I felt my eyes begin to go dark around the edges, the anger was getting too much. The lamp beside him burst into flames from my wrath. He stopped quickly and jumped. He touched my arm affectionately, but I swatted him away as he flew against the wall.
“Shut up Jared!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. The floor began to shake as it did when I was angry at Clementine. His face cracked into an enchanting smile in satisfaction, even though the floor might fall through. I wanted to smack that look off his face as I flew through the roof before I could hurt him. I was not useless. I was the determinate of if the disease spread or not. Jared. What a useless person.
I stopped midair. Jared. It was Jared. His name was Jared.
I heard shouting in the air and listened closely. It was Jared. My heart swelled. Why did this mean so much to me? “Meet me where we first met if you can remember. You remembered my name. You can do this.”
I didn’t remember him but the name Jared was important. I felt my heart open to this mysterious boy. He was someone I wanted to know; someone I already knew; someone I needed to know.
Chapter Eleven: Where We Met
WHEN I FINALLY arrived home, I had to calm myself down. How did I know him? The night passed on and I wandered the halls aimlessly. I lingered by the window in the main hallway to pass the time. My thoughts were consumed with Jared. He was convinced I knew him and that I knew where we met. I just couldn’t find it. I sighed loudly and jumped as Theo approached me.
“Hey.” He said quietly.
“Hi.” I said quickly back, he looked out the window with me. It was kind of peaceful to be with someone who understands when to be silent too.
“I am actually here to bother you about something kind of important.” I frowned. He wasn’t going to stay peaceful for long.
“What is it?”
“Well, we have a pretty important class to do.” I looked up in disbelief.
“I can’t.”
“Why not?” When I didn’t answer, he sighed. “Clementine is,” he hesitated, “Clementine is just nothing to worry about. She is just disturbed. It is going to be okay.”
“I almost killed her, I can’t go back.” He turned so that I could see him clearly in my periphery.
“We have all had a spill with death. You will be next.” He grinned and I turned away quickly. “I am kidding. Clementine has almost hurt so many of us, she had it coming.”
“She had it coming. How could you even say that? I don’t want to be this person. I don’t want to hurt anyone. She never did anything to me.” I shook my head and he walked to the other side of me.
“Lena, the next class is not going to be physical. We just get to learn. It will be okay. As long as Clementine doesn’t stare you down, you’ll be fine.”
“And if she does stare me down?” I smirked at him.
“Then you’re dead.”
I froze; I felt the icy cold air around me. Then he laughed and I looked on in complete irritation. “What is so funny?” I scowled.
“Clementine wouldn’t hurt a fly come on now.”
“Did you forget that Clementine wanted to kill me too?” I shouted and he shushed me. Not to mention, she spoke into my mind, which is pretty damn scary.
“Clementine was doing the class as you were when you almost killed her.”
I scowled. “Did you see her? She wanted my necklace. Why?”
Theo looked down to my necklace and I felt all kinds of self-consciousness. “I mean, it is a nice necklace, maybe she wanted to sell it?”
“No Theo. It was different.” I didn’t tell him that she talked through my thoughts because then he probably would have told someone.
“Okay, okay. You win, weirdo. So are you coming to the class or not?”
I huffed in frustration. “Fine. When is it?”
“It is tonight at seven.”
“Well, Dr. Ravana made it pretty clear he didn’t want me around unless I found my target.”
“That is weird. He knew you were here. He told me to come tell you about the class. He is the teacher tonight. Look, you have to come because I think he set up this class for you specifically. Why else would he have sought me out?”
“I don’t understand him.”
“Look, Dr. Ravana is pretty severe, but he does want us to get our targets.”
“Thanks for telling me Theo.” I said quietly.
“Don’t worry about it. You can sit with me and Naomi tonight.” He smiled at me and I looked on with a sad face. Theo walked away and turned back once to wave to me. I smiled back.
I was thankful that he didn’t batter me for answers to my sadness. I wanted to be alone, and he was smart enough to know that.
Eventually Theo would want to know things so I repeated in my head how the conversation would go. I knew Theo wouldn’t understand the connection I felt with my target, Jared. He wouldn’t understand. Though I felt like he wouldn’t tell on me, I couldn’t take the risk.
I continued to think about what Jared said and I didn’t know why I was so concerned. I was going to have to turn him in to Dr. Ravana anyways. My target seemed to want to play tricks with me. He wanted to confuse me and make sure that I was side tracked while he made his escape. I had to get there now and make sure he had not left his place.
I turned fast from the window and jumped when I saw Aiden close to me. I ran straight into him but he had not moved an inch. He held me close to his chest and I wanted to get out of that position as soon as possible. It was a creepy sight to see. “Sorry to have startled you.” He said in his cool tone. A shiver ran down my spine, and I shook my head.
“You’re okay.” He finally let me go and I moved a few steps back. “What can I do for you?” I hoped my voice didn’t sound as frightened as I felt.
“Dr. Ravana wants to know if you have found your target. Apparently he and his friends are causing trouble.” I didn’t reply because I knew for a fact that Jared was not doing anything wrong but sitting in the house, but what did I know?
