Finding Home- Chapter Two

     Gasps were heard behind me as Reggie spoke up.
     "You lie!" he spat
     "Farvin is,  and always will be, human!" The woman added.

      "Well then, I hate to burst your bubble, but it IS me." I replied.
      "Fine, if it IS you, answer me these questions three." he said. I rolled my eyes at this, he is acting like a DM (Dungeon Master) in a time of crisis. I just thought a big "Oh boy" as he continued.
      "Who is with me right now?"

     Although I didn't know if Sarah was still with him, and that I couldn't just turn over and look, I answered.
     "Sarah Bleesdale."

      "You could have gotten that from Farvin before you ate him! You monster!" The woman, most likely Sarah shouted from behind me.
      I growled, trying to get up. I was infuriated by being called a monster. I heard them back up, but I was not strong enough to get up yet, and collapsed back down to the ground.
      "Give me the next question." I growled.
       "Fine! What grade are we in AND what school do we attend" Reggie asked.
      "We are going to be Juniors in a couple days, and we attend Razmon High School." I answered, hope beginning to fill my soul.

      "Hmm, fine. Last question. Describe your girlfriend, and don't skimp on the details.."
      Thinking of all the things I could think of Sarah, I responded.
      "She has brilliant chestnut brown hair that could make any guy stop, turn, and look. Gorgeous hazel eyes that make my head spin. She also has a talent for music and is the most trustful friend you could ever have" I explained.
     "Well THAT was a little overdramatic." Reggie replied.
      "Oh, Farvin!" Sarah shouted, sounding like she was on the verge of tears. I heard the leaves crunch behind me as she ran over to me and hugged my back. I was unable to look at her as my eyes were still out of focus. So I just closed them for now.
      "I'm so sorry for calling you a monster! I-I was just scared I lost you forever." Sarah said, sobbing on my back.
      "It's OK, I would've freaked out too if I was in your shoes." I replied.
      "Farvin." Reggie said in front of me.
       "What?" I asked.
      "How did this happen to you?" He asked.
      "It was that necklace, it caught me off guard and burst. Then all this happened." I explained.
       "Well, at least you're still alive, that's all that matters. Now open your eyes and look at me." Reggie demanded.
      "Wish I could, my eyes are still blurry." I responded.
      "Come on, I know they're fine. You don't wear glasses." he replied.
      "That's what you think"
       "Just open them." Reggie replied, in an annoyed tone.
      "OK, if you say so.." I said then opened them slowly as my vision came into focus.
I saw Reggie take a step back in shock as he looked at my eyes. He looked speechless.
"Holy shit man..." was all he could produce in words. But I had my own things to focus on.

     In words, I could not simply explain how much better I could see through these eyes. The colors seemed  more vibrant than they were before. And I could see everything in front and to the side of me in a perfect 180  degree arc. It was fantastic.
     Coming back to the realization that Reggie was in front of me in awe and looking like he was going to faint, I asked him,
     "What is it?"
     "It's just that, your eyes look unlike a humans, they look like a reptiles'. And they're green!" he responded.
     "What?!" I exclaimed. Normally, my eyes were usually blue, but green? That sounded awesome!

    I saw Sarah step into my field of vision and look at me. She too had a look of shock.
     "Farvin, you-you look totally unrecognizable!" she said, clearly shaken. Then continued.
     "With those eyes and creepy deep voice of yours, it's easy to assume you're some sort of monster." she explained.
     "Wait, I have a voice change?" I asked, not noticing before. Upon finishing that sentence, I noticed that my voice was much deeper and more eerie than before.
     "Yup, and trust me, it's REALLY unpleasant." Reggie replied to my question, snapping back to reality.
     "I can imagine." I responded, then continued.
     "I'm going to try to stand up now, be ready!" I announced.
     After a slight pause and crunching of leaves as my friends stepped back, Sarah announced,
     "OK, we're ready."

     Honing all my power to my front and back legs, I dug my claws into the dirt and hoisted myself up so I was on all fours. Oddly enough, it felt weird in this pose, so I made the effort to stand on my hind legs, and oddly, it felt natural! Catching my balance (the tail really helped with this!) I looked down at myself. I was covered in blue scales almost entirely. With the exception of my underside, which was all black as night. My feet had claws that were pretty long for my standards, and that's LONG. Looking back at my tail, which I was surprised I could control, I saw that had spikes along it with a cool black spade thing at the end.

     Looking back in front of me where Sarah and Reggie were standing, I realized that I had become what I always dreamt to become. I was a full-fledged, fire breathing dragon! Although the fire breathing need to be tested out later.
     "Enjoying yourself?" Sarah asked.
     "Ya, you could say that." I replied with a childish grin on my face.
     "Well, we have to get back to my place and explain what happened. Assuming you don't scare my parents to death!" Sarah laughed.
     "Sarah! This is serious! He could be killed for this!" Reggie exclaimed. Abruptly stopping, Sarah then had a look of sadness on her face.
     "Oh ya, sorry." she said to us.

