Shift – Fools

Continued from scene sixty-three

“So let me get this straight. In the coming weeks, I’m getting married, going on a honeymoon, and attending a shifters LARP with my pregnant wife. Carrying a weapon not made of foam?”

“Yep.”

“That’s all you’ve got to say?”

“Christian, I’d be losing my shit, too, if I were you.”

“You know, I liked your one-word answer better.”

“Doc, this boy needs a bachelor party soon, or he’s not going to make it to the wedding. Look at him. He’s a mess.

“Got it all set up for next Friday if he can hold it together until then.”

“I can hold it together.”

Nicky looked at the three of us, shaking her head. “Christian’s character profile. Fool. Jeff’s character profile. Fool. Doc’s character pro––.”

“Don’t say it if you want to keep your job.”

“FOOL.

“You can’t function without me, Doc.”

She was right, and he knew it as she walked by him on her way out.

“I thought someone was bringing breakfast?” he bellowed.

“Me too. Christian, call that wife of yours and see what the hold up is.”

“Sure thing.”

As I closed the door behind me, I overheard them both.

“He’s not coming back, is he?”

“Nope.”

Continue to scene sixty-five

Shift is an online work of fiction.

This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift – Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.

The story centers around shapeshifting.

I’m currently working on chapter nine.

Shift – Red Lips

Continued from scene sixty-one

When I arrived home later that day, dinner was ready, and Karen sat across from me, her lips accentuated in red.

“How did your day go?”

“Fine.” I answered cautiously.

“Just fine?”

“Yep.”

“Baby, what’s wrong.”

“What’s wrong with you? A black dress, red lipstick, dinner. What’s the catch?”

“No catch. I just wanted to make up for the way I acted last night. That’s all.”

“No need; like I said, I’m fine.”

“Don’t be like that. Talk to me.”

“We kissed when I walked through the door, so you already know. Now, if you will excuse me. Billy Jenkins wore my man brain down this afternoon. And I need a nap.”

“I did not read you.”

“I know.”

“Then why did you say I did?”

“I wanted to hear you say it.”

“Why?”

“Because I prefer your voice over your thoughts, the mystery of your smile, and unknown whispers from beautiful red lips.”

She blushed silently.

“Karen, I will never read you from this point on, and I do not want to be read. Understand?”

“Yes,” she replied, “you have my word.”

Continue to scene sixty-three

Shift is an online work of fiction.

The story centers around shapeshifting.

I’m currently working on chapter nine.

Shift – Melancholy

Continued from scene sixty

They’re all comedians, I thought. Horace, Karen, Jeff, Olivia, Billy, the whole lot of them. But the innocents of laughter had been lost by me. The lights would go out soon; I saw no way around it. And the melancholy of it all was beginning to take its toll.

Continue to scene sixty-two

Shift is an online work of fiction.

The story centers around shapeshifting.

I’m currently working on chapter nine.

Shift – Focus

Continued from scene fifty-eight

“Oh, she’s a funny one, that girl of mine. The Jenkins’s boy just turned seven,” I said to myself on the way over to Olivia’s.

“Good morning, Christian. How are we feeling today?”

“I’m not in the mood. Can we just get started?”

“I suppose. Today’s lesson will be on thoughts and memories. So follow me into the kitchen.”

“You wouldn’t happen to have any orange juice, would you?”

“Have a seat, she said, brushing me on her way to the refrigerator. “You know, when we touch, our brains are bombarded with a wealth of information which can be overwhelming if not processed correctly.

“You’re experiencing this as we speak, but somehow, you already know I’m out of orange juice. Even though I walked toward the refrigerator as if I did. Why do you think that is?”

“I was focused on orange juice, I guess.”

“Why guess? You could have scanned me for the right answer. But you are correct. Sometimes, we overlook another person’s thoughts because we are so consumed with our own. In this case, you were focused on juice instead of today’s lesson. In Borya’s case, he was focused on a way out of the situation. And that, along with being startled, is why you’re alive today. If he had remained calm, you would be dead, not him.

“For some reason, he took you at your word. And this is why I can not stress enough how important it is to stay focused on your goal when reading someone. Understand?”

I nodded with a dry mouth.

“Alright, then let’s move on to memories. Carol will be here around noon, and I want you ready to go head to head with her son.”

“Oh, we got two comedians in the tribe.”

“Now, don’t be like that; little Billy needs some practice too.”

Continue to scene sixty

Shift is an online work of fiction.

The story centers around shapeshifting.

I’m currently working on chapter nine.

Shift – Brain Games

Continued from scene fifty-seven

By morning I was feeling a little pissed. Jeff thinks he has a trusting wife, but she’s not. And Karen scanned my memories without a second thought. Was privacy a thing of the past?

Don’t trust me. I don’t trust you, was my conclusion.

“Good morning Babe,” said Karen as she walked past, with a glancing kiss.

“Good Morning,” I replied, my brain quickly scanning hers.

Don’t trust me. I don’t trust you, my words flowing right back at me. She knows.

“Sweetie, I’ve been playing this game my entire life.

“Dammit, Karen, we have to trust one another.”

“I trust you.”

“I’ve heard that before. But you scanned my memories as soon as I walked through the door last night.”

“And you had your friends lie for you.”

“You wouldn’t have known without a scan.”

“Doc’s a terrible liar. Remember?” I had probable cause.

“Coffee?”

“Sure, my head is beginning to hurt.”

“Don’t drink so much next time.”

“It’s not the booze?”

