A New Thirst.

My tongue was sticking to the roof of my mouth. I sat up wondering at this curious condition. The first thought that occurred to me was that I was simply dehydrated. I noticed it was still dark outside. Three- thirty A.M. shone bright red on my alarm clock as I stood up from the bed. I stretched and felt off balance as though someone was pulling me by the shoulders from behind. I flexed the muscles of my back and heard the lamp falling from my bedside table. I reached behind me and felt something like smooth leather stretched tight. I threw the light switch up and gazed in the mirror. I stifled the scream in my throat as I saw the two leathery appendages hanging from my back. I contorted myself to gain a better view and saw they were not merely attached to my skin, but now a part of my anatomy. I was, understandably alarmed, but I still could not countenance the dryness of my throat. I made my way swiftly to the kitchen and poured a glass of cold water. I drank it down greedily, but it did not produce the effect I expected. My mouth remained as dry as the Sahara. Another glass followed, then another, and third. Still, there was no change in my condition. In confused frustration I slammed the glass onto the counter causing it to shatter into pieces. Upon one of these I received a wound. Blood started to seep from the gash and I instinctively placed my mouth upon it. At last: relief! This small amount of liquid had, in part, slaked my insatiable thirst. At that moment it began to dawn on me what was happening to me. The thirst remained and I now knew of only one remedy for it. I passed out of the doorway of my house and become one with the faint shadows of the night.