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.

a glass of water at the sink and swallow them with a

Gross.

tablets remains on my tongue and I wash

in the fridge,

Too far.

Suffering is easier.

the living room, the hair on my arms prickle into standing, my anxiety on full flare-up

again, like

in the past to avoid beatings at the hands of Todd and his cronies, but there's nothing here to be

habits die

to the

thin fabric, but it helps me

outside are heavy and dark, promising rain to come. It feels later

probably been suffering for a solid five hours, and it feels like

my phone out of my pocket, I squint at the bright screen as I type out a quick message to Mrs.

Might not make it in tomorrow. Will keep

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

would be a better idea. The bed is more comfortable than

to head that way when a sound

A scrabble of claws against

coming from the front

yanks my heart into my

just my imagination. It

it

down the hall, my heart pounding in my ears. By the

as I turn it, the click of the latch sounding unnaturally

Enough to see, but not enough

hallway is

through me, when a flash

can react, something shoves the door

fear escaping my

some shadowy monster that comes barreling into

It's a dog.

A very familiar dog.

silver husky who's been escaping Animal Control every day has shoved

I lean against the

doggy. You don't

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