Pitch stood inside the chamber that once held Abe in his mask form while several sensors ran scans. Then he dropped the mask and let his real form get scanned. After that he let Kathryn take a sample. “I know the last place you wanted to be is inside that chamber again but this place has the best equipment for scanning you since it was set up for scanning Abe who's body is similar to yours. This is unfortunately the best spot to run tests on you.” Pitch sighed. “As long as we find out what's going on I can put up with being a bit uncomfortable.”

  Kathryn looked through the results on her computer as they started coming up with Ishwada looking at the screen over her shoulder with his hand on his chin. Kathryn points to one set of results. “There are Pitch's results from when I first ran tests on him back in spring.” She then switched to a second set of results. “These are what I just got. Material wise you're still made of the same stuff but your Cryptid DNA has changed. Mutated. This isn't unusual for a hybrid Cryptid from what we've seen.”

  Pitch nodded and moved over to look at the results. “So my Cryptid DNA is adapting to a different source? Drawing on something besides fear?” Kathryn nods. “From what I can tell, yeah. Much like how Vance's body mutated to accommodate multiple kinds of fear, yours has accommodated to something else. I ran a search to find a match in the Cryptid database but this new signature doesn't match anything on file. All I can tell is this new signature is counteractive to your existing one.” Kathryn’s face goes pale. “It's almost like cancer, the particles with the new signature attack the old signature particles. Unless I figure this out… Pitch could potentially die from this.”

  Pitch returned to his human form just to rub his face hard. “Great, I'm dying of emotional cancer.” Ishwada looked over the information, not really understanding it. “Have you tried expanding the search to include anomalous objects? They work on the same principles as Cryptids but on a smaller scale.” Kathryn types a few things on the keyboard and hits enter. “Not a bad idea Ishwada. I didn't think of that because I'm still thinking of things like normal biology. I have to change my thoughts to line up with the rules Cryptids follow.”

  After a while a match popped up on the computer and Kathryn checked it. “That explains it. This anomalous signature is one of two found in consecrated water. The best word for this particular signature is: Hope. Unfortunately hope is the enemy of fear and hatred. The things that make most Cryptids. This is part of why holy water is effective against them. Hope quite literally breaks down the fear or hatred that makes up their body.”

  Ishwada scowled. “But unlike Abe, Pitch doesn't burn when touched by holy water. In fact it actually seems to have a positive effect. Wouldn't this suggest that either hope is now the dominant source or that somehow the two opposing energies have become stable?” Kathryn rubbed her eyes. “I don't know. Nothing like this has ever happened before. Also, I was getting this weird feedback like when Pitch got hit with that blast in the chamber while fighting Abe. Best conclusion is that part of Pitch is physically connected to the Otherside somehow. Like there's a part of him in both worlds now. If this progresses he could shift over and be stuck or gain the ability to shift between them permanently or be used for Otherside Cryptids to get through to here.”

  Ishwada nodded. “I saw that last option actually happen. Something from Otherside pulls him in and it gives monsters a chance to piggyback here. We suspect that The Boogeyman, king of Cryptids, is involved. Since it's the only entity that at least based on the stories can freely move between worlds. The existence of Boogeyman was never confirmed until now.” Kathryn rubbed her face even harder. “It's possible these two opposing energies can stabilize, but right now you have two parts of you literally at odds with one another and although you are stable it could kill you like cancer.”

  Pitch looked at himself and touched his abdomen. “But I feel fine, though I guess people with cancer often do. Hell, since I started drinking holy water I've needed to eat less. Also that thing where I eat an unholy food combination in front of someone for the reaction still works like getting a snack. Peanut butter squid is actually not as bad as it sounds but man does eating it mess with people.” Ishwada squinted at Pitch. “So you're telling me that by eating a pineapple and anchovy pizza with barbecue sauce on it and dipping it in ranch to the horror of everything actually gives you sustenance? I thought you just did it to fuck with me.”

  Pitch smiles. “Oh yeah, that part is fun too since I can turn off my taste buds. However, I do seem to actually gain from it. It's like eating junk food and can help curb my appetite similar to how holy water has been working.” Kathryn had to ask for the sake of information: “How often do you eat now?” Pitch thought about it for a moment. “I went from every three or four days to every four to five. I can get an extra half day to a day if we go out to eat for a date night that week. Making it closer to five to six. From once to twice a week to just once a week.”

  Kathryn put her hand on her chin. “So if we find something stronger than normal holy water, there's a possibility we can get you off your need for humans? But that would cause your body to shift from being balanced to accelerating the progress of the Hope mutation that could potentially kill you.” Pitch shrugged. “If it means not having to deal with this reluctant vampire situation I'm willing to risk it.” Kathryn raised her voice. “Well I'm not. Things are finally looking good for us and our relationship and I'm not going to lose you to some weird Cryptid cancer.”

