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

Gross.

taste of the tablets remains on my tongue and I

water. They're in the fridge,

Too far.

Suffering is easier.

to the living room,

feeling again,

hands of Todd and his

die hard, I

drag myself to the windows, pulling the

through the thin fabric, but it helps me feel a

dark, promising rain to come. It feels later than it is, the gloom making it seem like evening

a solid five hours, and

pocket, I squint at the bright screen as

Not feeling well today. Might not make it in tomorrow. Will keep you

short-staffed, but I know

The bed is

head that way when a sound stops me in my

scratch. A scrabble of

from

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

imagination. It has

it again. Louder this

my ears. By the time I reach the door, my palms are slick with sweat, and my breath comes in

knob. My hand shakes as I turn it, the click of the latch sounding unnaturally loud in

crack the door open, just an inch. Enough to see, but not enough to be

hallway is

to close the door, relief flooding through me, when a flash of

can react, something

a yelp of surprise and fear escaping my lips as

not some shadowy monster that comes barreling into my

It's a dog.

A very familiar dog.

escaping Animal Control every day has shoved her way into my

between my shoulder blades, and I lean against

You don't

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