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fancy-pinapples · 5 years

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Phases ~ Chapter 1

So, I'm trying to see how well this will go down. I've never written a Tom Holland fic before, but I had this idea for a while so I figured I'd try... I mean, what could go wrong? I apologize if there are things that are unclear within the story, I've never been very good at explaining things fully. Anyway, here's hoping that this all works out in the end!

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This is bad.

I glance over my shoulder before ducking between two trees, never slowing down - not even for a second. My breathing is all over the place and, no matter how hard I try, I'm struggling to get it back under control. I guess I should've expected something like this to happen. I mean, my father did warn me of the danger that would be waiting for me, should I choose to disobey him and explore in the dead of night. Why don't I listen to him?

I hear another growl erupt from behind me and resist the urge to scream for help. No one will hear me, so I'd be wasting my efforts.

Keep running. Don't look back.

Deciding my subconscious is right, I follow my own advice and keep going, somehow managing to pick up my pace along the way. Surprisingly, I manage to not look over my shoulder at the thing that's chasing me; I'm fairly certain that it's gaining on me. I shudder and relay my own advice over and over again inside my head.

Don't stop.

I turn a corner. I don't know why, but I do. Unfortunately, I quickly come to realise that there's a reason behind my sudden choice of actions - a reason I'm far from willing to admit to. I'm following a scent, one that I've known all my life. I keep running as my nose guides me towards what my entire being now recognises as 'safety'. And, as much as I hate this idea, I'm starting to think that it might be my only option.

It isn't long before I can hear the sound of running water and, despite myself, I let out a sigh of relief. I can still hear the thing behind me, but it sounds like it's getting closer. I pick up my pace even more - something I didn't even know I was capable of until now - and pray that my instincts are right about this. Surely enough, when I break through the treeline and stumble onto the riverbank, I see that they were as accurate as ever.

There, standing naked beneath the waterfall, is Tom - or, as I called him earlier, 'safety'.

I'm about to call out to him for help, but, before I can manage even the smallest of sounds, I'm knocked to the ground by my persuer. Now I scream, trying everything to wriggle free from beneath the beast above me. It growls and I grow still, too afraid to move. Too afraid that it might and probably will kill me. My breaths are uneven and I can hear my heartbeat in my ears.

This is not good.

I watch in horror as the beast lowers it's head towards me, baring it's teeth as it prepares to sink them into, what will probably be, his largest meal of the day. I squeeze my eyes shut and wait for the agonizing pain I'm about to experience... but it never happens. In fact, a few seconds later, I feel the weight of the beast disappear from on top of me. I frown.

What the hell?

Cautiously, I open my eyes, only to find that the beast is gone and has, instead, been replaced by a rather concerned-looking Tom, who is knelt by my side wearing absolutely nothing in the the way of clothes. For a moment, I feel something - at least I think I do. But, before long, I remember everything and hurry to my feet, desperate to escape the naked man beside me.

"Are you alright?" He asks, his brown eyes raking my frame in search of any sign of injuries. I nod, but don't speak. Of course, that only fuels his concern further and, suddenly, he decides to stand up.

I gasp, but it comes out as more of a squeal, as I turn my back to him. "Tom!"

He laughs at my reaction and I'm pretty sure that, even though he can't see, he knows my cheeks are flushed with embarrassment. I can still hear my heartbeat in my ears, only this time it's for a different reason. I shove my hands in my pockets as his laughter dies down, leaving nothing but an awkward silence between us.

"Will you ever love me?"

"Love? You? Don't be stupid."

I shake that conversation from my mind, deciding that now was neither the time nor the place to reminisce. With a heavy sigh I set off walking back towards the camp, not bothering to say goodbye the the man standing behind me.

"Sophia." He calls out, causing me to stop. God, why did I have to stop? I don't turn around to look at him, but he knows I'm listening. I hear him sigh. "You should be more careful."

I roll my eyes. "I'm not made of glass."

"No, but you are delicate."

It was a simple statement, an opinion even - his opinion. And yet, for some reason, it angered me and, in split second, I turned around and threw myself at him, pinning him to the nearest tree by his throat. Granted, he's much stronger than I am and, therefore, my grip probably seems like nothing more than a gentle squeeze to him, but he made no attempts to push me off him. Instead he remains in his place with my hand on his throat, watching closely as I struggle to contain myself.

"I am not delicate." I growl at him, feeling a seering pain running through my body. I wince, but choose to ignore it. "You sound just like my father, another man who would also prefer to lock me up in order to keep me safe. I often wonder what he sees in you, but now I realise that the only reason he's so fond of you is because you're just like him."

Concern flashes in his chocolate eyes again as I pull away from him, hissing at the pain that's now impossible to ignore. He attempts to step towards me, not even the slightest bit phased by what I'd just said - then again, it's hardly surprising. I mean, I'm pretty sure he's heard it all before. Hell, he's seen this whole scenario before... countless times.

I let out a cry as I fall to the ground, wrapping my arms around my body as the pain worsens. I can hear Tom speaking, but I can't understand a single word of it. He falls down beside me, trying to help in anyway he can, but I push him off and try to yell for him to leave, but no words come out. All I can do is cry as the pain consumes every inch of my body.

Minutes pass and, soon enough, I black out. It doesn't take long for me to regain consciousness again and, when I do, I'm well aware of the change that's taken place. I stare at Tom, who is still knelt in front of me, only now he's wearing his clothes and an apologetic look on his face. I look down at my body and sigh - I shifted. My hands and feet have morphed into paws and my entire body is covered in grey fur... don't even get me started on the tail. I don't even have to look to know that my eyes are now an almost glowing shade of ice blue, it's been the same since the day I was born.

I look back up at Tom and tilt my head in confusion, unable to speak due to my current form. He shakes his head and inches closer, reaching out with his hand to touch me. But he doesn't get that far, because I decide that I've had enough. Before his fingers brush agsinst my fur, I duck under his arm and take off running, back into the shelter of the trees - away from Tom. I don't even stop to look back when I hear him shouting my name.

It isn't until I make it to the border of the camp that I hear my father's voice inside my head as I begin to remember the day he destroyed my life.

"One day, Sophia, you will take part in the Moon Ritual - much like every other girl that is just like you. However, when your time comes, it shall be different; you will already know the name of the man that your heart and soul will belong to."

I remember laughing at his words, he was so serious. And - at the tender age of five - I was never able to fully understand the meaning behind them. It wasn't until my tenth birthday that I finally managed to work up the courage to ask him what he'd meant. I remember him taking me to one side, away from everyone else and explaining the situation again, just as he'd done five years prior... only this time, I understood.

"Do you know the man's name?" I had asked.

And with a smile, he gently touched my cheek. "When you are of age, Sophia, your heart and your soul shall belong to Tom, and it will remain that way for eternity."

Even now, I still shudder at his choice of words. Eternity. That's an awfully long time for a person's heart and soul to belong to another. And an equally as tiring amount of time to spend avoiding the person you're to be bound to - especially when that person is Tom.

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