OK, it gets extra science fiction-like in this chapter. Sorry if it sounds rushed...
Freddie kept giving me gifts all week. From necklaces to rings to ham-they just kept coming. And he was very flirty with me too. It made me sick. I pretended to like him back but it was hard. I had never even considered liking Fredwina that way. I didn't want to hurt him either. Yeah, yeah, I'm gettin' all sentimental here. Whatever. I would never hurt anyone, even him. At least, not in that way. Heartbreak was the worst kind of break.
It was the end of school on Friday after a full week if Freddie-adoration. I was putting my books back hurriedly, hoping I wouldn't see his face, see his happiness, and know the truth of why I was acting this way. So, of course, who to come up to me but Freddork.
"Hey, baby." he greeted, kissing me. I forced a smile and replied, "Hey, Freddie."
"Want to go to the movies tonight or would you rather have dinner?" he asked flirtatiously. I felt a heart pang. I couldn't stand seeing him so happy when the truth was I didn't like him back.
"Uh..." I said.
"Oh, hey, I gotta go get my books." he said, "I'll be back in a few." He kissed my cheek and walked to his locker. I slammed my head hard against the locker door. Ugh! It was so hard to see him like that!
"Uh, what're you doing, Sam?" I heard Carly's voice ask. I looked up to see her suppressing a giggle. I was going to say "Fine" but I couldn't take another lie, even one so small.
"I can't stand it, Carly!" I said, and her smile left, replaced by a concerned face.
"What is it?" she asked worriedly.
"Freddie!" I said, "He's giving me gifts and flirting and I can't take it! I can't stand this! I don't like pretending to like him! I-"
"What?" a voice whispered behind me. I spun around to see Freddie standing there, his face upset beyond words. I bit my lip.
"Uh...Freddie, I-" I started to say but he interrupted me.
"You don't like me?" he said, his voice very quiet, "Why'd you go out with me then? Kiss me? Let me give you all those presents?"
"Freddie, I...I'm sorry." I said but that wasn't enough.
"Forget it." he said, shaking his head, "I can't believe I ever liked you. You...you just don't care about anyone." I stared at him, sadness and shock making me tremble. He stormed away from us and out the school doors. I stared after him, feeling my own heart breaking.
I laid on my bed, sobbing into my pillow. I had hurt one of my best friends. It was the worst feeling ever. I felt like I had died inside.
I heard feet pounding on the floor and I turned over to see Melanie coming in. Seeing her made a new anger arise in me. It was her fault. All her fault Freddie had gotten hurt.
"Sam!" she panted, "Come quick!" She grabbed my arm but I slapped it off.
"I'm not going anywhere." I said, the anger boiling up, "It's all your fault! Freddie overheard me saying I didn't like him and he got upset! If you had just left me alone, none of this would've happened and I'd have withered away! Then I couldn't bug people anymore!" The tears overflowed and I garbled the last words. I cried into my hands, squealing in sadness and stress.
"It's about Freddie!" Melanie said, ignoring my crying, "They've got him!" I sniffed and stared at her.
"W-who?" I asked, choking on the word.
"The Souless." she whispered, and the name made me shiver, "They're the same ones who took me from you. They try to destroy anyone who's in severe stress and sadness and anger. They feed off it, and they..." Her voice trailed off. I started breathing hard. They feed off it... I didn't want to hear the rest.
"We have to save him!" I yelled, jumping up. She grabbed my hand as I made way to the door. Her face was pale white with a tint of green.
"Sam..." she said and her voice sounded tired, "Go...down into the sewer...they...underground. You'll see it..."
"Aren't you coming?" I asked. I stared at her worriedly. She was speaking very slowly, and it scared me to no end.
"I can try." she whispered, "But...I'm going...I'm starting to..." As she said this her hand crumbled into dust. I gasped in fright. The crumbling went up her arm, making it fall too. She was falling apart at the seams. She was...finally withering away.
"Go, hurry, Sam!" she said, using the last of her strength before she fell onto her knees, "Save him...before it's-" She never finished. The rest of her crumbled and her body lay as a pile of dust.
I gazed at her, horrified. I was next. I swallowed my fear and ran down the steps. I would save Freddie...or die trying.