The Skylar Experiment : The "X" in Apex

Chapter Forty-Four - Angel Chaser

Heather drove me to a street corner and I waited there for Dad to pick me up. In the end, I couldn't resolve myself to share the information, but I also couldn't get into a car with Luc. I'd sat on the pavement cross-legged, shouldering the olympian task of looking totally normal for bypassers after she left.

Once alone in my room, I delved into a bottomless slumber.

Dad woke me after sunrise to warn me I was going to miss a call from Mom. It was so soon, it felt like I just blinked. I turned in my pillows with a whine.

"You're so pale, what's wrong?" He stuck the back of his fingers to my forehead.

Whatever incoherence I mumbled didn't satisfy him. Still, I don't remember him leaving the room and slept until late afternoon. When light hit my lids again, my first hazing thoughts were about who might be watching the house tonight. Then I realized that now, I was going to live normally, like I'd expected when I moved here.

I stood shakily in the quiet room, wondering how any of it had been real.

My phone was empty.

A sting radiated in my chest. I knew why, and he said multiple times it was better this way. If Luc changed his mind, he'd send a text or something but I owed it to him to keep my end, no matter how backward it felt.

Day one of being free. I never imagined I'd be holding back tears just staring at an empty message box.

I sent one to Emma instead, letting her know the plan had worked.

A lone bird chirped outside my window. I realized I wasn't holding my phone or even standing up. I'd dreamed again—dreamed that the plan went smoothly.

Jesus.

My brain was playing cruel tricks on me, as if it helped. I groaned.

Dad was waiting for me to crawl out of my room. He walked from the food-laden counter and across the hall, grabbing my head and kissing it. "You looked so tired, I didn't want to bother you. Rough week?"

Aside from the throbbing skull, I was mostly better. I could still feel the blood loss in the shower and thought I was lucky I didn't fall.

"Yeah... I didn't actually sleep at the sleepover. Didn't you have some extra hours?"

"I didn't know what was going on with you, if it was serious. I was about to check on you again," he said, still holding my head with his large hands.

My mouth was so dry and my lips were so pasty. I glanced ahead, spotting that big lemonade pitcher, and then the pile of golden pancakes and fruits. Sugar heaven. Precisely what I needed. Dad smiled as he noticed, like I'd uncovered a secret gift, and stepped aside.

"I made lots in case you were very hungry. I'm here all day."

He never called off in his line of work. I didn't know how he managed, and I didn't want to dwell on it. I was going to have a full day with him, no school. The headache and the dizziness was almost worth it.

"I'm fine," I said with my most convincing tone. "A day home sounds great, just this once."

Dad winked, though he didn't seem entirely sure. "Just this once."

I proved to have an appetite and was able to hold down my food. I was mostly chugging the hell out of that lemonade glass and refilling it. He sat on the closest stool, studying me as I poured and stabbed into a new serving of pancake.

He babied me some more after that, sharing a blanket on the couch and putting on the Discovery Channel. For the first time in so long, I felt safe and convinced that nothing would burst through the door to eviscerate our bellies. I could barely keep my eyes open to watch TV.