Now in the safety of the corridor, I tried to let my thoughts arrange themselves in a proper order. Thinking back to what had just happened, I realized a small detail.
Her eyes were far too dark to have been a russet colour. These were different. More... black. Yes, that’s what it was. Pure black. But how does that explain the fire in them? They were literal flames. More of a reflection than an expression of anger. I could see myself in my uniform and-
No. Not in my uniform. I’d looked younger in that reflection. I looked like I was... twelve. But I couldn’t have been. Not unless...
Not unless it were a memory.
I felt my pulse begin to quicken, and I began to breathe rapidly.
It couldn’t have been. Wasn’t I healing? Haven’t I been getting along just fine at the other schools?
My thoughts flicker back to this morning at home. Mari. The way she looked at me so pitifully when I mentioned mom. When my mind had clicked on a memory of some incident. Was that what this was? An old incident?
I felt a sharp pain in my head. A blaring ringing like a fire alarm. Fire. I always hated it. The way they flickered. How vulnerable they could make you.
My head was pounding now.
When would this ringing stop?
My vision began to blur as I clutched my head in disarray. I heard a faint cry of alarm somewhere in front of me. Cringing, I felt myself slide down the wall and curl up. My eyes were scrunched so I wouldn’t have to deal with anything else that could hurt me more.
Why am I so goddamn useless? Why do I panic so often? Why can’t this just end already?!
Someone’s calling my name. It’s fuzzy, but I register the voice a little. Mason?
What the hell, of course not. He’s not even here anymore.
But he knew about my attacks. Him and Noah. Where were they? Just thinking about it makes my head hurt even more.
That person’s still yelling my name.
Leave me alone. Just let me stay here. Alone. Can’t you just do that?
I’ve flung my eyes open and stood up now, and I begin to run to the dormitory staircase.
Where are you going?
“Beth. Not now. It hurts, imbécil.”
Awe, come on. You’re going through a mental peril. Why can’t I join?
“Shut up, puta.”
Stop swearing, will you. What’s gotten into you lately?
“What’s gotten into me, indeed.” I grumble to my mind's demon.
I’ve stopped at the bottom step. That person grabbed me by the shoulders.
“What’s wrong?!” I hear someone exclaim, running up to me.
I find myself cowering inwards, crunching my eyes shut again, in an attempt to block it out.
At least I’m hearing things better now. There’s still a faint ringing in my ear, though.
“Let me help her. I know how to deal with this.”
Was that-? No. No, it can’t be.
“And who the hell are you?” I hear... Eric, I think, snarl.
I snap my eyes open and someone in front of me stumbles. Jay. I briefly wonder if my eyes seemed unhinged to the boy, since that’s usually what happens.
“Eliza! Deep breaths. Deep breaths! ”
I glance at the source. Could it be?
Then I find myself looking elsewhere, in a complete denial.
It couldn’t be him.
No. Who was I kidding? It’s just my longing. There’s no way he's still here. No. That’s- that’s impossible. He’s gone. The vitals made it clear.
There was still an annoying buzz in my ears. I thought I heard Anna say my last name but then-
“Eliza?”
The ground rushed up to meet me, and that’s when I promptly fainted on the spot.
YOU ARE READING
♤ ᴜᴘꜱɪᴅᴇ ᴅᴏᴡɴ - 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙘𝙮
Science FictionShe thought she was normal, but she'd never have known that she was the key to the Upside Down. Never. She was just a normal teenager, who'd been transferred to a new school. But, for some reason, that school was enchanted with students of magical r...
