Make Quiet Things Heard

Chapter 41 : I Want You To Stay (Ep. 7|Part 2)

Hope's POV

I'm laying in bed with an IV sticking in my arm. I've been in Landon's room for what feels like forever. SimuLandon woke up from the spell a few minutes ago. I'm so drained of blood. I can't move my body. I keep falling asleep.
"I didn't know I was so afraid of needles. I guess I'll have to add that to the list. Small spaces, um, bugs with wings, doors on hinges... Sorry. Am I talking too mu... I just get... I get chatty when I'm nervous." SimuLandon says.
"Why don't we just sit and wait? Okay? In silence?" I ask. "Okay." I close my eyes but SimuLandon speaks a few seconds later. "So why you leaving town?"
"You afraid of the quiet, too?"

"I'm dead soon. What's the harm in talking?" he has a point so I explain.
"I don't want to stay because I... I don't want to be where I'm not welcome."
"But you belong here. It's a school for vampires, witches and werewolves. You're all three." he states.
"Yeah, I know. On paper it makes sense, but in reality, it... it's complicated." I say.
"What's so complicated?" I raise my eyebrows at him. He knows why.
"Your friends don't want you to have to go into the portal, so they created me to die." he states. "Don't say that."
"It's okay. It's true. It's scary as hell, but I'm gonna do whatever it takes to keep Josie and everyone else safe."
"You really do say whatever's on your mind." I chuckle lightly weak.

"It must be the subconscious prism thing." I nod my head and try to get some rest but SimuLandon talks again.
"I'm sorry Josie doesn't. She's happier with you, I know that, and I'm happy that she's happy... Don't worry Hope, Josie will come back to you. She's just figuring things out. That's why she's not here right now sharing how she feels about you." he says  "How do you know that?" I ask. "I just do" Me and SimuLandon fall in a comfortable silence. Eventually Lizzie comes inside and takes the IV out of Landon. "Okay Hobbit it's time to go."
"What did Josie say?" I ask before Lizzie could step out the door.
"I couldn't find her. I stopped looking since I have to SimuLandon to the sphinx. But don't worry she must be with Headmaster Vardemus" they leave and I fall back asleep.

***

I wake up when I feel movement on the bed. I open my eyes and see Dr. Saltzman sitting on the bed with a crossbow in hand.
"Take it easy. The school's been evacuated, and... you're in no shape to move. You'll be safe here." he says.
"What's going on?" I ask. Dr. Saltzman stands up and release a loud exhale.
"In a nutshell, Headmaster Vardemus was a trojan horse for Agent Clarke, and the sphinx doesn't want Landon for reasons no one can decipher, and Josie accidentally created a dark object of indeterminate power." he explains.
"Is she okay? I should help." I try to get out of bed but fail miserable. My body is so drained.

"No, hey. You have just enough blood in your veins to breathe. Lie here and heal. Josie's okay. I found her passed out with your aunt, Freya said she sensed strong dark magic being used and found her there. Thank god for your aunt. She's taking care of her in the evacuation center. She's okay. "he reassures me.
"Now I have to go and patrol the school. I'll be right back." he leaves the room. As soon as the door closes someone speaks. "Oh, hey." but I'm the only one here I look around the room and Clarke manifest right in front of me. "Miss me?"
"Clarke? How did you get in here?" I ask.
"My trusty ring. Creates illusions. I thought I'd camp out while your friends emptied out the school." he walks towards me. "Fluctus Inpulsa." I chant but he puts chains on me. "Surprise."

"I found these in the school armory. Spelled shackles that neutralize
a witch's power. Yet another of Ric's failsafes against supernaturals." He grabs a chair and sits in front of me.
"Yeah, please, go ahead, make yourself comfortable. And while you're at it, tell me what the hell you're doing here" I say.
"I swore to my father I would come back and take you out, but my dad screwed me over yet again."
"How did he do that? Hmm? He seems like such a lovely supernatural mastermind." I reply sarcastically.
"My form started to break down. He put a ticking clock on me in order to control me. I had to consume people and monsters to stay stable. Well, it didn't work. I burned through my monster food supply and I was still unstable."