Grace Baldwin

The Shapeshifter’s Seduction

The rhythmic ticking of the church clock in the tower above provided a strange sense of familiarity for Tara. The consistent reminder of time marching on proved hypnotic as it mingled with the utter exhaustion swirling through her body. It felt like a taunt… seducing her with the far-fetched idea of rest without consequence. She releases a deep sigh of aspiration as she leans against the wall of the chapel and slides down slowly until her legs are fully extended before her. She groans under her breath as she slides her backpack off, one shoulder at a time, then tosses it weakly beside her. Ominous slithers of red and blue light dance across her heavily bruised legs, and she shifts her attention to the relentless sun hammering down directly through the broken stained glass skylight. It must be around noon. She started walking as the sun came up, and this was the first break of the day. As reluctant as she was to rest now, her swollen ankles all but demanded it.