Take A Walk In My Skin

Chapter 15

    Emma's POV

     Honestly, how sneaky like Swiper from Dora the Explorer did I have to be to achieve this damn mission I was sent on?

     Raphael must have me completely fooled.

     At least Dora was given a damn map and a backpack with straps for her exploration, I was only given intense, maddening anxiety and perpetual fear laced in all sorts of traps.

     It wasn't long until Liam arrived from school to our living quarters. He was practically the Boots to my Dora. This kid centered me in a way I could never begin to describe.

     A built-in bestie, no doubt.

     It was so unlike what I had with Blake, which was turning out to be very complicated.

     With Liam, though, I was instantly calmed. The slight sense that he was always there to comfort me was enough to relax the inner tremors of my mind. With him, I could actually be at ease, comfortable, and happy here away from the life of a skinwalker.

      It's by no means what I saw myself doing after school was over, but as insane as this might end up sounding, Liam helps me forget the job I have to do as a recruiter for Raphael, and with reasoning, I believe he would not hate me forever if he knew who I was. What I was.

       Blake, however, was a different story.

       I eventually grew tired of the fond touches and rough pets of those around me that began to rub like rug rashes on my furry flesh and opted to go somewhere else.

       At the immediate request of Blake asking Liam to head upstairs, I followed along.

       I wanted Blake to be able to have a serious adult conversation with his father without any distractions from us.

      When I noticed Daisy in the corner of my eye by their ankles, I calculated so many scenarios in my head. Was she a shifter, too, like me? No, she couldn't be. She didn't show signs that she could transform herself. Daisy was a pooch alright, one who really didn't move much or leave her owner's side at all. If I could be like her, then I would have to work twice as much to gain my owner's respect.

       I could understand that completely. It's hard to exist in a life that works so hard to pit itself against you. I know what I was doing with this family was flawed and immoral, ill-advised and wrong, and I've come to terms with that. I really have. It's the other part of me that dreads what will transpire if I don't decide to do this.

       Raphael has killed countless others. I don't want to be added to his list. I want nothing more than to live through all of this to see another day. I'm fighting to survive here.

       Following Liam up the stairs was only temporary. I needed to give Blake those few extra minutes alone with his father before I could go back downstairs.

       However, this was the time I really needed to be a spy. Like in a game of Survivor, it could be my head up on the chopping block next. I needed information to take back to Raphael for this meeting or who knows what would happen. Things wouldn't go over smoothly if I was rushed to get my knowledge and it failed to exceed his expectations.

        I never really had the chance to think about it: what would Raphael do to me? Would he be willing to fetch me a bone, give me a second chance, or would he feel betrayed by my efforts? Punish me for my sins?

       Damn, I'm not sure I want to know...

       The only thing I can think of is I don't want to die...