Shadows Ablaze

Chapter 12- Shyah

"Shyah!" my mother sighs as she rushes into the obnoxiously white room. Her arms wrap around my neck, pulling me into a hug. I want to push her away, not in the mood for her coddling, but I endure the embrace, waiting for it to end. The second she breaks away, she surveys every inch of me, looking for any signs of trauma. But mother is a politician, not a doctor, so I don't expect her to notice anything. I know there is a bruise on my knee and various pains in my shoulder and ribs, all from the fall I took when my world went dark. But mother won't notice any of those things; she never does and I'm not about to expect her to, no matter what happened. "What were you thinking?" she finally blurts out.

I stare at her, surprised by her frantic tone. "What do you mean? You told me it was okay to go." And she did. I asked her and gave her all the details about the location. She knew the family and said it was fine for me to attend the party.

She lowers her voice, ensuring that no one can hear her words. "But drugs, Shyah? Really? I thought we taught you better than that."

I can feel my eyes grow wide as I stare at her. "Drugs?" I ask, not entirely sure where she's going with the statement.

"Yes, Shyah," she hisses, keeping her snake-like tone as low as she can. "Why would you ever?"

My mouth moves, but no noise comes out. I can't form the words to answer. My brain doesn't even know how to organize its own thoughts. "What are you talking about?"

Her eyes toss to the ceiling before she looks to the door, which is hanging wide open, allowing anyone to listen. "Please don't lie to me. I know you did drugs at the party."

"Mom! Are you joking?"

I swear she would jump on this bed and strangle me right now if she thought no one was watching. "No, Shyah!" She exhales harshly, taking a deep breath before smoothing whatever wrinkles she pretends to see on her perfectly ironed skirt. "I am not joking. This is not a joke."

"Mom," I whisper in the calmest voice I can manage. "I didn't do any drugs. I don't know what you're talking about."

Her jaw locks, her eyes glazing over, as if the statement has somehow made her flip a switch. But just like that, the fire reignites in them, sending a jolt through me as I watch betrayal flash across every inch of her face. "We taught you better."

"Which is why," I continue, intent on the truth I am trying to tell. "I didn't do any drugs at that party."

"Then why did the hospital find a pill in your pocket?"

I freeze, suddenly hyper aware of the fact that I stuffed the Axenil pill in my pocket at the party. "Mom..." I try to explain. "I put it there so I wouldn't have to take it at the party." I sigh, hating that I have to admit the next part. "There was so much pressure to do it, but I didn't want to, so I acted like I did, but spit it out when no one was looking. I promise. I didn't do any."

Mom observes me, scrutinizing every inch of my face while she watches the way my body reacts to the statement. But I'm not lying, I know that. And based on the exhale she releases, she does too. "Okay."

After a long pause, another thought occurs to me. "Mom? Did any of my friends end up in the hospital?"

She shakes her head. "No, honey, not as far as I know. I think they all got home safe after the fire."

A knock comes from the exit. We both turn to the boy standing in the middle of the doorway. His brown uniform looks discolored in the stale light. The badge resting on his chest shimmers as he shifts under our gazes. I recognize him from the party. His partner had been the one I'd seen when I finally came to, but he had also been there. I had seen him drag out the boy who was the first to seize. They had walked right through the flames and into the lawn. It may have been the sexiest thing I'd ever seen, like a scene from one of those old action movies.