Shift – Elysian

“Drink this glass of water while I go back up on stage for a moment.”

I looked at Karen with a big no in my eyes, but she went anyway.

“Everyone, if I could have your attention again, please.”

As the room went quiet, she glanced over at me with a smile.

“As you can see by my love’s reaction tonight, he has fallen hard for me.”

Laughter ensued from the floor.

“And I have fallen hard for him.”

“Over the last two weeks, I have put more pressure on this man than I should have. For that, Christian, please forgive me. You are my soulmate, my love, my one and only.

The tribe applauded, and Keith Decker stood up from the back again, holding his glass high. “A toast for Christian Lore!”

The room responded in kind, so I walked up on stage to stand with Karen, who politely stepped aside. “Thank you all for overlooking my nervousness. Like Maggie, I too have never been happier than I am right now.”

Applause irrupted again as Karen asked Maggie to join them on stage.

“Tonight, we celebrate the newest members of Elysian and our bond to one another. Let no one divide that which makes us strong!”

The roar was deafening as we descended the stage. “This way, Karen, I’ve saved seats for you both at the head of the table.”

Linda Wilson, I would later learn, is Karen’s right-hand. And next in line should she be unable to fulfill her role as Chief. A title given to male and female leaders of the 3006 worldwide tribes.

Continue to scene fifteen

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 Ten.

Shift – The Eyes

Continued from scene twelve

“Here, son, let me help you up,” said Kieth, referred to by most as Dr. Decker in Wilmington. “You took a hit to the head, so let’s step down off the stage and have a seat while I look you over.”

“My eyes do feel a little weird.”

A crowd formed around us as we sat at a nearby table. “Look straight ahead as I move my pin light back a forth,” said Decker.

“Karen, did you see that?”

“See what?” I asked before she could respond.

“Your eyes made a quick involuntary shift before turning back to normal. This is not unusual for someone under a lot of stress; you’re going to be okay. But in the future, be aware of this and cover them if you feel it coming on. You don’t want to accidentally expose yourself to a non-shifter.”

“You’ll get pinned as one of them reptilians if you get caught on camera,” said Horace Turbeville with a snort.

Everyone laughed and eventually made their way over to the banquet table, leaving me to my embarrassment.

Continue to scene fourteen

Shift is an online work of fiction.

The story centers around shapeshifting.

I’m currently working on chapter Ten.

Shift – Leadership

Continued from scene eleven

We made the hour-long drive to the tribes Southport Meeting Hall three days later, giving Karen plenty of time to go over her speech. She was all business and wasted no time getting started upon our arrival.

“May I have your attention, everyone. I’m sure you’re all aware of Jill’s mishaps by now, so I will get straight to the point and then introduce our new students.

“Last week, Jill Hanson was arrested after the body she was using triggered a facial recognition scanner. And this has become problematic due to the arrest of the real Becky White in Fairbanks, Alaska. In turn, Jill’s arrest video was leaked online, and similar instances are being posted to Youtube from around the world. Our cyber team has been uploading fake ones to discredit them and removing the real ones when possible.

“I have talked with all the tribal leaders, and we agreed to have everyone shift and stay in their originals until further notice unless your life is in danger. The only exceptions being those who have new verifiable identities, such as myself.

“So, If there are no questions, I would like to ask all of you to shift now.”

Seeing Karen in her leadership role was impressive. You could tell she had the full respect of every tribe member.

“Come on, Adam, I think you’ve been in your girly girl bod long enough. If you stay much longer, she’s going to trap you. Remember Kate? She’s still walking around Wilmington, talking to herself. Do you want to end up like that?”

“You sure know how to ruin a girl’s night,” he said, as red hair changed to brown.

“Everyone, if I can have your attention again, I would like to introduce our new students. First, we have Maggie Ried. Scott Bell is her teacher, and I believe most of you have already met with her.

“Maggie, do you want to come up and say a few words?”

Everyone watched as she confidently made her way on stage. “I just want to thank everyone for making me feel like family. I’ve never been happier than I am right now.

“We are family,” Karen interjected as others applauded.

And with that, Maggie stepped down from the podium, and Karen called me up. It felt like my heart was going to jump out of my body as I stood beside her. I hated being in front of a crowd.

“Many of you may also know of my own student, Christain Lore,” she said glowingly. “You may also know of our engagement. But I bet you didn’t know we are having a baby.”

“A Baby,” screamed Linda Wilson as the crowd broke out in cheers. “Our royal line continues. I’m so happy for you Karen.”

“Lets hear the lucky man say something,” yelled Keith Decker from the back.

Karen smiled and pulled me to the mic as three hundred and sixty eyes watched me fall to the floor.

“Baby, wake up. You fainted.”

“Place this wet cloth on his head,” came another voice as my eyes opened to those staring down at me.

Continue to scene thirteen

Shift is an online work of fiction.

The story centers around shapeshifting.

I’m currently working on chapter Ten.

Shift – The News

Continued from scene ten

Chapter Three

A week passed before I could wrap my head around it all. I was 28, a shifter, soon-to-be husband, and father. A good life, I suppose, but there was a sad side. Both of my parents died when I was five, and I have no one to share it with. But Karen assured me my mind’s eye will one day present them to me. And last night, I could have sworn I felt the touch of my father’s hand and the lips of a mother’s kiss on my cheek as I fell asleep.

“Baby! turn up the volume, their talking about Jill’s arrest.”

“That’s right, Susan, Becky White has pleaded not guilty to the assault and battery charges. And you’re not going to believe this. She claims her doppelganger did it.”

“A doppelganger!”

“That’s right, a look-alike and her lawyers have video of her doppelganger being arrested right there in North Myrtle Beach minutes before her own arrest here in Fairbanks.”

“You can turn it off now.”

“Do you think it’ll all blow over?”

“I’m not sure at this point. It may, but I need to call a tribal meeting to set some new rules to live by until it does.”

Continue to scene twelve.