Rodwood Academy

Chapter 85: Puddle

Making her way over to Kaila's bed, the moment Nina got within arms reach of the girl Kaila went jumping into her embrace.

Bawling as she wrapped her arms around the neck of the woman, she couldn't have been more thankful to have found someone in her time of need.

"Hey, you're alright. I'm sorry about scaring you this morning. I'm sure it wasn't nice." Nina comforted as she gently rubbed soothing circles on Kaila's back.

But while Nina held Kaila, Lauren timidly stood in place as she grew fearful of walking over to them. Her feet felt heavy as her body was frozen still. Her skin was cold to the touch as she stood like a statue staring blankly while Nina began to rock Kaila gently.

But even after everything she did to him, Alex was still at her side for support.

Coming up from behind her, the man had put a hand on her shoulder to keep her uncertainty in check. Her shoulder also doubled as a nice place to help relieve some of the pressure he was putting on his injured leg.

Looking down he was thankful that somehow during his transformation back the bleeding had slowed a great amount. The shifting of his bones and rearrangements within his internal structure turned his pooling blood pile into mere droplets at a time.

As Kaila wept into Nina's neck she trembled. She could feel herself breaking down the thick and tall walls she had put in place to protect herself. She felt lighter by the second.

But the moment she caught a glimpse of Lauren and Alex making their way over to them she instantly felt all of her muscles tightening again. Hiding away further into Nina, Kaila clung on for dear life as she whimpered with fright.

Her crying worsened and the red streaks on her face deepened.

"Hey what's the matter?" The woman asked as she rocked the girl with more assurance than before. But the girl just frantically shook her head as she sobbed uncontrollably.

There was a slight moment of panic before Nina caught onto the source of her increased sorrows. She knew that having both of the girls in the same place was going to be a challenge—especially after Lauren's rather intimidating stunt this morning.

It came to no surprise that after witnessing the horrific scene Lauren had caused, Kaila was horrified to be anywhere in her presence.

"Think you can do me a favor Laur?" Nina gently asked as she stopped the girl and man a foot away from them.

Seeing the girl look up shyly she waited for the woman's request.

"Can you go take Alex back to his room for some sleep? After everything that's happened I'm sure he could use the rest."

"Thanks but I'm alright Nin-"

"And while you're at it..." she ignored Alex knowing he was just going to argue with her over his well needed rest. "...before you come back bring me some water for Kaila please." She finished as Alex just sighed heavily.

Once Nina's requests were set in place Lauren looked down as she nodded her head quietly.

From besides Lauren, Alex could feel the poor girls guilt pouring out faster than he was losing blood. "Come on Laur." He tried encouraging her away from the sight of the woman she loved caring for another.

And yet as the two of them slowly made their way over to the doorframe, Lauren couldn't help but glance back into the room. Seeing the woman she admired fondling over another seemed almost like a dagger piercing through her already torn apart heart.

'Guess mama's found a new pup.' Her throat clenched as she struggled to get air in between her irregular breathing. 'No! Lauren stop it!' She scolded herself. 'You know what happens when you rush to conclusions.' She rationalized as her eyes met Alex's leg.