Chapter 13: Corroding Body and Mind

The next few days went on as normal. However, Ferral’s physical strain that the cure had seemed to worsen. Even being transformed, he could feel his body aching with pain. Every muscle, fiber, and cell seemed to be wanting to expand and explode his entire body. This also began to affect his mental state, and he was unable to sleep even worse than before. He was often unfocused and started to become irritated at everything. But Ferral tried to hide it the best he could, not wanting his loved ones to worry and try to help. He didn’t want to be helped. He just wanted results. One day, as he attempted to train, his muscles suddenly bulged. It was as if the rest of his body wanted to transform, but the cure was blocking that from happening. His eyes turned into the crimson red of his awakened state, yet his hair stayed purple. He writhed in pain so much that he punched one of the mirrors in the training room. Once everything calmed down, he stared at his reflection in the cracked mirror. Ferral scoffed, clenching his eyes shut and exhaling deeply, opening his eyes to see they had gone back to the same purple as his hair.

Trying to ignore everything, Ferral set up a date with Everett. If there was anyone who could help get his mind off all the stress, it was her. The two lay together in the park, staring up at the grey winter sky. “So, did you hear?” Everett asked, turning to her left side, “There’s gonna be a big tournament for any experiments to get a lot of money. My father set up the whole thing.” Ferral chuckled sarcastically, “Out of all these things. He chose fighting? The only thing experiments are known for right now?” Everett laughed with embarrassment, “You know he means well. So, are you gonna enter?” “Well….” Before Ferral continued, Everett playfully rolled on top of Ferral and lifted herself up, the two’s faces being only inches away. “I think it would be so amazing to see you fight for real. I know how intelligent you are, but I wanna see your fighting prowess.” Ferral gulped, “Well….yeah. Obviously, I’m going to participate.” Everett’s eyes lit up, “You are?! Wow, so exciting.” Ferral’s right eye twitched, knowing full well he wanted nothing to do with this tournament. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not doing this for the money. I’m entering for the thrill of battle, and to have all sorts of exciting challenges.” He lied. Everett smiled, “Well I can’t wait to see you participate. Oh, and I heard that there’s gonna be some foreign challengers too. One of them’s a white tiger experiment from Russia.” Ferral fakely grinned and scratched his head, “I’ll be on the lookout for them.” 

After their date, as Ferral made it back to the gym, he slammed his head against the wall of the building. He let out a long exasperated sigh, “Of course, I have to enter this dumb crap now. God, I hate fighting.” He felt a quick sharp pain shoot through his head. He winced in pain but shook it off. As he entered and made his way upstairs, Ferral saw the other lionesses gathered in the living room. Seemingly waiting for him. “Well, looks like I’ll be entering that stupid tournament after all.” He growled. They looked at him confused. “Seriously?” Leona asked, “What changed your mind?” “Don’t worry about it.” Loni snickered, “I bet it was your girlfriend, wasn’t it?” His face slightly turned red. “Ugh, you’re fucking pathetic.” Leona jabbed. “Shut it, I don’t actually have to enter. By the way, why the hell are you all sitting around like you’re having an intervention?” They looked at each other for a second then back at him. “Cause Leona told us all about your test cure thing.” Savannah said. Ferral growled, annoyed that Leona would do this. “Why, Ferral?” Zuri asked. “Yeah, why? Being an experiment is so cool!” Loni replied. “Being an experiment is a sickness!!” Ferral snapped.

They jumped a little at his outburst, making Ferral calm himself. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap like that.” Venus sighed, “Ferral, we understand you mean well, but you have to look at things from a larger perspective. We were made as the successors to humanity. I know all this segregation and hate is tough to watch and live through, but if we give up what makes us special, then the hate wins.” Ferral almost let out that it wasn’t just humanity that was the problem, but his own guilt. However, he decided to keep it to himself. “I mean c’mon, Ferral. Think about all those old activist people who fought for rights and stuff,” Loni added, “You think if they could change themselves they’d actually do it? Of course not.” “A hundred percent right, sis.” Savannah continued, “You gotta know that it’s not about trying to be accepted by other people, but yourself.” 

Ferral knew they were right. But, there was something in Ferral’s mind that prevented him from accepting that. Maybe it was simply stubbornness, but he knew what he was doing was right. His thoughts were foggy, his body ached, and he wanted to tell them to shut up. That they were wrong, that they were the problem. That he was the problem. “Leona also told us what those rings were for,” Zuri said, “And we’ve seen your changes in demeanor, Ferral. Why are you putting yourself through this stress?” He didn’t respond, only gripping his hair with his right hand. Maybe humanity was the problem? All the news reports of people saying experiments were awful monsters. He wished they’d all die. He wished everyone would die. He wanted to be rid of this pain. His mind and body burned. It hurt.

“Ferral?” Leona got up concerned. Seeing Ferral looking down, gripping his hair with both hands, his body shaking. Ferral’s eyes changed into crimson red, the color filling his irises like a liquid being injected. His body wanted to transform, but the cure continued to wall it off. The others got up and started to approach Ferral, he knew this would happen. He didn’t want their help. He didn’t want them to be concerned! So he took a deep breath and exhaled. As Leona placed her hand on Ferral’s shoulder, he knocked it off quickly. “I’m fine.” He said, the red in his eyes being sucked back into his pupil. He truned and walked off into his room, slamming the door and locking it.

Ferral got up and went to look at himself in the mirror. He looked up at his hair and wolf ears, Ferral growled, smashing the mirror with his prosthetic arm. Then looked at the gloved arm and removed the glove, throwing it to the side. Ferral turned and slid down against the wall. His head and body still burned, he couldn’t stand it. Venus, Loni, Savannah, Zuri….Leona. He knew they were right, but knew they weren’t. He hated humanity but didn’t. He was in pain, but knew it would help. His mind and body were on the brink, he wanted to just slip into the darkness, but knew he had to stay in the light.