The Red Tiger

Strange Changes[1]

  *The next morning*

  Alfred woke up the next day, feeling so refreshed. "Wow I really needed that sleep, I feel so much better and also stronger, almost like I'm a new person", Alfred said. Then he heard a very annoying and loud ringing sound beside his bed. 

       RING!!!!!!!

     Then he covered his ears and subconsciously smashed the alarm which broke into pieces, something he didn't notice. He was still covering his ears as he felt like a loudspeaker was placed near his ear and the alarm was ringing through it. 

"Why the hell is this alarm so loud?", he muttered still holding his ears. "Wait...the alarm", he said to himself, then he checked the time through a clock that was hung at the top of the wall in front of his bed. 

    Alfred was surprised as he realized it was already six o'clock in the morning and it was also the next day. "I…slept…for about seven…teen… ho…urs that's never happened before or rather that's not supposed to happen at all", He said to himself while raising his brows in surprise. 

      Unknown to Alfred his eyes have been glowing slightly bright red since he heard the alarm, he then decided to go get ready for school and when he got to the toilet to brush his teeth, he saw himself in the mirror and realized how much he has changed from yesterday as he was now taller and also has more muscles compared to his former skinny frame. 

    He also realized that his face was also smooth without any blemish and he has suddenly become very handsome. 

     He then remembered the man he found beside the tree with glowing green eyes and he also remembered what he said 'come find me'. "Why didn't that strange man attack me back then, whatever I should be grateful that am safe", he said to himself, so he pushed it to the back of his head. 

      A few minutes later as he was about to go to school he noticed that he could see clearly, even clearer as he can see even the littlest things, though he didn't know how far normal people can see because he has been using glasses since when he was eight and he also has a very weak body even though he's not a sickle cell carrier. 

     "Wow so this is what it feels like to see without glasses it feels so real and great", he said In awe. Then he touched his stomach and realized that he was really hungry even after eating. Then he remembered his father brought some food the last day but he was too tired to listen to what he was saying. 

     So he decided to check the refrigerator for some food, then he saw a lot of meat in the fridge and he was actually drooling over it.  

   "Fine, Alfred just a little, a little you're only taking a little", Alfred said to himself. As he took a little slice of the meat without even bothering to warm it as It suddenly looked so enticing to him. Then he took a bite and another one, and then another one. 

    Then he still felt hungry for more. "Maybe a little more won't hurt right?" Then he took some more and kept taking more and before he know it, he had finished almost everything. 

    "Fuck, Dad's going to be so angry with me",

Alfred said still wondering why the meat seemed to taste so good even though this wasn't the first time he was eating meat.  'Maybe I'm just hungry', he thought to himself as he brushed the thought once more. 

      He then went to meet kelvin so they could go to school together. "What took you so long Alfred, are you taking a new habit to late-coming now?", Kelvin said. "I'm very sorry, I actually woke up late", Alfred said while scratching his head awkwardly.   

     "Whatever, let's just go Alfred", Kelvin replied. Kelvin suddenly noticed something "wait, where are your glasses and what the hell happened to you?…, you look different".  

    "Don't worry about that, I can see very well now and it feels great, I can see those ants on the wall over there, the birds and everything very well.  Is this what you always feel like what you see without glasses…..ohh as for the changes it's actually puberty", Alfred said as he got lost in the feeling of having to see without using glasses. "I guess", saying the last part in a low voice that only he can hear. 

    Meanwhile, Kelvin was squinting his eyes and he still can't see any ants on the wall till he got closer to it. "Wow you're really seeing clearly", Kelvin said in surprise, due to his surprise and anxiousness, he ignored the last thing Alfred said about his changes being puberty. 

    Then kelvin decided to ask him something that has always been on his mind, "so…..yesterday what really happened? and don't lie to me that your father asked you to do something cause I don't buy that". 

      "Ohhhh umm", Alfred started thinking of something to come up with as he can't say he saw a man with glowing green eyes which would be really weird. 

    "I actually went to a forest and saw a snake on a tree so I got so scared and ran back here", He replied though that wasn't the truth, it was still a half-truth as he truly saw a strange forest and a strange man and also touched a tree. 

    "Ohhhhh, did you go to the forest along smith valley", Kelvin said but he still couldn't help but worry about something. 'What the hell would he be looking for in a place like that', he thought to himself while looking at Alfred once more, he felt that his friend was hiding something from him. 

      'Smith valley I guess that's the street that is close to the forest', Alfred thought.

     "Yes". He replied. "You should stay away from that side as a few people have complained about seeing tigers with glowing eyes and also people who go there are mostly dead, that place is really dangerous Alfred, didn't you see the danger zone sign beside it". 

    "Don't step your feet in there anymore", kelvin replied.Though he felt that it sounded strange that Alfred was going to the forest close to smith valley even after seeing the danger of wild animals sign in front of it. 

    Then Alfred suddenly halted his steps, "glowing eyes, that strange man has glowing green eyes but I don't understand the tiger part but it's likely true, shit", Alfred thought. He didn't know why, but he knew what kelvin just said couldn't be a myth like it was believed to be in Greenville. 

     "Well isn't all a superstition? I mean glowing….eyes that can't be true right?", he asked Kelvin or rather said to himself. "Well I also don't believe it but it isn't bad to be too careful right?", Kelvin said nonchalantly while shrugging his shoulders, what he just told Alfred about was a rumour that spread a few years ago In Greenville. 

    "Yeah it isn't", Alfred said as they continued their journey to school. 

     Then they realized that they had already gotten to school. So they went to their class, immediately they entered the class, everyone's eyes suddenly turned to Alfred as they noticed his changes most especially the females. 

   "Ohh and you'll have to find a way to deal with all this attention Alfred", Kelvin whispered to him while patting his shoulders lightly. All these were really annoying to a particular person who is Shane.

     'I'll really teach him a lesson this time', Shane thought to himself while clenching his fist. He felt angry about the way Alfred captured the attention of the whole class.