Chapter 10

I looked in wonder at the sheer size of the building. My hands were trembling as I opened the door, fighting the urge to run back at Duke, screaming. I trudged through the lobby, and my shoes clunked on the cold, hard tile. I entered the office timidly, and grimaced at the empty computer desk. Then, the secretary bustled in, deep in conversation with someone on the phone clamped between her ear and shoulder. She took one look at me and thrust a thin wad of papers into my trembling arms. One was a file that read MADISON LYNCH in bold, dark letters at the top. I opened the folder and found a schedule and a map of the building. She pointed to a room on the paper and gestured to the door, obviously code for Get to class and out of my office, new kid.

Well then.

I nodded my thanks and shuffled out of the office, keeping my head down, but no one was staring. I looked up, and I realized that the hallway was empty. I quickly found the room I was looking for and opened the heavy wooden door slowly with a shrieking creak. I stepped through the door and quietly into the room, shutting it without a sound.

Then the whispers started.

"Hello, Madison, I'm Mr. Green. Welcome to Mathematics. I believe I am also your English teacher." Then he turned to the class. "Class," he continued with a confident gesture in my direction, "this is Madison. I hope you will make her very welcome here."

Yeah right.

"So, Madison, why don't you introduce yourself."

I stared at the sea of unfamiliar faces in front of me, wishing I could die. Faint, at the very least. Get anywhere away from here. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out, just many strangled squeaks. The lights above me swam in front my eyes, and I continued to mumble incoherently. Then, I managed to choke out something understandable.

"Uhm, I'm, uh, Madison, and I, um. . ."

"Well, I think that covers everything," Mr. Green quickly cut me off and gently pushed me to a seat in the back of the room. I shot a grateful glance in his general area, but he was already hopping to the front of the class to begin the lesson. I stared at the thick textbook, not really seeing it. Apparently my telepathy had worked to the extent that he didn't call on me once, simply letting me wallow in my lonely seat in the back.

Before I knew it, the bell had gone off and everyone was packing up to go to the next period in Madison's Personal Hell. As I stood up, I wondered vaguely why the pages of the math book were damp. Apparently I couldn't leave the room without embarrassing myself further, because the unnaturally thin doorway tripped me and I was sent sprawling on my face into the hallway. I tilted my head up to moan in spite of myself, but a warm and tentative hand on my upper arm shocked me. From my perch on the floor, I stared up at a guy smiling shyly at me, his face happy and full of boyish roundness that gave him the appearance of being several years younger than he really was. But his eyes were deep and hard, and suddenly they evaporated all the young qualities of his features.

"Are you okay?" he rushed, in a loud, slightly deeper voice than I would've expected. Oh yes, I'm fine. These things happen all the time. You can just leave me here, I'll live. I hope. Somehow I held that back and managed a weak nod. I stood up shakily, but the comforting hand was still gripping my upper arms. "By the way, my name's Michael. Where's your next class?" he continued thoughtfully. He had already collected my books and shoved them into my arms, his hands leaving a trail of fire across my skin. Not the smoldering, lukewarm fire of Duke, but a scalding and uncomfortable blaze.

"Science, room 611," I muttered, mortified.

"Me too!" he exclaimed enthusiastically. We had stood up and were continuing down the hallway, and he rested his hand on the small of my back. I casually shrugged out of it. His mouth hardened into a slight grimace at my response, but flickered back to a buzzing happiness in an instant. We had found the classroom my now, and Michael held the door open for me. I nodded and shuffled on ahead of him.

"Hello, I'm Mrs. Smith," the teacher hummed in a low and velvety voice. She handed me a textbook and motioned for me to grab any seat. I chose one in the very front so I couldn't see anyone, but Michael snagged the seat next to me. Again, I didn't pay attention, but she seemed to understand and didn't mind. As Michael whispered nonstop the whole period, I realized something. Apparently I had come to school during 3rd period, so after lunch I only had to suffer through gym and then choir. My mind zoomed in on a school info letter that said the first two periods were for optional electives, so the absence of people outside was not abnormal. The bell rumbled again, and Michael chattered away happily as we made our way to lunch. The noise of the hordes of people inside the cafeteria triggered a roll of nausea through my stomach.

"Uhm, I'm actually not feeling to well," I choked at him, and he lightly brushed away the sheen of sweat on my forehead. I cringed away at his touch, so he backed off, pointing me cautiously to the clinic. I told him I was fine when he offered to walk me there, afraid of him touching me. I shivered involuntarily and made it to the Nurse barely above a crawl. She took one look at me and handed me the phone. I dialed quickly and held the ice cold phone to my ear, shivering again.

