Chapter 7: The Second To Fall

AN: Just updating with minor edits.

Sylvia's POV

When I arrived at our usual spot, to my surprise, only Kasandra was waiting. She doodled who knew what on her math test.

I smirked, letting my bag drop, "What's more important than math, eh Kassy?"

She stuck out her tongue, not looking up, "Harry Potter of course. Teacher mentioned something and then all I could think about was Dobby."

I snorted before lying down on the bench with my head in her lap, ignoring her protests. She began running her fingers through my hair to signal she gave up after awhile, "So, where's Janele?"

She sighed, pausing in her movements, "I don't know. She wasn't online last night after practice so I figured she was swamped with homework. But this morning she wasn't answering any of her texts. She would have told us by now where she was."

"Yes, I hear you, now continue. I didn't say stop touching my hair, bitch." She snorted but complied nonetheless, "But anyway. I didn't get any text either. And I wasn't online last night either sorry. Practice went a little late and then mom took me out to refill the pills and so I crashed almost immediately."

Kassy shrugged, "S'okay. I got a few projects I've been working on done without your distractions."

"Hey! Who you callin' a distrac-" Coincidentally, a distraction occurred. I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket. Kassy continued stroking my scalp gently as I answered half-heartedly, "Hello? You bitch! We've been worried sick about you! Actually Kassy has. I haven't. ...What? No kidding. Hope you're okay. ...Hey! I do mean it! ...Whatever. Don't believe me then. You coming or what? ...Yeah, of course we will. ...Yeah, see you then."

"When's she coming?" Kassy inquired, letting go of my hair.

"Heeeeey... I didn't say stoooooop..." I whined, but sat up anyway, "And how do you know it wasn't someone else I was talking to? Eavesdropper. You're too young for my slutty shenanigans."

Kassy snorted, "Yeah right! And I am too old enough! Fourteen isn't that bad. And I'm around you guys all the time anyway. You're a bad influence. And of course it was her."

I rolled my eyes with a grin, "Yeah yeah, Ms. Smarty-pants. We'll be meeting up at lunch." I paused for the convenient bell ring, "And there it is. See ya then."

We parted ways and met up at lunch to Elena waiting for us. She smiled weakly. Kassy freaked out and ran to her, copying what she had done with Hazel the previous day by making a nest of coats and backpacks.

And for good reason too. She looked really pale, "Jesus Christ, Janele. The fuck happened to you? You look like death. Why are you even here?"

She coughed weakly, "I don't know. Last night I was feeling a bit faint. Probably 'cause I didn't drink anything yesterday."

Kassy whimpered, "I have water here! You can have some of mine!"

She shook her head, "No, I'm fine. Really."

I rolled my eyes, "You're an idiot. Drink it."

Elena narrowed her eyes before going into another coughing fit. She sat up straighter and stood for easier breathing access, "...Alright, fine. You win. Let me just get my own bot-"

Kassy all but screamed bloody murder as Elena crumpled to the ground. My eyes widened, I swore, and bolted down the hallway for help. Once again, we were denied the ride to the hospital. With a determined promise, Kassy and I departed ways.

As soon as the final bell rang, as I had already snuck out of class, I didn't give Kasandra a chance to catch her breath before gripping her wrist and dragging her to her locker and out the door. When we arrived at the hospital, we all but ran to our fallen friend's room.

Kassy immediately dragged a chair to her bedside and grasped her hand, tears trailing down her cheeks, "Oh, 'Lena... W-We're g-gonna f-find o-out w-what's g-going o-on..."

I slammed my fists on the end of the bed rails, "Damn right we will!"

Kassy jumped but otherwise didn't respond. After awhile she gasped. I raised an eyebrow, "The mark!" I motioned with my head to elaborate, "On her stomach! Zelly had one! Maybe 'Lena has one!"

"Worth a shot." I shrugged. We both lowered the blanket to her hips and lifted the hospital gown. On her stomach was a dark glowing heart of blacks, dark violets, and navies, "It matches the dark part on Hazel's. The fuck does that mean?"

"This is really starting to scare me, Syvy... what are we gonna do?" Kassy wrapped her arms around herself.

I gripped her shoulders, forcing her look me in the eye, "We're gonna go home. We're gonna go to artillery and judo. And then we're gonna come back to school tomorrow and we will be fine and dandy. Got it?"

She whimpered, nodding furiously, "Okay okay! I believe you!"

"Good. Now get off your ass and let's get goin'." She squealed loudly as I smacked her ass on the way out the door.

"So, speaking of ass. Real subtle staring at his in English today I hear." I snickered. She immediately turned red.

"Shut up!" I rolled my eyes, "Nice comeback."

We continued arguing until we finally parted ways. I put all my effort into my class for once.