Mandi didn't want to look, afraid of what she would see inside. What if Tyler were seriously hurt? She could be slowly bleeding to death or...
Don't be stupid. a voice in her head told her. If she were dead, how did she answer you? She's obviously alive, and strong, since her voice was that loud.
Still, Mandi couldn't bring herself to look. Instead, she focused on studying Robin's face, as he saw his soulmate. His eyes brightened for a moment, then hardened. Mandi knew it was bad.
But then, he sniffed, and went as still as a statue-and pale. Mandi glanced around to see that Fern had done the exact same thing.
But no one else...
Slowly, Mandi began to tick random things in her head, until it all became very clear. She knew what was wrong. And one look at Brittany's equally pale face, and she knew she was right.
She turned to face the brunette, and her conclusion crystallized. Tyler was unhurt, physically, at least, not a cut on her body. But now, even from this distance, Mandi could still smell it. The sickening smell that every girl new oh so well. The smell that was everyone's worst nightmare, because it meant pain and torture, whether it was you who was causing the smell, or not.
She could still smell the blood.
Tyler was on her period.
And, if that wasn't bad enough, here's something you should probably know. The five girls at their table, well, their periods were pretty much all sincronized. Tyler got it one day, then April the next day, Karina after that, Mandi, and finally Brittany. And, from the looks of things, Tyler had been having her period for a good number of days.
Oh, this was bad. Mandi's probably started tomorrow, and when Brittany got hers...
She didn't even want to think about it. When Brittany got her period, the cramps were so bad that she wouldn't be able to move. Oh, God, if only Mandi had that problem instead of her. She would be able to manover down the mountain, but Brittany was weaker than her. She wouldn't be able to move to puke.
They had to get this done fast.
"Tyler." Robin was saying, rushing over to his soulmate, and hugging her tightly.
Tyler smiled, painfully and mumbled a quiet "Hi."
"How're you doing?" Brittany murmured, kneeling down. She took off her over shirt, and dabbed at Tyler's sweaty face with it.
Tyler winced. "P-Pretty good. I'm starving, though. He barely fed me anything, well I was here. One meal a day, if I was lucky."
Robin growled at that. He let go of Tyler, and looked her straight in the eyes. "What?" he hissed, as if that was the worst thing they could've done to her.
"Come on." Mandi hissed, urgently. "We can feed her once we get out of here. We don't have time to be catching up. The vampire-witch or whatever dude could be here any second." she'd forgotten what Roland had said he was.
Tyler looked over Robin's shoulder at her, and her eyes grew wide. "M-Mandi?" she mumbled. "W-What did you just say? W-Why are you here?"
"She's here because I told her what's going on, and about the Night World." Brittany whispered. "And, also because she's Roland's soulmate."
"W-Who's Roland?" Tyler looked as if she were trying to stay up. She probably had used up all of her energy trying to get the message across to them.
"We'll explain, later." Robin said. "Mandi's right, right now we have to get out. Roland, David, could you carry her? I don't think me and Fern will be able to handle it."
Brittany blinked, and gasped. "Oh, that's right! You guys haven't had any blood since the night before last, haven't you? Oh, I'm so sorry! I should've realized!"
"Nonsense." Fern groaned, covering his nose with his hand. "It's not your job to remember. We should've been more careful. Now, come on, we just have to get out of here."
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that." a voice came from the door.
From behidn her, Mandi heard Roland growl one name. "Axel."