Chapter Nineteen

Jameson's Point Of View

Flashback

Before Peter's Chapter

"You and I'll be safe, and, sound." Lyla sang under her breath as she brushed my fur.

I smiled and closed my eyes, enjoying my brushing time.

"My turn! My turn!" Elisa exclaimed and pushed me off Lyla's lap and onto the bed.

"Yah!" I protested and scrambled back onto Lyla's lap.

"Elisa." Jnallain warned from his cage. "Behave."

Elisa pouted and moved off of Lyla's lap.

I stuck my tongue out at him and let Lyla continue brushing my hair.

Lyla paused both singing and brushing my hair.

I looked up and saw her yawning as she rubbed her eyes,

Glancing over at the clock, I frowned.

It's only 7.

I'm guessing she'll go to bed early tonight.

—-

I guessed right.

It's 8 ish and she's out cold.

"You know what?" Sammi stretched.

I hummed and response and about jumped out of my skin when I looked up.

Sammi had turned into a human.

"Sam! What are you doing?" I hissed, hopping over to her.

"Chill out Jamie, I'm stretching." Sammi waved me off. "Besides, She is out cold anyways."

Ben gasped happily as he too, turned into a human.

In the end, all seven of us were humans.

Nick, Elisa and I were all hanging out in the kitchen.

Elisa was on the countertop with Nick in on the floor, and I was sitting on a barstool like a normal person.

"Isn't it kinda weird how Lyla always wears long sleeves?" Elisa blurts out randomly, interrupting Nick's rant about frisbees.

"Yeah it is." Nick agreed, frowning softly as he looked down.

"It's almost like she is hiding something." I whispered, thinking to myself. I've never seen her with short sleeves.

Elisa and Nick smile evilly and look at the stairs leading to Lyla's room.

"No-" I began, but they were already dashing up the stairs. I didn't want to shout, in fear that I might wake up Lyla.

I followed them, curious as to what, if she even is, hiding.

Elisa rolled up her left sleeve.

My jaw dropped slightly.

I got tears in my eyes and I saw Nick wipe his own.

"Not Uh. No way. Not her." Elisa frowns, denying what is literally right in front of her.

"But, they're all right there." My voice cracked, unable to tear my eyes away from her arms.

Hundreds and hundreds of white lines, scars, are drawn all over Lyla. Some, some are fresh.

"But why is she always so happy?!" Elisa turns to me and Nick.

"But is she really?" Nick speaks, tears staining his cheeks.

"Nalla." I called out, wiping away my tears.

"Yes Jameson?" Nalla asked from downstairs, still focused on her game with Peter.

"You need to see this. Right now." Nick commanded sternly, wiping his tears, clearing his throat.

Nalla and Peter looked at each other and made their way upstairs.

"Oh no." Nalla gasped, looking at her arms.

"Lyla." Peter whispered, fear dripping from it.

—-

"Is there anything we can do?" I whimpered as we all sat in a circle, half of us on the couch and on the floor.

"Yeah," Elisa jumped in. "Why can't we just turn into humans?"

I nodded as well as Nick.

"We can't do that." Nalla immediately shut us down.

"Why not?" Nick argued, his eyes still glossy.

"It's not safe. Not for us, not for her." Peter explained, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"The minute we turn into humans, we are Lyla's responsibility. She'll have to take care of us. Seven grown people versus one girl." Sammi added, nodding to what Peter had previously said.

"She isn't stable enough for us to reveal ourselves." Ben shook his head as he stared at the floor.

We all grew silent.

"I just wish there was something we could do." I mumbled, but everyone heard.

And everyone agreed.