The Rogue

My heartbeat thundered in my ears as my paws pounded on the floor. My brain screaming at me. compelling me keep moving but my body was aching and tired. My eyes darting all over looking for any danger. I can’t see them but I can still smell them. Grinding to a halt under a bush, I pushed myself to the ground trying to calm my heart. Why can’t I shake them?! Where did they come from! My ears pricked side to side trying to catch any sound of movement. I must have lost them during that huge commotion. Nothing had every been ordinary in my life. My parents died when I was young and I don’t remember much about them so I grew up in an orphanage. It wasn’t an awful place. But on the other hand I was moved across the other side of UK to live there. It was a fresh start, a new beginning…well so I thought. The orphanage was okay. Roof over your head and a hot meal what else could an orphan as for (well of course the exception of being adopted. We all dreamed of that). Everyone was nice enough there but you quickly had to learn how to fend for yourself. I was about to turn 15 when I was thrown out. 7 years on I think I can understand why they did what they did. The orphanage was ran by Nuns and they liked to keep to a schedule. It was a typical Tuesday or should I say it started out as a typical Tuesday. I woke up in a really bad mood considering it was my birthday the next day. Lillian, one of the Nuns was quite sweet with all of us orphans and always got us each a gift for each holiday and hinted the last few weeks, that is was something I would love! I should have been excited but I just couldn’t be happy. That should have been my first red flag. I was quite a happy child and usually had some silly smile plastered on my face, but I was just not myself. Some of my friends kept prodding me with questions about the present or about why I was moody. I snapped at them and actually ended up in a fight with my friend although I am still unsure of how to this day. I was punished and sent to my room. I didn’t care, I just wanted to sleep and prayed I woke up in a better mood. Lillian came during the night and gave me my present and a plate with a sandwich on. I glanced towards the clock 12:06am. I was lucky to get that after my fight, usually we were told to go with out. Not Lillian, she always tried to sneak the kids food, everyone loved her. We talked for a while and she bid me goodnight and wished me a happy birthday. I thanked her and sat in bed after she left. As I sat there, fighting with my inner self on wether I should open my present now or in the morning, when I started to get pins and needles in my bones. I shook my arms and legs trying to rid the sensation. I have never felt anything like that. Strange. It started to ache and then became a dull pain in my bones. I stood up and walked around the room stretching my bones as I went. Walking to my mirror I stopped and looked at my reflection. My shoulder length auburn hair framed my pale oval face with emerald green eyes that lit up my face and sparkled when the light hit them right. I approached my drawers and reached out and a sharp pain seared through my entire body as if I was being stabbed all over and all at once. Falling to my knees, I cradled my face in my hands. My head had started to feel heavy and a dull ache started between my eyes. The ache which soon turned into pressure. An awful pressure building and building. I started screaming when it peaked. It felt as though my eyes were going to pop out of their sockets. I had never felt pain like this in my short life and was sure this was the end. The room started to dim as I looked around, I caught sight of myself in mirror. What is that?! I tried to scream, but nothing came out, my throat dry and hoarse after my agony, I couldn’t make a sound. I tried to scramble away but my arms would not work as I stared at the reflection. What looked back at me, was something I could never forget. It looked as if my own flesh was melting off my skin. What the hell?! Is that hair coming out of my skin?! What is going on! My body continued to contort in ways I did not believe possible and my own body looked foreign. I didn’t not recognise what looked back; my mouth pulled back in a snarl showing very sharp canines. The pressure eased in my head as I watched my eyes change colour from bright green to amber and my eyes and ears began to shift as I gazed at my reflection. I tried to stand but my feet felt smaller than they should have been. I heard footsteps and tried to throw myself to where I thought the door was. Someone screamed my name and I heard crying and more screaming. It was black by then, I couldn’t see, the screaming and shouting was overwhelming me. The pain was getting unbearable, my face burning, my hands…something was wrong with hands. Before I could reach out to grab my hand my back leg snapped. I couldn’t hear the others over my scream. What is happening? Why can’t I see?! I tried to screamed for help but the sound was lost in my throat, all that escaped was a strangled gurgle. I whimpered in pain then all my bones began snapping and elongated. I could feel them twisting and contorting under my skin. I writhed in agony for what felt like hours and soon my skull started to change form. I lost my voice and could only whimper in pain and cry as I was pulled apart and moulded together again as something else. My skin started to burn again this time with such intensity I believe someone held a blowtorch to my skin. I clawed at my body trying to stop it but everything felt different. The pain abruptly stopped and a tingling sensation was left in its place and I collapsed onto the cold stone floor. Before I drifted into unconsciousness, I stole a glance to my mirror. Pretty, what a pretty animal. There lay a beautiful white wolf with a black smudge under its left eye. It looked exhausted and so sad. I tried to reach out to it and I