     I never thought of how people were going to take this until now. Reggie brought up something that was something I was going to face sooner or later, and I had no choice.
     "Yes, it's true." I said, then when I got their attention, I continued,
     "People could flip out about this. and they will hunt me down and probably kill you guys if I'm with you. I should probably stay out here where I belong."
     "No! I don't care if you're a monster! You're my boyfriend and I won't let you stay our here the rest of your life like an animal! I'll stand by your side no matter what happens!" Sarah shouted in a stern tone. I was deeply moved and shocked at the same time by the ferocity of her voice.
     "Wow Sarah, I-I don't know what to say." I said to her, smiling and on the verge of tears. The fact that she would risk her life for me, was a lot for a person to do.
     "You really would do that? For me?" I asked.
     "Of course you nincampoop!" she joked, her stern tone gone. She then continued,
     "Now let's get back to my place, I haven't touched a phone in ages!"
Then I remembered, my phone! I set it down before I transformed, and I needed to find it before I lost it in this forest for good.
     "Shoot! Guys! My phone! I left it here before this happened to me!" I exclaimed.
     "Really? I thought you crushed it with your tail!" Reggie joked.
     He got an elbow jab in the arm from Sarah, cursed, and said,
     "Ouch! Fine. Can't a little humor be present?"

     We searched around the leaves and twigs for a good 15 minutes and still couldn't find my phone.
     "You may be out of luck Farv, I can't see anything through these leaves!" Sarah shouted back to me.
     "Well, there's a way to find his phone!" Reggie shouted, then we watched him as he pulled out his own phone. We both gasped in shock. He had the newest iPhone which was released over a week ago. He never told us about it for a reason, cause he's always wanted an iPhone for himself. Knowing him, he would have stuffed it in our faces the moment the phone landed in his hands.
     "Whoah! Reggie! Why didn't you tell us about your phone?" I asked in shock. He just stared at me blankly.
     "Eh, reasons. That doesn't matter right now." he said, quickly changing the subject as if he was hiding something. It seemed odd, but I wasn't going to question him any further right now.
     After a few taps, he raised the receiver to his ear, not knowing why he would call someone at that moment. I soon found out why.
     To our right, I heard the tune of "I'm Walking on Sunshine" blaring. It was my ringtone, which meant my phone was right next to us the whole time.
Sarah walked over to the sound and grabbed my phone out of a thick layer of leaves. Shutting the phone off, she turned back to us, then said,
     "I'll hold onto it for now. Now, shall we be going?"
      Reggie and I both nodded, then followed her lead back to her house.

     Leaves crunched as we walked across the forest, the sun was setting to the west resulting in the forest to have a red tinge to it. My eyes just made the whole scene more magical than it should have been. In front of me, Sarah and Reggie were in deep conversation. Luckily with my increased sense of hearing, I could eavesdrop on their conversation without them knowing.

    "Sarah, I don't know what will happen to us. What if we are killed? I don't want to be dead because of a monster!" Reggie said. I frowned at the remark, being called a monster just disgusted me.
     "Reggie! Don't call him a monster, he's our friend and his appearance can't tell us otherwise." Sarah responded.
     "Ok, Ok. I just don't want to be killed for no reason."
     "REGGIE! Do you even care about him?!" Sarah shouted, then punched him in the arm.
     "Sure I do, when he was human. What will he do for us? Help us cook marshmellows?" Reggie snapped.
     "Wow Reggie, you're an asshole. You know that?" Sarah said back.
     "What?! I'm not an asshole, I'm just telling the truth!"Reggie replied.
     I stopped listening at this point. There was something off with Reggie, it seems as if he never cared about being my friend.  And being called a monster verified that fact.

     The rest of the walk back to Sarah's house was silent, and I was alone to my thoughts. Being a bipedal dragon contradicted everything I believed about the mythical beast. Alas, what happened happened and there was nothing I could do now to change the past. I just needed to think about the problems ahead of me. How would the rest of the world except a dragon among them? It was terrifying question, but it was reality.
     Sarah's house came into view as we reached the edge of the forest. Dropping down to all fours for stealth, we waited behind the thick canopy as Sarah stared at her house, forming a plan.
     "My dad's back is turned over to the window. We have to move fast. Me and Reggie will go in, close the blinds to the backyard, then prep my parents to see you." Sarah explained
     "OK, so where do you want me?" I asked.
     "Stand over there by those trahs cans, you won't be noticed. We'll tell you to come out when your ready." Sarah replied.
     "OK, let's do this" I said quietly.
      Very silently, Sarah and Reggie went to the front door and I waited at the edge of the forest. Waiting a bit for my signal, I saw Sarah's dad get up from his chair to answer the door, that was my queue. Very silently, I walked over to the trash cans that barely concealed me at all. Since I was way bigger than it, crouching wouldn't even hide me completely.
      It was getting darker out, and it felt like forever I was behind those cans, but eventually the back door opened and my head perked up. This had to be it, I just didn't know how they were going to take the news. Then I heard Sarah's voice come out not too far away.
     "Farvin! You can come out now!"
     "You better not be pulling my leg, I'm in the middle of a court ruling on channel 6!" A deep male voice, barely audible, said.
     Taking a deep breath, I walked on all fours slowly making it to the back of the house. This was the first person other than my friends to see me as a dragon. How he would react would decide the fate of my belonging in this community.
Stopping at the corner, I took another deep breath and stepped into Sarah's backyard. Looking directly at Sarah's dad while doing so, he gaped and looked like he was going to pass out from shock.

