a moment, uncertain what to do next.  But finally she 
closed her eyes tight shut.  At first, all she saw was darkness.  Well, what did 
she expect?  Her eyes were closed.
	Then, from the edge of her mind's eye, she noticed a full length mirror 
float up to her.
	*Look into the mirror.* the voice urged.
	Debbie mentally took a step forward, and looked at her reflection in 
the mental mirror.
	A gigantic mass of orange and black fur stared back at her!  Sharp 
deadly teeth and terrifying claws were in the mirror!  She gasped at the shock 
of the tiger's unexpected image, and her eyes snapped open again.
	*Now do you know who I am?*
	"No!" debbie cried, more confused than ever.
	*I am a part of you.* the deep voice patiently replied.  *I am that part 
of you that you and your parents have worked so hard to bury.  I am your 
strength.  Your will.  Your inner fire, if you like.  And you need me Debbie.  
Just like I need you.*
	Debbie's breath began to come more slowly and regularly.
	"What do you mean, you need me?" she asked cautiously.
	*You and I are both one and the same.* the voice explained.  *I can't 
exist alone.  I'm a part of your mind and soul, just like I've always been.*
	"Oh, great.  Now I've got a vicious predator running around inside my 
mind."
	*I'm not vicious, any more than you are.  I'm a part of your spirit that 
you've neglected for far too long.  I had to assume this form to break free and 
come to your aid.  You need my help Debbie.*
	"I think I can find the way to the loony bin all by myself, thanks." 
	The tiger chuckled in her mind again.
	*You're not crazy Debbie.  I promise you.  But there's a reason I'm in 
the shape of a tiger you know." 
 	The voice stopped.  Debbie waited several seconds for the tiger to 
continue, but it didn't.
	Finally she couldn't stand the suspense any more.  "Well, why?" she 
demanded.
	*The world is full of predators.* the voice flatly said to her.  *The 
universe isn't a safe place.  Take your encounter with Depp back there.  He 
was all set to hurt you in a dozen different ways.  The world is full of people 
like him Debbie.  And it takes a predator to know how to fight a predator!*
	*And more importantly, to know how to avoid a fight in the first 
place...*
	She instinctively lowered herself to the ground, and slowed her 
breathing.  She couldn't understand why at first, but then she heard the 
footsteps running down the sidewalk.  She looked cautiously through the 
brambles of the hedge, and recognized Depp as he rushed down the road, 
presumably after her.  
	The jock was plainly angry, but he didn't see his quarry hunkered 
down behind the bushes.  So he just went on by.
	Debbie waited anxiously until he was out of sight before letting her 
breath out.  She wasn't even aware she had been holding it.
	"He.  He came after me."
	*Yes.* came the reply.  *Probably pissed off about getting kicked in 
the groin a couple of times.*
	"Must you talk like that?" she sighed, getting to her feet.
	*Like what?*
	"Well... so, vulgar!  I don't use words like that.  Proper young ladies 
don't speak like that."
	*Hmph!  Proper young ladies are proper prey to people like Depp.*
	Debbie looked down the road after him, but didn't see him anywhere.  
But just to be on the safe side, she decided to take a different route home.  
She'd go down the streets where it was darker, to avoid being seen.
	*Now you are starting to think like a tigress.*
	Debbie checked down the street several times as she crossed it, making 
for the next road down.  
	"Okay." she conceded.  "I've got a tiger in my mind.  What should I 
call you?"
	*You call me what you used to call yourself.  What you should begin 
calling yourself again.  Debbie is a child's name.  You and I are not children 
anymore*
	*From this moment on, we, you and I, are called Destiny!*
	"I remember that name." she said, smiling.  "Daddy used to call me 
that when I was little.  Momma hated it."
	*Yes.  And she probably still will.* the tiger laughed.  *Tough shit!*
	As Debbie jogged down the road through the night, she began to see 
better.  Things that would normally be invisible to her, suddenly became 
clearer and easier to see.  It was as if she began to see the world through new 
eyes.  Stronger, more powerful eyes.
	The dark, which once terrified her, began to lose its horror as she 
became more and more acclimated with it.  Joined it.  Embraced it.
	"I could get used to this." she snickered. 
	*I'm certain you will.  But I have one request when you get home.*
	"What's that?"
	*Could you put some black stripes in that orange hair of yours?  We 
really don't look quite right to me.*
	Debbie laughed out loud as she turned a corner, heading for home.  It 
was a sound she hadn't made in years, it seemed.  She liked the sound of it.
	"Momma won't like that." she teased.
	*So?* 
	"So." Debbie replied.  "What should I use?  Shoe polish, or dye?"