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.

my mouth, I fill a glass of water at the sink

Gross.

the tablets remains on my tongue and I wash it

in the fridge, five

Too far.

Suffering is easier.

for the walk back to the living room, the hair on my arms prickle into standing, my anxiety on full

again, like something—someone—is watching

senses in the past to avoid beatings at the hands of Todd and

habits die hard, I

the windows, pulling the curtains

filters through the thin fabric, but it helps me feel a

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

probably been suffering for a solid five hours, and it

bright screen as I type out a

Not feeling well today. Might not make it in

short-staffed, but I know I'm in

sway on my feet. Maybe the bedroom would be a better idea. The bed is more comfortable than the couch,

that way when a

scratch. A scrabble of claws against

from the

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

imagination. It

I hear it

heart pounding in my ears. By the time I reach the door, my

the knob. My hand shakes as I turn it, the click of the

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

The hallway

about to close the door, relief flooding through me, when

react, something shoves the door open

surprise and fear escaping my lips as

it's not some shadowy monster that comes barreling

It's a dog.

A very familiar dog.

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

between my shoulder blades, and I lean against the door to

doggy. You don't

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