I rush upstairs to get ready for the service. This is the second time in as many weeks as I've had to put on this highly uncomfortable suit and pretend like everything is alright.
This time, though, I'm gonna have to do more than pretend all is okay. I'm gonna have to pretend all is normal. How the hell does one pretend like everything is normal when it couldn't be further than the truth?
Within ten minutes, Joshua and I are in the car and headed to the same events hall that we were at two weeks ago for my parents.
We arrive to see the parking lot packed with cars. Since there's no other event today, it's safe to assume that the cars are all here for Collin. We have to circle the lot twice before we finally give up for a decent spot and park at the very back of the lot. Of course, this means that we are running to make sure we can get in the building before they start the service.
We get to the hall, and Joshua snags a seat in the back. Being Cole's only living relative here, I've been instructed to sit up front. I walk along the side of the chairs that are set up and see Max up front trying to get my attention.
I wave back at him and head over to where he's saved me a seat.
"Dude," he says as soon as I sit down, "where the hell were you?" The use of language got him a stern look from his father, but Mr. Ryde doesn't say anything since the minister just walked up to the podium in front of the crowd.
Every seat in the hall is filled with teachers, classmates, friends, family of Cole. There are even people standing in the back and along the sides of the hall. My eyes mist with tears to see how many people loved Cole enough to show up.
"Collin Jackson Hemming was a well-loved young man," the minister begins. "That couldn't be more evident in the turnout today. It is heartwarming to see so many of his friends and family here. I've known him since he was a young lad. He's always had a spark of life in him. I remember the day his and Caleb's parents brought him home from the hospital. He was a little ball on energy even then. As he grew, he kept that energy. He was always smiling." The minister continues on about my brother and as he does, tears start to silently fall down my cheeks. Max hands over a tissue, and I look at him to see tears running down his cheeks as well. I look around me. There doesn't seem to be a dry eye in the house.
I listen to the minister as he has nothing but good things to say about my brother.
"Now, I'd like to invite Caleb, Collin's brother, up to say a few words."
I get out of my seat, clutching the tissue while my hands shake slightly. I get up to the podium and adjust the microphone for my height since I'm a few inches taller than the minister.
"Thank you, Father Jacobs." I nod to him as he takes my seat. "Father Jacobs knows that my brother and I have never really been all that religious, but that never stopped him from giving us advice. Or those little candies you had in your office when we were little." There is a scattering of light laughter at that. "Father Jacobs is right. Collin, or Cole as his friends knew him, was the best brother anyone could ask for. He was my protector, my confidant, my absolute best friend. Sorry Max," I say with a shrug. Max shrugs back with his palms up and a smile on his face. More light laughter. "There wasn't anyone in this world who could compare with his vivacity. He was a bright light in a world covered in darkness. Now, that light is gone. I know that I, for one, will stumble a bit before my soul can adjust to the dimmer light." Tears are running down my face faster now, and I can see that most people aren't bothering with silently crying anymore. Many of the people attending are weeping softly or sniffling into tissues.
After my speech is finished, I meet up with Max and his parents again. There's a lot of hugging going around, starting with Mr. and Mrs. Ryde.
I get hugs or condolences from many of my teachers and teachers I would have had next year if I was staying here. Even Cole's friends at school come up to me and tell me how sorry they are that Cole is gone. Not one of them was nasty or sarcastic with it either, which surprised me. These are the same people who would call me names, trip me in the hall, take my glasses, or just harass me when Cole wasn't around. Now it seems that attitude has completely changed.
We all convene in the adjoining room for food and drinks, and maybe some light conversation. Time is going by so quickly that I don't notice when it starts to get dark out. As if a light switch has been turned on, or more accurately, turned off, I feel the changes begin in my body.
I'm in the middle of a conversation with one of Cole's teachers and he's going on about how great of a student Cole is.
"I'm deeply sorry, Mr. Palaski, but I need to go. Quickly." I interrupt him and take off, looking for Joshua. I spot him halfway across the room. He's speaking to another of his colleagues when he looks up at me suddenly. I give him a little wave and a very worried look. He understands immediately and waves his hand frantically, telling me to follow him.
I start follow him, but I keep getting stopped by attendees wishing me good fortune and all that. I try to be as polite as possible, while still trying to get away. Without warning, a sharp pain in my abdomen hits me. I tell the room at large that I'm not feeling well, and I need to leave immediately. Many of them wave and wish me well. Max starts to follow me out.
I go to the hall where Joshua was and look around for him. I see him by the back door and sprint to catch up. We haul ass to the car, jump in, and he turns it on and yanks the gear shift into "drive." He peels out of the parking lot and gets back home in record time. I have no idea what his plan is because I'm starting to change much more rapidly now.
I can feel my spine lengthening and fur growing underneath my clothing. I kick off my shoes in the car as my feet change to paws. I try to take off my shirt, but all I can manage is one button before I no longer have opposable thumbs. I can feel the sharp teeth of the wolf growing out of my jaw even as my muzzle juts out of my face.
"Shit. Shit. Shit." I hear Joshua mutter. Then he says louder, "Cal, if you can still understand me, nod your head." I nod. "Good. We need to get you into the basement of the garage. You'll be safe down there." I nod again.
He stops the car in the driveway by the detached garage. He jumps out of the car, barely remembering to turn it off. Then he, no lie, he superhero slides over the hood of the car to land on my side. I chuckle and it comes out as a soft woof. He throws my door open, and I spill out onto the driveway. I'm not quite finished transforming, but I'm more wolf than human, so Joshua can't carry me as he is now. Thankfully, the back part of the house is completely obscured from view and it's getting dark out because he starts to transform.
His transformation goes much smoother and quicker than mine. Within a few seconds, there's a full size, 500-pound grizzly bear standing over me. He scoops me up in his front paws and carries me into the garage.
[Cal.] I hear a voice in my head. My head snaps up, whipping around to find the source of the voice. [Cal, it's Josh. I'm communicating to you telepathically. It's another gift of being a shifter.] My ears prick up I look him in the eyes. [No, Cal, you can't do it. Only shifters, not changelings.]
Damn, changelings got shafted. I think as Joshua gently lays me on the floor of the garage. My transformation is coming quicker now, and I burst out of my clothes. I stumble as my legs attempt to hold my weight. My ears twitch towards the front of the garage as I hear a noise coming from outside.
[Garrett? Help me in here. He's started to change already.] I hear Joshua's voice in my head. He must be projecting it to whoever this Garrett person is. A blur flies in through the door, and I feel my back end being grabbed. Instinctively, I turn to bite at whoever or whatever is attacking me.
[Cal. It's okay. That's just Garrett. We need to get you below. You'll be safe there.] I hear him, but the words aren't making sense anymore. I try to turn to take a piece out of whoever dares to touch me. [Garrett, I think he's too far gone. We gotta get him below.] Joshua grabs my head in his massive bear paws then maneuvers around so that he has one giant arm around my neck, almost like a choke hold.
My paws slip and slide on the concrete garage floor as both Joshua and Garrett push and pull me to the trap door that leads to under the garage. They shove me down, none to gently, and slam the door shut. I hear a bolt slide into place twelve feet above my head. By the time I've hit the floor, my full transformation is complete, and I stand a solid six feet high, from paw to ear. Even with my colossal size, I can't reach the trap door above me. I look around the dark room, up at the sliver of light coming through the door and let out an ear-splitting howl.