Nightmares

From Betweenlines

I'm standing at the front of the class, and I'm writing something about the day's topic. I don't remember what it is, but I'm excited because I read the section and I understood it. I stand there and write for a long time until a voice behind me coughs. I don't know if it's masculine or feminine, it sounds like all the teachers I've ever had.

"Well Mr. Riley, are you going to write anything or just stand there all day?"

The class jeers as I look up at the chalkboard and see that I've just been drawing lines across the board. I shake my head and try to think of what I was supposed to be doing. I ask him what he wants of me, and then the whole class jeers along with him. I can't see their faces, but I see the mouths out there, drawn into wide pointed comic grins, their vicious little teeth pulled to sharp points.

"I see, I guess we can't really expect more form you now can we Mr. Riley, it's ok, take a seat."

I hear the laughter rise to a roar along with the sarcastic and teasing tone in the teacher's voice. My right hand clenches into a fist, shattering the piece of chalk in it. I feel a terrible pain where the chalk cracked and my whole hand feels like it's going to explode. My ears burn and my eyes water, and I run.

I run fast and hard and before I know it, I'm back in my room with the doors locked. I'm in the bathroom splashing cold water, and that's when I see it. The grotesque fringe of torn and shredded human skin poking out form my sleeve, and the long slender wicked black claws where my hand should be. I stare at it for a minute before it suddenly moves of its own volition. It jumps up and tears at my face, cutting me across the eye. Quickly I grab the wrist with my left hand and I force it down against the porcelain sink. I wrestle with it until it finally stills. I turn my face up to the mirror to inspect the damages and that's when I see it. In the tear across my face, black fur rises from beneath my skin, and where my eye should be is this evil yellow orb, staring back at me with nothing but rage and hatred buried in it.

I don't know how long I stand there, transfixed by this evil eye, but it's all too late when I realize that in my paralyzing terror I've let go of the claw. It surges up again, digging in under the cut and pulling away more and more skin, I can't stop it. Finally there isn't anything left. It's like I watch from a distance as the beast trots out, discarding the last bits of clothing and skin from its sleek wolfish body. I'm sad for a moment before I remember that I'm just the wolf's disguise, and then I too am discarded with it.