Haley Thistle
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Peter the Shapeshifter: Part One (rough draft)
🕑 Added 2022-11-05 20:00:04 +0000 UTCYou were used to people not believing you. Starting early in your childhood, you realized that, without proof, people weren’t going to either. You had learned to cover up your truth in order to make it palatable for others, in order to at least be heard and taken seriously.
Luckily, you weren’t the only one. Even now, on the anniversary of the ‘kidnappings,’ no one believed you. No one believed a single one of you about what really happened all those years ago.
The lights on the stage were blaring and white hot just like you remembered. As children, you and your friends had gone on interviews when you had been ‘saved’ from your kidnapper. The stage was smaller, the crowd was closer, but everything was still the same. You all sat lined up together, answering all the asinine questions you had back then, plus a couple more sprinkled in to try and show how much you’ve grown since then.
How was growing up?
What was college like?
Do you have anyone special in your life?
Are you married?
Do you have kids?
If so, how do you treat them after having gone through what you did?
Of course, the interviewer already knows the answer to all these questions for all of you. She’s just putting her own sparkle on them to draw in the audience, to make them feel something. But all you and your friends feel is aggravation.
“Can you believe it?” Willow asked while laughing. “All these years and they still ask the same stupid questions?”
You’re sitting at a bar after the interview, catching up and destressing in person rather than over the group chat.
“It never fails,” Eric scoffed. “I bet I’ve done the same interview at least ten times.”
“Even when we were kids we knew it was bullshit,” you sighed. You rolled yours and looked around the bar. “At least no one recognizes us now.”
“Thank god!” Mari blurted. “It’s bad enough rehashing it in that studio. Out here people get weird.”
You sipped your drink and then choked as you laughed. “And it’s not even that. It’s that we have to lie the whole time.”
The group nodded and rolled their eyes in consensus.
“If we kept trying to tell the truth, they’d slap us in a box of fruit loops,” Eric murmured.
Willow looked distant for a moment. “Sometimes I think maybe I am crazy. I keep…remembering everything that happened to us and sometimes even I think it was just my wild imagination as a kid.”
“That place was real,” Mari insisted. “That…thing took us there to kill us.”
Old Lady Potter, once a beloved fixture in your neighborhood, had been your kidnapper as a child. Turns out, she was some sort of creature from another world. She kidnapped you, Mari, Willow, Eric, and your best friend Peter, along with many other kids, and took you into that strange, weird world. The four of you had been lucky enough to escape from Potter and survive in that world for several days before you found a way to get home. Peter hadn’t been so lucky.
“How could it not be real?” Eric added. “I still have nightmares. That wolf thing that chased us…” He froze up and all of you got worried expressions.
“We barely talk about Peter,” you murmured.
“It’s hard to,” Willow replied.
Eric sighed heavily and took his drink, downing the rest of it with one go. “We should though, right? After what he did for us. We’re not kids anymore, we should be able to bring him up.”
Mari nodded, but remained quiet.
It was quiet for a long time after that, up until you all decided to leave and head back to the hotel. There, you all went into you separate rooms, saying you wanted to get to bed so you could all leave for the airport early.
In your room, you sat down on the edge of the bed and looked into the gift bag that the talk show had provided. There were some nice things, a new phone, some perfume, and a few other things the show advertised. There was also a little memory book put together of pictures of you and your friends from when you were ‘rescued’ along with a few other images as you grew up. You found this a bit distasteful and hid it away as you packed your bag for the morning.
You and Willow still lived in your home town, while Mari and Eric lived in other parts of the country. You bid good bye at the airport, promising to update the group chat once you all got home.
On the plain, Willow huffed as she nestled into her seat. “It’s weird,” she murmured.
“What is?” You asked.
She shrugged. “All of it I guess. Everything just sort of feels weird, you know? We do this, now we have to go back into our normal lives. It’s weird.”
You had to agree. Once you got off the plane, everything would be back to normal. You and Willow would go back to your shared home, go back to your regular jobs, and that would be it. Your past didn’t matter, or at least it felt like it didn’t.
The day after, you’re back at work, unlocking the door to the coffee shop then turning on all the equipment. You put on your apron, check the schedule to see who you’re working with, then start taking chairs off the tables.
The morning is always busy, so you barely pay attention to much aside from orders. The customers all blend together as you rush back and forth between the kitchen and floor to fetch coffee, breakfast sandwiches, sugar, etc.
An old woman stops you, tugging yon your arm as you try to deliver a mocha. “Miss,” she says with a haughty tone. “That man over there reeks! I can’t enjoy my breakfast.”
