The Phase

I suddenly felt a hot shiver run down my back whilst I was shaking uncontrollably from head to foot. I couldn't understand anything or do anything to stop it, and that fact was making me angrier, and there for shake even more. I didn't know what was happening to me. Suddenly I just exploded in rage and landed on the floor. The strangest thing is, I had four feet on the floor, and they were covered in masses of thick black hair. My earlier outburst of suppressed rage had not worn of and the adrenalin sent me running like the wind through the back garden and into the forest in La Push. Was I just having a weird dream? I tried to remember the last thing I ate; maybe it had a weird effect on my sleep, but there's nothing strange about Sue Clearwater's homemade cookies.

When I happened upon a sheet of dirty glass, I could make out some sort of reflection. I must be having some sort of dream, or maybe I was just going crazy, the kind of crazy that ends in a white, cushioned room; I saw a horse sized, pitch black, brown eyes wolf staring back at me. My legs seemed to act on their own accord and sent me running off at bullet speed again. After what seemed like a million years of running, I was starting to get tired. I knew I was a long way away from the reservation by now. I was starting to get hungry and desperately needed to rest. I rested on the floor and put my head on my – well... Paws, I guess. As I started to close my eyes, hoping to re-open them in my small bed or maybe on the couch with Leah, I could feel something changing in me. The next thing I knew I was lying on the floor in some trees next to someone's garden, naked, but human again. I was aching beyond belief and I could barely move, all my bones felt as though they had been dislocated at stretched, all my muscles were tensed up and felt as though they were going to pop out of my skin. I knew I shouldn't just lie here, in plain sight. I shuffled with as much effort as possible into the dark, bushes. It took a long time but I finally got there huffing and puffing.

I must have fallen asleep at some point because I woke up and everything was dark. I had no idea how long I'd been out, but when I managed to stand up, a little less achy then the last time I tried to move I saw that the garden next to the trees I was in had some clothes hung out drying. They looked quite big, and were man's clothes, so I hopped over the fence and un-clipped some knee length shorts. They were a little tight and slightly short, but they would suffice, for now at least. I jumped back over the fence and sat back down against the tree. I was absolutely ravenous, but I didn't have it in me to get something to eat because of my aching body. I was soon dozing off to sleep again.

I woke to the sound of strange, incoherent voices that were slowly becoming clearer as I became more alert.

"What do you think he's doing way out here? He doesn't look like a local." Asked a woman who had a strangely high voice.

"Maybe he got lost, or ran away, or maybe he's a gypsy." Said a man. I slowly started to open my eyes then. They seemed to notice my movements and suddenly became much wearier.

"Where am I?" I asked gruffly, sounding idiotic.

"You're in Dayton, Ohio. What's your name kid?" Asked the man.

"Sam, Sam Uley."

"Well Sam, you don't sound like you're from round here. Where you headed?"

"La Push. It's a reservation, about fifteen minutes from forks. I don't even know how I got here to be honest. Everything's just a blur. What day is it?" I asked, still so confused.

"It's Thursday Sam, 11th August. I'm Melissa by the way, " The woman answered kindly "And this is my husband Bill."

"Well, I hate to say this but, If you are the guys who live in that house –" I pointed towards the house to my left. "Then I'm probably wearing your shorts. Don't know where mine went so..." I said awkwardly.

"You're probably cold and dirty. Do you want to freshen up a little?" Asked Melissa kindly.

"Umm... If it's not too much hassle then yes, thank you." The three of us trudged up to the house then. I was slower than usual with all my aching joints and pulled muscles. I would just have to cope; I got a football injury once that ended in me feeling similar to this and it took a few days to fell a little better.

About 3 hours later when I was nice and fresh and had something to eat I decided it best to head back home. Although I didn't really know what to do when I get there, at least I'll be on familiar grounds. They offered to pay for me to fly back, but I figured, if everything that happened so far was real, I might as well run back. As far as I understood I had to get angry to turn into one of these monster sized wolves again, and if I was just dreaming then there is surly know harm in trying. But how?

