Deadly Secrets

Chapter 19

I was working on my history report when my phone began to buzz. I reached to answer it when I felt my skin begin to prickle. It was happening again. I looked at my phone; Tristan was texting me asking if he could come over to talk. I quickly texted back telling him to come over. I started to chew on my pencil and waited for confirmation from him. My stomach began to churn all of a sudden catching me off guard.

What was happening? Was this a repeat of last night? I quickly changed into an old t-shirt I didn't care too much about and some sweats that I cut into shorts just to be safe. I felt my adrenaline pick up and my head started to feel light. I didn't bother being careful going down the drain pipe this time. I griped it with both hands and slid efficiently down. I bolted into the woods as my tongue started feeling weird. It felt like I burned it as I ran it along the top of my mouth. I sprinted through the brush, easily dodging branches. My reflexes had improved greatly, but I still panicked. My lungs began to burn as I gasped and gulped for air. Finally finding the clearing I collapsed into the cool dirt.

My shirt was drenched in sweat as I struggled to breath. Like before, Mao spoke soft, comforting words. They eased my racing mind a little, but I still felt like I got thrown into a pressure cooker. I brought my knees to my chest as my stomach churned. I felt my shoulder pop out of place, my scream sliced through the cool night air. The pain was coming faster, giving me no time to think. Then suddenly he was there. Tristan knelt in front of me, searching for the answer that I couldn't give.

“What’s wrong Eleanor, talk to me,” he asked in a slightly panicked voice. A loud ringing began in my ears making my skull vibrate. I could feel my limbs begging for me to release my hold.

“The pain, my body…” I trailed off as another spasm hit me.

“I don’t understand Eleanor, this shouldn’t be happening, this isn’t supposed to happen.” I flipped onto my stomach quickly and dug my nails into the ground. I could feel them elongating as the ground beneath gave way. Another scream tore from my throat as my spine splintered and shattered. My vision was blurring from my tears, but I could still see him. He lay down on his stomach next to me. He managed to pry my right hand from the earth and caressed it. I held fast and stared into his clear eyes.

“My current body can’t handle it, I need…I need a new one.” His eyes sparked with understand and I watched his jaw tighten with conviction. He looked at me calmly and rubbed small circles on my hand with his thumb. He spoke soft reassurances that I was going to be okay. That it was going to end soon. I clamped my jaw shut and ground my teeth together. My back shot up and my face contorted with agony. Something began to pinch in my muscles like a hundred needles stabbing me all over my body. A sudden burst of adrenaline hit my body and the pain stopped. My body felt so hot it was like I was on fire. A breeze went through the trees and I could feel my mind single out one thought. Danger.

        The sun shone brightly through the leaves above my head. My eyes snapped opened in a panic. It was morning and I was still in the woods. I sat up, I was alone and I was naked. Wait, what? I looked down at myself, I had a leather jacket covering me, but I wasn't wearing anything else. Where'd my clothes go? And Tristan, did he leave me? I heard a twig snap, someone was coming. I held the jacket closer to me, trying to cover myself. I saw his messy hair first. "Tristan." I sighed his name in relief that it wasn't my brother or Jane or someone worse. He smiled gently and waved a plastic bag in front of me.