Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 14

Chapter 14 Ava: Her Name's Selene

Chapters 11-17 have been rewritten to improve story flow and pacing. [June 27, 2024]

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The dream clings to me, leaving my heart pounding.

But it's not real.

Just a nightmare.

Rolling over, I curl into a ball to fight the shivers wracking my body. The fleece throw is both too hot and too cold, and I can't take it off. When I do, I'm dying like I've been thrown straight into a snowbank, naked. With it on, I feel like I'm going to drown in sweat, but at least it's less uncomfortable.

The unsettling dream lingers in my head, the sensation of dirty feet and crunchy leaves echoing against my feet.

Unease crawls down my spine, anxiety doing its damnedest to take over.

I ignore it as best as I can in my current state.

Sleep, I need sleep. Maybe if I can just drift off again, I'll wake up feeling better. Renewed.

But no matter how determined I am, my body rebels, keeping me awake.

I can't get comfortable. The couch, all cozy comfort, now feels lumpy and unwelcoming beneath me.

Minutes crawl by.

Still awake.

With a groan of defeat, I force myself off the couch. The room spins for a moment, and I grip the armrest hold myself up.

Bathroom first. Then medicine.

The trek to the toilet is a monumental effort, a full exercise routine.

My heart pounds and sweat pours down my back by the time I'm done. I should get a badge for not peeing myself when I feel like this.

Maybe a trophy acknowledging my survival of the common cold will help me feel better.

The kitchen is next as I hunt down the Tylenol I'd left on the counter somewhere. Even pulling the cotton balls out of the brand new jar makes me want to quit and lay back down, but I persevere.

Congratulations, Ava. You did it.

into my mouth, I fill a glass of water at the sink and swallow them with

Gross.

on my tongue and

They're in the fridge, five feet

Too far.

Suffering is easier.

against the counter as I try to hype myself up for the walk back to the living room, the hair on my arms prickle

that feeling again, like

my senses in the past to avoid beatings at the hands of

die

the windows, pulling the

still filters through the thin fabric, but it helps

later than it is, the gloom making it seem like evening instead of early

probably been suffering for a solid five hours, and

pocket, I squint at the bright screen as

well today. Might not make it in tomorrow. Will

her short-staffed, but I know I'm

feet. Maybe the bedroom would be a better idea. The bed is more comfortable than the

way when a sound stops

A scrabble of claws against

from the

my feet to the floor and yanks my heart into my throat. The dream and

imagination. It

then I hear it

pounding in my ears.

turn it, the click

open, just an inch. Enough to see, but not enough

hallway

through me, when a flash

I can react, something shoves the door

and fear escaping my lips as I lose my balance

some shadowy monster that comes barreling into my

It's a dog.

A very familiar dog.

who's been escaping Animal Control every day has shoved her way into my apartment,

and I lean against the door to

doggy. You don't

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