  Pitch pats her shoulder. “Kathryn, calm down. I'm not leaving you anytime soon. Okay?” He kissed her on the lips gently. “I'll be fine, you just have to have faith.” Kathryn frowned as she looked at the floor, then nodded and smiled at Pitch. “R-right. If we focus our energy on it, we can help ensure you survive. After all, emotions and beliefs are the foundation of Cryptid biology.” Ishwada stood there with his hand on his chin in silence for quite some time. “Penny for your thoughts Jiryu?” Ishwada was jolted out of his state by Pitch.

  “Sorry, lost in thought. I was just thinking about the Pandora's Box thing Shiro told us about. If you think about it, you've become a container with hope inside.” Pitch blinked a few times. “I… let's table that for later.” Ishwada's communicator went off and he picked it up. “Ishwada here.” A voice came from the other end. “Situation orange, anomalous entity spotted near your area. Description matches escaped entity from your list. The Wampus. Sending details.” He checked the screen and looked at Pitch. “Welp, looks like work calls.” Pitch gripped Kathryn's hand and pulled her in for a kiss. “I'll try and be safe out there “

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  Kathryn refused to let go of Pitch's hand. “I'm going with this time. Hand me a Watt Pistol.” Ishwada hands her one. “I've got no time to argue.” The three rush to the elevator and exit the building with haste before loading into Ishwada's Humvee. They race off with sirens blaring to the area where the Wampus was spotted. The vehicle screeched to a stop at its destination: A casino in the outer parts of town before the city gave way to farmland. Ishwada looked around the parking lot, lit by street lights in the middle of the night. There were a few cars in the parking lot despite the place being closed for the night. “Who the hell would be here at this time?” Ishwada grumbles.

  Pitch took a look at one of the cars. “Cleaning crew? Or the owners are holding a meeting.” Just then the door swung open and three men ran out. One was a young man in his twenties, the second was older with salt and pepper hair, the last was older and fully grey. They were all members of the tribe that owned the casino. Pitch ran over to them. “Are you three okay? What are you still doing here at this time of night?” The youngest pointed at the building frantically and stammered, stumbling in his words and struggling to speak.

  The oldest man sighed. “You panic over nothing. All is well. We have nothing to fear.” The youngest stammered more. “But the claws, and the teeth, and the extra set of legs… what even was that thing?!” The old man sighed and pulled out an old pipe and stuck it in his mouth before pulling it back out. “This pipe is just a prop, I quit smoking ages ago but keep it as a reminder. Chewing at the end helps calm my nerves. Anyway… that so-called monster is from the ancient legends of our ancestors. The Wampus Cat. You have nothing to fear from her claws.”

  Pitch let out an exasperated groan. “Can someone please explain to me what the fuck a Wampus Cat is?! I never found time to read up on it with everything else that's been going on lately.” The old man nibbled on the pipe mouth then pulled the prop back out of his mouth. “Well it's a creature from Cherokee folklore, so it's actually a bit out of its natural area. Then again, so are we. It takes the appearance of a large cat such as a cougar, mountain lion, panther, or bobcat. But it has six limbs. Stories say it used to be a woman but was transformed as punishment for eavesdropping and others say she was a protector of our people sent by the spirits. Perhaps as penance for her crime.”

  Pitch put a hand on his chin. “We are a bit far north from the area the Cherokee held back in the day. We're also too far south for another feline creature from indigenous folklore. The water cat of Lake Superior. From Ojibwe and other far northern tribes.” The old man smiled. “Mishipeshu, I've heard of that one.” He then made a serious face. “You're not here to kill the Wampus Cat are you?” Pitch shook his head. “Not unless absolutely necessary. We just want to make sure it doesn't hurt anyone.”

  The old man scowled. “I already explained to the guy that she's a protector, tasked by the spirits to defend our people. It likely came here because we are here, far north from our ancestral home. Though how it got this far north to start with is beyond me.” Ishwada put up his hand. “Hi there, I'm Jiryu Ishwada. I work with a group known as Black Eagle. We contain or if needed kill as well as keep secret the existence of a number of critters once thought to simply be folklore. Anomalous entities known collectively as Cryptids or Yokai. The Wampus Cat was being held at a lab nearby for study after it was captured by a team that works for the same organisation I do. Please keep our existence and what happens here secret. There are lives at stake if the knowledge gets out to the mass public.”