You’re used to this and have learned how to look without pulling attention. The man in the corner was wearing all black, his hair was thick and shaggy, covering most of his face, which was also shaggy with a beard. He was stirring a coffee slowly, gazing down into the mug without paying much attention to anything else. You’re used to getting truckers and graveyard shift employees coming in first thing after work, sometimes people stunk after working. Sometimes people liked to bitch.
“Would you like me to bag up your breakfast for you, ma’am?” You asked.
The woman looked offended. “No! I want to enjoy my breakfast! Can’t you ask him to leave? Surely that’s against your health code.”
You wanted to roll our eyes so badly, but you withheld. “He has every right to be here, same as you. But I will ask him if he’d like to move to the counter since he’s alone.” You walked away from the woman, anything to get away from her. You preferred the surly truckers to entitled people like her.
You approached the man and put on your best customer service smile. “Good morning sir. I don’t want to be a bother, at all, but I was wondering if you’d like to move up to the counter. We’re busy and-”
“Don’t lie,” he growled. “I know why you’re asking me this.”
A cold chill ran through you and you grew uncomfortable. “I’m really sorry, sir. I hate this, trust me. But it’s better I at leats try than tell her no and-”
The man leaned aside, catching the older woman’s eye and glaring at her. “No!” He sapped at her then sat back down.
The woman scoffed and looked around for people to join her in her indignation.
“There I did it for you,” he grumbled. “Can I get some cream?”
You tried to suppress your smile. “Yes. I’ll go fetch that for you.” You evaded the older woman who was gettin up from her seat and went back into the kitchen to get more packets of creamer.
“Here you are,” you said as you delivered them to the man. “May I get you anything else?” You asked.
The man plucked a creamer up, opening it and dumping it into his coffee. “No, I guess that’s all,” he murmured.
You got a strange feeling around this man, but you weren’t sure if that was good or bad. You nodded politely and continued on with your morning.
Your shift ended after lunch, and you went home. You felt exhausted, so after a shower you crawled into bed. For a nap. You woke up to hear your cat yowling, and you got up from bed with a grumble.
“I’m coming Teo,” you called out hoarsely.
Teo screamed and you heard him running down the hallway to you. He circled your feet as you tried to walk into the kitchen. You were half asleep, so you didn’t pay attention to much. You just got Teo his food then sat down at the table where you and Willow had stacked your held mail.
“Okay, let’s see.” You put on your glasses and started sifting through the stack.
Teo was still screaming at the sliding glass door.
“I just fed you!” You huffed, turning your chair to fuss at him. “What the heck are you-” Your blood went cold as you watched Teo swipe at the door. Standing outside was something you knew all too well, something that had haunted your dreams since you were a child.
The great black shape was furry and matted, glowing gray eyes peered at you from under the shaggy fur. The body rose up, revealing a haggard, misshapen form with too long limbs and an arched back.
Teo screamed and padded at the door like he wanted to be let out. You fainted, falling out of your chair and onto the floor.
When you came to, you stared up at the kitchen ceiling. The fan went around slow enough you could make out the blades and their individual colors of paint. You could hear Teo eating his food from his bowl, and there was a breeze coming in from the open sliding glass door. You turned slightly, seeing you were laying in someone’s lap.
You jumped up with alarm and fright, seeing it was the man from the coffee shop. You just stared at him, beyond bewildered that this was happening.
“Sorry,” he murmured. “Can I use your shower?”
You continued staring at him.
He looked around nervously. “Maybe some scissors?” He rubbed his beard. “I’ve not trimmed in a while so-”
“What?” You yelled at him.
He flinched and ducked his head. “I’m sorry.”
“Who are you?” You snapped as you stood up, reaching for a drawer and not finding the knives like you wanted.
“It’s a long story,” the man stood up and took a few steps away. Teo finished his food and went after the man.
“What are you? A stalker? A super fan?” You had dealt with both before. “Who are you?” You found the knives and took one out to brandish.
The man raised his hands and they were shaking. “You probably won’t believe me.” palm up and you saw he had a burn mark on the right palm. It was in the shape of half a heart, like from a toy baking pan. You knew a scar like that a long time ago.
It had been just a few days before Potter had taken you and the others. You loved playing with your little toy oven, making cookies and such and pretending to be a chef like you dream. You had Peter over, and was serving him kool-aid in a tea cup and was making a brownie in a heart shaped pan.
“I can’t get it out,” you said to Peter.
“I’ll get it for you, Legs!” Peter got up and turned the oven on its side. He caught the pan on his hand, and just like that, it burned the half a heart shape onto his palm. He had to go the hospital and was told to keep his hand bandaged.
When you were all taken by Potter, it was that same wound that helped to save you. Mari and Eric had just fallen asleep, while you, Willow, and Peter tended to the fire.
“I hear it,” Willow whimpered.
