Merthur One Shots
A Supernatural Cliché
Arthur's P.O.V
3:20am, Friday 11th January
I hate dreaming.
I hate not being in control of my own body.
I hate the way the burn of physical excursion is dulled and the way emotions are heightened.
I'd never hated a dream as much as I hated this one...
My feet carried my body and my unwilling consciousness into the burning church, the heat of the flames rippling over my skin. I wanted to move back...away as the smoke curled towards me. I panicked at the idea of chocking, imagining that the smoke would catch in the back of my throat like a cigarette and make my eyes water.
I shouldn't of been able to see anything through the thick smoke, but I could. I could make out the grain on the wooden alter twenty feet in front of me. I could smell the type of wood that the rows of chairs were made of. I could even see the picture on top of the coffin at the end of the isle.
Sweat rolled down my neck and dampened my hair so that it stuck to my head. The heat intensified as I stared at the pale face and blonde curls that made up my Mother's features. I could feel my skin changing in the heat, rising, becoming thicker as I struggled for breath. The smoke finally found me and I chocked dropping to my knees, crying out as my burning skin was scraped away by the stone floor. My head was becoming pressurized, like it was going to explode. I panted and gasped as I fought against the inevitable black out before I was suddenly rushing back into my own body.
A sharp intake of breath broke the silence that had settled over my room during the night. My eyes snapped open, my heart pounded and my quilt stuck to me with sweat. I brought my hand up to my forehead, pushing my hair back as I panted softly.
I hate dreaming.
And I hate dreaming about my Mum.
7:50am, Friday 11th January
Collage.
Sports, Extended diploma, 2 years.
3 months down, 21 to go.
This month's focus?
Rugby.
2 weeks theory, 2 weeks practical.
2 weeks into the month = Practical.
My day just got better. Beside me Elyan groaned, he was more for sports that used a racquet or a bat. This, on the other hand, was my cup of tea. Leon, it would seem, agreed with me and was apparently eager for some time out on the pitch as he fell into step beside Elyan and told us that we were going to be late to tutor.
I scoffed, "It's ten minutes of my life, Leon. I mean, what's the point?"
It was something that had annoyed me since the beginning of secondary school, why do we spend ten minutes getting registered every morning we come here, if we then go to class and get registered again?
"To show that we can be on time for our future jobs." Said the soft voice of Elyan's older, very down to earth sister, Gwen. I blinked down at her.
"Right..." I huffed as we entered our tutor base quickly filling up the seats at the back of the room to wait for Mr Geoffreys. Elyan nudged me, I turned.
"What's the point of us being here ten minutes early to show punctuality if our own tutor is going to be late?" He demanded.
I shrugged, "Ask your sister."
8:20am, Friday 11th January
Rugby kit in red and gold, the collage colours.
Check.
Studs?
Check.
Warmed up?
Check. (Coach had only given us a fifteen minute lecture while we changed.)
Position on field?
Attack.
Position in scrum?
Hooker, opposite a guy who likes to be called Valliant.
Ready to play?
Check...
This whistle sounded and the two half's of the scrum clashed as players kicked out at the ball. I grunted as the opposing team pushed us back a step, I dug my studs into the soft mud and we forced them back two paces as we got the ball out behind us. The scrum broke away and spread out, ready for a pass. I ran through the midfield as I clocked the balls position.
In a practice situation the players on a team take turns being the Captain. Today's captain, Uldrin, had possession and was sprinting up field with no one to pass to. I ran forwards, mirroring his movements on the far left of the pitch, he glanced over at me and I nodded quickly, he turned mid stride and pitched the ball skywards. It arched through the air and began it's decent towards me, I jumped and caught it before dashing towards the tri line. They guys that had been pursuing Uldrin turned and headed straight for me. I dug my heels in and pushed myself forwards dodging past the one and only player that had managed to get this far up field. The players behind me closed in and began grabbing at my waist attempting to tackle me. I could see my team rushing in my direction as I was pulled down. I released the ball as I hit the ground and hoped my team were in the bundle above me.
