Page 7 of Shadow Bonds

A few minutes later, I come out to the edge of one. The minute I see it, something instantly calms inside me. A warmth that spreads through my chest and then out to every limb making me feel like I can finally breathe since the moment I woke up here.

The thick trees from the forest grow out far enough to block me from view if I wanted to stay here, but I spot a group of rocks nearer to the lake that look like they might block the breeze better.

Glancing around to make sure no one is nearby, I head over to it and toward a high flat rock that looks like it would conceal me while also protecting me from the growing wind.

Pocketing my map, I move to sit in front of it when I spot a small pool of still water a couple of feet beside it.

Taking a deep breath to steel myself, I move over to it and glance down, jolting when I see the image of the girl from the mirror, her turquoise eyes wide with fear.

I breathe through the rush of panic sliding through me and try to inspect the rest of my new body. I twist and turn it wondering if I’ll feel like I’m in a suit that’s been pulled too tight. But everything feels normal.

Which I suppose should be the first sign that somethingiswrong.

I usually felt pain in my left foot from when one of my foster mothers decided to stomp on it, breaking it. She wouldn’t let me go get it checked out, and it never healed right. The twinge of pain in my wrist is also gone. And there’re no more dull headaches that I used to suffer from incessantly every day.

Instead, I feel strong. Stronger than I have in a long while.

My eyes find the blonde in the pool of water once more. At least we look around the same age. It would have been beyond strange if I had ended up in an older body. Or even worse, younger.

I wince when I realize I’m thinking how worse this could be when it’s already surpassed that.

Maybe it’s because none of this feels real. How can it? I’m in someone else’s body, my own most likely burned to ashes, and in the notorious Shadow Academy with four Shadow warriors that think I’m their companion. Someone that Dawn said can help keep them sane.

All male Shadows are apparently drawn to the dark. They can become volatile and unstable if not kept in check. That’s why most live here, to train and to learn how to control their shadow abilities, and in turn, become stronger to fight against the Hollow and its dark beasts and creatures.

If they don’t learn to control it, the madness sets in.

Instead of thinking about how most females here are used as a damn Xanax, I let the rocks block me from view as I spin and move, testing out multiple combinations of fighting moves I’ve learned and burned into memory.

This body moves like it was born to do it, with far more graceful spins and kicks than I could ever manage with my broken body.

I guess that’s what happens when you have a healthy body that’s taken care of with consistent food and rest. But most of us don’t have that luxury.

A pang of guilt hits me like a punch to the chest when I realize I might have technically stolen this girl’s life. Not by choice, but whoever switched us might have placed her in my body and killed her before she… burned.

My stomach knots and rolls. I hate that I’m a part of this. But another part of me is still glad I’m alive too. Even if my entire life has completely changed. At least alive, I have a chance to figure everything out.

I run my hands along my side, expecting to feel the jagged scar, but pause when all I feel is smooth skin.

I glance down and pull up my top. There’s nothing there. No jagged scar. No uneven skin.

But of course, it wouldn’t be there. This isn’tmybody. This body was never attacked by a group of vicious terrigons. Never beat by her multiple foster parents or abandoned and left to survive in a world that always looks down on you.

An icy shiver slithers down my spine when it finally hits me.

Myrealbody burned in that building. And unless there’s someone out there that can resurrect me, I have no way of getting it back. No way of turning back time and changing whatever messed up thread fate has fucked up with.

Thisis my body now. Whether I like it or not.

Everyone here also thinks I’m a female Shadow. Something that isn’t possible.

Unless you call attracting trouble at every turn, I’ve been normal my entire life. I’ve had to fight to survive each day, claw my way through the darkness to even find a sliver of light.

I suppose, at least that will help me while I’m here. My stubborn nature and will to live has never done me wrong. I doubt it’s going to start now.

I move over to the long flat rock and sit with my back to it, ready for this day to be over already.

In my own little hiding space, I wrap my arms around my body and glance out at the lake while trying to figure out what I’m going to do now.

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