Running from Shadows (In progress)

Chapter 2: The Interrogation

Yeah, I say, forcing my nails to thicken and elongate into razor sharp claws. Is this the one?

I wish. But no. We passed this one seven times already. She frowns at me, eyes begging for an explanation.

Oh. So you're leading us in circles now? Great. I'll lead. I say, frustrated. I can't help but remember Aislin's fear stabbing through me, urging me on.

You really believe I'm that stupid? Ash asks, offended. I'm not leading us in circles. The place is enchanted.

Can you break it?

Yeah, normally. But there's something strange about it. See, every witch leaves a signature behind on their spell. This one is familiar. She explains, looking around seriously, tracing her fingers along invisible threads of air. Suddenly her eyes widen and she takes a step back. Aislin! No, it can't be hers. Why would she make this?

My temples start throbbing and I slid down the wall, prepared for the daggers to stab through my skull again. They never come, but faintly I see Aislin, nose bleeding, eyes slits. Weakly she calls out to me. Help. Please, help me. Then the room goes black.

Ashley shrieks, blindly flailing against the dark. I grab her, holding her tightly to my side. Her fists thump against my arm and face, setting my skin on fire.

Stop it! Ashley, breath! Her teeth dig into my hand, drawing blood. I clench my teeth together, forcing my hand to tighten its grip. Ashley! It's me, Cay. Calm down.

A blow strikes my teeth and I begin to change from the pain. "Ash," I hiss. "I can't hold you anymore." Then my skin slides over my spine, bones shifting and snapping into inhuman formations. I can't hold out against it anymore and shift, letting the form settle inside me. Grabbing my friend gently in my mouth, I take off, following the trace scent of Aislin.

The little witch's scent grows stronger, then my eyes register the fluid gushing down the walls. Blood. The sticky blood flows into the room rising to my knees.

It cakes in my fur, tugging me down to the floor. Desperately I try to escape, but it rises higher, my belly fur brushing in the blood. Ashley scrambles onto my back, her eyes and nose less sensitive to the room.

"What's that?" She whispers, voice shaky.

The blood rises to my shoulders, and I lift my chin as it splashes against my nose, rushing down the walls in gushes. My legs don't move. The blood rises up over my muzzle and into my ears, blocking out Ashley's panic. Feeling heavy and faint from lack of air, I collapse, my knees buckling, and sink to the floor. Swirling colors fill the space behind my eyelids and I feel my skin slide back to human form before fading into black.

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The room is dim, only a faint glow radiates from an area behind my head. I am lying flat on my back, looking up at the ceiling.

Ash? I whisper through our link. You there?

I try to roll over, searching for my friend, but find that I can't move. That's when I feel the pressure against my forehead, wrists, elbows, ankles, knees, chest, and hips. Panic streaks through my body as I realize what it is. I am strapped down to a cold, hard table, rendered immobile. My body begins to thrash, attempting to escape the restraints, but I can't even budge. I imagine this is how paralysed people feel, unable to control their movements, their bodies unresponsive to their attempts.

As a last effort I begin to shift, my skin sliding into a coat of pale fur, but as soon as the transformation begins, my body feels as if it's been plunged into a fire. Quickly I shift back, screaming in pain. Slowly the pain subsides. Very slowly.