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]

-----

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.

two pills into my mouth, I fill a glass of water at the sink and swallow

Gross.

on my tongue and I wash

water. They're in the fridge, five feet

Too far.

Suffering is easier.

as I try to hype myself up for the walk back to the living room,

feeling again, like something—someone—is

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

die hard, I

myself to the

through the thin fabric, but it helps me feel a

are heavy and dark, promising rain to come. It feels later than it is, the

a solid five hours, and it feels like it's been

the bright screen as I type out a quick message to Mrs.

make it

her short-staffed, but I know I'm in no shape

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

head that way when a sound stops

scrabble

from the front

into my throat. The dream and its effects return in

just my imagination.

it again. Louder this

my ears. By the time I reach the door, my palms are slick with sweat,

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

door open, just an inch. Enough to

hallway is

close the door, relief flooding through me, when a flash of silver catches my

can react, something shoves the door open with

of surprise and fear escaping my lips as I lose my

shadowy monster that comes

It's a dog.

A very familiar dog.

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

blades, and I lean against the door to close it, coughing at the dose of fresh

You

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255