Author's Note- Enjoy!
The Curse
It's all a blur. There are so many shades of green and jade rushing past me, and yet, I don't blink.
It's a forest.
I can smell it. The woodsy aroma of bark, dirt and rain whipping at my nose violently, and yet, I inhale deeper without choking.
I hear a powerful and thunderous thud each time I feel a jolt run through my body. I'm running. Low to the ground as I weave through trees and ferns, exhilaration coursing through me in a sensation that pushes me harder. I've never felt so powerful. So fearless. So free.
It could have been hours, or days, but I kept going. I had no purpose. No destination. Just desire. Soon enough, though, a pure scent with and iron tinge to it catches my attention and I realize that my throat is dry. I veer towards the smell and a trickling sound tickles my ears.
A stream.
I gradually decrease my speed to a slow trot as I approach. On instinct, I bow my head, dipping my muzzle into the cool refreshment, lapping to my body's content.
Its then that I recognize that my instincts are wrong. My speed, my strength, my senses, my form. All wrong. Inhuman.
I lift my head from the stream and shake it, snorting water, blinking furiously. Calm, I think to myself. Stay calm. Think. I hold still, steadying my breathing patterns and the rhythm of my frantic heart. I concentrate on the ripples in the water, deciphering the dark reflections of the trees as a distraction. However, as the conflicted water settles, a reflection that was anything but a tree peaks the fear I was trying to suffocate.
Staring back at me is a wolf. Large. Black. Beastly. I meet its eyes. My eyes. Full of question, confusion and fear.
It's not an animal.
It's me.
I'm jolted from my sleep, body reeling, eyes snapping open, gasp ripping itself from my lips. I struggle in a tangle of sheets before my eyes adjust and I catch sight of my own limbs. Flesh. My own skin. Each familiar muscle flexing with adrenaline and sticky with a cold sweat. All human.
I collapse back into my bed, releasing a weighted breath.
"Just a dream," I murmured into the darkness, with no one but myself to hear it. A reassuring whisper.
"Just a dream."
Besides the massive headache I developed after the dream, I woke up feeling no less than ass. The cold sweat didn't go away and my entire body felt as if it were on fire. Each limb ached and I was shaking so bad, I would have thought I was hypoglycemic if I didn't know any better.
Reluctantly, I climbed out of bed- not without swaying and having to catch myself- and attempted to wash away the fever with a shower. Fortunately, I did feel slightly better, but I didn't trust it. I took two ibuprofen and two Tylenol, then packed some away for later. Knowing my metabolism, the medication wouldn't last long.
When I finally dragged myself from my dorm and made it to school, I knew I looked bad. I wasn't about to lose a day of class or perfect attendance for a mere cold, but the fact that people were staring at me without approaching with some dumbass and meaningless comment- not that I was complaining- meant that I looked like shit.
"Derek!"
Simon may be a good friend of mine, but he had awful timing and a loud enough voice to torture anyone with a hangover. Before I could reply or mention that I was ill, his arm was over my shoulder as he mocked a few punches with his free hand into my bicep.
"Bro, you're late. What's up with that?"
"I hate to break up this awesome bromance fest," I said, sarcasm filtering into my tone. "But I feel like ass. So I'd appreciate it if you'd back off and shut the hell up."
Simon took a moment to assess me, then jumped back, releasing his hold and wiping his arms as if brushing off a ton of insects.
"Man, you look as sick as a dog. Warn a guy next time." I rolled my eyes and trudged the rest of the hall to my locker, Simon on my heel.
"Seriously, though. You don't look so hot. What the hell are you doing at school?"
I gave him a, 'Duh,' look and turned the dial of my lock, finding it hard to make out the numbers.
"Oh please, Derek. I know you are all about your academics and shit. But you're at least a week ahead in all your classes and you haven't missed a day since Kindergarten."
"Yeah," I muttered half- heartedly, not really feeling up for argument, but knowing I had to fight my case anyways. "It's called being studious. You should try it sometime."
"This isn't a time for sarcasm, bro. I've never seen you this bad. You should go see the nurse."
"Maybe after class. But I'm sure it's just a fever. I'll be fine." Simon frowned disapprovingly at me, and I tried to avoid it by rummaging through my books and texts in my locker. This wasn't like arguing about going to prom, where Simon knew he had minimal chance of convincing me. He was set and wasn't going to back down without putting effort into a fight.
"So you're just going to risk your health like that? Just to get a few hours of lecturing on bullshit you already know?"
"When I've got a fat scholarship to any Ivy league school I want on the line, then yes."
"Why don't you just stop being a stubborn jackass and just have your Dad pay for your college?" Simon retorted. He could see the he was losing this argument and he was getting desperate. I slammed my locker door shut and scoffed at him, as if he were a child that knew better. And he did.
"You know why I won't do that."