"Hello? Madi?" Duke answered urgently on the first ring.

"Duke," I rasped at him. "I think I'm sick. Can you come get me?" the nurse gave me a disapproving look because I was obviously talking to my boyfriend, but I ignored her.

He didn't hesitate. "I'll be there soon." Click. I slid down to the floor and put my head between my knees. My breathing became harsh and ragged as my throat was set on fire. I didn't know how long I was sitting there, but soon Duke was leaning over me.

"Madi," he breathed. "I'm here. Everything's okay." I nodded. "Okay, I'm going to pick you up. Shut your eyes." I obeyed willingly. I felt the nausea rear up inside me as he lifted me gently off the floor. His steps were slow and light, as to not clunk me around. I felt the cool leather seat against me head, so I turned, despite the nausea, to press my cheek against the seat. He pressed his body lightly against me to buckle my seatbelt, but when he pulled away I grabbed one of his hands and pressed it to my face, for I had gone cold again. His hand gently slid off my face, and the next second he was in the driver's seat and the car hummed to life. He took my hand again and rubbed my fingers lightly, handing me a bottle of water that he had taken with him. I drank greedily, the icy water flowing down my throat in one wave, healing all the wounds created there.

I was still so weak. My neck didn't have the power to tilt my head up, so it lolled to the side on the seat until we pulled into the hotel parking lot. Duke had to carry all my weight as he trudged into the lobby. Luckily, it was empty.

"Can you walk?"

I shook my head soundlessly.

"Okay. I got you, Madi. Everything's gonna be fine." I think I shook my head, but my vision was so discombobulated that I wasn't sure. Click. The door to our room swung open, and he hurried me to the bed. "What do you need?" he whispered quickly.

"Pajamas," I gasped, but my lungs were too sore to hold any more breath than that. It all rushed out of me, and my ribs ached with the effort. It seared my throat as it all came up, and I clutched my stomach, trying not to vomit. Duke took my face in his hands and hushed me quietly. He stroked the length of my face, from my ear to my chin.

"Don't talk," he cautioned me. He gently pulled my jacket off, and I shivered violently without that heat. "Shh," he whispered, "you'll be okay soon." He pulled an oversized sweatshirt over my head, and I snuggled into it, trying to ignore the cold below that when he stripped off my jeans. My head pounded, vision fuzzed, and everything was gone.

I wasn't sure where I was. I was running, sprinting, but my legs couldn't carry me fast enough. My lungs were bursting, ripped with fire, but something pushed me forward. The laughter—the shrieking, maniacal laughter—echoed in my head. I pushed the heavy ornate door open, the screaming making me dizzy. It was on my tail—I could feel it. I am going to die, I chanted, savoring my last moments. It came closer, closer—

"Madi!"

My eyes whipped open. The shadows were dense, the curtains drawn. It's just a dream, I thought, trying to slow my pounding heart. A smooth and perfect figure leaned over me, and I recognized the smell of his breath on my face. I gasped, and my bloodcurdling scream ripped my throat, the embers inside me smoldering. A thing was rising over my head, roaring and spitting. I shut my eyes painfully tight and cowered, waiting…

"Madi, wake up!"

My eyes thrashed open once more, and I was thrown form this horrible nightmare.

Then all the pain came rushing back. I gasped and fell back onto the bed, sweating and shaking. Every ounce of my body hurt like being stabbed by thousands of prickling needles. I guess I looked as bad as I felt, because he cursed quietly as he held my face in his hands.

"Ahh, damn. I'm going to call the doctor."

"No!" I choked, pleading with my eyes.

He looked confused. "Why?"

"Because if we involve anyone public, they won't let me stay here with you. We're both minors. They'd send me away."

He sighed in defeat. "What do you need?"

"Just stay with me."

He grinned, but it didn't touch his eyes. He peeled the blankets back and started to climb in.

I stopped him with a hand on his chest. "You'll get sick too." I rolled over so there wasn't any room for him.

"I'll live. Now move, you're freezing." I rolled over obediently, wishing I could protest, but I just didn't have it in me. Besides, the warm cradle of his arms was comforting, and I needed that. But, his body was crushing my arm under me, and it hurt. "Sorry!" he gasped and pushed me on top of him so I was curled into a ball on his chest. "It's okay. I got you. Sleep," he instructed again, so I let unconsciousness take me.