Bounded

Fantasy or Reality

I shake my head no hissing in pain gently touching my neck. Donna sits beside me on my bed hugging me. I sit there stiff until I smell her by chance. Puzzled I sniff her and sure enough she smells like mom. My eyes tear up with unshed tears as I embrace her. After a minute of us embracing one another she pulls back staring at me intensely “A Hunter of all things… Is the Goddess punishing my line for some reason.” I slightly tilt my head to the side confused.

Sam explains my confusion “Ray doesn't know what you're talking about.” “Ray? What kind of name is Ray for a woman?” I blush as Sam smirks “Her name is Raymona Sue Smith but she likes to be called Ray she does the same for my name too.” Donna turns her head to face Sam with a raised brow “And that would be?” “Samantha but everyone calls me Sam.” Donna nods “I suppose that's tolerable then.” I shake my head smiling “I also noticed the fine quality of this building by chance; Could you tell me whether you two did this or not?”

A smile beams on both our faces as we nod yes. Donna smiles beaming with pride “Ok it’s settled but I’m definitely going to have an intense conversation with my daughter.” “She isn’t aware that we know or that any of our people are here ma’am.” Donna rolls her eyes, not surprised “Figures the one tactic she used to stay hidden all these years is being a hermit and not with just anyone either.” I scoot to the edge of my bed but am stopped by Trent placing his hand gently on my forearm “You need some rest love.” Sam jumps in “Don’t worry I’ve already spoken with your mom so she knows we’ll be here for the next seven days that way they can prep for your birthday.” Donna’s head snaps to Sam in surprise “How old will she be?”

“It’ll be her eighteenth birthday.” Donna’s complexion pales turning back to me “We have seven days to prepare her.” Charles shrugs “Sounds about right.” For the next seven days Donna was busy out of state whereas Trent, Sam, and Charles helped tend to my injuries. During that time I pick up on odd things occurring but never mention it to them. I mainly stick to my homework and reading at the cabin. To be exact I mainly reside in my room avoiding everyone else.

Monday November 25th 2030

It was a lot to take in that the family on mom’s side are actually alive but stacking the weird occurrences or even the conversations I keep over hearing quickly became overwhelming. There are several nights that I wake up drenched in sweat from the plaguing nightmares swirling around with my wet dreams. I have also gotten to where I shower twice a day just to feel clean. This morning wasn't any different. I drag myself to the bathroom freezing. I glare at the mirror in disbelief. I move my head around a little to get a better view of my neck.

The scratches were still there but faintly now but that's not what caught my attention it was the tattoo around my neck. I raise my right hand to touch it only to freeze once again when I see the same tattoo on my wrist. I back up without realizing it. My feet get tangled up with a towel laying on the floor. I literally fell on my ass hitting my back against the tub. Sam bolts into the bathroom stealing from the sight before her “T….those a….are s….s…….showing.” Sam sees the panic in my eyes “Don’t panic Ray everything will be ok, I guess it's a good thing it's winter.”

I toss my hands into the air motioning really to her. Sam grimaces foundling her pockets for her phone “Ok I’ll just call Trent and Donna they’ll know what to do.” She pulls her phone out dialing both parties at the same time for them to answer at the same time too “Ugh guys we’ve got a slight problem.” Donna and Trent wait impatiently for Sam’s response. Sam’s complexion looks several times paler than normal “Her seal is exposed.” Donna breaks the tension speaking with unease “Exposed as in it looks like a tattoo or exposed as in an open wound?” Trent remained silent waiting for an answer.

“As in a massive tattoo…. It looks like a shackled collar on her neck, wrists, and ankles that also has a chain that is connected to the shackles but it seems to lead to her back.” Trent finally breaks his silence “Is there any chains wrapped around where her heart is located?” The grim tone all three share magnifies Ray’s panic. My hands shake as I lift my shirt up to see just that on my chest. I released a mangled sob and the only other thing said was by Donna “Call Lauren now I’ll be there shortly.” Sam ends the call. She is visibly shaking while in the process of dialing mom’s number.

Sam paces the bathroom waiting for mom to answer. By the tenth ring she picks up “Yes sweetie?” Sam is barely keeping herself together by answering “Y..yes ma’am……I um….well if you don’t mind I need you to stop by today if at all possible.” Mom’s voice changes from its gentle carefreeness to instant worry “I’ll be there in two hours.” Mom ends the call and Sam informs the other two when mom will arrive. Sam puts her phone down then helps me to my feet. From there she helped me get cleaned up since I was still in a state of shock.

