Chapter 3.10 A Beastly Turn of Events

 

Waves of panic flooded over me. What the hell just happened to me? What did Becca do to me? What am I going to do now? Where am I going to go? I can’t stay in the park all night. Yet, I certainly can’t go home either. What the hell am I supposed to do?

Without any better ideas of where to go, I headed to the only place I always knew was safe; my grandparent’s old house. No one had been in the house since Grandpa died, so I knew that I would be alone. Plus, it was far enough away from the main house to ensure that I wouldn’t be seen by anyone either. The door was locked, but I climbed in through the back window to make sure no one could see me.

The next thing I needed to do was talk to someone smarter than me who could help me figure out how to turn me back into my former awesome self. After several failed attempts (my stupid claws kept fucking up the letters on the phone) I finally was able to send Autumn a text to come to the house.

 

 

I was hiding in the shadows when Autumn entered the home.

“Don’t turn on the lights!” I roared and with my new gruff voice I sounded madder than I actually was. I could see Autumn was starting to get frightened. I had to keep her clam, but I also needed to prepare her for what she was about to see. “I didn’t mean to yell, but you have to promise me that you are not going to scream when you see me.”

“Lincoln, is that you?” Autumn didn’t recognize my new beastly voice. “Where are you? What is going on?”

I couldn’t put this off any longer. I sighed as I stepped into the light so Autumn could get a look at her twin brother.

 

 

 

To her credit Autumn was shocked when she saw me, but at least she didn’t scream. She stared at me with her mouth gaping open, too stunned to say a word. It took her a few minutes to understand that the monster that stood before her is her once awesome brother.

I told her the whole story making sure to not omit any of the horrific details. She was patient as she listened, saving her obvious questions until the end of my story.

“So, what happens now?” Autumn asked the million dollar question. To which I replied, “I was sort of hoping you might be able to help me with that.”

 

“I was thinking that you might be able to create some sort of potion using that chemistry set of yours.” I was hoping Autumn could find a way out of this. She is the genius of the family after all.

“I don’t know if that will work.” Autumn said skeptically, “this was caused by a powerful supernatural force. I think that only the same type of supernatural power can undo this.”

Great. So I’m stuck like this forever?! What did I ever do to deserve this?

Autumn’s genius brain was working overtime trying to come up with a plan. Meanwhile, I was starting to itch. God, please don’t tell me I have fleas!!

After racking her brain, my awesome, super smart sister came through with a plan, “Let me do some research, find out what I can about magic spells, and witches, and about Becca. In the meantime I will tell Mom & Dad…”

I interrupted her to reiterate, “tell them, in fact tell everyone, that I moved to Bridgeport. I bought a cake, aged up, and moved to Bridgeport to be a Rock Star.”

 

Autumn was gone for most of the day doing her research. While she was gone I tried to find clothes that fit me better. Grandpa Ryan was not a big man, but he was athletically built. I managed to find a few pieces of clothing that helped cover up my fur. I don’t think I will ever get used to saying that; ​fur. Hopefully, with Autumn’s help I won’t be like this for very much longer.

While I waited for Autumn to return I tried to stay positive. I wouldn’t be stuck like this forever. My life isn’t totally over. Autumn will come up with a cure. Even if she has to drag Becca back here by her hair, Autumn will find a way to help me. Autumn will come through. She has to. I don’t have any other option.

I was starting to feel less hopeless, but when I saw the disappointed look on Autumn’s face when she returned, all hope I had managed to muster was gone in an instant.

“I went to Becca’s house,” Autumn recapped her day, “but there was no one there. The house looked like it had been ransacked and whoever was there had left in a hurry.”

 

Autumn’s news didn’t end there. She went on, “So, I went to school to hack into their records to see what I could find on Becca. It took a while since I didn’t even know her last name. I found out that her family moved here from a place called Moonlight Falls. And there is more. You are never going to guess who her older brother is; Aaron! Remember him? From elementary school?”

To be perfectly honest I never really got to know much about Becca and her personal life. I never asked her anything, because I never cared. It even took me a while to remember who Aaron was.

“That lead me to a dead end, since Aaron had to be sent to boarding school.” Autumn continued explaining what else she had discovered. “I did some more searching and found out that Becca’s dad worked at the old elixir shop in the swamp. Without any other options, I went to the shop to see what information I could find. At first the clerk seemed hesitant to talk to me. I finally managed to convince him that I was a friend of Becca’s and that she was going to help me with a spell, but I hadn’t heard from her in a few days. When I asked him about Moonlight Falls he said that, ‘it wasn’t a place for ​my kind’ by that I guess he means a human. Anyway, when he talked about Moonlight Falls he said that it used to be a haven for the supernatural, but since those ‘silly Twilight books’ more and more humans have been flocking to it. He ended with, ‘hopefully their new mayor can set things right’.”

 

So, that was my answer. Any hope I had at finding a cure would be found in Moonlight Falls, but I wondered, “how do I get there?”

Autumn answered my question before I could finish asking, “you know how there is a Dark Web? Well, did you also know that there is a Supernatural Web as well? I used the enchanted computer at the Elixir Shop to do some more research, and I was able to book you a train ticket to Moonlight Falls leaving tonight at midnight.”

Autumn handed me a small envelope and explained, “your ticket and directions on how to get to the supernatural train station are in there. I was also able to rent you a small house for your stay, however long that may be. I also took some money out of my university fund for you. It is not much, but it is all I have.”

Wow, Autumn had gone above and beyond anything I could have expected her to do. I can’t take Autumn’s college money, but she insisted, “I have enough scholarships that I don’t need the money. I want you to have it instead.”

Autumn came close for a hug goodbye, but I couldn’t let her touch me. I can’t be touched right now. Plus, I don’t want to risk what might happen if there was any physical contact; who knows what supernatural voodoo might rub off onto her. I wanted to cry, but my new beast eyes wouldn’t let me. Instead Autumn did the crying for both of us.

Tears fell from her cheeks as she said, “You may look like a beast on the outside, but deep down you are a good person Lincoln. I can’t think of anyone who loves his family more than you do. You may have done some things that were misguided, but I know that your heart was always in the right place. Whatever you are looking for in Moonlight Falls, I hope you find it.”

 

Before I left for the train station I took one final look at the house I grew up in. Wondering if I would ever see it again. I asked Autumn to tell Mom & Dad that I was sorry, but this was something that I just had to do. To tell Willow that it is her job to take care of Thor, and that I know she won’t let me down. To tell George that I wish him all the best in life, and tell Grandma Cindy that I love her more than anything.

On my way to the train station I stopped to say one final goodbye to Grandpa Ryan. Then I made my way to the train station to start my new life in Moonlight Falls.

 

Author’s Side Note:  I am sure that most of you already know this, but just in case, I had the honor to be interviewed by the super talented, and just all-around good person, Kymber.  You can read the interview HERE.  I cannot say enough nice things about Kymber and her story, which inspires me on so many levels.  If you are not currently following her blog, then you are missing out!

And again, thank you so much for asking me to do the interview.  I enjoyed it so very much.  🙂