Skinwalker amoung the ashes

The weather was dark and foreboding as I climbed Konenburg hill, the streetlights providing small pools of light in a desert of dusk. There was a chill wind in the air, and it seemed that there was still the embers of sunset dying along the western horizon, even long after the sun itself had slunk down below the edge of town.

I pulled my jacket close as I climbed, this weather serving as a reminder that Autumn had begun, and it wouldn’t be long before Halloween. I could see the ruined Church up ahead, its stone pillars blackened by the fire that had destroyed it. Although I’d never climbed this hill, it was well known in town, both for its good views over the city, and its suspiciously low property values, the mystery over the fire being the bane of the local homeowners lives.

Getting closer, the alien appearance of the Church became more apparent. Rather than being a Christian Church, or a Mosque, or Synagogue, places of worship as one might expect to find in a moderately sized college city, this Church had been built by a strange and secretive sect. Their beliefs had been as opaque to outsiders as the thick stone used to build their Church, and all of this lent itself well to wild scandal and gossip the night the Church had burnt down at the height of one of the Churches greatest ceremonies. The deathtoll was unknown, and with a large-scale government cover-up that only increased suspicion. After all, with an incident like this it was impossible to hide everything, and just enough had gotten out to start the rumor mill, over-active imaginations filling in the rest in a plethora of crazy stories.

Sitting perched on one of these pillars sat Trent, wearing dark jeans and black boots, a different leather jacket from the others I’d seen him in covering his broad shoulders. He was playing an old Gameboy, which he put down as he rose to greet me, a smile on his face.

“Alex! You came!”

He seemed genuinely glad to see me, which I thought was strange considering the circumstances of our meeting.

“Want a game? I love these things you know. I remember when they first released, I was like a kid in a candy store. I get excited about videogames in general, but then isn’t that the secret to a long life? Living by passions, and always finding new things to love.”

He beamed as he offered me the Gameboy.

“Cut the crap Candida, what are you doing with Lisa?”

I responded, surprising even myself with the **** and authority I managed to give my voice.

“Hmm, not playing nice, huh? Pity.”

He pouted, which would have looked better on a girl’s face, but still kinda worked even on Trent’s. He looked at me with a piercing gaze, before continuing;

“How’ve you been, since storming out of my apartment in the early hours of the morning? Anything been on your mind? Maybe the things we’ve done together?”

He stepped closer, so we were in each other’s personal space. He was taller than me, and smelt good… my memories involuntarily went back to us walking arm in arm together, off the elevator, bodies rubbing against one another, my panties soaked from our make-out sessions.

“No, not at all!”

I replied, unconvincingly. It was strange, even when we were both guys, being up close I still felt some kind of attraction to him now. Maybe gender didn’t matter between skinwalkers, or maybe my time as a woman had permanently widened the horizon’s of what I was comfortable with. I shook my head to get back on topic and took a step back, hoping our chemistry would be kept at bay by distance.

“Answer the question! What have you done with Lisa?”

He smiled, like I was prey who’d stumbled onto the thin covering of a pitfall trap in the forest.

“Nothing… yet.”

He emphasized the yet carefully, before continuing;

“Both of us know Lisa is special. She’s gorgeous and smart, but unlike many beautiful women, there’s no conceit in her heart. She’s kind-hearted without being a pushover, popular without being fake. Why wouldn’t I want to spend time with her?”

“If you really thought she was that special, you’d be her right now! You’ve been in her skin before, you know how great it feels in there!”

The skinwalker raised an eyebrow;

“How can you be sure?”

“Because that’s what I’d do! I’d wear her everyday, feeling the swish of her clothes on her soft body, biting her plump lips, squeezing her ass and knowing it was all mine…”

I trailed off, realizing what I was saying. The skinwalker stepped back, smiling after I’d stumbled into validating the way it lived, and nearly invalidating my own position. It smiled, and said knowingly;

“After all, who wouldn’t want to be their crush? So, what’s stopping you?”

“It’s wrong!”

I looked it dead in the eyes, seizing my chance to defend my choices.

“None of this is right! It’s precisely because of my feelings for her that I couldn’t steal her life! Lisa is a wonderful, kind girl, who deserves to live her own way, not miss out while an imposter wears her skin!”

The skinwalker prowled around me, before diving in close and whispering;

“See, that’s the real reason I’m dating Lisa now. You do care deeply about her, enough to set her free even while you crave her skin, and set up her memories so they’re pleasant little lies. Well Alex, I care deeply about you. Don’t you see that?

I’ve watched you for years now, checking up on you, always keeping a distance. I could go into details about the times we’ve talked, but it might make you a little nervous hearing all of those secrets, all at once, but just know I’ve been by your side in one skin or another longer than you’d even believe. And I know, in my heart, that you’re the one for me!

It really hurt when you stormed out like that, but I knew you’d be back. I could have waited weeks, or even months, and you would have sought me out. But I’ve waited long enough! Nothing comes to those who wait around all day, results are only achieved with actions!

So, I made my move. I knew you’d talked to Lisa’s friends before we left the party together, and I knew you were sharp enough to edit her memories. I figured you had to account for Trent somehow, and being the caring guy you are, I knew you’d give her happy ones to remember him by. After that, it was easy to get in touch with her and organize to see her again. She already likes this face, and I’ve been on enough dates to have it down to a fine art. Now we’re dating… so in a way, she’s my hostage, both physically and emotionally.”

“No…”

I started, taken aback by the intensity of the creature’s monologue.

“Oh yes. She’s opening her heart up to me, and we’re getting closer everyday. Naturally, she has no idea what I really am. Only you get the honor of sharing in my secret. But how does that make you feel? The girl you love is in the clutches of a monster, who can do anything it wants to her, at any time. I could send her a message right this instant, and bring her here. Would it make you happy to see her up close again?”

“Why are you doing all this?? Why can’t you leave her alone?”

Internally, I already knew, and so did the Skinwalker. It indulged me by saying it out loud;

“Because Alex, no-one will ever believe you. There’s no way that you can save her as yourself. The guy who supposedly flunked out on a date with her, trying to break up her new relationship? How will that look? If you really care about her, there’s only one thing you can do.”

The skinwalker’s eyes were almost glowing, seeming to light up the night as my heart raced.

“If you want to save your crush, you must become her.”