  The old man nodded and spoke in his native language to the other older man before looking at the youngest. “Yeah yeah. Like anyone would believe me anyway.” The old man then looked at Pitch. “I humbly ask that she be returned to our ancestral home.” Pitch scratched his head. “You want us to just… transport her to… and let her loose in… the wilds of the general area of Tennessee? I'm not sure if we can do that without putting people at risk. Who knows how the Wampus Cat will react to people. Besides, people might notice when it starts killing livestock or whatever to eat.”

  The old man sighed. “These things were never meant to live in cages. Please.” Pitch looked at Ishwada and Kathryn before looking back at the tribesmen. “I'll… do what I can.” Ishwada grabbed a Faraday and loaded it with a non-electrical wire net. “I won't be calling for backup. The boys might get trigger happy.” Pitch and Kathryn both nod as the three start searching for the Wampus Cat. Pitch then hears from the distance a strange and unsettling sounding roar and gets the feeling it's stalking him from nearby but looks around to see the parking lot is still mostly open.

  Then Pitch heard the sounds of claws scratching on asphalt from behind him and turned to see a six legged big cat running at him. Its appearance reminded Pitch of pictures of cougars or mountain lions with its elegant golden fur and white under belly. It had striking green eyes and it bared its teeth at Pitch and growled at him before trying to pounce with its claws out. Pitch dodged to the side just barely and put his arms up lowering his body. “Woah there. I'm not going to hurt you. Okay? Settle down. I'm trying to help.”

  The thing snarled and growled at Pitch as he held his hands up. As the creature circled he turned to keep facing the large cat-like Cryptid. He then took his Watt pistol and slowly set it on the floor before sliding it away. “See? I'm not going to hurt you.” The Wampus Cat lowered its body and took a single step forward. Pitch took a single step back. The creature then raised its body and slowly took a step forward. This time Pitch took a step forward as well. The Wampus Cat stopped snarling and growling before walking up and sniffing Pitch.

  Pitch put out his hand and let the Cryptid smell him. It then made a strange mewling sound before brushing its face at his hand. It lifted its paws with its claws retracted and pawed at the air. Not sure what the creature he flipped his hand so his palm was aiming up. The Wampus Cat then gently put its paw in Pitch’s hand and gently pressed on it a few times. Kathryn came within sight and froze when Pitch brought up his free hand to tell her to hold her ground. “Put the gun down before coming over.”

  Kathryn slowly placed the gun on the ground before slowly walking to the Wampus Cat. The Cryptid arched its back but Kathryn reached out her hand and let the creature smell her. After smelling her the Wampus Cat licked Kathryn's hand and laid down on the pavement. This gave Kathryn the opportunity to examine the Cryptid. “Let's see, besides the obvious change of the extra limbs the face shape is a bit different then a cat's. Also the placement and structure of her mammaries is not anatomically correct with a feline. Closer to those of a human, even if they are relatively small. It's like the body of an Olympic runner mixed with a cat but the cat is taking dominance. Her front two paws even have thumbs. There's also some webbing here like a polar bear’s paw. So she'd be a solid swimmer.”

  Pitch sighed. “That's all well and good, but what do we do with her?” Kathryn one hand on her chin as she leaned down to pet the Wampus Cat and let it pick her hand. “Legend says she used to be human right? That makes her a hybrid. Strange that fact wasn't logged by NexGen. Although I'm the head researcher now, I don't think she'd trust the lab or the other workers. I have some equipment in your garage so maybe I can study her there. Something tells me she'll be well behaved.” The Wampus was now locking up Kathryn's arm, nuzzling it, and even purring.

  Pitch looked at how submissive the creature was acting to Kathryn when compared to the simple acceptance it has for him. The creature was responding positively to Kathryn and even seemed to have formed a bond with her quickly. It then clawed into the pavement. Kathryn narrowed her eyes at the marks. “Pitch… there's definitely a human intelligence in there. Look.” Pitch looked at the crude but clear drawing of a house. “Okay, fine. Just until we can figure something out.” Ishwada finally made his way over. “There you guys are. I see you have it handled. Should I put the weapons away?”

  Pitch nodded and Ishwada collected the weapons off the ground and put them away. The three then loaded into the Humvee with Kathryn and the Wampus Cat sharing the back seat. Ishwada started driving the two home. “So… what happened and what's next?” Pitch sighed. “The Wampus Cat is a hybrid and contains intelligence. Kathryn wants to take it home with us to study her without risking issues at NexGen.” Ishwada nodded. “I'll trust you two to handle it then.”

  Ishwada drove the two home and they led the Wampus Cat into their house with Pitch looking for something to feed it before placing a raw steak on a plate for it. It happily started to naw on it. “You know normally I'm the one who finds a way to connect to the Cryptids using my empathy but it seems like you're the one who found a connection this time. I wonder why it responded to you better. Because you're female? Or it could be something else I'm missing. Either way I guess we have a third housemate for a while until you can figure things out."