Jarrod
"Wake up? But, I am awake. Unless, unless this is just", I take her cold, smooth hand into my warm and shaking grasp, "a dream."
Suddenly, a fierce and howling wind envelops us, whipping dust and pebbles so harshly against our skin that welts and bruises begin to form like giant birthmarks. A trickle of blood mars her snow white face, falling steadily and staining her parted lips. My fingers grasp desperately at her pale gown as I try to wrench her away from the torrent of swirling earth.
A thousand needles stick to every inch of my sore, burning skin. My naked arms feel as if they are on fire and when I look down I see poisonous wasps that resemble The Red Sea. Fear floods my insides igniting an immense rush of adrenaline as I swat desperately at the growing stinging swarm. A glass shattering scream breaks me from my desperate craze and as I turn towards the horrible sound I am knocked heavily to the ground, anchored by an invisible force that will barely let me lift my head.
"He's here!" She cries out with broken sobs fueled by utter terror.
But, I can only hear her. My nose is pressed firmly into the mud so hard I can't breathe. An enormous pressure at the back of my head brings back flashing memories of a school yard bully who kept his enormous foot against my skull, pinning my face to the ground. I know that this is what's happening now, but by the growing weight upon the back of my head I know that this time it's different. This enemy is aiming to kill.
"My, my. Look what I just caught. I thought this day would never come," A cold, deep voice booms with laughter above me.
"You're not supposed to be here, you're – ", her voice cried like shattering glass.
"Dead? Oh, Katherine. You didn't really believe that, did you?" His voice snarls menacingly.
"But, he destroyed you. He won! How could you be alive?" She whimpers behind sobs.
"I live in you, my love. My seed is blossoming within your belly. Soon, you shall be my queen."
His foot presses my face deeper into the mud. It's been to long since I have breathed. My mind begins to fade to black. I'm barely holding on as I listen hard for their words.
"Never! You may steal my freedom, but you will never have my love!" She shouts indignantly with a shaking roar.
"Soon you will see things my way." He threatens darkly.
It's the last thing I hear. Am I dying?
Kate
Jillian and I stayed at the hospital for a few hours with Jarrod's family who decided to sleep in the waiting room. There's been no change and he's still in the coma. When will this horrible nightmare end? I think as I travel like a zombie through the school hallway. I can hardly concentrate on the lectures and forget to copy down the assignments. Homework is the last thing I want to do. I have far more important things to worry about than monotonous schoolwork.
I don't know if it's my imagination, but I feel like everyone here is acting more weird to me than normal. They keep staring, pointing, and giggling. I hear unintelligible whispers that follow me down the hallway. I feel curious eyes bore into my back as I walk quickly down the hall, anxious to get away from it all. Suddenly, I see Hannah who's waving at me vigorously from our lockers, trying to get my attention. From the look on her face, I can tell something's wrong. As I reach her, she grabs my forearm and drags me into the bathroom around the corner to an empty stall.
"Hannah, what the hell?" I whisper loudly.
"Is it true?" She looks partially scared, worried, pissed, and curious.
"What? What're you talking about?" My eyebrows furrow as I try to wrack my brain.
"You're pregnant," She whispers quietly.
My heart skips a beat and I am utterly speechless.
"How did you know?"
"Dr. Daniels let it slip to Tasha who's been spreading the rumor left and right. Everyone knows." She looks down at her feet hugging her arms.
She looks up at me. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was going to! You're my best friend, Han. It's just been so crazy, what with Jarrod's accident and well" I gesture towards my belly.
"I'm so sorry he's hurt. You're dealing with much more than I ever could. And I understand why you haven't had the chance to tell me. Just no secrets, okay?" she smiles.
I reach over and hug her hard with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. I've never been popular before. I am now. And for all the wrong reasons. Everyone is reminding me with their stares and snickers. Even my teachers are giving me a look of judgment and shock. Pregnant at sixteen.
At this point, I'm just trying to keep my head above water.