- 1 -
Something tickled my nose.
I tried to ignore it—I couldn’t remember the last time I got a decent night’s sleep, and my alarm wasn’t ringing—but the annoying sensation shifted into an aggravating itch. It kept teasing my consciousness, tugging it back like a child with a balloon every time I tried to drift back to sleep.
With a groan, I brushed my hand over my face and rolled over. The sheets crunched disturbingly beneath me, and the mattress was excruciatingly hard against my back. I bore it for a moment, desperate for one more taste of rest, before the tickler returned above my lip.
Biting back curses, I wiped my hands over my face to remove whatever was harassing me and forced my heavy eyes open.
A butterfly fluttered overhead. Its golden wings caught the sunlight as it looped around before coming back to land on my hand. I watched in dreamy wonder as it unraveled its long tongue to lap at the yellow smeared on my skin.
Hang on, I thought. Blinking to focus my vision, I brought my hands closer to my face. The butterfly took flight again in annoyance.
What is this? In addition to the yellow gunk, there were smooshed flower petals and dirt smeared over my arms.
I shot up in bed—except I wasn’t in bed anymore.
A field of rich green rolled like a tapestry around me. Long stalks of grass and a graceful cacophony of wildflowers stretched out until they were swallowed by the darker greens of a forest in the distance. A light breeze teased the air, and the flowers around me swayed peacefully.
I scrambled to my feet. Twisting my neck so quickly it hurt, I looked in every direction, but all I saw was more of the same—a beautiful field of springtime wildflowers.
This must be a prank, or maybe I’m still dreaming? Think, Kass.
I ran my hands through my hair but my mind was spinning. More flower petals fell out, landing among the crushed flowers where I had been laying. Smears of dirt and pollen covered my clothes—which were as unfamiliar as the landscape I was in. I had no memory of putting on, never mind owning, these pants, blouse, nor the rough-looking jerkin jacket I was wearing.
I swiped at a smear of pollen on my thigh. The fabric was warm and soft beneath my touch. I was no expert, but it looked like real leather.
Forget the mysterious landscapes and lack of memory, now I knew something was wrong—leather was way out of my budget. And where was the snow? It was the middle of winter in Worcester. Yet now I was in what could be a painting of spring or early summer.
A sense of dread gripped my chest as I whispered, “Where am I?”
A beep hit my ears, soft but definite. It almost sounded like the noise my cash register made when I pressed the power button. I didn’t have time to question it before a robotic female voice spoke.
System: Your current location is the Alderian Forest.
“Whoa—hello?” I spun around, looking for the voice.
The field was empty, with nothing but butterflies dancing on the breeze.
“Who’s there!?” I pressed my fingers into my ears, checking for headphones but finding none. “Where are you!?”
System: Clarification required. Are you referring to the System?
“I’m talking to you!” I glanced around again, nearly tripping in my haste. “Who are you and what are you doing in my head!?”
System: Acknowledged. I am the System Accompaniment. I have been programmed to assist you in the game.
System? Game? Whoever the voice in my head was, it wasn’t making any sense. I must have been kidnapped and brought out… to wherever this is.
“Where am I?” I demanded.
There was a light beeping sound.
System: The answer to your inquiry has not changed. Your current location is the Alderian Forest.
The whatever-forest was news to me—it certainly wasn’t a place around Worcester. Whoever kidnapped me must have brought me far enough away that I didn’t recognize it. Either that or this “system” in my head was lying to me.
My chest squeezed. I couldn’t trust this weird thing in my head and I also couldn’t see how it was attached, nor how to turn it off. I’d have to go to the doctor when I got home, which meant more bills. Speaking of bills, I was scheduled to work tomorrow and if I missed another day I was sure my manager was going to fire me. I could barely afford my apartment rent as it was.
But how do I get home from here?
I tugged my lip with my teeth, assessing the forest in the distance. I couldn’t see any roads or houses—just woods.
“This is bad. What am I going to do?”
System: Unknown answer. Suggestion: Your heart rate and blood pressure have increased past the standard level for a thirty-year-old female. Please calm down to avoid negative health effects.
“Avoid negative…? Oh, shut up.”
I took a deep breath in, held it for ten seconds, then let it out.
The situation was dire and I didn’t know how I got here, but I did know that I couldn’t sit around and wait for someone to come get me. After all, it could be the same nefarious people who kidnapped me. And it wasn’t like I had anyone who would come looking for me.
I’ll handle this by myself, like always. I can do it.
I reached down to pat my pants. The leather was heavier than my usual sweatpants, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. I checked the pockets but wasn’t surprised to find my phone was missing. They would be pretty mediocre kidnappers if they left it on me.
“Right.” I breathed in and yelled, “Hey! You!”
A few paces away, a startled bird took off into the sky. Racing thoughts and barely-contained panic aside, my mind was quiet. No robotic voice to be heard.
“Hello?” I tried again. I glanced up to the fluffy clouds in the distance, as if that was where the System would be located if it had a physical form. “Are you still there, system thing?”
System: Correct. I am always here.
“Good.” It occurred to me that I shouldn’t talk to it—at worst, it was some way for the kidnappers to track me. At best, I was hallucinating. Neither option was great, but without my phone, the voice in my skull is all I currently had. “How do I get to the nearest town?”
System: Calculating. Its flat voice was followed by another beeping noise. The nearest town to your current position can be reached by walking, riding, or flying. Swimming or taking a boat are only available for part of the journey.
I resisted the urge to groan. Talking with the System was just like trying to talk to the A.I. on my phone. I needed to be more mindful of how I worded things when I spoke to it.
“Point me in the direction of the nearest town.”
Silence.
Or... not? How about… “System. Where is the nearest town?”
System: The town of Borswod is located approximately two and a half miles northeast of your current position.
“Okay. Can you point me north-east?”
System: Affirmative. Turn clockwise 30 degrees to face northeast.
I couldn’t stop a smile from tugging at my lips. “Thank you.”
It was a wild situation, but as I turned slightly to my right and started walking in the direction the System told me, I couldn’t help but feel a little giddy.
I bet the kidnappers never saw me using their tracker tool to escape! Joke’s on them.
I was going to get myself to Borswod or whatever and find the police station. I was sure they would be able to get me home.
Yes, I thought as I carefully created a trail through the wildflowers, I’ve got this all figured out.
Ohhh sounds really promising!!!
Looking foreword to the story!!! I am a huge sucker for yuri and monster mcs/monster transformations, so both.... 
PS: can't wait for the story to have more chappies to binge
It's always a pleasure to meet a fellow yuri and monster-shifting MC enthusiast! I'm happy to hear you're looking forward to more chapters, I've got another one posting within the hour!
Thanks for your comment