The Lady By the Moon

The Shift

I awake to a terrible sinking feeling in my stomach. My face is pouring sweat and my skin feels as if a fire is burning under it. I lay there for a moment watching the white vaulted ceiling spin around in circles before I jump up and run for the toilet. After throwing up everything I had in my stomach, I sit there for a second waiting to make sure it is all out, watching the spit dangle from my bottom lip. Wiping the pool of sweat my forehead collected off, I push myself off the ground using both hands. I find my way to the sink and turn the knob labeled with a blue C. I splash the cool water on my face and dab some behind my neck before heading to the closet to grab my uniform.

I go on about my day having to run to the bathroom numerous times. I prepare meals and wash dishes, do laundry and clean the rooms. When the sun finally sets and the last dishes are done I make my way to my room and begin to get ready for bed. As I bring my index fingers to the top button of my uniform, located on the back of my neck I feel a radiating pain throughout my body. A burning sensation begins travelling through my body, penetrating every fiber of my being. It feels as if lava has been injected into my veins, and my heart is pumping it through the rest of my body. It becomes increasingly harder to breath as I try to force my mouth from letting out a blood-curdling scream. The only thought my brain is able to process is ‘I need Gemma’. I sling my body from wall to wall, trying to find any support I can to help my legs move. It feels as if my body is in manual mode and I am having to command my limbs to make every little movement.

I am so focused on walking, that I do not notice the set of menacing stairs that would now haunt my nightmares. ‘There is no way I will be able to walk down all of these steps.’ I know I will not make it. So, I turn and muster up what strength I have left to throw my body on the rail. I feel my body sliding but it seems as if I am drifting in and out of consciousness, one moment I see the white blurs of the ceiling spinning in circles above me. The next, everything is black and I feel as if I am slipping away to somewhere. Suddenly, I am thrown off the rail and feel my knees hit the cold, hard floor. My hand instantly finds its way to my mouth as I try to muffle the scream that escaped my lips. Normally, I would have been worried sick about Jacob or one of the guards finding me out here past curfew. Surviving was the only thing on my mind right now though; I just wanted this to be over. The burning sensation has increased and it feels as if my skin is going to melt off. I sit there for a second trying to gather myself, and get my eyes to see in a straight line. ‘Did someone poison me?’ That is the only thing I can think of that would cause this excruciating pain. ‘I have to be dying’. This thought is enough to get my adrenaline pumping and my feet begin scuffling to stand and run towards the only person I can trust.

I come upon the door leading to the outside corridor. I force them open and notice rain falling from the sky. The clouds are almost as dark as Jacob’s eyes, the wind is swirling leaves around into miniature tornadoes. Lightning flashes in the sky as my feet patter across the wet pavement, stirring up water underneath them. I spring for my life, feeling as if this journey was never going to end… or was going to end too soon. The water hits my face and sizzles, evaporating in front of my eyes. Leaving nothing behind but small strings of vapor. I reach Gemma’s small and welcoming home. I make my way up the stone walkway leading directly to the door. When I finally arrive, I begin beating on the door. I see smudges of blood left behind on the light wooden door from my fingers.

Gemma opens the door in a fright. “Azzie, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be …” before she can finish her sentence I push passed her. My heart begins beating so fast I can hear it in my ears, drumming like the climax of a rock song. “What’s wrong with me?” I ask Gemma through gritted teeth. She runs over and places her hand on my forehead. “You’re burning up.” As she says this a sharp pain runs through my bones. It feels like they all need to be stretched at once, as if they’re becoming too big for my body. I feel the muscles stretching and tearing around them, this time I am unable to muffle my scream. “Azzie” “Azzie”. I hear Gemma calling my name, but there is a loud high pitched ringing sound in my ears that makes her voice sound like a whisper. My head is whirling and soon I begin hearing snaps, cracks, and popping. The sounds pierce my ears over the ringing, and it terrifies me. Claws slice through the skin at the top of my fingertips, my spine stretches and arches to lay flat horizontally. I feel my face twist and contort, and my teeth mold into points and grow longer. When the pain and noises finally come to an end, I turn to Gemma and look at her. I feel free in this moment, powerful, I have an overwhelming urge to go outside and run around. I want to sniff the earth and admire the moon. I want to run with all my might , things seem so much simpler now, like I have nothing to worry about…Gemma stands there shocked. She cannot take her eyes off of me, and I notice her jaw is slightly dropped. I am unsure if she is staring at me in horror, disbelief, or shock… but she has never made this look before, and I do not like it. “What?” I say in a lower voice than usual. ‘So this is what I sound like in this form?’

Gemma sits there staring at me for another few moments before she takes a step forward, for some reason her look and the way she approaches me makes me feel cautious. A low growl escapes my throat and Gemma says “It’s Okay Azzie.” She takes a few more slow steps before she reaches her hands out and I feel her fingers running through my fur. I look to the side and truly take myself in for the first time. My fur is the color of snow and very thick. Gemma is not very tall, but I know standing on four legs, I am still at least 4 ft. above her. “I have never seen another white wolf’ I think to myself ‘is this why Gemma was so shocked?’ I can smell the worry oozing from her pores. “What’s wrong?” My tone again surprises me a bit. I sound commanding, firm, and even my voice radiates power. “Azzie, I figured you were special since the moment I saw you.” She hesitates for a moment, looking me over again. Her eyes wander to her hand that is still mingled in my fur. The light in the room is dim. Gemma’s cottage is mostly a studio. She has no bedrooms, and all of the rooms she does have are connected in one main layout. She has a few dark grey, black crusted lamps scattered amongst the rooms that give the place a warm… but somewhat eerie feeling. “You are the first white wolf in over 200 years.” She smiles at me, but it is a tight lipped smile that lets me know this is not a good thing. “If the Ultimate Alpha, or anyone for that matter, finds out that you are a white wolf, they will kill you immediately.” She stops rubbing my fur and looks me in my eyes “You cannot let anyone know, no one….please Azzie” her eyes are pleading more than her words are, it appears as if she is fighting back tears. “I won’t, I promise.” Her lips reveal a true smile upon hearing this, and her gaze leaves falls to the ground.

“You should see yourself.” Her hand gestures towards a black stand up mirror. It has been engraved with the design of the oceans shore’s. I walked towards it awkwardly, it felt weird walking on 4 legs. This is something I would have to work on and get used to. Every step felt amazing, it was like waking up and stretching your legs in the morning. My bones were aching to move. Once I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I myself am shocked. My eyes are glowing like stars are behind them, , ‘Why are my eyes brighter than everyone else’s?’ This is not the end of my shock as my eyes are a pale yellow, they resemble the moon and are barely noticeable amongst the whites of my eyes. My eyes scan the rest of my body and I notice there is not a single patch of; brown, red, blonde, black, nothing. I am pure white, my fur is thick and shiny, it glistens even in this low lighted room. I had many questions but for now, I just wanted to go for a run. “Take me outside.” I tell Gemma. She thinks about it for a moment. “I do not want someone to see you Azzie.” I growl at this response. My legs are aching to run. So I do what they want and begin running around Gemma’s small cottage. She begins chasing me and quietly yelling at me to stop. I could not help but let out a laugh, and after a while I decided to calm down and go to sleep.