caught a glimpse of my hand and it was a white paw reaching out. Am I that wolf? My eyes closed heavily for the last time that night. Unaware of what was happening around me, as I was picked up and carried out, I did not stir. Not even as Lillian laid me down on the cold damp mossy floor in the woods. I did not stir, nor as she kissed my forehead, or as she placed a bag beside me and said goodby as tears trickled down her face. I did not stir. Waking up, I remembered everything that happened last night, even the pain. I searched the bag. There was food, water, clothes, a phone and money. In a pocket stashed away was a note. Clara, I don’t understand what happened tonight and it did scare me. It scared everyone. The others don’t want you to stay here incase you turned wild. But I swore to god I would look after all of his children and I will uphold my promise. I packed you a bag. My number is in there and I gave you some money. Please take care of yourself. And phone me when you can. Good luck, Lillian. I put everything back in the bag and stood up, everything has changed and I’m on my own. Yet, I felt stronger and more confident than I ever had. This was the beginning. I had to find out everything I could about myself, my parents anything I could. I had moved to a small town outside of the city I previously lived. I didn’t want to stray too far from Lillian. She had come to see me a lot and brought me anything I needed. She helped me get into a Bed and breakfast so I still had somewhere to live. Lillian and I were looking into whatever I was. The closest we had got was a Shapeshifter. I could shift on command, although it was still very painful for the first few years, it soon got easier. I soon realised my anger and temper was also a big contributor so I stayed away from others and tried my best to isolated myself and to stay out of conflict. If I wasn’t working, I was in the forest meditating or in the B&B. It was my first day off in a while so I was meditating and trying to shift parts of my body at will when my phone rang. Startled, I tried to grab my phone, but with big paws I couldn’t quite grab it. Chuckling to my self, my hand changed form and I answered my phone. “Lillian, what’s up!” “Clara, you need to run.” She sounded very urgent. “Don’t say anything just listen. A couple of men came by the orphanage asking questions about the kids we look after…” She hesitated. “They were asking about you.” I gasped. “Why? I have stayed out of trouble. No one has seen me change and I keep a low profile.” “They didn’t name you. They don’t seem to know your name. But they know I know you. They asked about a girl who came in around the time you did. Wanted to know where you were. One of the older kids mentioned you live just outside the city. They gave me a really horrible feeling Clara. Don’t let them catch you. You need to go. Pack your stuff and leave. Find out about your parents.” My heart raced listening to her, my head started to ache. No! I can’t shift now. “Clara? Are you still there?” Sorry, I just…” I took a deep breath and willed my heart to calm. “It’s just a lot to take it. How long did they leave?” “About 15 minutes ago. I had to ask the kids what they told them.” Lillian replied quietly. “You need to go now. They didn’t look like nice people, Clara. You don’t want to get caught by them. Really bad vibes.” “Okay.” I nodded. “I will phone you when I’m out and safe. I raced back to the B&B and packed my things and got the hell out of there. It weren’t until I got to the bus station that I smelt them. I knew they were they. They smelt different… they weren’t human. That was a fact. I kept my head down and pulled a good upto cover my face and made my way to the ticket booth. A sharp movement caught my eye. I turned and caught a glimpse of a older man eyeing me up. My heart started to race and I can only assume he could smell it. His lip pulled up into a menancing grin as he sniffed the air. I took a step back, as he gazed into my eyes. He started taking long strides towards me and I wasted no time Getting out of there. I ran until I couldn’t breath. Jumping over barriers as if they hurdles taking no notice of anyone i bumped into. I just had to escape. I wasn’t looking where I was going and I ended up at a dead end. s**t! Where do I go now?? Looking around there was no way out. “Slow down there pup. I only want to talk.” The man stepped into view and was blocking my only way out. “We all thought you were dead. Where have you been? Sneaky little one, aren’t you.” He says it was a smile but peering into his eyes, there was something sinister about them. His pale blue eyes looked like ice, they looked unwelcoming and filled with violence. “Stay back, I don’t know who you are but I think you got the wrong girl.” I pleaded. He rolled his back and laughed. That sound made my spine shiver and sent goosebumps over my entire body. Fight or flight Clara. Which is it gonna be? I was not going to die here today. This may have been stupid but it was my only way out. I threw my bag down and focused, my head began to feel warm and the warmth radiates throughout my body, the pressure began to build and I began to wimper in pain. Not much longer. Once the pressure peaks, it’s done. Just hold out a bit longer Clara. Come one! The man was observing me in fascination as I shifted in front of his eyes. “Magnificent, I knew it was you. He is going to be so pleased we found you. About time you meet your saviour is it not.” I snapped my teeth at him in response. There I stood, a magnificent white wolf with black paws and black tipped ears with a grey crescent under my eye. I stood tall and could feel the power eminating from the man who stood before me. He jumped at me but I dodged out the way and ran. I scrambled out in the street where horns started honking and people started screaming about the wolf but I kept going at top speed, just hoping to escape.