By the time we settled down it was almost eleven thirty in the morning. Trent is the first one to arrive; he also brought some food too. I nibbled on a burger and fries. The other two inhaled their food within one gulp. Mom was the second to arrive and when I mean all hell broke loose that is exactly what happened. She tried to kill Trent when she saw him thinking he hurt me I guess. Sam was barely able to restrain her before anything else went wrong.

I’m sitting in the large living room with the three who are huddled in a corner whispering to each other. I catch bits of the conversation here and there but for the most part remain in the dark. Mom’s voice is cold “It's none of your business.” Trent’s takes a protective approach “It is my business and while you are here It will stay as such.” Sam at the moment is the only one who is remotely calm “She deserves to know what's going on.” I lean back on the couch crossing my ankles with my legs stretched out and my arms crossed just under my breasts. The door opens catching everyone's attention. Donna walks in with such authority causing mom to go rigid at the sight of her “Lauren you have until her birthday to tell her before it's too late.”

Mom stutters “M….mother y…..you're here.” Donna scolfs “Of course I’m here, this pertains to our family so why wouldn’t I be here dear.” “You said I was dead to you.” Donna pauses for a moment then answers gently “That was before I knew what your mates family is… You told me he was human, not a Hunter.” Both of their feathers deepen further “You also know what happens if I reject him too mother.” Donna sighs “There could have been a second chance out there for you dear but let's leave that to the past…We have bigger issues to handle.” Mom nods, turning to face me “For right now could you please go to your room sweetie, I promise to explain things to you soon enough.”

I hang my head low obeying her request. I close my door then plop on top of my bed hoping she will keep her word. I stay in my room for what feels like hours before their conversation gets loud enough for me to hear “You think I don’t know that mother or how this will affect her in the long run?!” I run my right hand through my long hair in agitation knowing good and well that I won’t get any answers anytime soon so I climb out of bed then walk to my door only to open it before there’s a response. I’m not sure what possessed me to react this way but I do know it's not exactly the way I would have reacted. I stand at the threshold glaring at the two women “Look clearly I know something is up and that you all can tell that I know but we aren’t gonna get anywhere until someone spills the beans so either that happens or I’m walking out the front door to have some seriously needed alone time.” Both women look between each other with a grim expression and at that moment I knew alone time was what I needed the most so I walked past them without another word leaving out the cabin but as soon as I close the front door behind me my once calm denor shifts to one of unstable mixed emotions and my feet are beating against the earth's surface oddly enough I do not hear my feet as they meet the surface like you normally would.

That’s not even the weirdest thing I notice as I run through the forest. My vision started changing and I suddenly felt an intense urge to hunch over on all fours just to run. There is even an ache that went bone deep. A fallen tree quickly approaches as I race forward and release an earth shattering growl. My chest heaves back and forth as I reach the fallen tree. I jump forward when a foot away reaching out with my hands. My nails were elongated into claws that scrap against the bark.

I use my momentum to swing my legs in between my arms landing onto my feet. I continue to rush past trees until I slam my right shoulder into a thick tree causing me to spin on my feet then to fall face down. Most of my weight lands onto my arms granted it didn’t prevent my head slamming against the ground's hard surface. My rage boils within my veins pestering at an all time high caused by all the secrets as well as the constant lies. I release a pain roar arching my back while lifting my head into the air unable to contain my emotions any longer. I stand to my feet just to notice my shoes are destroyed. Like my fingernails, my toenails are also elongated into claws.

I take a couple of steps back staring between my hands and feet. I realize that my gums feel as though several teeth are being pulled. I search frantically for a lake or even a puddle of water just to get a glimpse of my appearance. Luckily I spotted what seemed like a small pond, maybe a lake. I race forward to drop to my knees once reaching its edge. I stare at the surface reflection in horror. What should be my face is replaced by a simi animalistic creature.

My once gentle features are now replaced by fury and yet at the same time shock swirls within my eyes that are no longer Its natural Hazel green are now sky blue shining brightly with an ethereal glow. My canines are elongated and there is more hair like fur that has sprouted around my face. It also looks as though its color is a combination of blond with white streaks. I gently touch my face in disbelief. I instantly embrace my head as it suddenly feels like it's about to split in half. I clutch my head no longer concerned about harming myself with my claws. My head pounds leaving me hunching over all the while tears stream down landing on the ground just before the body of water.