Rocky Mountain Pack Shorts

Chapter 2

As we arrived at prom, we were stunned to see the school gym had been transformed into a sea of fairy lights, metallic foil, balloons, and streamers. The music pulsed through the room, and there was an energetic vibe that was palpable. And then a wave of sadness hit me when I realized that the last moments of our high school life were slipping by. It was the end of an era. But for tonight, it was all about fun, laughter, and making it count.

Our first stop was the dance floor, and when our favorite song came on, we totally lost it and started busting out our best moves like we were in a music video. We didn’t need a date to enjoy ourselves, because we had each other. We danced like no one was watching, laughing at our terrible moves and high-fiving whenever we managed to pull off something halfway decent. We were straight-up killing it.

The night flew by in a blur of flashing lights and laughter, with Emma and me catching up with our friends, taking photos, and making promises to stay in touch no matter what the future held. As the night wore on, the music slowed down, and I caught sight of her looking at the couples slow dancing. She seemed a little teary-eyed, and I could tell she was thinking about Ryan.

“Hey, are you okay?” I asked softly, placing my hand on her shoulder.

She sighed but smiled. “Yeah. Just... It’s hard, you know?”

I squeezed her hand. “I know. But you’re gonna be okay. You’re amazing, and anyone who doesn’t see that just doesn’t deserve you.”

Her smile widened, and she pulled me into a massive hug. "You're right. I’m awesome!"

After prom, we crashed at her place, ready to chill all night. No stress, no drama, just us, vegging out and talking about everything and nothing, like always. It was our night to kick back, laugh about our awkward dance moves, and soak in the fact that high school was finally over.

Tomorrow was future us’s problem. Tonight was all ours. We piled up the pillows, got all comfy under a mountain of blankets, and just as we were about to start our deep dive into prom drama, Emma’s stomach let out the loudest growl. We paused momentarily, then we lost it, laughing so hard we almost fell off the bed.

“Okay, I guess we’re starving,” I said, wiping a tear from my eye.

Emma and I had been on one of those ridiculous celebrity diets all week, juice cleanses, tiny portions, just to make sure we looked our absolute best for prom. And, well, it worked. We looked glamorous, like we had just stepped out of a cosmo magazine. But now?

Now my stomach was growling like some wild animal trapped in a cage, and judging by the way Emma clutched hers, she wasn’t faring any better.

Next thing we knew, we were raiding the kitchen, loading up on ice cream, chips, and whatever else we could grab. Fully stocked, we practically ran upstairs, ready to pig out and dish on all the gossip.

Finally, our stomachs were full, and exhaustion was settling in, Emma grabbed the remote, flipped through channels, and we landed on some trashy soap opera, one of those where everyone had an evil secret twin, someone was always in a coma, and they played that dramatic music that was way over the top.

We watched in silence for a while, half just enjoying the post-prom haze. The night had been perfect, better than I could have imagined. No drama, no regrets. Just my best friend and I, living in the moment. At some point, we both fell quiet, our eyes getting heavier by the second. And before I even knew it, I was out like a light.

***

A sharp pain shot through my stomach, waking me from my sleep. My breath came in ragged gasps as I looked around, trying to get my bearings. Emma was still fast asleep beside me, curled up under the blankets.

I gripped my stomach, wincing. Something wasn’t right. Agonizing pain twisted through me, like something inside was clawing to break free. My entire body shook as sweat formed along my hairline. I bit down on my lip to keep from crying out, not wanting to wake Emma. I needed air. I needed space. I needed to get out of here – now.

Slowly, as not to wake my friend, I peeled back the covers and tiptoed toward the door. My heart pounded in my ears as I made my way downstairs and slipped outside into the crisp night air.

My breath caught as I looked up; the full moon sat high in the sky, glowing with an ethereal beauty. Then another wave of pain hit, so intense I couldn’t stop the whimper that escaped my lips. My knees buckled slightly, but I forced myself to move forward. I needed to get further away. I needed to get home. My mom would know what to do. Emma lived on a small farm, and I knew no one would be out this late. So I wandered into the paddock, preparing to take a shortcut home.

Before I could move far I dropped to my knees, clutching my stomach, trying to control my breathing. Suddenly, my skin felt like it was too tight, like my bones were shifting under my flesh.

“What the hell is happening to me?” I whispered to the night, as I looked up to the moon as if I was expecting some kind of response from it.

Another tearing sensation coursed through me, worse than before. And then suddenly the pain eased, just enough for me to catch my breath. My body still shook, but maybe the worst of it was over. Maybe if I kept moving, it would help. Walk it off. Like Coach always said. Whether it was a cramp, a stitch, or even a sprained ankle. Walking fixed everything. So that’s what I’d do.

I pushed myself up on shaky legs, my whole body still buzzing from whatever the hell that was. And for a second, just a second, I almost believed it was working. The tight knot in my stomach was still there, but at least I wasn’t totally losing it. I let out a breath and glanced up as I neared the treeline. The moon hung high in the sky, big and silvery, making everything glow in that weird, otherworldly way.

It wasn’t quite full like I’d initially thought. I watched as the clouds seemed to quickly drift across the sky, covering the moon. Even in the pitch black, I could still clearly see everything, every blade of grass moving in the gentle breeze. It had always been that way for me. My parents used to say it was a blessing from God. And maybe it was. I was faster than most people, quicker on my feet, sharper with my reflexes. My senses were always tuned to the world around me, heightened in a way that couldn’t be explained.

It was kinda like my superpower.

I knew how crazy that sounded, but it was the truth. Sometimes, I just felt different from everyone else. It wasn’t just that I was faster or that my senses were sharper. It was something deeper, something I couldn’t quite explain. Sometimes, I felt like I wasn’t alone. Even when no one was around, when I was completely by myself, there was this… presence. I called it my inner voice, the way people talk to themselves in their heads.

Another wave of pain slammed into me. Then another. And another. Each one worse than the last, like a wildfire raging through me.

I could scream for help, but no one would hear me. Emma was too far away, and even if she wasn’t, what would I even say? That I was dying in the middle of her paddock? That my insides felt like they were being ripped apart by something I couldn’t see? Tears streamed down my face as I lifted my hands in silent prayer, my fingers shaking.

Please, God. Help me. Save me from whatever this is.