Crazy

Ten

Horror

They'd been whispering all damn day, and it was really grating on Chloe's nerves. Every time she was close, the whispering stopped, and everyone pretended they hadn't been gossiping.

As for Derek, he just ignored it but even she could tell it was getting to him. He'd snapped at Liz three times today and made her cry; to which Tori had called him a monster. Something sinister had taken over his face, dark enough to make everyone back up, even the doctors, but Chloe had simply laid a hand on his arm and he turned to her, looking very much like simply, only Derek, and he'd relaxed.

He apologized to Liz, looking a bit lost as she forgave him and threw her arms around him in an embrace.

Chloe's smile was burned onto her lips.

Shaking her head, Chloe leaned over her test. What is the geometric mean of 8 and 12? Around her, the whispering was fierce, Nurse Wang ignoring it them because she didn't care, and Chloe could feel the tension getting thicker and thicker. Her leg bounced as Royce whispered quietly to Liam. Liam was twittering low in reply, his deep voice distinguishable with his sharp twang.

"Oh my God!" she blurted, anger boiling over. "Will you shut up? All I've heard this week is your damn whispering!"

Royce stood in a long, liquid motion and braced himself against the desk, his sharp canines flashing. He looked murderous and she, for a very long time, felt genuinely terrified.

"Want to know what we've been whispering about?" he asked in a low, quiet voice, sounding frightening. "Your little killer boyfriend," he sneered without waiting for an answer.

"And what of him?" she spat, bristling as he licked his lips.

A feral animal crouched in his eyes. "He's a killer. That's why he's here."

Blinking, she glanced over at Derek, who didn't appear to be listening but his fists were clenched and his jaw bunched, head turned towards the window, his jaw in his palm. Was he bothered by her knowing his mistake?

Chloe crossed her arms. "And so are you," she answered.

Royce faltered suddenly, a shadow darkening his expression. "What do you mean?" he growled.

She held her chin higher and locked her trembling knees together, breathing deeply to keep from stuttering. "I mean Austin, your brother. You bludgeoned him to death with dumbbells. It was all over the news."

"And so was Killer Mutt," replied Royce but she could see the uncertainty in his eyes, his words faltering although his rancid expression didn't.

A chair screeched, and every head turned, except Chloe kept her eyes locked on Royce. "You're nothing but a monster. Derek, on the other hand, is nothing like you. You're cold, calculating and m-manipulative; he's…well, he's Derek and far less disgusting than you. You can't keep your hands to yourself—"

Nurse Wang was hurrying over, a stormy expression dominating her face when Royce lunged and knocked Chloe to the floor. Someone was screaming but she wasn't sure if it was her or Royce or Nurse Wang. It sounded too high to be Royce; maybe it was Liz.

"You think you're so grown up," he laughed, and drew his fist back.

The punch made her mouth rich with the taste of blood.

"Let's see how grown up you are, little girl."

It took her several frazzled minutes to piece together what he was going to do; she tried to kick her legs but he clamped them down and placed his hands at the top of her collar. Cold sweat blossomed on her skin, hot from fighting and kicking her legs, struggling with all her might; she felt his nails pinch her skin and with one, casual yank in both directions, the buttons on her blouse popped and scattered about the room. Tears filled her eyes as he stared down at her with a hungry look, triumph glowing in his eyes.

"Get off me, you creep!" She pulled her head back and then snapped it forward, seeing stars as their foreheads connected with a loud crack like a gunshot.

"You little—" He reached for her throat, fingers pressing down hard when he touched the skin here as she flailed her arms. Her head pounded.

His weight was gone, lifting off her; behind him, holding him by the back of his shirt, was Derek. Something soft and thick dropped down onto her. His sweatshirt, she realized slowly as Derek hoisted Royce higher into the air, looking murderous.

Royce was spitting insults about her, looking mad and hysterical, his lips peeled back to reveal a crazy grin.

"D-Derek!" Chloe scrabbled to her feet, shoving on his sweatshirt over her little girl blue-and-green plaid bra. The warmth and downy softness settled over her, despite the throbbing of her mouth.

He turned, his eyes meeting hers over the muscle of his shoulder, and slowly placed Royce on the floor.

"Are you…" He stopped himself, looking embarrassed as he noticed her lack of shirt, eyes unfocused.

Her cheeks flamed. "I'm fine, thank you." She stepped closer and closer until they were hardly a breath away, reaching up on her tiptoes to reach his cheeks.

His eyes met hers, the color of toxic waste, the color of summertime leaves and limes and avocados.

"Chloe, what are…" He seemed at a loss for words, his eyes widening as she went up on her toes, leaning up.

She could see every hair on his eyebrows and eyelashes, the reds of the veins of his eyes, the glimmer on his bottom lashes. He smelled like toothpaste and men's body wash, a fresh, sensual scent all its own.

Hot tears dripped down her cheeks as she smiled weakly. She threw her arms around him, thanking him profusely.

Nurse Wang was hysterically calling for the other nurses.

"I-I di-didn't—" she squeaked, surprise written all over her face as a blush stained her cheeks.

He shook his head, hiding his mouth, even though his cheeks looked a bit upturned like he was smiling.

"Dear God, what have you done, boy?" barked out a voice.

They turned in unison, and she saw an older man with thinning brown hair in a green sweater standing beside her aunt.

"A-Aunt L-Lauren," she stammered, stepping forward.

Something walloped her hard in the back, sending her to the floor. Her head cracked on the ground, and her vision blurred.

Bam!

Her head bounced with the force of the slam.

Bam!

Something gave way in her nose and pain exploded, fresh and blood gushed down her nose.

Royce was clinging to her, kicking his legs at her, hitting everywhere he could.

She rolled onto her side. Her face hurt so badly; it was burning and blood filled her mouth, fresh and bitter.

She saw Derek and Ramon struggling to subdue Royce; they spun again and again.

Royce got away, lunging for her.

Ramon got him in a headlock and pulled him back.

Derek got an elbow to the face.

"Chloe!" her aunt screamed loudly, dropping down beside her.

Darkness ate away at her vision.

The last thing she saw was Derek's frightened eyes.