I don’t know how long I waded through the darkness, it could have been years for all I knew, but in those moments I came to terms with my newfound situation.

I was dead. I brought this on myself and this was my punishment. There wasn’t a white blinding light or the licking flames of hellfire.

All that I saw and all that I grew to know was a void, an empty soul sucking void that left me wanting to disappear, but I couldn’t. I was left to my own thoughts as I drifted, striped from a physical body and further into a spiral of nothingness,

Despite myself I wanted an out, and I was given an out, by a disembodied voice.

Carolyne

I stilled my thoughts, unbelieving at what I was hearing. That had to be of my imagination. Right?

Carolyne

It spoke my name like a command shattering through the darkness and bringing forth light that seeped of sickening warmth. It was something that I hadn’t felt in a long time. Words tried and failed to form properly and I could only look on in a mix of awe and terror as a figure emerged.

The being was entirely white, completely devoid of features suggesting gender, a blank outline of a human being. Yet by the way it stood it commanded authority in every sense of the word, but for some reason I knew it wouldn’t hurt me. Yet I couldn't help the question on my lips.

“What are you?” My voice trembled.

What I am Carolyne is not what matters at this moment. We have more important matters to attend to, and I’m sure you know what.

I knew what it was talking about but deep down I didn’t want to hear anything about that. It was too soon, far too soon.

You died long before your time. I...am quite disappointed.

There it was. The sheer disappointment in it’s voice like a parent scolding a child, and was too much for me to bear. Why should I care what this thing thinks about me or my actions. What was done was done, nothing could have changed, I couldn’t have-

Carolyne you are wrong.

My thoughts stopped. What was it trying to say?

“What are you talking about?!” I raised my voice. “What could you possibly know about me?!”

It was closer to me, standing half a foot away from me and taller than I had ever expected it to be. It’s head lowered close to mine, and despite it having no mouth I could picture a small smile growing on its lips.

Carolyne, you are your own worst enemy. There’s so much more to you than you can realize, can’t you see? I’m here to give you a second chance.

A second chance?! No there was no way that was happening, I couldn’t go back out there into that world.

Oh but you can and you will.

It placed a single finger against what I assumed where my forehead would be and pushed. I was moved against my will, existence floating backward and further up into the light. The being looked up at me and I swore I saw a real smile.

Don’t worry, your life will be different this time around! You will grow to love it!

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

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...

...

My head hurt.

Oh God it hurt so bad that I didn’t want to move.

...

Wait.

My eyes shot open as the past events replayed in my mind. I had died I was sure of that but I’m alive?

“How in the fuck?” I groaned. My legs felt stubbier than usual, it was like they couldn’t handle my weight no matter how much I pushed. I was confused even more when I  finally stood tall, only to fall hard on my back.

“What in the world?” I cried, flailing around my limbs that, under the blue light of the moo , looked less human and more canine.

HUH?

I was fully aware at that point, eyes scanning down my body which wasn’t normal in the slightest. I wasn’t human at all,  no human would ever be like this. I had two front and hindlegs, a long bushy tail, and fur that was white as snow. It was unbelievable, totally shocking, but none of that was trully as  surprising compared to what I saw between my legs. I had to blink twice to make sure I was seeing things right, but no this wasn't a dream.

It was all too real.

It was gone, it was totally gone! My womanly parts where nowhere to be seen, replaced genitals that only a male could have.

“Oh my God.” I whispered to the open air, not even bothering to move. I was on the verge of a mental breakdown but I had to look for a bright side, anything to keep me from the edge of insanity. I wracked my brain to find any excuse for me to calm down.

“At Least I don’t have to worry about periods anymore!” I croaked out a broken chuckle.

But in all seriousness if that..if God though that this was what I’d grow to love it had another thing coming. However I couldn’t let this bring me down, I had to be more aware of my surroundings.

Because I wasn’t alone.

I felt them before I saw them. They were bright, lit up like a christmas tree to the point that I couldn’t make out their features. I scrambled around so that I stood on my wobbly paws, lowered onto the ground into the best attack pose that I could make.

Out from the trees came three figures. By the sounds of their voices they were all adults and the least bit happy.

At least they spoke english.

“See!” One of them, a male voice, growled. “I told you it was here!”

“True, but shouldn’t it be bigger?”

“Does the size matter?!” A commanding voice spoke, clearly the leader. “You know what we were ordered to do.”

The leader turned towards me. “It dies here.”

My heart fell to my stomach. “Oh shit.”

“IT CAN TALK?!”

There was no time for me to stay any longer. So I took their moment of surprise as time to leave. I scampered out of there and into the trees, thankful for the night vision this body gave me. I could hear them scrambling behind me, desperate to catch up when I felt a tingling on the back of my neck.

To your left!

My body lept sideways avoiding the scorching heat of a ball of fire that slammed against the trunk of a tree. I had no time to think as a flurry of fireballs came my way.

I cursed, pushing my body to the limit as I dodged and weaved through roots and flames, cursing all the way until I burst through another tree line that lead to...

A cliff.

I had no time to scream as my stomach dropped. All I could do was look ahead into the distant lights of a city as I fell.

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“Damn it.”

Tonight was the worst night in Benedict Bradfords life. He stood on the edge of the cliff that beast leapt off of, watching the aura of the small creature run further and further into the distance. That fall could have killed any normal creature any natural one, but there wasn't anything natural about that thing.

He clenched his fists and turned to the other two members of his team that were heaving out their lungs beside him.

“Idiots,” He growled. “The lot of you. It’s heading towards the city! We need to kill it before anyone sees!”

“But-”

Bradford glared at his subordinate, daring the young man to speak against his wishes. The young man shrunk back, knowing better than to add to the anger of his leader. “Yes sir!” He squeaked.

“Follow my lead.”

In a flash Bradford jumped, legs covered in spiraling blue mana. His two subordinates watched as their leader disappeared through the trees.

“We shouldn’t keep him waiting Michel.” A young woman, the other young subordinate with dirty blonde hair, followed after their leader and left Michel to scramble after the two them.