The Final Shift

Ray seemed to be everywhere, whether it was in the halls, at the store, or even on the street. As instructed, I attempted to blend in with the crowd, cowering behind other people or even hiding behind a tree. It was hardly a stealthy approach since Ray had already spotted me, but to his credit, he averted his gaze. He even went as far as distracting his friends to ensure that they didn't catch sight of me, unless I was just imagining it.

It didn't make sense. Years of being bullied and physically assaulted had left their mark on me. The memories of broken bones and bruises were too vivid for me to ignore Ray's warning. Every time I hid, I felt like a failure, even though I had survived so far on nothing more than sheer determination. Fleeing from a literal "big bad wolf" was wreaking havoc on my self-esteem.

But the end was in sight. The only thing that kept me going was the fact that no one knew of my plans to attend a human college. I was determined to make something of myself, even if it meant relying on my meager savings. I was intelligent and resourceful. Despite my teachers' reluctance to show me any kindness, they had still imparted valuable knowledge to me. Although Wolf Bay was a magical town, the high school still provided me with transcripts.

Oddly enough, I felt a twinge of sadness as I departed from the school on Friday. I had dreamed of leaving this place for as long as I could remember. Yet, as I walked away from the campus that had been my entire world, a sense of loss crept over me. It was a lot to process, even if my time in Wolf Bay had been miserable.

As I walked towards the store, fighting against the unwelcome anxiety of starting over, I traced the familiar route one last time. After tonight, I would no longer be stocking shelves or ringing up customers who either ignored or mistreated me. Although those who pretended I didn't exist were better than those who treated me like garbage, I was ready to leave it all behind.

As I approached the store, I noticed a small crowd gathered outside and decided that the less time I spent with others, the better. I turned and headed towards the back of the store, where the dumpsters and the back door were located. I balled my hands into fists, trying to push back the images of my encounter with Ray flooding my mind.

Fortunately, the alley was empty, and I was able to enter the store without any trouble. I stashed my backpack, put on my apron, and clocked in for the last time. This time, instead of the usual dread, flutters of anticipation and a sense of glee surged through me. The exact emotion I had been hoping for. I would be free of this place tomorrow, and I couldn't be more relieved.

I quickly finished breaking down boxes before it got too dark, and after a quick check of the alley, I dragged the boxes out and rushed back inside. I had no intention of lingering tonight.

I knew better than to go out the back door in the dark. Not just because of what happened with Ray, but also because tomorrow was the full moon. Everyone past puberty would be restless tonight, feeling the call of the moon. While the wolves didn't shift until the age of nineteen, their inner wolves began to stir as they aged. However, I wouldn't know. I've never felt the wolf because I'm broken. The curse on my family prevents me from ever reaching my inner wolf. While I had a heightened sense of smell, I was essentially human.

Curses were the worst. I wished I had the power to put Ray in his place, but unfortunately, I was just a regular shifter. They say that our ability to shift was also a curse. We used to be human, and the ability to shift was the result of complicated magic. Contrary to popular belief, werewolves were not used to protect vampires. We mostly stuck to ourselves in packs and avoided getting involved with other supernatural creatures. Witches, on the other hand, were an integral part of our history.

Centuries ago, we were created by witches who needed protection on the nights they performed their most complex spells. Thus, the reason why our shifts aligned with the full moon. A large coven of witches cursed an entire human village to turn into wolves every full moon. The wolves would then roam the woods, keeping witch hunters occupied while the witches did whatever dark magic they wanted. Nice, right?

Eventually, we shifters rebelled against our creators and started fighting back. We left our homes, hid among other humans, and made sure we were in the woods on the night of the full moon. Over time, the curse was spread over generations, and more shifters were born as the original ones bred with humans.

Nowadays, we've evolved beyond the initial curse and can shift at will once we gain control. Although the first shift still aligns with the full moon closest to our nineteenth birthday, we're no longer under the control of witches. It's still unclear how the curse managed to coincide with nineteen, but all I know is that witches were jerks, and it was best not to mess with them.

As I finished stocking the shelves, I realized that my last shift was almost over. The time had flown by tonight. I walked to the back of the store, removed my apron, and tossed it in the bin. It felt amazing to slide my timecard into the machine for the last time. Although Sam knew this was my final shift and that I had requested my final check, it was still symbolic to finish the shift in the same way I had started here - clocking in and out nearly every day for the last six years.

I took a deep breath and felt satisfied with the work I had done. When my mom couldn't provide, I had stepped up and taken care of myself. It was reassuring to know that I could do that, especially since I was about to start over somewhere new.

The store was empty and dim as I walked in. Sam was closing down the register for the night.

"Do you have my last check, Sam?" I asked. "My apron and name tag are in the back."

Sam grunted. "Are you really going through with it?"

"You make it sound like you're surprised," I replied. "I told you when you hired me that I was leaving the day before the full moon."

"Yeah, but no one ever leaves. Even your mom came back," he pointed out.

"I'm not my mom," I reminded him.

"That's true, you're not." He pulled an envelope out of his pocket. "I thought it might help if your last check was in cash. There's also some extra to help you get started, but don't you dare tell anyone I helped you."

"I would never dream of it," I said. "Everyone knows you're an uncaring asshole."

He grinned. "That's exactly what I am."

Sam may have been an asshole, but he was the only one who gave me a job when I was just thirteen years old. Sure, he was gruff and unsociable, but he wasn't cruel or nasty. He spoke his mind, had no empathy, and didn't sugarcoat anything. Thanks to him, I had some savings to fund my escape from this dreadful place.

I took the envelope from Sam and thanked him. He had one piece of advice for me: "Never come back. Stay away forever." His tone was dark and ominous, and I could feel the warning in it. I knew he was right. I had witnessed this place destroy my own mother. 

She used to be a good mom, but then something inside her snapped, and I wondered if it was due to denying the inner wolf the ability to shift. There were rumors that my grandfather went crazy and killed himself because he couldn't shift, but I didn't believe them.

Maybe staying away from here would help me avoid the same fate. As I stuffed the envelope into my jeans' waistband and covered it with my shirt, Sam picked up a broom and started sweeping. "Get out of here," he said, signaling that our conversation was over. My throat felt tight as I walked to the front door. Sam wasn't kind, but he had shown me kindness in his own way.

The night breeze was refreshing and fragrant with the smell of lilacs. Summer was always the highlight of the year in Wolf Bay - a time for warmth, sunshine, and freedom from school. It was a season where I could avoid the bullies, and tonight, I felt relief that I would be escaping them forever.

The walk to my mom's trailer felt longer than usual, as I kept pausing to take in my surroundings. However, every memory that flooded my mind was unpleasant, and by the time I arrived home, I was eager to leave.

As I entered the trailer, grunting sounds escaped my mom's closed door, and I quickly made my way to my room, shutting the door behind me to avoid the noise. I sighed when the light switch didn't work and realized that my mom had probably not paid the power bill again.

My last night here would end with a cold shower, which somehow felt fitting to mark the end of this miserable chapter in my life. Using a flashlight, I double-checked my duffel bag, which contained all my belongings. It was surreal to think that my whole life fit in that bag - some clothes, money from my job, a folder with my school transcripts, and my two favorite books. I didn't have any sentimental items or photographs, which made me feel a little sad. I knew that it wasn't the way to live, and I was determined to break free from this cycle. Even if things went wrong, I would give myself a few good years before giving up.

After a quick, cold shower in the dark, I locked my bedroom door and settled into bed. As I drifted off to sleep, I wondered where I would be sleeping tomorrow, but it didn't matter as long as I was far away from here.