Lilly Rose

Chapter 4

My head feels as though someone is squeezing it, with all the force of a wild bear. My temples tighten. Why is it always like this? Why is my life somewhat of a mystery to me? Why me? My eyes wake. My brain still asleep. The room is an infirmary. Bleach white walls and a clean smell of cleansing spray. My back is sore as though it should not bend the way it is. I sit up. My head tilted leaning on my shoulder to keep it up. No one else is in the room. It was dead silent until my puny voice penetrated it. "Hello, is anybody there". No one answered. I would stand, I would run but something is holding back. It was then that I realised that handcuffs were clipped around my thin wrists. Suddenly there was a sound of something in pain. It was not human, maybe an animal. The writhing agonised sounds were beckoning from the left.

I imagined what the beast would look like, before hearing muttering voices about someone being an idiot and charging ahead with no backup. I assumed the people talking were from both genders. The footsteps were becoming clearer. "Do you think she is still changed?" a deep voice spoke. "It's possible, but I think she would've calmed down a lot after having the serum" it was a woman's voice, a familiar woman's voice. The two people stepped around the curtain which created very little privacy. A cold sweat came over me. "Looks like you were right" said the man, huffing. They stared down at my upright body. I was not expecting the person's voice's owner to be someone so close to me. "Mom? What are you doing here? Why am I here? Where are we?" I looked at her for an answer.

"Sweety, you remember you're a were-tiger right?"

"Yes of course I do. How could I forget!? I was confused.

"Well, when I sent Eli to go get you, he said that you transformed into you're tiger state and attacked him. But I can tell that you can't remember, do you?"

"I'm sorry. But why am I handcuffed to the bed."

"I'm sorry honey, but you really were going savage."

Dread and guilt sunk in.

"Who and where is Eli...?"

"He's in the bed down a few rows. I'll let him explain who he is".

"Ok, but why did you send him to get me".

"Ah, of course, that is because the Manipulators were going to attack you"

"Who are the manipulators?"

"I shall, tell you later okay, just rest for now." She walked over to her bed, unlocked the handcuffs and walked away with the man trailing close behind.

After mother had left the room, I shot out of bed and walked down a few rows. When I came across Eli's supposed bed I'm sure my face was lined in disbelief and horror.

A sleek black animal lay across the bed. Tortured bursts of pain flooded from its mouth. Crimson blood seeped out of gaping wounds in its back. The red never seemed to end. But on closer inspection I could make out that the wounds were weaving themselves back together. Like threads from a spider they covered the holes. This couldn't be Eli, this was a panther. Mother must've gotten it wrong. I walked down the rows looking for at least a human. None. I strolled back, disappointed. How was I supposed to ask an animal a question? Instantly a piercing snapping sound came from the panther. The skin of the animal moulded in a revolting way. Horrific sounds of breaking and reforming bones and body parts made me gag and turn around. After the sounds of changing had stopped I uncovered my ears and turned around.

A boy with sleek black hair was laying in sideways on the bed.