Into The Night by, Natalie

The room was dim and I sat there shuffling papers. My Chemistry teacher had asked me and a few others to stay after school to organize handouts for extra credit. Without hesitation, I agreed to help him and he left us to work alone. Before I finished my stack of papers, the others had done theirs and left me alone. Of course, I expected it since no one really notices me, so I carried on and finished my work by 7 o’clock.

I exited the building and noticed that it was darker than usual. The transition from fall to winter was taking place, long nights and shorter days. I began walking home. A cold breeze passed by me, pierced my skin and sent chills down my spine. I felt it go by as I watched my sleek black hair dance in the wind. The road that took me directly home was closed due to construction work, so I had to make my way around the corner and pass through a narrow alley. I was terrified that something bad might happen so I cautiously made my way. My heart began pounding and fear slowly overcame me. I saw a dark figure walking quickly towards me getting closer and closer. I froze and watched it come towards me. Closer. Closer. The figure was of a man. He had his hood up so I couldn’t make out his face. He rushed directly passed me and bumped into my shoulder.

“Watch it, little girl,” he said slightly turning around and still in a hurry. I was still unable to see his face but I saw a dull gleam in his eyes.

I stood there silently as a few minutes passed by and snapped out of my daze. I walked directly to my house and ran up to my room. I had a headache and felt nauseous. I needed to lay down and rest. I tried to fall asleep, but couldn’t. I was extremely tired, but my body was refusing to let me sleep. 

Before I knew it, a rush of heat flowed from heart to my arteries and throughout the rest of my body. A surge of heat was stuck in my throat and I panicked. I started coughing up saliva and had difficulty breathing. I collapsed onto the cold hard floor and saw the moon peering through my window. My eyes widened and I began choking. Was I dying?

The pain of burning was intensely building within me, I felt my bones rearranging themselves, I heard cracks and felt torment. I screamed, but no one heard. I cried, but no one saw. Finally, the flesh on my back ripped by my shoulders and out came two black stubs. I could see my reflection in the mirror across from me. I looked horrid  and pale. My gray eyes had turned into a penetrating purple, the shade the sky turns right before lightning strikes. My skin had scales of shimmering silver. The top of my head had two horns coming out from it, as did my elbows and sides of my knees. I had a tail full of spikes aligned in crooked rows. The black stubs on my back emerged into large metallic wings. I screamed, but what was heard was a roar. The roar of a mythical beast.

The next day, I went to school feeling empowered, like a completely different person. I noticed a dragon tattoo wrapped around my left arm when I woke up this morning. Everything about people not noticing me didn’t matter anymore. I couldn’t stop thinking about my transformation last night. I was a new person and that’s all that mattered to me.

“Hello? Earth to Minerva? Are you still in there?” said Jerome as he waved his hand in front my face. He managed to get me back to reality.

“I’m sorry. I feel a little tired,” I responded while shrugging my shoulders. The look in his face when I told him this showed that he could see right through me. This is why we’re best friends. Jerome and I have been together since we were small, so he would know when something’s on my mine. 

“Come on, do you take me for a fool? There’s something up isn’t there? Come on Minerva, you know you can tell me anything,” he said sincerely with eyes focused on mine. 

“Okay,” I took a deep breath and spoke, “Last night I bumped into this guy and he smelled kinda funny. Then, when I got home something weird happened.” Hearing this come out of my own mouth made me realize that it wasn’t a dream, but my new reality. 

“Which was?” Jerome said, curious to find out the rest of my story.

“I sorta…became…a dragon.”

There was a moment of silence before Jerome responded, “Wow. Are you serious?” He looked at me with serious eyes and his face went blank. I was unsure whether or not he believed me. All that mattered was that I believed myself, but if he did too I would feel more at ease. Then he added, “I believe you, but I kinda wanna see how this whole Minerva-Dragon transformation works out.”

I was shocked and grateful at the same time, “Thanks Jerome.” He patted my head and left.

“After school!” He shouted back at me.

“Okay! I’ll be there!” I yelled back.

When the bell rang, I ran out of the classroom. I started thinking about when or how I’ll change. During the night I’ll be a dragon again. Then, I thought more about what could trigger the transformation. The moon. It’s gotta be the moon. I looked at it and my body reinvented itself. Hopefully it wouldn’t hurt as much this time.

I had to pass by the alley again because construction work was still happening. I walked down the alley and felt the same cold breeze, except it sent warmth down my spine. I felt content knowing that Jerome would know my secret. As I was walking down the alley, I saw the same black figure. It was coming closer and closer towards me like before. However, it stopped about five feet in front of me.

“You pathetic excuse for a girl! How dare you take what’s mine! From me, Vega the Great! Do you wish to die here and now, dragon meat?” 

“I may look like a weakling, but I’m not! I can hurt you and if I have to I will,” I said without thinking. I wasn’t scared. I was ready for whatever was to happen. I just needed to transform, to be the me I am now.

“You fool! Do you have a death wish? I will take your dragon heart out of your little body with my own two hands and use it to take over this world! Whatever power you think you may possess compares nothing to mine,” said Vega the Great. 

“Try me,” I said. He glared at me and drew his sword. I wasn’t scared anymore. I felt more alive than I’ve ever felt before. No matter what happens I’ll win either way. The moon was in my view and I felt heat surging throughout my veins. My wings came out from my back as did my tail and claws. I roared and fire came out of my mouth. He came at me, but I flew into the air dodging his attack. I then slashed him with my tail and engulfed him with flames. It was as if my dragon instinct and senses were taking over. I just needed to rely on myself.

“Ha ha ha, your petty acts of self-defense do nothing!”

“I’m not dying tonight!” 

Vega the Great ran towards me again, gripping tightly onto his sword and pointing it directly to my stomach. He needed my dragon heart in tact, but the dull gleam in his eyes showed that he couldn’t care less about my body. Torture was his plan. Hope was mine.

Our brawl continued for a long time. Both of us were injured, but when you’re fighting for your life that didn’t matter. I was tired, but I refused to give up. The only thing that kept me going was to see Jerome’s idiotically friendly face when I show him the new me. That was when Vega the Great’s body collapsed onto the hard cement after the fire of a gunshot. I watched as his body disintegrated into dark fumes of mist and vanished. 

I turned to see where it came from and who stood right before me was Jerome.

“I waited for like three hours by your house! I got worried and here you were fighting some guy,” said Jerome. He looked more angry than worried. “Don’t scare me like that again. Dragon or not, you’re still and forever will be Minerva, my friend.”

“I’m sorry Jerome. I promise to never worry you like that,” I said with tears in my eyes.

“Good,” he said as he hugged me. The warmth from him was warmer than the heat that flowed within me. 

“Where’d you get the gun anyways?” I asked.

“Oh yeah! My dad’s a cop. I better put this back before he tasers me.”

Jerome and I laughed as I took him up into the air. The both of us flew together without a single care in the world, into the night.