Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

Thunder growled on the darkening horizon like an angry wolf. Things change so quickly, Jeff thought as raindrops pelted the top of his head. Any other day he might have kept beneath the trees to stay dry, but today he welcomed the rain. One second everything is clear and bright. The sun faded behind thickening clouds. Then it’s all dark.

There was no residual pain in his leg from the recent transformation. He wondered if the lessening pain meant the transition was close to being complete. Still, he kept his pace slow, not wanting to beat the storm home. I deserve the rain.

The look on Aarav’s face as his father drove away would remain forever etched in Jeff’s memory. It burned behind his eyes like embers from coals. ‘You’re a monster . . . one sick freak.’ Aarav’s parting words rattled inside his head with no intention of fading. He thought of what Mr. Jain said. This entire time I thought he hated me because of my face. He imagined Aarav’s father and his