I scrambled out from underneath the heavy bodies and watched as they fought for the ball.
9:05am, Friday 11th January
Forty minutes into the game, no dead ball as of yet and neither team had scored. I was sweating like hell despite the heavy rain and my kit was itching more than it usually did. Becoming increasingly hot and bothered I found myself looking forward to half time so that I could catch my breath and cool off a bit.
I kept my eyes on the ball as it passed from player to player across the pitch, never once being dropped which frustrated me even more because really...if you're not going to score at least let the rest of us go and enjoy our half time.
I scratched my left forearm absentmindedly as I watched the ball bearer get tackled and the ball get snatched up by his team mate before my team had the chance. He sprinted in my direction attempting to reach the tri line, not in the mood for half measures I sprinted towards him. He tried to dodge me but I moved with him and speared him. It knocked the air out of his chest and my frustration reached it's peek when he managed to maintain his hold on the ball and the itchy heat covering my skin intensified, becoming painful. Sweat and rain ran down my face and dripped off my chin as a low inhuman growl joined the sounds of rain hitting the Astroturf pitch and metal studs ripping through blades of grass with every footfall. The sound couldn't have been human but I knew that it had emanated from me, the guy I had speared looked up at me with wide eyes and in response I frowned down at him.
Was he scared?
Had he heard? Of course he did, he was pinned underneath me.
"Y...Your...eyes." He croaked. Utterly confused I took my chance and snatched the ball from his grip before getting up and running up field. There was no way I would make it to the tri line on my own so whilst I was running I searched for the player on my side closest to it. I could see Elyan way up field but he was being marked by two guys that were much larger than him but Leon was wide open and had a clear path to the tri line. I got as close as I could before lobbing it in his direction, he caught it no problem and sprinted towards the tri line before throwing himself over it. Several people in my team whooped in appreciation the rest cheered but I sighed because finally... we had scored.
9:45am, Friday 11th January
I pulled my shirt over my head and dropped it into my bag, grimacing at the amount of sweat it had soaked up. I quickly changed back into my jeans and shirt and was attempting to stuff my feet into my trainers when my phone rang. I dug it out of my bag before answering it.
"Dad?" I frowned running a hand through my damp hair.
"Arthur." My father greeted.
"What's wrong?" I asked, he didn't call me very often so when he did it was never a good sign.
"How did your game go?"
I frowned, now I defiantly knew something was wrong; One - he never asks about my games and Two – how did he even know I had a game today?
"Fine. We won." I informed him.
"Good." He said quickly.
"Yeah." My frown deepened and there was a moment of silence. "Dad what's this really about?"
On the other end of the phone he sighed heavily. "You need to come home, right now. Bring Leon and Elyan with you."
"Why?" I asked sharply.
"Just do it Son." He sighed again before hanging up. I looked down at my phone ... what the hell?
10:15am, Friday 11th January
"Did your Dad tell you why he wanted us to come over?" Elyan asked. He sounded nervous, I didn't hold it against him, my Dad can be pretty intimidating.
"No, he just told me to bring you two with me then hung up." I replied. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Leon and Elyan exchange a knowing glance, like they knew something I didn't, like they were in on some grand secret.
We continued to walk along the path beside the road until we reached the gates of my house, if you could call it a house, it was more like a country manor. I'm not exactly sure how we could afford the place but that might be easier to understand if I knew what my Dad did for a living, even after all these years of curious conversations and sneaking around looking for clues I still had no idea.
Anticipating our arrival the gates opened and we passed through, the gravel drive way wasn't long, maybe... sixty feet, I could see my Dad waiting for us on the steps outside the house. He looked angry, frustrated and impatient. My pace increased, he didn't like to be kept waiting even when he was in a good mood.
When we reached my Dad he turned and walked into the house before I could even think about saying hello. We moved into the house Leon closing the door after us and then we followed Dad into his study.