“I do not know anything about him. I don’t know how I am going to do this.” I sighed because I truly didn’t know how I would capture someone I felt attached to.
“Do you need help? Maybe I can get someone to help you capture him.” He asked again like he did last night with sincerely but I felt my blood boil.
“No.” I said sternly and cleared my throat when his eyes widened. “I want to prove myself. Alone.” He didn’t look convinced. “Please, I want to be able to know I can do this.” I lied through my teeth. I didn’t want to capture him and I didn’t want to risk someone finding out.
“Alright sweetie.” I felt my eyes amplify. I didn’t like being called that. “Take them to school. Show them how it’s done.” He nodded in approval and turned away, I felt a weird sensation come over me and I froze. What a lame thing to say to me. “I know Theo told you about the class. We expect you to be there because this class is for you. It is designed to show you what targets can do and will do to you if you don’t kill them or bring them to us fast enough. Dr. Ravana is worried about you. He doesn’t think you can handle this.” I scowled. “I think you can though.” He lifted my chin and I felt an eerie feeling run through me. I nodded slightly, and he let go.
He walked away with his head turned slightly to watch me. I stood in place as he turned the corner, finally dropping my gaze. I slowly turned to walk to my own room.
I didn’t know how to take someone to school. I didn’t know anything. The only real fight I had was with Clementine and I didn’t know what I was even doing. My heart quickened as a memory flowed through my body. It awakened my heart and I knew I had to go right that moment. I knew where I met Jared.
***
It was as if my body knew, and my mind tried to hold me back. Every time I pictured the place, my mind would try and block it but I kept fighting it. As I flew over the ocean, I felt my eyes going blank and I tried to scream again. It worked but it would falter as it did before. The only thing that le
ft the memory in my head was because I continued to repeat the words out loud.
My mind worked hard to block out the memory. Fuzziness crowded my mind as I remembered the sight but I refused to lose it. I would remember. I had to.
My eyesight returned as soon as I saw land, and I smiled as I flew through the air. I reached the town where Jared lived and landed softly on the grass. The grass was scorched as everything else was around the town. I was surprised that the building still stood because there were countless bricks fallen from the side. A feeling of happiness ran down to my toes. I walked with ease, careful not to destroy any more land.
I didn’t see Jared around but this was the place. I knew it was because it felt so right to be here. The Morgan High School sign was hung over the main entrance and was hanging by a tiny screw. The lopsided sign looked as if it would fall from the tiniest disturbance. There was no one around, and I couldn’t help but wonder if anyone went to school anymore.
I pulled on the front handle and when it wouldn’t budge, I stared at the lock. I didn’t want to burn it but what else could I do? There must be another way. I walked back down the stairs and found a window. I opened it with ease; they must have forgotten to lock everything up.
The hallways were bright neon yellow with deep blue lockers lined against the walls. I laughed at how silly it looked. This was my high school. I knew it because I walked up to a locker by the number of 89D. I opened it as gently as I could and smiled down to see my name carved in the side. “Lena was here.” I felt the deep marking with my palm.
My heart did a small patter of fear as I heard footsteps in the hallway. I listened intently but then they faded. I decided to follow them. Before I could follow them, I felt a pull in my heart as I passed a room.
I walked directly into the classroom that made my heart patter ever so slightly. I looked around the room and sat down in the seat nearest to the front and directly in the center of the class. This was it. This room had vital importance to me that I couldn’t place.
I could feel the room’s effects on me as soon as I sat down. I remembered how much I loved school. How much I loved this school. I used to love sitting in the center because I was able to concentrate solely on school, except that day. I felt my memory finally opening up, inviting me to take a look inside.
The room was filled with my friends but I didn’t want to sit near them because it was English class. I liked this class and sometimes struggled so I knew I would have to sit near the front.
I smiled at my friends and moved my way through the crowd at the door. I sat down at the very center seat and watched as Kaley moved her hair from in front of her face when she entered the class and I waved her over. She walked to me and smirked.
“Why must we always sit in the middle?” She put her books down and catching the eye of Joseph while giving her award-winning smile. “My goodness. He gets hotter every year.” She fanned herself for dramatic effect and moved closer to me and whispered softly. “I am so going to date him this year.”
I smiled to her and laughed without humor. “Are you not dating someone Ms. Kaley?” She winked to me and smiled mischievously as she made her way to the seat she had chosen. She sat down and looked to her right and stopped in place. I followed her gaze.
If I weren’t composed, my jaw would have dropped. The boy walking in was amazing. He wore combat boots that made him look tough but in my opinion, his eyes softened him. I had to know his name. Before I had the chance, Kaley jumped up and practically fumbled to him.
“Hi.” She said smoothly, flipping her hair behind her back, exposing her chest and he just started at her face, unfazed by the view, his square jaw tightening in that moment.
“Uh. Hi.” He said evenly. He didn’t seem to be interested because he quickly moved his gaze down to the paper.
“You must be new here?” she asked but I knew him. He was older than us and I had seen him around school once or twice. I didn’t know his name but I knew he was great looking. Obviously, he didn’t need me to tell him that. He had an arrogance about him that only added to his attractiveness.