     "No, this can't be real." he said in awe. Still staring at me.
     "Well it is sir." I said, "I'm as real as the back of your hand." He turned to Sarah and spoke.
     "This is Farvin?"
     "Yes dad, I was shocked too at first, but it's true." Sarah replied.
      "Are you sure he won't... you know..." Sarah's dad began.
      "No dad, he's perfectly harmless. His appearance may be different but he is the same old Farvin." Sarah explained.
      Looking back at me, Sarah's dad spoke.
      "Well, at least I can say dragons exist now!" He laughed, but it was brief.
     "Ya, I guess so." I replied with a smirk.
     "Well I can't leave ya in the cold, come on in and we'll call your parents" Sarah's dad explained.
      Not knowing how my parents would react at the sight of me, I reluctantly agreed and we all went back into the house.

      Luckily, Sarah's house was like a castle. High ceilings, large doors, humongous rooms. It was very convenient that I could fit in this house without knocking everything down and causing a disturbance with my tail. The walls were lined with paintings painted by Sarah's mother, the warped figures depicted in the paintings  were just breathtaking. Staring at the paintings as I made my way through the house, I walked into the living room.
     I sat on the couch, which was of course super-sized conveniently for my size. I relaxed and tossed my head back. Closing my eyes, I tried to imagine how my parents would react. Joy? Happiness? Fear? I didn't know exactly, but they would be here very soon.
     "OK, I called your parents, they should be here in a couple minutes." Sarah's dad shouted to me from the other room

     I nodded, keeping my eyes closed. I had a blasted headache from everything that happened day and was grateful for the couple second of peace and tranquility.
Somebody sat next to me and put their hand on my paw. Opening my eyes, I looked at Sarah who looked back at me with empathy in her eyes.
     "I'm so sorry this happened to you." she said with a glum look.
     "Don't be! I've always wanted to be a dragon!" I exclaimed, smiling and and trying to raise the mood.
     "Ah, ok. I hope your parents take the news OK." she replied.
      "Don't worry, they're my parents, they should handle this situation well." I said back to Sarah.

      Just as I said that, a car pulled up in the driveway, the headlights briefly shining through the window.
     "It's them." Sarah whispered, squeezing my paw pretty tightly.
     "Ouch! Sarah, why are you so tense?” I asked.
     “I’m just nervous, that’s all.” she replied.
     Just as she said that, the front door burst open and I heard people storm into the house.

      A deep male voice could be heard shouting from the entrance hallway.
     “Where is he?! Where is our trashbag of a son?!” My father shouted to the house. Gosh, what the hell did Sarah’s dad tell them? That I stole bread and killed the president? Anyways, my father didn’t even see me yet and he was freaking out. I don’t think this will go as smoothly as planned.
     Sarah’s dad came out of the other room and tried to greet my parents.
     “Hey Frank! How are y-”
     “Shut up Marvin!” My dad interrupted. The continued,
     “I just want to see my son, you asshole!”

     I started to get up from the couch when I felt a tug on my arm. Sarah shook her head at me with fear in her eyes.
     “Don’t…” she pleaded.
     “I have to.” I responded in a quiet voice.

     Letting go of my arm, Sarah sat back down on the couch in defeat. I walked over to the entrance hall to where my parents awaited. Now in eyesight, I took a deep breath, then spoke up.
     “Uhhh hi mom, hi da-”
     A high pitched scream filled the house as my sister ran outside. My dad reached for his gun while mom stood behind him. I just stopped in shock that my dad even carried around a gun. My dad, having retrieved his revolver, pointed the barrel at me with a shaky hand.
     “Now now Frank, it’s nothing to-” Sarah’s dad tried to intervene in a desperate tone.
     “SHUT THE F*CK UP!” Dad screamed.
     Backing up, I was now scared of my own father. Holding my paws up, I spoke as calm as I could.
     “Dad, it’s me, Farvin.”
     “Oh, is that so?” My dad replied.
     “Yes, I swear on my life.” I responded. He paused, and continued staring at me, not putting down his revolver.
     “Why is your revolver still pointed at me?” I asked.
     “Because!” Dad screamed in frustration. “We didn’t take you in to become a beast!”
     “What?” I asked in shock.
      “Arg, Farvin, we only raised you so you can give us some money later!” Dad replied.
     “What?!” I yelled.

