𝒲𝒾𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊

Chapter 7

My throat feels like it's closing in on me. I grab my shirt and pull it away from my chest, desperate for air. I pull my knees up to my chest and start rocking back and forth, trying to calm myself down. But it's no use. I put my head down in my lap, feeling like I'm going to pass out.

I'm getting nothing in my lungs. I start gasping for air, but it's like my body is forgetting how to breathe. Everything has gone blurry, and I'm crying, which makes it even harder to breathe.

I hear voices around me, but I can't make out what they're saying. It's like they're speaking a different language. I feel someone lay me down, but I still can't breathe. I feel like I'm suffocating.

And then, I feel something on my face. What are they doing to me? Are they drugging me? Putting stuff in my body that I don't want?

I grab something, I don't know what it is, but it makes me sit up again. I'm disoriented, but I feel a sense of panic. Who did I catch? I look around, trying to take in my surroundings.

That's when I see them. Blake and Greyson are standing over me, looking concerned. Greyson is the one who was playing with my hair, trying to calm me down.

"Hey, it's okay," Blake says, trying to reassure me. "You're safe now."

But I'm not convinced. I'm still feeling panicked, still feeling like I'm going to pass out. Greyson must sense my fear, because he leans in close.

"Harper, I need you to breathe," he says, his voice calm and soothing. "Can you do that for me?"

Whatever is on my face is helping me breathe better. The air is filling my lungs, and my vision is clearing. It's not as blurry as it was before.

"Just breathe and take it easy," Blake says. "Good girl, good job, Harper."

Their words are calming. I feel my body start to relax, and my breathing slows down.

As I look around, I start to determine who is where. I see Blake holding my hand, her eyes filled with concern. If Blake is in front of me, who did I grab?

I look up to see a pair of blue eyes staring back at me. I know those eyes, and I realize that it's Greyson, He's no longer wearing his white coat; instead, he's wearing a gray shirt with white sweatpants.

He's still touching my hair, and it's surprisingly relaxing. He smiles at me, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"You okay there?" he asks, his voice soft.

I look at Blake, who's still holding my hand. "You scared me," she says, her voice worried. "That was a bad panic attack."

I still have something on my face, and I reach up to take it off. It's a mask, and I pull it off, feeling a sense of relief.

I look back up at Greyson and say, "No blood."

I see Greyson and Blake exchanging a glance. Greyson's eyes meet mine, and he says, "Okay, I normally don't do this because I could get in trouble, but I could give you laughing gas to relax. It might make you laugh or cry, but it's okay. I promise it is safe."

I turn to Blake, seeking her opinion. She's the only one I trust in this situation. "It's safe; I've had it before. It made me cry," she says reassuringly.

Greyson chuckles, and I notice a spark of familiarity between him and Blake. I cross my arms, feeling a pang of curiosity. "Are you trying to be serious?" Greyson asks, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

I nod, and Blake intervenes, "I think she asked if we knew each other." I nod again, my eyes darting between Greyson and Blake.

Greyson's expression turns thoughtful. "How did you know?" he asks Blake.