“No.” he said curtly and Kaley shook her head in agreement because she obviously had nothing to say. She was faltering for words but then an idea seemed to pop in her head because she flew her hand up.
“Oh. I know. Why don’t you sit with me over there?” she said as she bent forward to expose herself even more. He didn’t even bother to look up. She scowled in a way only I would pick up on.
He began to shake his head but then he looked up and that’s when his eyes met mine. I felt warmth go to my face and I knew my face was burning a crimson red. He saw the embarrassment in my face and he smiled to me brightly. It was blinding how gorgeous he was and the smile put such splendor behind it.
I caught sight of Kaley grimacing deeply as he stood quickly. He completely bypassed her as he reached the table I sat at. I felt my breathing stop cold.
“May I sit behind you?” I couldn’t breathe for real this time. When I didn’t answer, his face fell. “Is someone sitting here then?”
“Uh. No one is sitting here.” I said calmly as I possibly could.
Kaley’s glare followed me as she sized me up. Her mouth was in a straight line as she whispered something foul under her breath as she sat down beside me. She rolled her eyes deeply and whispered to me, “He must be gay if he rejected me.” She flipped her hair forward to cover her enormously large breasts, and I couldn’t help but feel like laughing. “You’ll see.” She turned to her friend Katherine as if to say, “this conversation is completely over but not until later.” and I was left to sit alone with someone behind me that made my knees weak. There was silence behind me but I could feel his stare. I turned to speak because I felt rude but had to be quiet when the teacher walked in.
That was when the class started. The roll was called. When my name was called I said lightly, “here.” When the name Jared was called out, I heard the boy behind me speak out. I smiled to myself. I knew his name. For some reason I couldn’t hear his last name in my mind.
Kaley stared at me the entire time. I felt her glare, and when I glanced over and met her eyes she smiled weakly before looking down at the desk. The teacher, Mr. Bills, passed out a paper to complete, explaining we could have a partner. I looked eagerly to Kaley but she had turned her back to me and was already working with Katherine. I felt my face fall.
I felt self-conscious so I quickly laid my head down on my desk to avoid seeing anyone. Before I knew it, a hand tapped my shoulder. I turned to see Jared staring at me hard. I felt butterflies.
“Do you want to work together?” I felt a blush come on so I turned my head back to Kaley. She was death staring me and Katherine was in on it. I turned my head back to him quickly. I could feel my face burning.
“Sure.” I smiled to him.
We worked through the worksheet in silence, only asking questions we were unsure about until he spoke up again. “So what do you like to do?” I smiled and told him my favorite thing to do was read.
“Well, would you want to maybe have dinner with me tonight at eight? You pick the place.” he stopped fast and almost stammered. “Of course, you could bring a book to avoid me if you want.”
I laughed. “Yes. I would like that.” I stopped. “To read right?” he was about to speak when the teacher called time.
We turned in our paper and I felt on top of the world. I smiled and didn’t even care that Kaley looked even more pissed off.
The bell rang telling us class was over. I glanced behind me to tell Jared bye, but he was gone.
After class, Kaley gushed to all her friends that the boy who never asked anyone out, asked her best friend out. I couldn’t help but blush and gush with her eventually. Even though Kaley was being kind at that moment, I remembered the glares through it all. I knew she was hoping he wouldn’t actually date me and it hurt. The number one question I had in my head was why would someone so flawless, want to date someone so flawed?
The chair I sat in was colder than I remembered. I looked at it and saw many names scribbled into the desk. I gasped as I remembered the woman that tried to hurt me just last week. She was in my memory. She was my friend, Kaley and now she hated me. I had to remember why she hated me so much that she wanted to set me on fire. Maybe it was because I am what I am now, whatever that may be.
There was a crash behind me. A chair was tipped over and I jumped up. I was prepared to attack. I broke my trance as the chair in the back of the classroom moved.
Chapter Twelve: Holding My Breath
I TOOK A deep breath after a long silence. I was not afraid though because I knew how much stronger I was than whoever it was. If it were Kaley, I would hurt her before she had the chance this time.
Someone peered around the chair. He held his breath and I saw him relax when he saw I wasn’t reacting. I couldn’t focus. He threw his hands up and sat lightly down on the wooden chair. It squeaked barely audible. It was Jared.
“How did you know to come here?” he spoke quietly. I didn’t reply and he smirked. “I knew you would make it.”
“I don’t know and I just had a memory of this place.” I paused. “I remember you sat behind me and asked me on a date. Did we ever go?”
He made a sickened face. “No we didn’t.”
“Why?” I said a little sad. I must have never gotten to kiss him. I froze as the thought quickly vanished. I couldn’t afford to think that way.
“Well. I had to leave on strict orders from your own father.” I froze. I didn’t have a father. Dr. Ravana was my father now.
“I didn’t have a father.” I said sourly.
He shook his head and stood up slowly. He reached me in two strides. “You did. You loved him very much. You had a mother too, a wonderful mother. She took care of you always. Look down.” I looked and followed his gaze to the necklace I wore by instinct. “They gave you that. It means a lot to you.”
Antidote Trilogy: The Complete Box Set Page 26
