Returning Home

What will happen April 10th at midnight?

     Cadey watched the water ripple into circles as the small boat rocked back and forth.  she laid her weary head back and pushed her shades down to shield her eyes from the bright sun.  She thought about the nightmare she had for the past two weeks.  She couldn't remeber much, except the voice, it was eerie, but sounded like she should know the person.  Cadey held her breath as she heard the voice go off into her subconscious.  "Beware of the midnight hour."

     Logan, her husband caressed her leg.  Cadey jumped and screamed.  "Woe, babe," he soothed.  He embraced her and kissed her neck, then trailed down her arm.  "What's that?" He asked.

     Cadey stared at the dark green that covered a good portion of her hand.  She rubbed at it vigorously, it wouldn't come off.  "I can't get it off, hum."

     The wind began to pick up, causing the boat to sway.  Logan grabbed the paddles and began  paddling to shore.  Suddenly Cadey had the oddest craving, which terrified her.  With shaky hands she took the last two crickets that Logan was using for bait and sucked them down, she didn't even chew.  She was glad her husband hadn't noticed this odd behavior of hers.

     Cadey stood on trembling legs, then everything went black.  When she came to she was lying on the grass and Logan was cradling her.  "Welcome back," he said with concerned eyes.

     "What happened?" She asked.  Her voice sounded hoarse, her tongue felt strange.

     "You passed out," Logan answered.  "I'm going to pull the car closer.  You rest a minute longer."

     She looked at her green hand, her fingernails are now brown and pointy.  She pulled a mirror from her bag.  Cadey took a deep breath, then stuck her tongue out, it was almost lizard like. Cadey screamed.

     "What's wrong?" Logan asked.

     Cadey put her hand into her pocket.  "A bumblebee," she slurred.

     "I'm really worried about you.  Maybe I should take you to the doctor."

     "No!" Cadey yelled.  "I just want to go home," she cried.

     "Okay, home it is."

     It was late when they arrived home.  Logan put Cadey to bed and he curled up beside her and soon they both were fast asleep.  It was when the clock struck midnight that the voice woke Cadey up, but as always Logan was in a deep sleep.

     "It's time."

     "Father," Cadey cried.  Then, she began to remember everything.  Her father had turned her into a human for one year to live as she wished with the human man she loved.  But after one year on April 10th at midnight she would return home to her kingdom and marry one of her own kind.

     "Father, let me stay."

     "Silence!"  He demanded.  "You have disgraced your family and kingdom long enough."

     Cadey looked at herself.  She had already changed from a beautiful woman to a creature she couldn't stand to look at.  "I'll go," she cried.  What her father didn't know was at this dreadful midnight hour she took a secret with her that soon would have to be revealed.

    

    

Author's Note

Tell me what you think!

Reviews

[InkSlinger]

You have me wnating more.. a tad creepy! Entertaining and nicely paced suspence.. Gonna have to go read the second part!!

[Samuel Dickens]

I think you need to keep going with this. Sure, it's common fairy tale theme, but everyone loves fairy tales!

[Peggy Gildon]

I can picture this as a movie or cartoon movie for children. Wonderful imagery and dialogue.

[Mark]

There are levels to this that would bear much expansion. For example, Logan first notices her green hand, but seems not to notice any of her subsequent changes. Might he also be under some sort of spell? Also, I would be interested in seeing more tension building, without immediately leaping into dark green skin and brown pointy nails. For example, what were the circumstances of she and Logan being at the pond anyway? Might she, even in her human form, have some latent reptilian longing for cool and wet? We never learned whether she was a newt, or a frog, or an alligator--wouldn't it be an interesting twist if, as a newly-re-made alligator, her first meal was the man she had once loved? I realize you were hobbled by the length restriction, but this story has real possibilities. I'd like to see an expanded version. Nice work!

[Priyankaabhilaashi]

Good one..!!!

[shedevil]

it was interesting and made me want to know more about this dreadful secret she has been hiding

[Crayon]

Very creepy! But in a good way. As I was reading I thought it was moving a bit too fast, without going into enough detail or description, but for only about five hundred words, I think it turned out pretty well. I'd love to read more of the story!

[Shawn Pfister]

She's pregnant, isn't she? And with a human's child. For shame.

Cute story. I like how she's slowly turning into a lizard. It moves very quickly, I like that

In the 3rd paragraph she calls her husband hum, I think you meant hun, or you need a short tangent explaining the silly nickname.

[Jibey]

Edgy, intriguing, captivating... surreal :-)

[Julie Beth]

i like this great write :)