When I left Melissa and Bill's house I set of down the road so they wouldn't get suspicious, then went round the back of the corner shop and jumped over the fence back into the wilderness. I had to try and get my head around this. I finally just decided to go with it and thought about something that made me angry. I pictured Leah running of holding someone else's hand and Old Quil banning Quil, Paul and Jared from even being near me and everyone hated me and thought I was a freak. I could feel hot shivers running up my arms. I just added to that by myself and started breathing heavily and pacing around. I had to stop then; the shaking was engulfing me. Suddenly another image came into my mind. The one of Leah running off with some guy, but the guy turned around. It was Jacob Black, Billie's son. That did it. I felt myself exploding again. I was stood on all fours, all my senses heightened, something I didn't notice before. I could smell a familiar scent going off to the west, was it me? I decided to follow it anyway. As I was running I realized how much I loved to speed. I was going a lot faster than a Ferrari f430, faster than an airplane even.

I soon realized I was on the right track; it all looked very familiar. I was starting to get close. I could hear the slow flow of traffic on the road next to the forest. I ducked behind a bush so that I could see but not be seen. I realized then, I had made it to La Push, and if I crossed over the road I would be about five seconds away from the beach. Luckily I had taken my shorts of before changing this time and carried them in my mouth. I quickly got my head around turning back and put the shorts on and headed down to the beach. When I got there I sat down on a big rock and thought about what I was going to do about all this. By this time I'd come to terms with the fact that I turned into a giant wolf. When I came to think of it, I'm sure I'd heard an old tribe legend about men transforming into wolves to protect the tribe or something. There were about three things I definitely needed to do. One: Cut my hair; I thought I was going to drown in it earlier. Two: Go see old Quil about reading the books on Quileute legends and Three: Think of a good reason as to why I'd been gone for almost a week. Before all that I needed something to eat though so I ran home, surprisingly I didn't see anyone on the way. When I got in I drank like three litres of water while looking for some food. I decided on pizza, mind, seeing as I wolfed down the water without it even touching the sides it might not even be enough. I suppose it'll have to do for now. I managed to get a time at the barbers for tomorrow. When I got up stairs with the last slice of pizza in my hand I found my phone on my bed. I had 27 missed calls and about 3000 texts. All of which wee of Leah, Sue, Seth and Harry. I decided I should probably ring Leah and let her know I'm all right. It would have to wait till morning though; the food had made me really sleepy. I had a quick shower then went to bed.

Morning came, too soon as always. I had a nice carefree sleep full of regular dreams, and I was now nice and alert. Also completely ache-free.

It was about 10:30, watching 'Friends' when I remembered I needed to call Leah. I ran up stairs and clicked exit when it notified me of my many missed calls and messages again and typed speed dial 392.

"Sam! Where the hell have you been! You didn't even say anything or call or... You could have been rotting in an alley somewhere for all I knew. I've been so worried." Leah almost sobbed down the phone.

"Leah, I'm fine, calm down. I just went to that reservation near Ohio to see my second cousin." I made up on the spot. I was pretty sure I had some relative down there but nothing about a cousin.

"Well why didn't you tell me?" She asked much more calmly.

"It was a snap decision and my phone was dead and I couldn't find it."

"I'm sure it wouldn't have killed you to call in on the way."

"It was in the other direction, and I wasn't really thinking clearly at the time." That, at least, was true.

"Well seeing as your thinking clearer now, could you please come over. I'm sure the rest of the family would like to hear your explanation as well."

"Okay... And Leah, I love you." I said smiling.

"I love you two. Cya in a few." I think I could hear her smiling too.

"Bye." And I put the phone down.

I got too the front door and barely had enough time to knock. She swung the door open and practically jumped into my arms. I was surprised when her skin felt strangely cold against mine. I think she could feel the difference as well.

"Sam, your burning, are you sure you're okay? It feels like you've got a fever or something?" Oh god, I bet that's a dodgy wolf thing.

"I'm fine, I had a very hot shower and then ran down here. What do you expect?" I made up again. Is this what my life's going to be like from now on? Constantly lying to the people I'm closest to?

"Come in." She smiled. And I did, I had a lot to talk about apparently.