MARINA
I had fallen off to sleep. Then I heard someone opening my door. I sat up and saw the face of Eight. I smiled. He sat on my bed and lifted me onto his lap. I kissed him.
'It's dinner time,' Eight said.
I nodded and followed him out. Everyone was sitting at the table-including Ella- except for the grey-eyed girl.
'Where's Lailah?' The sopping-wet Six asked.
I shrugged as I sat down next to Eight.
We waited for a few minutes until my stomach started rumbling.
I got up and walked to Lailah's room. I knocked politely on the door. No answer. I turned the handle and opened the door slowly.
And there, sleeping on the bed was Lailah. I thought of waking her but then I saw how peaceful she looked. I wondered when she was ever going to get like that again. I looked at her bedside table and I saw a pill. A sleeping tablet. Then the snake came up to me and I beat it.
I walked back to the table and told them the news. We ate and were about to go to our rooms when there was a knock at the door. We looked around but there were no servants around because it was too late.
John shrugged and walked to the door. He opened it and there stood a boy with black hair and chocolate-coloured skin.
'Hi, I'm looking for Lailah,' the boy said.
'You're not another Jonathan, are you?' I asked, remembering the man in Chicago.
'Oh, no, he's dead. I'm Ahmit Rashid.'
'Oh, well, sorry because Lailah is-' Nine was cut off.
'Awake,' Lailah was awake and striding toward us.
'Oh!' I squeaked. I nudged Eight and we all backed away. I had a feeling something we weren't supposed to see was about to happen.