     “It’s time you knew…” Mom said stepping in front of Dad.
     “Yes?” I asked.

      “We are not your real parents.”

     I felt as if I had been hit by a train. I couldn’t speak, all I could say was:
     “What?”
     “You were left on our doorstep when you were 2 years old, we don’t know who left you, but it must’ve been your real parents.” My so called mother explained.
Dropping my arms, I was in shock. Having all this happen to me in one day, was just too much.
     “Then why did you raise me?!” I shouted. My anger building up.
     “So we can make some money off ya, but now, I guess you can’t get a job eh?        What are you going to do? Get us some cave for us to live in?” My so called father explained.
     The insult hit me hard. I was starting to loose my cool.
     “You bastard!” I screamed. My anger barely contained.
     “What was that you monster?” He laughed briefly, then shot his gun, aimed directly at my chest.
     The wind got knocked out of me as the bullet impaled my chest, crumpled and fell to the ground. That was the last straw, I was no longer able to keep my anger in check.
     Without thinking, I roared, then flamed them. I don’t know how exactly I was able to do it, it just happened. The intense heat danced across my skin as a wall of fire appeared in front of me. My whole life, a lie. I couldn’t control myself anymore as I went out of control. This message of my life being a lie played over and over in my head as all the anger built up came out like an erupting volcano.

     By the time I stopped, the house was starting to catch fire. Panic arose as the flames I created started igniting everything. The walls, the furniture, even the paintings on the walls. I watched this whole scene in dread. Everything happened so fast, I didn’t know what to do. My former parents lay dead in front of me, burnt to a crisp.
     “Oh no, what have I done?!” I thought in panic.
      A tidal wave of sadness washed over me as I looked at the two bodies. I never wanted to be a murderer, but thanks to my anger, it happened.
     
     The house turned an orange hue as the flames now engulfed most of the house. Coughing and screaming was heard in the living room as Reggie ran out of the room.
“Reggie! Where’s Sarah?!” I shouted over the fire.
“GET AWAY FROM ME YOU DEMON!” screamed Reggie as he grabbed my former dads revolver. He pointed the barrel at me.
“REGGIE?!” I screamed.

     He fired three quick shots then took off running. Pain erupted on my leg as the bullets made it through my scales. Roaring loudly, I fell to my knees. I was for sure bleeding.
     Reggie? My best friend? Trying to kill me?! The thought just made my will to live collapse.
     “Someone! Help!” A woman’s voice was echoed from the living room.
Forcing myself up, I stumbled over to the living room. The flames were now everywhere, not a single object was being burnt to a crisp. The walk to the living room seemed longer then it should have, probably because of my injured leg.
Stepping through the doorway to the living room, Sarah was in the corner, passed out.
     “Noooo, not Sarah!” I thought.
     Trying to force myself to get to the other side of the room, the walls started to crumble as the foundation was disintegrating. The flames were making it hard to see, even with this enhanced vision. The pain on my leg was building up as I made it to Sarah.
     Sarah looked alive, but she didn’t look like she was going to last long. I picked her up and cradled her in my arms. Making sure she was as far from the flames as possible.
     The doorway collapsed, which was our only exit. The flames were now closing in on us. Coughing, I only saw one way out. But I wasn’t going to like it.
     “Let’s see what these bad boys can do.” I said.

     Stretching out my wings to their full extent, I looked straight up at the crumbling ceiling, wishing I wasn’t about to do what I was going to do. Putting full power to my legs, I squatted like a  spring about to be released, and took flight.

     Smashing through two different ceilings and a tiled roof, which hurt like a bitch, we made it through the top of the house. Looking out at the moonlit sky. It looked magical tonight, I wish I could stay there forever and just watch the moon for eternity. Realizing that I was out in the open, flying, and holding a woman, I was just being an idiot.
     “Now to get out of here!” I thought.

     Flapping my wings as if I’ve done it my whole life. I went towards the woods I’ve known for forever. Getting as far away from civilization as possible.

                                                         ....

     After a while of flying, I couldn’t take it anymore with the pain on my leg, so I slowly lowered us down to a clearing in the forest that seemed a decent distance away from the town.
     Landing with a thud on the ground, I carefully set Sarah on the grass. I made sure she was comfortable first, then sat down next to her and sighed heavily.

     “What a day.” I thought.

     Laying down and looking up at the stars, I weeped silently, closed my eyes and tried to forget about this whole mess I had gotten myself into.


To Be Continued...