This may be a long chapter. Hope you guys are loving it so far. Enjoyyyyyyy!
As we both got up and joined the line of people, he asked, "What was your name? I didn't catch it."
"Elanor," I replied.
"You can call me Stiles," he introduced himself as we entered the room with a circle of chairs.
Certain parts of the Eichen House had their charm, like this room. Sunlight streamed through the windows, brightening up an otherwise dark place. Everyone took their seats in their usual spots, preparing for the group therapy session.
"I want to revisit the topic of guilt today. It might surprise you to hear me say that guilt is a good thing - it's a rather mature emotion," Ms. Morrell began.
"Malia, you mentioned something about guilt the other day. You mentioned it came with a visceral reaction," Ms. Morrell directed her attention to Malia, a teenager who had been at the Eichen House for about three weeks. Most of the time when I saw her, she'd be shivering. It had become less frequent but still happened regularly.
"I said it made me feel sick to my stomach..." Malia replied.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Stiles looking back at something, as if he were seeing something I couldn't.
"Guilt often becomes physical. You feel it in your gut. It's not just psychological. How does it make you feel, Stiles?" Morrell asked.
"I'm sorry, what?" Stiles seemed distracted.
"Guilt - What does it make you feel?"
"Nervous..."
"Like a sense of urgency?" He nodded.
"You feel an urgent need to make up for something you've done. To apologize. These are healthy responses. Does anyone know what we call someone who doesn't experience guilt?"
"Sociopath?" Oliver ventured.
"That's right, Oliver," Morrell commended him.
Stiles continued to look at something, but when I followed his gaze, I couldn't see anything. He appeared stressed.
"I'm sorry, everyone, but we need to take a break. Come with me, Stiles. I'd like to talk to you for a minute," Morrell announced, rising from her seat. Stiles followed, and everyone else in the room followed suit as they headed towards the main room.
As everyone began to walk away, I lingered behind. Moving slowly, I listened until I heard a door shut. I had a hunch that something was going on with Stiles, so I approached the door and eavesdropped on the conversation.
"When the mark fades, the Nogitsune's grip will return," I heard Ms. Morrell say.
"What are these? Sleeping pills?" Stiles inquired.
"Amphetamines. Sleeping is exactly what you don't want to do. You're vulnerable when you sleep."
"So all I have to do is stay awake?"
"For now. If your friends haven't figured out something by the time those marks are gone, I'll come find you."
"To tell me what to do?"
"No... To administer an injection. Pancuronium bromide. It induces respiratory paralysis."
"That sounds a lot like death."
"It's used for lethal injection, yes."
"So, when the Nogitsune takes over, you're going to end my life?"
Feeling that the conversation had reached its unsettling conclusion, I began to briskly walk toward the main room, where everyone else had gathered. I took my place in my usual corner, my mind swirling with troubling thoughts.