Shifters

Chapter 23

The sun usually felt relaxing against her skin. Releasing any pent up energy that was resting beneath the surface. But today it was just irritating her. The restlessness she was feeling today was only being agitated by everything else. Something was making her feel jumpy and on edge.

Lydia thought back to that day in the tunnels. Was Jared flirting with her or just being friendly? She thought he seemed to be interested in her but this last week she barely saw him. Even for her routine tests that he usually was there for he had been absent. Dr.Carnope was worried about something he had found, that much she knew but he refused to tell her what it was.

Why was it that everyone thought that she was unable to handle the truth? Her worst fear was that she was dying from some horrible unknown disease and her kids would be left alone. Or what if something was wrong with her and this new ability she had? Or worst yet, what if she had passed this freakish curse onto one of her kids? Would she be able to ever have a normal life outside of this damn base? And why hadn't anyone told her where in the hell this base was located?

She looked up and decided to move under the tree a few feet away. It looked like a maple tree from her backyard.

She missed her house, the comforts and quiet she was able to focus and enjoy things. She missed her roses, even thou those damn things were stubborn. She missed hearing the doorbell ring on those rare occasions that someone came to visit. She missed her overbearing control freak parents.

The shade offered a small relief in her agitation level. The sun seemed to be hotter than usual today, maybe she should go see the doctor because, although she felt fine, she seemed to be hotter than usual.

Lydia rested her head against the tree trunk and closed her eyes. She thought about how much her life had changed in the last few months, her kids seemed to be happy and adjusting well. As long as they were happy and safe she could handle just about anything that was thrown at her.

Lydia's eyes snapped open suddenly adjusting to the light. It was still sunny and hotter than hell out but something seemed off. She looked around and saw nothing out of the ordinary. Men in uniforms walking to and from buildings, guards stationed in towers and along the fences where she could see.

Yet something was wrong and why was it so god damn hot out today? She stood up and lost her balance. Good thing the tree was there as she leaned heavily on it, why wasn't she able to stand up straight. She was sweating profusely, she could feel her clothes clinging and drenched in perspiration.

Her legs were aching something fierce, like someone was swinging a hammer against them. She looked up to see if there was someone nearby she could call for help and she noticed that her oldest daughter was walking towards her with John, one of the military men that was assigned to watch her kids.

She tried to shout but it only came out as a low whine, she took a step forward and heard the popping sound coming from somewhere below her. Oh god was the ground caving in? She tried to take a step and stumbled. Her vision blurred and she heard someone shouting in the distance. The aching was getting worse and she felt like a fire was licking its way up her legs.

No, no it couldn't be happening again ... not now, not in front of her daughter. She turned to take a step and fell to her hands and knees. The pain was ripping through her hips now and she could hear the bones snapping. God not again, they told her this wouldn't happen again for a while. Her body needed time to adjust and heal from the last shift.

But here she was changing right in the open. She could hear faint sounds, hollering and a siren but she bent her head down and set her forehead on the ground. The pain was almost unbearable in her back and close to her neck. The popping sounds were mixed with a type of ripping like someone ripping a cotton shirt. All she could do was focus on what was happening with her body. It wasn't nearly half as bad as last time, the pain wasn't blinding but she almost wished it was because being awake this time for the change felt like it was killing her.