“Christian, I’m a complicated woman. Maybe you should tackle someone else’s thoughts for a while. The Jenkins boy just turned seven.”

Continue to scene fifty-nine

Shift is an online work of fiction.

The story centers around shapeshifting.

I’m currently working on chapter nine.

Shift – Secrets

Continued from scene fifty-six

I must admit I felt a little nervous walking through the front door alone. Olivia left when Doc called, and Jeff refused to come in and run cover for me. So my plan was to play the drunk card hard in the hopes I could just go to bed. But It didn’t work. Karen grabbed my arm as soon as I walked across the threshold.

“So let me be clear, Olivia has known about Jeff’s little bar for quite some time. She pretends not to so he can have his space, and I will not tell him otherwise. The same for Doc, who’s a terrible liar.

“I’m a gullible female who’s easily fooled for all they know. But you know that’s not true. Don’t you?”

Before I could answer, she retreated to the bedroom, pointing to the couch along the way.

But you will, I thought. Jeff’s words were coming true, and my buzz was wearing off. Sleep was not going to come as quickly as I had hoped.

Continue to scene fifty-eight

Shift is an online work of fiction.

The story centers around shapeshifting.

I’m currently working on chapter nine.

Shift – Hours Later

Continued from scene fifty-four

Hours later, I was shifting from body to body, dancing to the jukebox, and getting pretty good at it too. Having Olivia mentor me was paying off.

Without hesitation, I could do it in any position without collapsing to the floor. Although I’ll have to admit, I did miss the exhilaration of my first shift.

But whatever, I was scanning memories, learning new skills, gaining knowledge. And did I mention dancing? I was damn good at it.

“Got me a little blackmail photo now,” came a voice from behind as Jeff’s camera flashed, lighting up in the mirror between a row of unopened bottles.

Jumping down from the bar, I quickly shut off the music and returned to my original. “Funny,” I said.

“Not meant to be.”

“How did you know I was down here?”

“After fixing the mess, you made with Karen, Olivia got worried. She was expecting to find you outside when she arrived. And when you failed to show up hours later, they both got concerned and called me.

“So whatcha got to say for yourself, Travolta?”

“Sorry, Jeff, I’ll pay you for the liquor.”

“I’m not worried about the liquor. I’m worried your drunk ass is going to expose my hideaway.

“So tell me, where did you get the alcohol? And I do not want to hear Jeff’s secret bar.”

Continue to scene fifty-six

Shift is an online work of fiction.

The story centers around shapeshifting.

I’m currently working on chapter nine.

Shift – Deer In Headlights

Continued from scene fifty-three

Karen was standing in front of the mirror when I returned home later that night. And before I could say anything, she asked, “Can you see it?” holding up her shirt. “I’m getting fat.”

I thought long and hard before answering.

“You’re still looking good, babe. And that stomach of yours is as flat as ever,” I said cleverly.

I should have thought longer.

“So you think I’ll be ugly when it’s not flat?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Then what did you say?”

I was like a deer in headlights from that point on, not knowing what to do as she cried, yelled, and screamed before slamming the bathroom door.

As the picture next to it precariously hung from the wall, I pulled out my phone. “Olivia, this is Christian. Could you come over? I’ve got a little situation here.”

“Don’t worry, I will be there shortly,” she replied.

“Should I go over to the door and comfort her?”

“Sweetie, it’s best you step outside for a while.”

And so I did. All the way to the abandoned farmhouse, where I stuck an old rusty screw between two blocks, opening the bar’s door. After pouring a shot, I held the glass high. The old man wasn’t so crazy after all.

Continue to scene fifty-five

Shift is an online work of fiction.

The story centers around shapeshifting.

I’m currently working on chapter nine.

Shift – No Answer

Continued from scene fifty-one

“No answer,” said Donnie as he reentered the room. “Do you want me to go over there?”

“Please,” replied Linda. “It’s unlike him to not call. Nicky, did you stop by your office this morning?”

“No, I had to drop some things off at main. So I came straight here. They’ve had their hands full, with Doc spending so much time away.

“I imagine so.”

“I’ll go with you, Donnie,” said Jeff. “Christian, you in?”

Startled by the sound of my name, I quickly looked up. “What’s that?”

“Going over to Doc’s. You in?”

“Oh, sure. Linda, do you want me to notify Karen?”

“Not yet, It might be nothing, and she needs her rest.”

Continue to scene fifty-three

Shift is an online work of fiction.

The story centers around shapeshifting.

I’m currently working on chapter nine.

Shift – Age of Chaos

Continued from scene fifty

Doc never missed a meeting. If anything, he was early.

“Lets’ go ahead and start without him. Robert, can you fill us in on Echo’s departure while we wait?” asked Linda.

“Sure, no problem. As you all know, Echo and her beloved partner Borya were scheduled to board a plane last night in Atlanta, headed for Russia. And I am happy to say all went smoothly. My team reported no problems with airport security.

“Now, I know some disagreed with our decision to send her home. But Karen, Linda, and I believe it will give our voices more weight when we attend the Gathering of Chiefs in November. Where I have been told, in no short terms, the Ghosts tribe will be held accountable.”

I was stunned by Robert’s revelation. Karen had not informed me of this. How would they be held accountable? What happens if they are not? My eyes twitched as I thought of our baby and the chaos it would bring if things fell apart.

Continue to scene fifty-two

Shift is an online work of fiction.

The story centers around shapeshifting.

I’m currently working on chapter nine.