Twisted [Lady Lesso x OC] {S L O W B U R N}

Chapter 24

I stopped dead in the middle of the room. I didn't even manage to get to the door. It was suddenly difficult to breathe as if someone had dropped a ton of bricks on my chest, pushing the air out of my lungs. My knees felt like they were made of jelly. I took a few shaky breaths and dragged myself to the closest wall in sight. The world began to shift in and out of focus and an unpleasant feeling of panic set into my chest. All noises I was hearing seemed to have been multiplied, both in number and volume.
My heart started to beat faster and faster and at some point, I was convinced my rib cage would shatter. I can't have a panic attack now, please not now, please...

"Reader," I heard a distant voice say. I turned my head slowly, still slightly shakily, and my eyes met hers. How did she get here? Wasn't she in her office just mere minutes ago? Of course, had it not been for my mind going a thousand miles per hour, I would've remembered I'd talked to Lady Lesso long before lunch. Not to mention, it wasn't unusual for her to actually be in the main hall during mealtime.

Despite all that, I was absolutely shocked to see the Dean standing next to me. Not being able to respond to whatever she'd said, I just blinked at her as she took my healthy arm in her hands, one supporting my elbow and one under my hand.

"Do you need to leave?" She asked. There was a serious concern in her voice this time. I'd never seen her act like this. She was surprisingly gentle but there still was that familiar, safe feeling of authority attached to her presence.

I looked around absentmindedly and one, single glance at the crowd of students made me clutch her hand instinctively.

"Come on," she steered me to the only open door which later on turned out to be the one I had looked for but couldn't find earlier.
I wasn't able to utter a single word at the time and once we were out of there, I froze and forced myself to breathe deeply. I tried thinking of any techniques I knew to calm myself down.

Brain fog. Brain fog. Brain fog. Just fog. There are too many people.

But wait, there are no people. There's only you, Fenrir, and the Dean. Where's the wolf guard, though?

Okay, okay. Focus, Cassie.

Five things you can see. A corridor, torches, a carpet, and a window.

Close your eyes.

Four things you can touch. Lady Lesso's hand, Fenrir's fur, the bricks on the wall, and your hoodie.

Three things you can hear. The wind, a bunch of teenagers laughing, a rat running around somewhere in the wall nearby.

Two things you can smell. Parchment and cinnamon.

One thing you can taste. I can't think of anything so my own tongue it is, then.

Now, that the panic I'd felt was gone - at least partially, anyway - I could think somewhat straight. I took my time convincing both my body and brain bit by bit that I wasn't in any kind of danger, though that wasn't exactly the truth once you looked at the whole picture.

I opened my eyes and saw Lady Lesso still waiting by my side. It'd gone months without zoning out like that and apparently, I didn't know how to handle it anymore.

"Well, that's gonna be dreadful, to say the least," I murmured to myself, still not feeling my best.

"What is?"

My gaze shifted up to Lady Lesso's face, then down again, only to notice her fingers still placed on me. Her grip was firm, yet gentle and warm. It made me feel protected.

"It's just-"

"Cassie!" I heard Celia call out from behind me and I spun around to face her. "Oh, are you alright??" She asked with a deep frown, her eyes burning holes in me. It took me a few seconds to realize what had shocked her and I dropped the Dean's hand like a stone.