Awakening the Wild

L

sation washed over me. My skin tingled, almost as if it was rippling beneath my clothes. I gl

ned before. I wa

nted faster than I'd ever thought possible...too fast for anyone to notice me. My heart r

ll is happe

. I forced myself into the shower. As the warm water ran through

e in my thoughts. All I could think about was what happened at the jog wit

ust me in your schedule

e. Are you slee

sed on the road, "Like something is shifting inside

ie." She said, "My last appointment i

ecially when you call at the last minute. But she was

replacing them with my black-and-white checked trousers and crisp white jacket; the uniform of the hote

a wei

versary. But something felt off. I experienced what I called "fades"; moments where my

hen, the heat and people, it was all too much for me today. It felt

tside for a brea

ttons. I took a long deep breath trying to calm myself. It was much q

axing. I w

an throughout my body. A searing pain overtook my body. I gasp

es in my hands moving. My body felt out of control and it fe

etrayed me. I could see someone rushing

stopped the

ed myself into his arms and Ethan's face was

be a part of m

g to me offering me a glass of water. I could hardly carry the glass with trembling hands, so Margeret hel

offer me more water. They were

gs. I was in their offi

his is emb

me, and Thomas, who was talking

houlder and slightly rubbed it, "We've c

foggy and then it happened again. The burning. The rippling. I leaned

ng," I heard

hat did she

the power to thi

ehend what was happening; why my body felt alien, why I couldn't

He scooped me into his arms as if I weighed nothing, carrying

Who called him? Gos

n. He was tall, perfectly built, bald and black. "Hello, Eliza," he sat on the

Margeret told me about. I no

f this has happene

, "This is the first

rned his head back to me, "You're positiv

rly teen years, I started to hallucinate and I would get a

tell your par

ys too busy making my life a living hell. I never had anyone to talk to. I learned to do and m

ed, "N

s, Eliza." Mason didn't let me finish my sent

even think of what to say. "M

than as my pulse pum

is head to me, "I'm guessing y

ponded, "I just

ason got up and went outside,

one thing: What was Ethan even d

ng," I could

n, "But why now? Shouldn't t

ed her animal. It's rare for someone to delay their first shift until

rol the shifting..." Tomas's

well..." Mason spoke, "She needs res

tormed through my ears, "Not when she

" Thomas responded, "I'll mak

plete rest. I'll give her something

lowed by Ethan and Thomas, mak

is?" Margaret asked, try

s nod

e. I could hardly open my eyes. It was getting hot

, "I'll give you something that'll help y

es were stuck on me. I could

what was he even doing with my bosses in the fir

my body reacted in a different way. I could feel my muscles getting relaxed. The

leep. The last thing I remembered was