Other Fan Fiction / Fables/Fairytales Fan Fiction / Realism Fan Fiction ❯ The Melodies of War ❯ The Shape of Things to Come ( Chapter 5 )

oney, Dew, Kai, and I headed into one of the elevators in the Training Center. Honey is the closest to the button and pushes the button labeled ‘3’ and the elevator doors slide close. I stand in a corner of the elevator, still playing with my hair. To say it was quiet was an understatement. Kai scratches the back of his head and tries to start up a conversation. “So....Honey, Dew, how’d you come up with the electric clothes? I mean, the mechanics of it are so unreal. Must’ve cost a fortune.”  

“Well, because we are the electricity industry, so we thought we’d get creative. And, yes, it was a fortune. But it was worth seeing all those people enjoy our work. Of course, how it works is difficult to explain.” Dew explained. “Well, either way, we looked great.” he said. Then silence fell on us again. The elevator doors open and we all step out one by one, for some reason, I was let out first. I see Screw and the man with black hair and amber eyes on the other side. For some reason, I speak up only now. 

 “I never got your name.” The man looked stunned; I never spoke to anyone on the team. I believe I’ve talked to Kai and Kactus once or twice but not very much. “I’m Paxon. Pleasure to meet you.” replied the man. I tilt my head. Paxon? The 57th Hunger Games victor? I remember my dad watching his Hunger Games tape one day. He was a Career. Voluntary manslaughter. That’s how he won. Killed everyone. Even his fellow Career’s. But he seems like a generally nice person.  

I just simply nod and head for my quarters. On the way there, I accidentally bumped into one of the capital attendants. “Watch where you're going, mutt!” yelled the attendant. My ears flattened on my head, and I lowered my head. Tears welled up in my eyes. That’s what everyone calls me at home, why is here different? 

 Is it because I want to fit in? Is it because I’m embarrassed? Then I felt myself shrinking. Shrinking. I could see the floor coming closer and closer. Then my hands started to morph into paws. Paws?! What’s going on? I looked at my arm and it grew small and furry. I gasped and looked down at my legs. My feet were now paws and my legs have grown fur. Then my legs couldn’t handle my weight, and I fell to the ground. I sprinted for my quarters. I was...faster. When I was at the door of my quarters I ran into a problem. I’m too short to reach the handle! 

 I ran towards the nearest bathroom and ran into the door, hoping for it to open. Surprisingly, the door swings open and hits the wall with a loud thud. I quickly run into the bathroom and jump on a counter. I can jump high because when I jumped, I nearly hit my head on the ceiling. I landed on the counter and looked in the mirror.  

I’m a puppy! My fur is golden yellow, and my tail is furry, like a cat, it can even sway like one. My eyes are big, big in cute way, but they’re blue. “I’m...I’m...So cute!” My tail wags fast and my first instinct is to catch it. I twirl around in a circle trying to catch it and fall off the counter.  

I yelp as I hit the floor. I thought cats landed on their feet. Well...I guess I’m not technically a cat. I lay there, on my back for a while before rolling over and getting on my feet. My nose wiggles and I smell supper being made. Wait, no, I smell it being put on the table. How does that have a smell? I guess I have a super sniffer. I run towards the smell and see everyone at the table.  

Kactus is about to sit then seems to realize I’m not there and gets up. I quickly ran up to her. “Wait, wait, I’m here. You don’t need to get up” I say but it all comes out as barks. Kactus looks down at me and screams. Everyone, including the chief and waiter Avoxes look at me. 

As if some quiet agreement was made, everyone at the table gets up and slowly walks toward me. I feel as if they’re trying to capture me. I started to panic. My ears flatten on my head and my tail tucks between my legs. I looked around for an exit and saw everyone surrounding me.  

I’m trapped! There’s no way out. I start to whimper and whine. I have no idea why, but I am. I look up at Kai, and he has a quizzical look on his face. His eyes meet mine and his eyes widen. “Just hold on a second.” he said, and everyone paused and looked at him. He walked towards me, but I no longer felt the danger of being captured.  

He stopped in front of me and kneeled, holding out a hand. I look up at him before coming close and sniffing his hand. I could smell how he felt. He felt confused, protective and amused. Smells safe, I thought. I rub my head against his hand, and everyone gasps. 

I looked up at him and I saw a white glowing light reflected off his face. The next thing I knew, I was growing taller and my paws morphed into hands and feet while my fur morphed into skin. I blinked a few times and looked down at Kai. He looked up at me.  

My ears twitched, I heard everyone gasp. Kai quickly got up, towering over me again and looked down at me this time while I looked up. I blinked three times before bolting to my quarters again.  

When inside, it was bigger than I thought. But it was good enough for me. I walked up to the bed and sat on it. My eyes twitched and I saw a slight red light on my bed sheets. I looked up and saw my mother. Again? I thought. My mother looked around, confused the looked at me. She floated toward me and sat beside me. “Hey, my little pup.” she said, and I know she saw.  

I sigh, wrapping my arms around her. “What am I supposed to do, mama? I can’t control these powers of mine. I... I don’t know how.” I said. She wrapped her arms around me and patted my back. “Hey, hey, it’s okay. You just need practice. I didn’t know how to play guitar but with practice, I became a natural.” she said.  

She’s right, practice makes perfect. I get off the bed and stand in the middle of the room. I take a deep breath and hold my arms out, trying to recreate what I did last time. Nothing happens. I try a different method. I thought about turning into a puppy again, but I still haven’t changed.  

One more thing comes to mind. I think about when I first got called a mutt, in District 3. I was 6 at the time and was running around on the streets with some friends. We were playing tag If I remember correctly. I was running from the person who was it and a man saw me running and screamed. “Ah! It’s a mutt! The capital is putting mutts on our streets!”  

I stopped in my tracks and turned to the man, ears flatten and tail stiff. When he saw me turn to him, he shrieked and threw his shoe at me. The shoe flew in the air and hit me in the face, fracturing my nose.  

I screamed and fell to my knees holding my nose. I sobbed hard and loud. Of course I did, my nose was broken! All my friends stopped and ran to my side. All of them glared at the man while comforting me. We made our way to the mayor's mansion and when he came out, he freaked out. He rushed me to the hospital immediately. And from what I’ve heard, the man who threw his shoe at me was hanged. 

I look at my hands and see them morphing into paws again. And, next thing you know, I’m a puppy. I jump around, tail wagging and ears perked up high. My mother laughs and floats over to me. “Well, seems like you figured it out.” I want to open my mouth and respond, but I know it’ll be barks and not words.  

I morph back into my normal self and smile at my mother. I morph back-to-back, making sure I know how to do it before calling it a night. I walk up to a window and look outside. The moon is rising, the sun is gone, and stars are out. 

My eye glow starts to flicker, and I know my time is up. I walk up to my mother and give her one last hug. The glow in my eyes disappears and so does my mother. I need to start practicing how to control how long my eyes glow. 

I sigh before I turn off the lights and crawl into bed. I have no Idea on how I’ll explain what happened today, but it’ll come to me soon.