To Learn To Fall (Sequel to the Other Side)

Chapter Fourteen

I was falling.

I don't know why or when or how, but I was falling.

And I was falling fast.

Too fast to grasp the world around me. Too fast to think straight. Too fast to do anything but try and reach out to get a hold of something—anything—only to find there was nothing there for me to grab.

I could only be sure of one thing.

That I was falling.

Flashes of pain bolted through my head like hot white lightning. I sat up. Nothing made sense. My body didn't feel like my own. I rose to my feet. I walked to the nearest window.

The sound of claws clicking against tile. The smell of blood. My own? I couldn't tell.

Despite the unfamiliarity I displayed in this new form, I walked with grace. With elegance. I knew I was a predator not to be messed with, and I showed it proudly.

This isn't who I am.

This is apart of me.

Something whipped around behind me as I walked. I glanced over my shoulder. A tail. My body was as beautiful as a painting. I was one of nature's most wonderful creations.

I didn't like how low my head was to the ground.

But I did like the surge of power coursing in my claws.

I approached the mirror. I stared at the creature looking back at me. A dragon. Flawlessly built. Scales like the night sky. A set of wings unrivaled by any other creature. Two glowing gray eyes alight with knowledge and power. A smile of sharp fangs.

Snap out of this. I have to snap out of this.

I was losing control, fast. I couldn't grab onto anything because there wasn't anything to grab onto.

I wanted to cringe in absolute disgust at the creature staring back at me in the glass. It was horrible.

An abomination.

My ears flicked, picking up a distant noise. Talking. Voices. I thought I recognized them at first, but the feeling wore away like a forgettable dream just escaping as your eyes popped open.

I brought my wings close to my body. I started off in the direction of the noises. I could almost understand them.

No, no, no! No, please!

A noise sounded from the windowsill. My head darted up. I looked in that direction. I bared my fangs. My body tensed up. I readied myself to pounce at any moment.

A creature rose into the air. It was tiny and gray and very noisy. It made the same sounds again and again. It was extremely annoying.

Amica? Amica, you have to get away from me!

I couldn't understand the creature, but I did know one thing. It was prey. I was a predator. I flexed my claws. I twisted them so the light could shine and reflect off of them.

It came towards me, making its noises relentlessly. I didn't think about it. I launched out of the air and lunged for it. It barely dodged my grasp.

I fell back to the ground and swept my tail back and forth against the ground. The noises again. The voices. They were compelling. Far more interesting than such a puny creature like this.

I snapped my jaws shut in its direction and turned, following the noises.

I couldn't fight against it. I was little more than an unwanted guest looking onwards in my own body. I had no control. I protested against every action, every step.