Shifters (Feline english version)

Chapter 4-1

- 'You are what?' I managed to answer.

I tried to hide my surprise and dismay behind a neutral and calm voice, but the little mocking smile I felt blossoming on my face would spoil my effect.

But where had I fallen? I really needed to get out of there as soon as possible. If these people really thought they were some sort of werewolves, they were undoubtedly troubled and I wasn't in a position to help them. I started to turn to reach the front door, when he continued.

- 'And you're one of us, well... sort of.'

This time, I could not prevent the hysterical burst of laughter that I had been holding back with great difficulty since his "pseudo-shattering revelation". No, enough was enough! It was so ridiculous that no words came out of my mouth. I won't get anything concrete out of these crazy people. I had to buy some time and get out of this madhouse. He must have perceived my panic and resolution, for he got up and, while looking at me, said to me in a voice made hoarse by rage:

- 'Overcome your shock and listen to what I have to say to you! The explanation is there, in front of you. You're not completely human and you've never been. You are a shape-shifter, like us, and the reason for your violent headaches is that you are finally meeting members of your species without being accustomed to the reactions it causes, you little imbecile.'

- 'I am not in a state of shock!' I shouted at him, in a strident and aggressive voice. 'I'm not... and you... you're not werewolves! There is no such thing! You're sick or too fond of fantasy novels, frankly I don't know! But let me go...'

- 'I never talked about werewolves,' he interrupted me in an angry tone. 'But metamorphs.'

Despite the obvious irritation in his voice, he had not moved an inch and was still standing in a stilted posture that oozed controlled aggression.

- 'Oh yes, it's much more plausible! And what would be the difference in your opinion?' I asked, always striving to reach the door.

- 'We can turn into animals. Only one kind of animal specific to each individual, when we wish it and not on a full moon as myths and legends suggest,' he explained.

I began to shake my head incredulously and continued to move back when I stumbled hard against the wall. I had miscalculated my trajectory and landed about a metre from the door that led to the salvific hallway. He then moved towards me with a menacing gait, his green eyes, very similar to Hannah's now that I was paying attention to them, staring into mine.

- 'No, wait!' I panicked.

I raised my arms in front of my face with an instinctive protective gesture.

- 'A demonstration is better than a long speech,' he said in a cold voice, stopping less than a metre from me.

He stretched his right arm out and I huddled up waiting for the blow, when he stopped his action a few centimetres from my face. I then felt tingles running all over my body and the throbbing under my skull peaked, causing me to agonize. Suddenly, I saw his hand start to morph. His skin waved, his bones seemed to shift painfully like in a bad horror movie! Except, it was real. I wasn't having a nightmare. As horrible as the scene unfolded before my eyes was, I couldn't turn away from it. After what seemed like an eternity to me, the transformation, for lack of a better term, stopped and I found myself face-to-face with a gigantic bear's paw. Then the room began to spin and everything went black.

***

I came to my senses, lying on a soft and fluffy ground, which turned out to be one of the two sofas in the living room. When I saw the elegant off-white beams on the ceiling, everything came back to me and I sat down abruptly, causing the room to shake once again.