Strange Thoughts

Part Two-Chapter Two-Aubrey

 I wake up quickly, sitting up out of my bed. This is the way I normally wake up, as if out of a bad dream, However, I remember nothing. Not one memory of the dream.

I turn and look around the room. I hadn't paid any attention to it yesterday, because of how tired I was. The room has plain gray walls, one nightstand, a window with a dark night sky poster taped over it, and a bed with a white bedspread and pillow. It's a plain room, but I remember what Brian told me. You have to earn more.

I now understand that just because I have a high ranked job, doesn't mean I'm not going to have to work as hard as the rest. I'm in for a hard ride.

A bit of hurt pangs my chest. I broke up with Brian. It feels like I'm being pulled under water and taking a fresh breath of air at the same time. I loved Brian, but I was so devoted to him. I didn't think for myself.

Now I am more free to think my own thoughts. I wonder how Brian is doing? I know he was going to betray me and all, but maybe he regrets something. I really hope he does. He deserves it.

I pull on my clothes from the day before, a fuzzy pink sweater and jeans. I grab a granola bar, the only thing on the nightstand except a lamp, and chomp on it. I open the door, and I realize I can see the Lion's office right from the outside of my room. That's convenient.

I walk down to her office. I'm not sure if I'm supposed be going there, but I'm curious.

I walk in, to see a content lioness lying on the ground. A loud purr comes out of her closed muzzle. It's an actual lioness! As soon as the lioness sees me, she jumps up and gives me a growl. I slowly back away. Is this Lion's pet?

I look back at the lioness, and what I see, is unimaginable. In the lioness's place, is Lion. "I'm guessing Bryan lied to you about why people call me Lion. Let's just say, I've performed a lot of experiments on myself."

Most people would be absolutely shocked by this, but I'm not. It seems quite normal to me. If there's mind readers, there sure can be shapeshifters. I have no doubt about that.

"I don't mean to seem greedy, but can you do that to me?" I ask. "I knew you would ask that. I know you would love to have a power like your sisters. I will give you this ability, but on one condition."

"What?" I ask. I had not expected her to agree. "Your animal will be a cat. A housecat. That way, I will always have dominance over you." This is reasonable. I start bouncing on my toes.

"I'll do it!" I yell. Lion smiles at me. She leads me into a lab room, and lays me down on a silver bench.

"I'm going to have to drug you so you fall asleep. Otherwise, this would be extremely painful."

"What's going to happen?"

"I'm going to give you a series of my own concoctions. They are going to mutilate your limbs. Your dna will be mixed with a cat's. There are plenty more things that will happen, but I am not going to explain them to you right now. I don't want to scare you to much."

That's a comforting thought. "Do we have to do it now?" "If we don't do it now, you'll get to nervous."

"Okay." I say. Lion hands me a paper cup with a centimeter of clear liquid in it. "One more thing, you will be a changed person. And you won't be able to go back home to your family. They'll think you're dead, at least until your sister sees you."

"My future's worth it." I say. I tilt my head back and down the liquid.