Novel & Cerita Gets Under My Skin

Addison and I are sitting at the same table. Dr. Addison and I talk while we are busy eating. I feel this weird sensation happening throughout my body. Dr. Addison looks at me funny as she asks; "Are you okay, Dr. Andrews?" I smile and say; "Yes. It feels like something is crawling under my skin." She sits back, looking shocked at me, and asks; "Really? What is going on with you?" I keep my smile on my face to set her mind at ease as I respond; "No, not really. If something were crawling under my skin, then there would be problems. I said that it feels like something is crawling under my skin."

My skin feels sticky with dried sweat and old adrenaline. I stand up and walk into the bathroom. The water runs hot, turning the small space into a wall of thick steam. I stand under the spray for a long time, letting the heat scrub the tension out of my muscles. When I step out, I wipe the mirror with my palm and stare at my reflection. My skin is pale, but my eyes look different. Sharper. I dress quickly. I choose a heavy, dark purple gown with a high collar that completely hides the unmapped skin of my back.

Officer Smith asks, staring at me and believing that I'm a extra-terrestrial. "Mwen fenk soti nan magazen likè a epi mwen tounen lakay mwen. Non, mwen pa etranje oswa mwen gen yon maladi po. Mwen te fèt ak koulè po sa a ak tout fanmi mwen genyen li. (I just came from the liquor store and I'm heading back home. No, I'm not an alien or have a skin condition. I was born with this skin color and my whole family has it.)" I explain myself to the officers.

Deep under my skin, like a warning. But I said nothing. Not yet.

No swelling, my skin is soft, clean. Realization churns in my gut. Yesterday, I had one foot firmly planted in my grave. I knew I was dying. No way should I feel good. I sit up too fast and the rush of it knocks the breath from my lungs. My heart starts racing, adrenaline kicking up late to a party. I throw the blanket back and scan my legs, my arms, my hands. Every inch of me should be black and blue and bandaged, but there's nothing. Not a scab, just perfect, unbroken skin. Like none of it happened.

“I rеmеmbеr thе way thе grоund fеlt undеr mу skin when I wаѕ hiding undеr thе саr. It wаѕ ѕсrаtсhіng my knees, but I didn’t feel іt muсh. It wаѕ thе ѕаfеѕt ріесе оf соnсrеtе I’d ever been on. It fеlt wаrm іnѕtеаd оf rоugh.” I look dоwn аt mу knееѕ. They are bоth nеаrlу hеаlеd nоw. “It wаѕ funnу, bесаuѕе I соuld ѕее thеу wеrе blееdіng at the tіmе, but I dіdn’t fееl a thіng."

The peace of it lulls me. “Yes.” “You finding a little place in your head to sink into?” How does he know? “It’s called subspace,” he offers. “All submissives go there when they’re getting what they want and need. It’s their happy place. Get cozy, baby. You’ll be spending a lot of time there.”

I could hear fabric tearing and a thud as something dropped on the floor, as Daniel kept ranting, "Don't you know what it is? It's my mother's family crest, and I'm supposed to give it to Susan during our Marking! How dare you—" "Sorry, I'm just a little jealous… Argh!" Anna suddenly cried out in pain. "What's wrong?" Daniel's rant abruptly stopped, a tinge of worry too faint to notice cracking his voice. "M-My voice…" Anna's voice was cracking too. "Those black marks weren't there before… It really hurts." There was a moment of silence, and Daniel soon exclaimed in shrill disbelief, "It's a Souleater Vine! Why would the bracelet be… Where did you touch it?!"

It felt as if I was ravenous, my body eating Itself to stay alive. I got out of bed, walking towards the window. My eyes burning, I closed and opened them rapidly, adjusting to the light. The sun looked like it had just risen. I put my hand out towards the light, shocked by what I saw. My skin turned a brownish amber that was Shiny and slick to the touch. How best to describe It, I did not know? It was like my skin was glass, but not see through. Like I looked rock hard, yet soft to the touch. I looked shiny, not sparkly, but bright nonetheless. Like the sun hitting stained glass. It didn't hurt, but It was definitely obvious that I... was different. 'What is going on?!' I did not understand

Anita’s Pov The heat blazed beneath my skin, relentless and suffocating, like fire spreading through my veins. I pressed my back against the wall, desperate for its coolness, hoping it would offer some relief. Yet, the stone was as warm as the air around me, failing to quench the fire burning inside. Every nerve in my body felt raw, exposed, tingling with an energy I couldn’t control.