Beasts and Savages (The Beastly Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

toward each girl, giving us a chance to get a whiff.
The smell reminded me of the soft chewy sugar cookies Nana baked. I took a deep sniff. It was wonderful. Suddenly, I felt an ache in the pit of my core. I glanced at Rally. She chewed her lip, an unreadable expression on her face.
“Lunch time,” Ms. Dawning called. Everyone milled toward the locker room. “Don’t forget, ladies, in your safe room by noon tomorrow.”
Rally and I changed in the far corner of the locker room. It was darker than the other sections of black and red lockers; the light over the metal bench had gone out and no one had bothered to change it. 
“Are you scared about tomorrow?” She whispered, even though we were far away from the others.
“A little.” I lied. My stomach was churning. “Are you?”
“Yeah.” She looked down as she wrapped a curl around her finger.
“Hey.” I touched her arm. “It’s okay to be scared. I’m sure everyone is during their first change.”
“I know. I just wish I didn’t have to get locked up in a room by myself for days. That sounds lonely.” She traced the grooved lines on the bench.
“You don’t remember much of your change. You won’t even remember that you were lonely.” I smiled at her. Getting lonely had never crossed my mind.
Rally brightened. “This time next year will be our last change before we hunt.”
“You’re right.” I didn’t tell her the past two weeks had come and gone so quickly that I was afraid to count down to the hunt. Instead, I changed the subject. “Are you ready for lunch? I’m starving.”
***
After dinner, Mom took me to our safe room. It was in the basement, a large metal door in the corner of the laundry room. It groaned when she opened it and a musty smell filled the air. She flicked on a switch outside the door, and florescent lights clicked and hummed.
“I’m sorry I didn’t bring you down here last weekend, sweetie. No one would cover me at the Children’s Center.”
“It’s not a big deal, Mom.” I ran my hand along the cool cinder block walls as I took in the room. A metal bench was bolted to the floor under the recessed ceiling light. It was the only thing in the room.
I shivered. “Can I bring things with me tomorrow?”
Mom laughed. “You can, but I suggest nothing you don’t want destroyed.”
My eyes widened. “What?”
“I have a metal water bottle that you can use. I suggest not taking anything else the first time, until you know how destructive you become.” She started for the door.
“Destructive? And what am I supposed to do for three days?”
“Don’t worry, honey. You won’t be bored. Even if you are, you won’t remember it.” She pointed to a lever behind a clear case. “Do you see that lever? It turns on an alarm that lets me know when your changing is over. The combination to the lock is carved into the door frame across from it. When you are coherent enough to open the lock and pull the lever, I’ll come get you.”
I gave a low whistle. “Complicated.”
“It has to be, Lea. Safety. Both yours and ours.” Mom motioned for me to follow her out of the room. “This door can only be opened from the outside and locks as soon as it closes.”
I followed her out of the room and up the stairs. I was grateful that she hadn’t been able to show me the room sooner. I was a bundle of nerves and it would have been worse if I would have had a week to dwell on it.
I went to bed early, but couldn’t fall asleep. I tossed and turned and shivered every time my mind wandered to the empty room downstairs. I wondered if the other girls were awake, dwelling on tomorrow.
My eyes finally opened to light, and I looked at the clock on my nightstand. It was seven. I decided to get up and get dressed in my oldest tunic and leggings, just in case. As I padded down the stairs, I could smell waffles and sausage. Nana had made my favorite breakfast. My stomach growled. Under my hunger, I felt different craving. One unfamiliar to me.
I got