Creepy Hollow Fae: Shapeshifter

Year of study: fifth
Assignment type: solo





The faerie boy steps closer to his target, an aged librarian packing books away into a shelf. He pulls a knife from his belt, raises his hand—and that’s when I grab him around the neck and drag him backward. He melts into the form of a small child—what? A shapeshifter? The Seer didn’t tell me that—and slips easily away from me before shifting into a large man and shoving me to the ground. I sweep my leg out, tripping him. He lands heavily. I jump to my feet, calling to my bow and arrow. The shapeshifter is a skinny girl now, springing up, shifting back to the large man as he gets ready to launch himself at me. I point an arrow at him.

He stops, shifting back to what I’m guessing is his natural form—a boy only a little taller than myself, with orange eyes that match the orange highlights in his hair. The knife is in his hand.

“Well, hello, pretty lady,” he says without lowering the knife. “You shouldn’t jump out at people like that.”

“You shouldn’t go around killing old ladies,” I retort.

“Whatever,” he says with a shrug. “I’m just following orders.”

“Regardless of your reason for doing it, you have to come with me to the Guild now.”

The side of his mouth curls up in a smirk. “And what are they going to do with me? Throw me into their special prison?”

“Well, you didn’t actually hurt anyone, so no. But there are rehabilitation programs that—”

“Rehabilitation?” He laughs. “As though I have some addiction they can cure me of?”

“Do you want to do someone else’s dirty work for the rest of your life?” I shout. “Do want to die knowing you were nothing more than a criminal? Or do you want to take this opportunity to be a better person?”

I expect him to laugh even harder, but, surprisingly, he seems to be considering my words. Interesting. I’ve never tried this tactic before.

The shapeshifter crosses his arms, being careful not to stab himself with his own knife. “So, this rehabilitation thing,” he says. “Would you come and visit me there?”

~  ~  ~

Like this flash fiction? Find out more about the Creepy Hollow series.
If you'd like to know more about my A to Z flash fiction pieces, read my A to Z Challenge Theme for 2012 post.