The Island

Chapter 19

Erika's POV

I can't believe it. The tattoos are identical right down to every color, curve and line. There isn't a single detail that's difference. I feel as though I'm looking at my own tattoos.

"Why are they the same?" I ask in wonder, not expecting an answer as I trace his fire tattoo with my hand, sending shocks through my body.

"I haven't figured that out. I have seen people around with tattoos that look similar but never identical. It's something I've been wanting to investigate, but I haven't had the chance." Cam says.

I continue to touch the fire tattoo and as I trace it Cam's muscles ripple under my touch and I begin to feel goose bumps on his skin.

"It's getting late, I have to go." He says before stepping away from me. He throws his shirt back on and walks to the door.

I guess he would have to change at some point tonight. I wonder if he would let me go with him.

"Wait, can I come with you?" I ask and Cam looks at me shocked.

"You won't be afraid?" he asks.

Maybe I would've been at one point, but not anymore. I shake my head, "I know it's you now."

He looks at me with a look I've never seen on his face before; almost like shock but he replaces it with a smile and nods. "Okay."

I follow him down the corridor towards the stairs where Sophie had shown me the secret passage. "I've never shown anyone this, other than Sophie." he says before opening the hidden door.

"Well, I've already seen it." I tell him and when he looks at me over his shoulder with an odd expression, I continue. "Sophie showed it to me, said it was our secret." I tell him and he laughs, obviously not surprised by the information.

"It doesn't bother you that I know about the passage?"

"You're not someone I view as a threat anymore. So, no I don't care. Just don't let the pirate know, he's been snooping around looking for it for years." He says and I sense a smile on his face. "He always wonders how I appear out of nowhere. He seems to think I have more powers than I let on." He says laughing.

I've never seen him laugh so much, never seen him smile either. Watching it now makes me melt and I keep willing my legs to move. I like this side of Cam, the side that's not glaring at me.

We walk into the forest in silence. Every now and again I look over at Cam and I know he's nervous based on the way his shoulders sit. Is it because of me or is it because the change is coming?

"Does the change hurt?" I ponder.

"Sometimes." He pauses. "It depends on if I fight against it."

We reach a clearing and he turns around to face me. "Stay here on the edge. Sometimes I need more room to change. I don't want to hit you when I do." He says and I wonder what he means but I don't question it.

I stand where he tells me to, watching as he walks to the center of the clearing. He stands in the middle and looks up at the moon. The moon light hits his body and I notice his muscles rippling under his skin. The next thing I know, Cam's bent over and the sound of cracking is heard coming from his body.

I turn away not wanting to watch but I hear the snapping as well as the groans coming from him. As though the process is painful. I feel for him, knowing that the pain he goes through every night must be excruciating.

The sounds of snapping and cracking of bones finally finishes and I turn around to face the rock creature. Cam. I walk at him and he puts his large hand on the ground for me to climb into.