project human [luke hemmings]

two

massive thanks to@trishwishh for reminding me about this book!

here are a couple things about this book:

it's going to be around 20-30 chapters long.

it's going to make you cry. yeah, definitely. do not tell me I didn't warn you, beforehand.

__

It had been a little over a month, since I had taken birth as a dog, and gotten a new life — literally. I remember my first day — I didn't think I'd be able to survive this long, with the mind of a human, and the outer form of an animal.

However, somehow, I did.

A painfully long explanation, and a couple licks later, I had also, somewhat succeeded in earning my mother's trust over the past few weeks.

However, I couldn't expect much from her, because unlike humans, she was oblivious about how religion worked, or how real reincarnation really was. She couldn't help me find Charlie, but she definitely could help me get out of here.

But then again, much to my own surprise, I had given up, knowing that even if I do make it to my beloved...ex-girlfriend, is the term now, I believe — it was next to impossible, to explain everything to her, considering how I could only talk puppy.

I had gotten attached to my new family. I had somehow, managed to love them. Technically, since I was only a month old, I felt an overwhelming insecurity take over me, every time I'm taken away from them —be it for a checkup, or a bath.

My mind had completely drifted from the thoughts of my previous life, and the flashbacks that brought both pain and happiness.

Or, that's what I had thought.

It was another lazy afternoon, and as per my routine, I was chasing a couple others of my kind...which turned out to be more entertaining than what I had thought, it would be.

I was running after a brother of mine, who, according to Yasmin's mother, was a minute or two younger than me. We hadn't been named, yet.

I was so into the silly game, I did not see or hear people entering the room.

Until I ran into Yasmin's shin, of course.

At first, I was taken aback — and a little scared, as well, but then she lifted me up in her arms, before turning towards her mother, who was standing right behind.

"What do you think of this one?"

"Are you sure you wanna give the cutest one away, Yasmin?" The lady questioned, and all of a sudden, I was scared.

What did she mean by "give the cutest one away"? Who was she going to give me away to?

I started wriggling in her grip, hoping to make a jump, and run to my mother, but it only made Yasmin tighten her grip.

"Yeah, mum. I bet Charlie needs him more than I do."

All the wriggling, the attempts to flee came to a halt, as I heard my once-favourite name, for what seemed the first time, in this life.

"I really feel bad for her," Yasmin continued, as her mother reached for a big, blue towel. "She recovered in a week, but she refuses to come to school. Her aunt and uncle refused to take her to a shrink."

Charlie was an orphan, who lived with her uncle and aunt, Ivan and Maya Sharapova —the two most evil creatures that my eyes had ever looked upon. They're basically every villain in every Disney movie, ever.

Not just that —they have a son, this douchebag of a fellow, Augustus, who happens to be a lawyer of some kind — he's just as evil as his parents. We were never on each other's good books.

"Poor girl," Mrs. Hezekiah sighed, before extending her arms out, towards Yasmine, who in turn, handed me over to the lady.

In no time, I was groomed, and wrapped in the towel, ready to go.

My heart ached as I bid my family a last goodbye, and a couple minutes later, I found myself on Yasmin's lap, inside a vehicle, heading to that one person, who still owned my heart.

After a twenty minute drive, we had finally reached our destination —which, to my surprise, happened to be my house.

Well, my house from the previous birth. From the Luke days.

My parents had arranged a get together, to cherish the memories with me. The very fact that made me want to rip my hair — fur, whatever, off and wail like a dying swan.

The once cheery atmosphere of the house had turned ashen, and almost lifeless. My mother's brightly coloured walls, her antique furnitures and collectibles—although still intact, seemed spiritless. My father collection of paintings — they lacked vitality. The entire abode, despite being crammed with people, seemed empty.

And so did my mother, my father and my two brothers, who were putting up smiles that veiled immense pain, every time somebody —a family member, a colleague or a friend, consoled them.

And then of course, there was my beloved Charlie, sitting at one corner, in the dress that she had worn on her first date with me, gaping into space, her facial features devoid of any expression.

Before I even realised, I myself, was in tears. It was all too much for me to bear.

Yasmin and Mrs. Hezekiah took a seat at one of the tables laid out inside the hall at our house, as my father started to speak, in a croaky, shivery tone. While Ben played the little slideshow about me, Jack and my mother, consoled Charlie.

Words couldn't describe how much I longed to speak to them, how much I wanted to get my life back. I don't remember feeling so helpless, ever before —not even, in my previous life.

The event was short, much to my relief, and I had a really tough time. About an hour later, the guests had started to exit the scene, and that's when Yasmin and her mother finally found the opportunity to walk up to Charlie.

During the sixty second walk, my heart started pounding, just like the day when I first saw Charlie— those beady brown eyes, her hair that seemed as flawless as it could be, her tinted, pink lips —it was the same feeling, all over again.

"Charlotte," Yasmin spoke, halting a few inches away from the blonde. "I've got something for you."

The latter's tone made Charlie snap out of her trance, as she sat upright, with a rather confused look on her profile. "Yasmin."

The dark haired girl stretched her lips into a thin line, sucking in a deep breath. "I brought you a friend, Charlie."

And that's when Charlotte's eyes traced down, halting on me, compelling my heart to stop, immediately.

She gaped at me, for a couple seconds, with her lips slightly parted. It was like, as if she could see me —see who I really was. Her brows knitted themselves together, and she seemed almost flabbergasted. And maybe borderline terrified.

"What? Did you not like him?" Yasmin questioned, with a hint of concern in her tone.

And after a long, long period of silence, Charlie finally spoke up.

"He.. has the same look in his eyes," she paused to glance up at her friend. "I mean— not the same eyes as him, but.. the look in it."

"Well, I guess that's a good thing. I believe he'll love you just as much as Luke did," Yasmin answered, slowly handing me over to the former. Oh, trust me, I already do.

And for the first time in ages, Charlotte smiled.

"Thank you, Yasmin. I think I'll call him Luka."