"But he's perfectly willing-"
"Yeah, then I won't get to go to the school that I want. All my father cares about is the family business and, I don't know who I have to tell more over the two of you that I'm not interested." I proclaimed as we trekked down the hall towards our first class. English was possibly the only class I wasn't advance placed in. I understood numbers and algorithms. The only help that English had for me was vocabulary. Depicting the meaning of a book, poem or whatever other bullshit you learned in English class was otherwise a waste of my time.
I could feel Simon fuming beside me, so I sighed and turned to him.
"Humor me, alright? If I get any worse, I'll duck out and head to the nurse."
Simon scrutinized me for a long moment before muttering a frustrated, 'Whatever,' and pushing past me into the classroom.
"I seriously doubt it will get any worse anyways."
I was wrong.
As the day progressed, I found that I had taken my stashed dose of Tylenol before lunch and it wasn't much help. No matter how hard I tried to concentrate in my classes, it seemed an impossible feat to fight my desire to bow my head and pass out. But I did. And it sucked.
The hours dragged on and the sounds produced from the school only got louder, making the hammer against my skull intensify.
God, I felt like shit.
All I needed was sleep. Having that to look forward too helped me as I pushed myself through the day. I didn't even bother going to lunch, not knowing if I would wind up throwing up what I ate even if I was hungry. Instead, I lounged in the silent library, relishing in the limited time I had to rest. No Simon. No Amber or Maya. No shithead jocks like Liam.
Just quiet.
I made it all the way to gym. My last and usually favorite class of the day. I had signed up for weights because I found that I enjoyed exercising. A lot. It was almost like a detox, where every day I just worked and that shed off all the bullshit and cliché that had clung to me after one day of going through high school. It was a time to clear my mind, forget all the petty people and process how much longer I had before I was out of here. It was relaxing.
Just not today.
"Alright, Souza. Call it a day. You're in no shape to be using machinery. And skip out of practice tonight. I'll have Ramon cover your position."
Shit, I had forgotten about practice.
I glanced up from my seat on a bench near the dumbbells, where I had spent the majority of the class trying to recuperate from whatever minor workout I attempted. Coach Carson stood before me, arms crossed as he stared down at me with concern.
"I'm fine, Coach. Just a little out of it. I'll be at practice this evening, so don't even worry about it."
"Like hell you will," Coach retorted. "You're as pale as death and sweating as if you've been lifting 80's instead of the 20's you've got in your hand. You're sick and I don't need you getting worse before the game on Friday. Go home. Get some rest."
I wanted to argue. Every fiber of my being wanted to fight this fucking bug. But I just didn't have the energy anymore. I at least kept my attendance and Coach still wanted me to play Friday, which meant he would still tally me present for practice. That's all I needed in order to achieve my end goal.
"Thanks, Coach."
The only thing that separated the school and the dorms was a grand courtyard, plush with trees, bushes, gazebos and benches, wildflowers and even a fountain a ways down the walk. It usually wasn't that great of a stretch. But today, it seemed as if it would be a mile and a half hike back to my bed.
As I walked, I tried to ignore that the trees were swaying and that the sound of the far off fountain was starting to ring in my ears. My skin was burning and I could feel my hair sticking to my neck and cheeks with perspiration. I tried to carry myself forward, even though the ground was beginning to spin beneath my feet.
But suddenly, a wave of pain and nausea passed through me. My vision tunneled and I can no longer feel my legs. Before I know it, bile is bubbling up my throat and I'm on my hand and knees. I drag myself off to the right, behind a large thicket before emptying my stomach's contents over a patch of what used to be purple wildflowers.
I sit there for a minute, crouched behind a bush, hacking and coughing until I was able to calm my breathing and spontaneously upset stomach. However, the momentary peace my body received was shattered by a convulsion that ripped up my spine. I gasped and blinked several times, surprised that my body was even capable of doing that. As my sight begins to refocus, something in my peripheral catches my attention. I look down at my arm and stare in alarm, finding the skin rippling over lurching and spasming muscles.
Another sharp pain extending through every nerve-ending in my being leaves me writhing and struggling to keep myself from collapsing.
"W-what's happening to me?" I breathed.
In. Out. In. Out. I focused on breathing through my mouth so that the smell of my own vomit wouldn't make me even more sick to my stomach.
"Hmm, I didn't expect you to start Changing so quickly. Though, you were never a late bloomer when it came to growth spurts, so I'm not all that surprised."
I slowly lift the weight of my head and meet a pair of hazel eyes framed in black, pixie-like locks. My brows furrowed in confusion and incredulousness.
"Tori?" I questioned through labored breaths. She smirks down at me and I feel a minor ripple off pain zing through my body. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Watching my handy-work, of course," She stated, her tone almost giddy. My eyes widen marginally before they narrow and I growl at her through clenched teeth.
"You did this to me?" Her smirk becomes more of a leer as she answers.
