His Scars

24. Pound Of Flesh

 Hey Kids. Back with another chapter. Sorry it took so long!

Do comment and let me know what you think so far. Thanks!

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KANE

Sage: Home

It had been a week since that text and I hadn't heard from her since. I tried to go see her but Caleb told me that she had fallen sick. And she wasn't feeling up to seeing anyone. Matt and Gina hadn't been able to see her either. 

She had fallen sick before but Matt and Gina said that she never shut them out. Something sat uneasy in my stomach but Caleb assured me she would be fine with some rest. But there was something in his expression. Anger. Caution. It was like even when his eyes were on me, he was looking through me. Seeing something else. 

Anxiety was a feeling I was very familiar with, and I felt it now as I sat in class, gazing at her empty seat. I think our my friends could sense something was off as well. Our lunches, which were usually buzzing with conversation had gotten quieter as the days passed by. She was on all our minds and nothing felt right. 

Just as the bell sounded, my phone chimed. Looking at it, I saw a text to me from Matt.

Matt: Guys, I think we need to blow off some steam. We've been moping for the past week and I think we should let loose. 

He must have sent the same text to Gina individually so that he wouldn't have to send it on the group. 

I thought about how I checked to see if her curtain was open every day and night. How suffocated I felt in my worry. How this was not a feeling I had felt with this intensity for a long time.  

Kane: Yeah, sounds good. 

Matt: Good. I'll text you the details later. 

Sure enough, at around seven 'o' clock, Matt sent me the address and the time. 

I tossed my phone on my bed and paced my room, running my hand frustratedly through my hair. 

There was a knock on the door. 

"Come in." I called out and my father poked his head in. 

"Hey Dad." I said. 

He smiled at me and came inside. "Any word?" He asked. 

I let out a breath and closed my eyes. "No."

"I ran into her father as I was leaving for work this morning." He said and I whipped around to face him. 

"He didn't give me any details but he said that she would be back in class in a few days. He said that she was recovering well." 

Relief flooded through me. 

"Did you ask what happened?" I urged and he nodded. 

"I did but he didn't give me any details." 

I dropped down on my bed and my father came to sit beside me. He put his arm around my shoulder and squeezed. These were moments I treasured. The feeling of having a parent. The feeling of not being alone and having someone in my corner. 

"Something doesn't feel right, Dad. She didn't text me back that night until she was home. And even that text was so unlike her. I'm so worried that something might have happened. It was so late. I told her to let me pick up but she refused." 

I looked at him, drowning in the sympathy in his eyes. 

The  weight of this helplessness was crushing me.  "I don't know what I'll do if something happened to her."