Dustin tried to turn and found himself under the soft sheets of his bed. "Huh?" Dustin blinked his eyes open and rubbed his aching head. The last thing he remembered was a tall woman called Mrs. Lilly said she was Mr. Tim's husband. It was even a worse dream than walking to class in his underwear. But was it just a dream? Dustin looked at his alarm clock and it glowed 6:54 am. Maybe it was just a wild dream his mind made up to scare him.
Liz walked in and smiled seeing him awake. "Hey Dustin, you feeling alright?" She came in her hair curled and away from her face neatly with fresh make up. "Yeah, I'm just confused on something and my head hurts." He didn't lie his head did hurt whenever he thought of something. "You're head should be feeling better in a bit. You did hit it quite hard when you fainted." Liz handed him a glass of water.
"I- oh so that wasn't just a dream?" Dustin flopped backward his face pushed into his pillow. "Dustin, what's wrong kiddo?" Liz put a hand on his back trying to comfort him. "It's just the teacher looks oddly familiar and I thought she was my mom, so I fainted." Dustin hated lying to Liz but he didn't want to break it to her that it was Mr. Tim's wife. To be honest Mrs. Lily didn't look anywhere near his old mother. Dustin hadn't told Jake or Derrick about the meeting in class.
"Hmm ok. Well I'm gonna let Jake come in. He's been edgy and impatient all day since he hear about you." Liz picked up the empty glass and walked out. Not even a minute later Jake ran in interrogating him of why he left school. "What? The teacher was Mr. Tim's wife?!" Jakes eyes widened and his volume rose. "Quiet down! I don't want her to hear this." Dustin hissed at his brother. Jake hushed himself down and looked at his brother. "Is she as insane as Mr. Tim? Or is she not?" Jake whispered. "Mrs. Lilly doesn't seem to show any signs yet other than the same devious look in her eyes." Dustin remembered the same flash in her eyes, "Where's dad?"
"At the mechanics shop already." Jake shrugged. Dustin nodded and his eyes wandered over his brothers face before seeming to find part of a gash on his shoulder. "Take your shirt off Jake." He demanded, his worry and protective skills kicking in. "W-what? No!" Jake's face went a red and he backed up a tad. "I'm not gonna do anything wrong. I just wanna see something." Dustin rolled his eyes at him. Surely but slowly Jake removed the price of clothing and what Dustin saw horrified him. Deep bloodied cuts, dark colored bruises, and swollen parts covered most of his back and stomach.
"I got mugged and beat up." That was all Jake had said. The wounds looked quite fresh considering they could have been a day old. Dustin was hurt to see his brother like this, but it also enraged him. "While you were out yesterday, we found _____. Turns out he and his family were taken and beaten." Jake stated flatly, then hissed in pain as Dustin's hand glided over some. "Sorry..." Dustin grumbled. "It's fine, now tell me more. I've never been this interested in a teacher before." Jake said, his eyes full of wonder. "Well let me see..." Dustin started to name and describe her the best he could while Jake enjoyed it almost like a story.
