Alexandria Laughlin Marshall (TO)

Turning

I start to feel a large pain in my arms and legs, and I feel like someone is snapping my bones. I can feel myself being pulled outside, I run past my foster parents who are already asleep on the couch. When I reach the outdoors and my skin gets hit by the moonlight, I can feel the release of the pull from my body. I look up at the moon, and I can feel something happening to my eyes. I then feel the pain spread throughout my body, and it grows worse. As I start to let go, I can feel the breaking become easier, and I decide to let it happen. I think back to Lily, and think that I deserve the pain. I then think back to the way she died.

    I can feel the ATv slip out of my control, and suddenly everything goes into slow motion. I then see the tree, before I feel the impact of the machine hitting it. I then look over, and everything is still. I can see my childhood best friend, Lily, dead lying on the hood of the A-Tv. I can feel it like it just happened, but just before the emotions come back to me I become aware of my surroundings. I then feel complete freedom, I feel like nothing really matters anymore. All I do find is the need to run, I then go into the forest. I run as fast as I possibly can, I can feel the wind whipping against me. I start to pick up on animal scents, and it's like someone took over my body, but I felt completely free. For what was one of the best hours of my life, I finally arrived near the edge of the woods. I walk to the middle of my yard. But as I looked into the window, I see my reflection; although, it's a reflection of a wolf. I then see my foster father come out of the house with a hunting gun, and he aims it at my head. I then feel my bones start to break again, and I quickly run inside one of the large bushes on the perimeter of the yard, so my foster father wouldn't shoot me. I then start to scream in pain, and I then realize that I'm naked back in my own body. I then get out of the bush, and I see my foster father aiming at me.

   I yell, "Don't shoot, please." I cover as much of my body with my arms as possible.

   He throws me some cloths, but keeps the gun aimed at me. I quickly put my clothes on, and I start to walk towards the house. My foster father puts the gun higher pointed at me.

   He says with disgust in his voice, "Get your bags and get out."

   "What?" I ask confused.

   "Your a freak," he says with venom dripping in his voice, "you are not allowed in my house. You will get your bags, and get the hell out of my house. I will not have a beast living in my house."   I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes, as my foster father pushes me into the house with his gun. He pushed me all the way upstairs, as I repeat over and over again, "I don't know what happened. What happened to me?" He wouldn't answer, he just kept pushing me up the stairs. I then reach my room, and pick up the two bags that I never unpack, knowing I wouldn't stay in one place for too long. Before I know it, I'm being pushed out the front door. I then hear the door slam behind me, and I turn to see the unwelcoming dark door.

   As I take the few steps down from the front porch to the sidewalk, I look up at the moon and see that morning is coming. I can feel my eyelids becoming heaving from lack of sleep. I decide to go the train station, so I can get some sleep; knowing that I can't go to anyone house, because I just moved her a month ago.

   As I enter the 24 hour train station, I see a bench and I can't help but go over to it. I put my bags up on it, and then sit down next to them. As I sit there, I can't fit the sleepiness. I close my eyes, and I look around me to see my old house with a warm tint surrounding me. I then turn around to see my parents, I used to talk to them, but I haven't been able to for a while. But with everything that has happened, I decide now would be a good time to try. So I yell, "Mom! Dad!" But neither of them turn, so I try again, "Mom! Dad!" And they both turn to me, and once we all realize that we can see each other we share a smile.

   My mom is the first say something. "Alexandria, is that really you?" I nod my head, and she smiles. We all embrace each other, and a genuine smile spreads across my face.

   I then pull away from my parents, remembering why I needed to talk to them. So I ask, "Do you know what's happening to me?" I can see both exchange looks, and I ask again, "What's happening to me?"

   My dad then looks at me, and says with a hesitant voice, "Honey you have to trust me on this, because I don't know how much time we have." I nod my head understanding. He then continues, "We saw what happened to your friend, and now your triggered your curse."

   I give a confused look and question, "Curse?"

   My dad then kneels next to me, holding my hand. He then says, "Honey, you triggered your werewolf curse?" I take a deep breath confused, his eyes then change. And there is a hitch in my breath. He then adds, "Your like me now."

   My mom then grabs my other hand, and says pulling my attention to her, "There is a school for other little kids like you, with the same powers. They can teach you how to control yours. I need you to go there, because you have family there. You need to tell them my name, okay."

   I nod, "Where is the school, Mom?"

   My mom says, "Mystic Falls, you need to go there. It is called the Salvatore School. Okay, I need to know you understand."

   I then say, "I will go to the Salvatore School in Mystic Falls, and tell them that Brianna Laughlin is my mother."

   My mother smiles, and I turn to my father who has the same expression on his face. I then feel myself being pulled back awake, and I then whisper to my parents, "Bye, love you."

   The last thing I hear is them both saying, "We love you."