Siren's Short Stories

Rachel's Revenge

The world around was in flames, ash, and smoke. Buildings burning as bright dancing flames devoured them whole, screams of the people and their footsteps slapping against the cobblestones in pathetic attempt to outrun the fire and destruction that was brought upon their beloved town filled the air as fast as the smoke did. But above all the screams and cries and raging flames was the maniacal laughter of a girl and her aunt.

Down in the town square Rachel zoomed past a cowering family and enjoyed the sound of the terror in their voices. Grinning to herself, she pushed her wings to take her faster. Her laughter filled the air, flying was such a great experience, the adrenalin that came from it was sweeter than the sweetest of candies and the rush lasted longer too. But the best part was the feeling of freedom that came along with it, the feeling of being out of everyone's grasp and not having to be chained to the earth as everyone else did. Freedom from not just the being bound but from the person who had hurt Rachel. She could fly all the way to the clouds and get lost in the sky for hours without thinking about him. Though the mixed emotions she felt whenever she thought about him didn't go she did not have to worry about bumping into him in the skies. That was Rachel's save place, her haven.

As she flitted by trying to find her aunt she took a quick assessing gaze of the damage she and her aunt had caused to the town-with the help of a few other Turned too. Turned was the term for those like her aunt and her. They were a people that could change their shape and abilities. By doing so they could adapt to just about any circumstance. They could become just about any creature or person they wanted to be. They could even change the color and texture of their skin, they were like chameleons just improved. Most people feared and hated the Turned. The Turned were consider dark and horrible beings. Well with all the mayhem about who could blame them? But Rachel felt a sudden urge of guilt and anger. She used to feel the same way about the Turned as others do but now she was mad at herself and everyone for being so quick to judge on something they didn't understand themselves. See Rachel wasn't always one of the Turned, she chose to be. This was very rare considering the Turned were viewed as evil, insane, emotionless beings that don't care about anyone but themselves. But Rachel chose to be , and to become a Turned there was a special ceremony that not most survived. To be converted into a Turned one had to drink the blood of a Turned as they were shifting forms.It was a dangerous process. So dangerous that most people died a few days after the blood exchange. Rumors say that the volunteer dies a slow and painful death. Usually the blood isn't accepted and the blood itself fights back causing uncontrollable Turning. Finally the volunteer's body and mind gives out and the blood wins. That's why that having a Turned family member is recommended for volunteers the whole similar bloodlines thing gives them a chance, that and a strong will.

Rachel was-for once-glad that she had an aunt who was Turned. Rachel and her family kept aunt Leslie a secret for as long as Rachel could remember. The family always fearing that they would be the disgrace of the town if anyone ever found out. The Turned virus does not have a pattern some people have it and others don't. Just because a family member had it didn't mean the whole family did, but it was still something that caused the community to shun you if they found out someone even remotely related to you had it. Rachel not only had her aunt Leslie who was a well known and respected Turner-what Turneds called themselves-in the Turned society but Rachel also had a very strong motivation to survive the changing. It was hard at first, her body tried to reject the blood, she had constant hallucinations, and would go unconscious from time to time but she fought and finally along somewhere in her bloodstream the Turned blood and her own came to terms. She remembered walking out of the small infirmary one morning feeling better then she had in a long time. She didn't just feel better though, there was something that she never felt before. Strength. She felt strong and powerful. She felt as though she could conquer kingdoms with one hand and felt as though she could knock a thousand men dead with just a blink of an eye.