You looked up as you heard the sniffling and snarling that signaled the wolf. You clung to Peter holding onto him tight. “What are we going to do?”
“It’s okay, I'll keep you all safe. I promise.” Peter whispered to you. “Willow, go sit with Mari and Eric.”
She did so eagerly, happy to leave the fireside. You looked at Peter with concern as he started removing the bandages from his hand. The burn looked rough, swollen and red. He took a stick and rubbed off the skin.
“Peter!” You gasped.
“It’s okay,” he shivered in pain. “It’s fine.” He tossed the stick into the fire then stood up. “Stay here, okay Legs? Keep watch over the others, okay?”
“Where are you going?” You cried.
Peter smiled down at you. “You’re the oldest now, you gotta look out for them if I don’t come back.”
You were struck wordless.
“I’ll lead the wolf away, it’ll be okay.” Peter stood down and kissed your forehead. “Get everyone home, okay Legs?” He left without another word, going into the woods never to be seen again.
You felt faint again and leaned up against the kitchen counter while Teo purred at the man’s feet.
The man lowered his hands down. “I’m not here to hurt you, Legs.”
You looked at him, unsure whether to cry or scream. “No one has called me that in years-” your voice cracked.
The man swallowed, his gray eyes peering out at you. “I haven’t called anyone that in years.”
“Peter?” You whispered.
He nodded shakily and you noticed his hand changing, becoming more claw-like and turning hairy. He tucked away, turning himself to the side and ducking his head down.
“How?” Your voice choked up in your throat. You swallowed hard, fighting back tears. “How is this possible? Are you really Peter? Are you?” You stepped forward as he began to hovel over.
“Please, can I use the shower?” He said with a snarl.
“Sure,” you said faintly, sitting back down at the table. “Second door on the right.”
Peter stood up, and left quickly, shutting the door behind him. You heard the shower kick on, and you sat there at the table, staring at the lemon pattern of the table cloth.
Time passed by, and Peter stayed in the bathroom for a long while. The entire time Teo either passed in front of the door, or laid before it waiting for Peter to come out. Eventually, the door opened, and Peter walked out. His beard was trimmed, his wet hair was pushed back away from his face. He sat at the table before you, keeping his hand before him.
“It’s been a long time,” Peter murmured.
You looked up from the tablecloth. “How is this possible?”
Peter swallowed. “The wolf, actually,” he murmured. “It took me in.”
You furrowed your brow at him.
“It hadn’t been hunting us-” Peter stopped when he saw the look upon your face. “You okay, Legs?”
“Not really,” you breathed. “I’m kind of in shock.”
Peter nodded and looked down at his palms. “When I tried leading it away from the rest of you, Potter got hold of me again. The wolf attacked us and it bit me, which made Potter let go of me. The wolf then took me back to his home, where he took care of me. Apparently, Potter killed his children too. He tried to find the rest of you, but-”
“We found a way home, thanks to a wizard.” You pressed your lips together in a firm line.
“I know this is hard to believe,” Peter whispered. “I can barely believe it myself. All these years I’ve prayed that you and others made it home okay. But I never knew. There was always this hint of doubt in me. But I thought…maybe since I made it, you all did too. I couldn’t stand it anymore so I came to find out.”
“Why now?” you whispered.
Peter shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“I thought I watched you walk into your death,” you whimpered. “All this time I thought-” You clamped your hand over your mouth as you began to cry. Peter went over to you, kneeling down by your side. His face bore scars, and his eyes were a soft gray color rather than the gentle brown you remembered.
“I’m here now, Legs,” he said softly. “It’s okay. I did what I did for you.”
You scowled at him. “That’s what sucks!” You threw your arms around him, hugging him tight in your arms. He shifted, his body twitching and bucking, changing into that wolf-like form. But if you buried your face into his shoulder, you couldn’t see it.
“Don’t look. I don’t want to frighten you,” Peter whispered.
You had spent your life afraid of that wolf. The image of it haunted you and your friends all your lives. But you wanted to see. If you could remind yourself that it was Peter and not some monster; then maybe you wouldn’t be afraid.
“How long have you been like this?” You asked.
“Since the wolf bit me,” he murmured. “It’s not…all bad.”
You slowly lifted your head from his shoulder, seeing he was covered in dark fur. You sniffled, rubbing your eyes as you lifted your head to look at him. His muzzle was long and there was a pink line where his mouth was. Long hair covered the top of his head, hanging down over his face. His gray eyes glowed gently from underneath as he watched you with a glint of fear.
Reaching out, you placed your palm upon his face. Your hand trembled, but you kept it upon him.
Comments
Rayne Stringfellow
I was just thinking about him ♥️♥️♥️ one of my fave comishes!!!
