First Born Read Free

Larry said.
    She was so confused she had to remind herself to breathe. Lily had experienced rough nights, drank too much in college, but this “trip” was intense.
    “Now, now, it’s okay. Are you hungry?” She knew food was Larry’s solution to all of life’s woes.
    One ham and cheese omelet later and Lily couldn’t keep her one functioning eye open. Her demonic growling precluded Larry’s attempts to attend to her wounds. He must have felt sorry for her because he allowed her to sleep at the foot of the bed. Safe at last, she fell asleep.
    At least Lily thought it was sleep. Perhaps it was another chain of hallucinations. Somebody make it stop. Please.

Chapter 3
Reality Bites
    Lily shot up in bed, somehow catching the scream before it burst forth from her throat. Trembling, she pulled the sheet up to cover her nakedness. Just another violent nightmare like the others she had experienced since Peter’s death. She heard a masculine moan next to her. Oh my God. This isn’t my bed! She rolled off the bed and landed with a “thud” on the floor.
    “Frank?” Larry asked, from the other side of the bed.
    Reality sunk in. She was in Larry’s bedroom returned to her original form, minus clothing. Purple bruises and red gashes mottled her legs and arms. Her left eye now opened halfway. What did I do last night? Had Larry nursed her through a drugged state? The thought of Phil Miller had her burping up vomit.
    She distinctly remembered thinking she was a dog. She scanned the floor for something to cover herself. Spotting a throw on the chaise lounge, she crawled across the plush carpeting in order to yank it down. Just as she considered how to apologize to Larry for the previous night’s indiscretions, he sat up in bed, turning toward the hallway, “Frank! Do you have the dog?”
    Dog? She flattened to her stomach before worming her way under the bed. Lily heard the rattling of dishes in the sink downstairs. Frank hadn’t heard him. The light switched on.
    Larry shuffled around the room calling, “Here, puppy.”
    Cowering under the bed, Lily held her breath and stifled a sneeze as he explored every room of the Ansley Park home. She didn’t dare move from her hiding place.
    As he circled back around to the bedroom, Lily grew more anxious. Larry shuffled to the bed. His crepitus knees protested as he knelt on all fours before lifting the bed skirt.
    PPPPPPFFFFFTTTTT.
    “Good Lord! No more eggs for you,” Larry said looking her squarely in the eye. Her mouth hung open in a pant. She looked down to see furry paws. I am a dog. And a flatulent one at that. When she panicked, she had become a Shih Tzu again. What is happening to me?
    After he lured Lily out, Larry lifted her in the air to study her face. “Your eye is much better, but you still smell like an old sponge. We’re taking you to get groomed today.”
    Frustrated, Lily squirmed. How could she explain to him that they had grossly different agendas? She needed to return home and lock herself inside until she stopped growling, rumbling, and panting.
    Larry carried her downstairs where they found Frank standing in the foyer looking all kinds of fine in his tailored Armani suit and gelled hair. His lineage had blessed him with olive skin. Blue-green eyes gleamed in contrast to his dark complexion. A scar over his left eyebrow made him look like a rugged Greek god.
    He furrowed his brow as he studied their new pet. “He’s a funny little creature, isn’t he?” She didn’t bite him, although it was tempting.
    Larry scowled.
    Lily eyed the food on the counter.
    “I need to tell you something,” Frank said.
    Larry’s head turned to the TV where the morning news anchor was talking about a current story. Lily’s ears perked up as she listened to the anchor mention her name and that she was missing.
    “Oh my God,” Larry gasped.
    “That’s what I wanted to tell you,” Frank said looking somber. He attempted to slide a biscuit across the counter to