I shuffled into the cafeteria, and everyone's talking seemed to stop. I robotically got food and sat at a table in the back corner that no-one ever sat at. After Jules' mom found me, bleeding but alive, and 100% human, things had never been the same. The police investigated, and I admitted to what I knew, the pieces I could remember, but they waved it off as my shock. When I insisted weeks after that's what happened, my parents sent me to a psychologist, who said I must have warped my memories due to shock, and diagnosed me with PTSD and lycanthropy. Neither of those things helped me.
I'd throw out the medicine I was suppoed to take; it never did anything anyway. I was moved to Special Ed classes, to compensate for my panic attacks and unfocused mind. That night played over and over in my mind, and the only thing I could think was I have to go back.
I knew it was a bad idea. I knew that something bad would come of it, but I couldn't help myself. So I prepared to go out there for answers.
The hair on the back of my neck rose. This was a bad idea. This was a very, very bad idea. But I couldn't go back. I couldn't bring myself to. I was being compelled further into the woods. By the time I reached the creek, I was in the beast's...form again. I was the beast. The boy walked out of the brush again. "Here, doggy!"
I growled at him. He was the one who made me kill my friends. I wasn't going to give in to him again.
A twig snapped from behind him and my ears twitched. The urge to hunt, to kill was strong. I needed to fight it. The boy raised a hand and I growled. He pointed to the noise. "Go get it."
I was off like a shot. The muscles in my back rippled, my hands and feet were scratched and torn open, my breathing was ragged. My teeth sank into the flesh of the rabbit that made the noise. My stomach churned at the different meat, the raw food that my brain was telling me was my prey. The boy came up and tried to pet me. I turned and in a frenzy bit at his hand. He pulled back and screamed. It wasn't the boy at all, it was a grown man, trying to make sure I was all right. I backed up in horror and ran. I ran and ran until my lungs were about to pop out of my body, and fell asleep fitfully under a low hanging tree.
The next morning I woke up to police shining lights in my face. I was dazed and confused, and had no idea what I was supposed to tell them. They focused on my wrist, the one with the medical bracelet my parents insist I wear. They frowned and took me home, where my parents were waiting for me worried. I didn't say anything. What could I say?
I'm forced to take my pills under my parents' scrutiny. If they even suspect me of not taking my meds, they threaten to throw me in the looney bin. The medication only makes me worse. One day when I'm outside my hand muscles ripple and I start seeing claws and fur, and scream. My parents try to convince me it's nothing, but the boy smiling at the edge of the woods tells me otherwise. I sob.
I don't go outside anymore. I'm too worried about what will happen to me, and those around me. I bit a guy's hand off, I killed my friends, I can't trust myself anymore.
When I'm holed up in my room one night I black out and wake up with claw marks all over the door. My blood runs cold. I have to get out of here.
I'm out in the woods, running from my house, making my way somewhere where I won't hurt anyone, when it happens.
The police are following me.
They can't. I can't hurt a police officer, cop killers get killed in prison. I ran. I ran and ran and ran until I was breathless and realized, I was the beast again.
And I was never shifting back.
The police officers came closer slowly when I stopped, confused. "What is that thing?" one of them asked.
"...The medical bracelet. It's the girl!"
I snarled at them. A warning: get away before I can't control myself.
"How can it be the girl?!"
"She is, man! This is what she's been saying all along!"
I tense up. I can't control it, animal instincts are overriding me.
The first police man takes a step towards me, and I lunge forward. A gunshot reaches my ears as my body falls to the ground, lifeless. The boy walks up to me. "I had a doggie, now I have a friend forever! Come on, let's see who else likes my fort!"
I turn away from my body, and follow the boy. After all, I don't have anything better to do than listen to the master.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