"Sit." He said quickly gesturing to three chairs that sat facing his desk. I glanced back at my friends before sitting in the first chair, Leon and Elyan joined me in a hurry, stuffing their school bags underneath their chairs for good measure.
"What's this about Dad?" I asked.
"How are you Son?" He said ignoring my question.
"What?!" I frowned, my face creasing in confusion.
"How are you feeling?" He asked, wording it differently.
"You called all three of us over here to ask me how I'm feeling?" I demanded, incredulous.
"Yes, since I know they feel the same way you do." It seems my father was intent on being as vague as possible.
"What?" I repeated turning to see Leon and Elyan looking at me somewhat guiltily. I turned back to my father.
"What's going on?" I insisted.
My father turned to my friends, I thought he was going to speak but instead he just bowed his head in a slow nod, like he was letting them know something before he looked at me again.
"How was your match today?" Dad asked for the second time. I shook my head, more confused than I was a couple of minutes ago. Going by the look Leon and Elyan had shared on the way to my house I knew they were hiding something from me and I already suspected foul play due to my Dad's sudden interest in my rugby matches but the way Dad nodded at them just now made me think that whatever they knew, he was in on it too.
"I already told you...it was fine." Frustration joined my confusion. Two chairs down Leon snorted, we all looked at him sharply.
"He means; what happened during the game, Arthur? And in that retrospect, it's not fine. Chris will be having nightmares for the rest of his life." Leon informed us, he looked annoyed and I got the distinct feeling I was the reason.
"What are you talking about?" I was getting tired of being in the dark about whatever this was.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about." Leon said, now he was the one who sounded incredulous.
"You must have felt something..." Elyan added in agreement.
"I have no idea what you're talking about!" I said raising my voice and smacking my palms down on my legs as my frustration grew.
"Tell me what happened during the game Arthur." Dad ordered.
"Nothing. We played and won, that's it." I said briefly, leaving out the part about the inhuman growl that had somehow come from me. Leon and Elyan shifted in their seats in the same way you scoff at someone telling a blatant lie. Somehow they knew I was lying.
"Don't lie to me Arthur." Dad said shortly, his tone low.
I fell silent. Somehow they all knew I was lying.
"Why don't you two show him what he nearly became during your Rugby match, hmmm?" Dad suggested, looking intently at my so-called friends. When they didn't move or say anything he bowed his head again, granting them permission. They got up and stood beside each other, Leon's hands began to clench and un-clench while Elyan began to twitch violently in random places. They were breathing heavily, their chests rising and falling rapidly, they were working themselves up, making themselves angry... but... why?
I looked at my Dad.
"What..?" I asked quietly.
"Just watch." He ordered, but his tone was softer, like it used to be when I was a kid and he was showing me something new, something he knew I'd love.
A low growl had me whipping my head round to stare at my friends. They had started to sweat and they were growling softly with every breath they took. I looked down to see that their fingernails had changed, grown longer become darker, sharper more like those of a dog... or a wolf. Their growls turned to snarls and I looked up and just like that it was no longer a mystery to me why I had scared that guy, Chris, so much at practice today. Their eyes had also changed, the colour itself wasn't terrifying but the way it pierced right through you was. I felt myself tremble as I looked up into a fierce green that would only look at home in the densest forest.
I suddenly found myself again.
"What the hell?!" I cried, jumping up from my chair. The urge to run and hide from the animals in front of me was overwhelming. "What the fuck are you?!" I yelled looking between my Dad and what was supposed to be my friends.
"Arthur." My father said calmly. "Sit down."
"No!" I snapped not taking my eyes of the two sets of green in front of me. At my refusal they took a step towards me I stumbled backwards, at the same time Dad raised a hand to stop them.
"Easy..." Dad said smoothly, like he was soothing them. The urge to run finally reached my legs and I scrambled towards the door before flinging it open and sprinting out...
