My eyes felt like they were on fire. I have no idea what time it is, but I showed up at the library at 12 noon and haven't gotten up from my seat in the archives in several hours. During that time, my hands alternated between typing and jotting notes with my pencil. My eyes traveled between the computer monitor in front of me and the notebook on the desk below. I was exhausted from the hours of work I had sunk into my masters thesis.
The passage of time seemed to have no meaning in the archives. There's no clock upon the wall, there's no window for a person to see the position of the sun in the sky, just row after row of document shelving, and obnoxious track lighting above. I began to think that I'd spent about enough time here this afternoon, a thought prompted by the growl that errupted from my stomach. I'd eaten 'lunch' at 11:00 that morning, and not a thing since.
I began to pack up, thinking of ways to improve my thesis as I placed the stack of print-outs and copies into my book-bag. I logged off of the campus network and stared at my notebook for a second longer. I realized that my notes cut off mid-thought. Gripping my pencil, I began to scribble some closing remarks.
All of the sudden, a hand cramp forced me to drop my pencil. I'd been writing so much today and it seemed my wrist could take no more. I began to massage the cramp, but instead of going away, it quickly intensified, not just in my writing hand, but in the other hand too.
A tingle in my abdomen and the beginning of arousal caused me to shift uncomfortably in my seat. I began to worry, this is how the beginning of my change feels, and it is a full moon tonight. I planned on being long gone from the campus library by moonrise, but it seemed as though time had gotten away from me. Reaching into my purse, I gripped my cell phone. Why hadn't I heard my warning alarm?
Damn, it was off. I remembered powering it down earlier in the day. It rang about a half hour after I arrived that afternoon, and earned me some dirty looks from my studious neighbors. Fumbling with my cell phone, I managed to power it up. As it switched on, I saw that I had 2 new voice-mails, and one expired alarm. The time read 7:18 pm. Moonrise took place at 7:14 pm according to the online lunar almanac I used.
Any doubts about what was happening to me melted away as the tension that accompanies my lycanthropic rebirth manifested all in every muscle in my body. I tugged uncomfortably at my t-shirt, my clothing was so uncomfortable at the moment, and I fought the urge to tear it off my burning skin. My arousal was intensifying, and I needed privacy now. As I stood up in a panic, I moaned slightly. It underlined the fact that soon, I'd be audibly and visibly transforming into a werewolf in front of scores of my classmates.
My human psyche remained terrified at the prospect of my secret slipping out in a very public way. I made my way to the doors that divide the archives from the main lobby of the library I fought against the desire to give in and wolf out right here and now. The wolf was winning in this battle of wills. |