"Not necessarily. It's the Curse that's doing this to you. I merely summoned it."
"Curse? What kind of bullshit are you talking about? Are you insane?"
"Maybe. But don't think that makes me any less than you."
"What are you- Curses? Changing? Changing into what?"
"Whatever the Curse finds suitable for you," Tori answers simply. I seethe and find myself coiling against another wave of spitting pain running down my spine, teeth and eyes clenching against the nasty sensation.
"Tori!" I snarled, glancing up at her again to show her just how serious I was. "I'm not in the fucking mood for this! Quit giving me asinine-" I find myself speaking to no one but myself, as I'm alone again. Before I could even try to comprehend the shit she was blabbering on about, my body convulses, and with it I hear and feel a crack from my left forearm. I grit my teeth, my cry coming out as a low whimper and I clutch my left arm to my chest, supporting myself with my right. Wave after wave pulsed through me, with it pulling and tugging at my muscles, pushing and applying unbelievable pressure to my bones, pricking and stabbing at my skin, changing me, for all I knew. But, I didn't know anything. I was lost as to what was happening to my body, only knowing that it was inhuman.
And that scared the hell out of me.
"Hello?" A voice called, slamming against the nightmare my body was pushing through. "I- is someone there?"
Female. A girl just passing through the courtyard. From where I was positioned, she wouldn't be able to see me. But she could hear me. So I bit the inside of my cheek and did my best to remain silent. I could feel the tenseness in my muscles begin to slack, as if Tori's 'Transformation Curse,' was beginning to wear off.
I waited until I felt comfortable that I was by myself again before groaning and collapsing to the ground. I was zoning in and out, vision blurry, body screaming against a throbbing aftereffect to this so called curse, and radiating against the chilly breeze that licked at every inch of my exposed skin.
I shivered.
"Hey!" That voice called, closer than it had been before. She must not have left. I could vaguely make out the sound of small footsteps trotting in my direction and then the sound of a light mass hitting the ground beside me. I tried to take some sort of action. Maybe push her away, or snap at her to leave. But every part of my body felt heavy and I was too exhausted to move.
Cold fingers touched my cheek, gingerly pulling the hair out of my eyes. I flinched away at her touch, though, in my current state, it was absolutely useless.
"D-Derek? Is that you?"
I can only shift my gaze in her direction and even if I were able to lift my head, her features would still be fuzzy. I could barely make out a halo of light hair and a blue hue where her eyes should be.
This girl knew me? Was it Liz? No. Her voice was different. Not as chirpy.
"Oh God, you're shivering and yet you're burning up. What are you doing out here?"
When I didn't answer- couldn't find the strength to care about answering- her figure moved closer.
"Look at me," She states urgently.
"G-go awa-"
"Look at me." She demands, interrupting my pathetic whisper. Too weak to argue, I take on the seemingly impossible task of trying to catch her eyes with my own.
"Your pupils are dilated. We need to get you to a hospital."
"No!" I blurt out.
"But, Derek-"
"No." I said, more firmly this time. Then, I summoned all the strength I can muster and attempt to pull myself up. "It was just- just a faint. I just need to rest."
Predictably, standing wasn't really working for me. When I got even remotely close, my knees buckled and I was plummeting back to the ground. Fortunately, I didn't hit the grass. Instead I collapsed against the girl, who fit herself into my side and supported my weight. Well, as best as she could anyway. I was a pretty big guy. Tall and sturdy. She seemed to be small and frail.
As she pulled my right arm over her shoulders, she said with somewhat of a struggle, "Well, if you want to make it back to your room, you're going to need some help. But, I won't be able to carry you, so hold out until we get to your dorm, alright?"
"I don't need your help," I mumbled, the statement containing hardly any heart whatsoever.
"Typical." I heard her mutter and if I were able to think coherently, I might have tried processing that comment.
I allowed the girl to guide me as I staggered along. I couldn't really see where we were going. All I could make out were shapes and colors blurred together like some priceless abstract piece of art. After we wobbled for a good chunk of time, my aid asked me what hall and room number I resided in.
"Genesis. Room four."
Soon enough, the outdoorsy sounds disappeared and I knew that we were inside the dorm hall. I doubted anyone was around to see me being helped to my room like some drunken disorderly as class wasn't necessarily out yet and, to my luck, that left the dorms abandoned.
The sharp smell of Pine Sol radiating off the linoleum floors left me feeling lethargic and even more weak, if that were possible, and I found it impossible to keep consciousness as we took the last stretch to my room.
The last thing I remembered was hearing the distant sound of the girl's voice, faint and almost familiar.
"Stay with me, Derek."
The warmth and sincerity in her tone made it tempting to oblige.
But the darkness made a better offer and I succumbed.
Well? What do you guys think of the plot so far? What about Derek's savior?
Make me happy?