181 Days of Madeline Jesty

Chapter 56: Real World

Mickey and I started to hasten our pace. If we missed the bell, the doors of the auditorium would close, and we would be marked late. Not only would this tarnish our "high-ranking students of the quarter" titles, but we would be also be interrogated. Again, I didn't want to pull Mickey down with me, especially after knowing the situation with her mother.

"My Majesty, please wait for me—"

"Why did you have to come for me?" I whispered agitatedly. "You could've just gone straight to the auditorium."

"Because I was curious why you were going the other way . . ."

"And now you know."

"I thought you weren't interested with her?"

Is she talking about Amielle? "I am, Mickey. But not romantically. I care about her as much I care about a sister . . . if I'll ever have any. I have told this, haven't I?"

"You seem too interested . . . like . . . romantically."

Those words came in a whisper. I sighed. Would Mickey understand that I had been wanting to see Amielle for a very long time because it felt that she was being kept from me by her aunt Cornelia? Would she be able to understand this strange connection with Amielle? the urge to protect her at all times? the feeling of wanting to take care of her although I never had considered her romantically?

Besides, the last time I sincerely spoke with Amielle, I was transported to a dream where my father was alive—something I had not experienced in a decade. It might be a long shot, but I'd like to try again. Since then, this connection became more unnerving, like a monster trapped in a chest.

"I will not repeat this the second time." I stopped and faced Mickey, my head tilted and my brow raised. "Amielle is a sister to me. And if there is someone I can be romantically interested with, it will be with you. Now, can we hurry? I don't want your mother to worry."

She was stunned but continued walking behind me. I bit my lip after feeling guilty. Maybe I had said it too harshly? Fuck.

I turned around to apologize, only to see Mickey more radiant as ever. At first I was weirded out and even thought she might be the type who would like a scolding, but then the moment ago flashed back quickly. My eyes widened, shocked that I said that.

"D-don't think about what I said too much!" I shouted and walked even faster.

When we arrived at the auditorium, we saw students already lining up. It was almost our section's turn to enter, and we were lucky enough to rush to our positions and walk with our classmates.

"Where've you been?" Steph asked as soon as I stood beside her.

"I wanted hot chocolate, but I wasn't able to buy one."

"Why?"

"There were other people lining up."

"You should've told me." She then grabbed my arm and held onto it. "We'll buy together later."

We entered the auditorium and then stayed seated on our seats for another hour. But I couldn't wait that long. My legs fidgeted because of my impatience, which irritated Steph.

"What the hell, Maddie? Are you in heat or something?"

I bit my lip. I needed a reason. "I . . . I need to go to the restroom."

"Then do. You—"

"O-or . . . the clinic."

Her forehead creased; her lips curved downward. Worry became immediately apparent on Steph's face. "Is something wrong? Don't you dare explode here."

I nodded and pretended to be more uncomfortable.

"What the fuck did you eat?"

"We ate the same thing during lunch, remember? Maybe something I ate during breakfast."

"Tsk. Do you want me to go with you?"

"No," I replied. "I'm going to be okay."

"Got it. Text me, okay?"

With a hunched back, I walked toward Ms. Lilian, who was standing against a wall and covered by the shadows within the auditorium. My fingers were crossed. I hoped that she couldn't read my mind.

"Yes, Maddie?"

"Permission to go to the clinic, Ms. Lilian. I need to go get meds."

"You need a companion?"

"Not comfortable. I might explode any minute. At least, if ever, no one will see my crime."

"Jacobs, stop joking," Ms. Lilian whispered. "Go. Stay there if needed. I'll be there once this is over."

I quietly rushed to the exit after our adviser's permission. When I was sure no was looking, I rushed to the stall of Cornelia's Café . . . but Amielle was no longer there. She might have gone home with Ms. Cornelia.

I sighed in defeat.

"Fine," I told myself before turning around and deciding to head to the nearest comfort room instead. It was locked, but I heard movements inside, so I waited. The knob turned, the door opened. Then and there, I saw Amielle, surprised that I was there in front of her.

"Am—"

But she hushed me and pointed at the mic attached to her uniform.

"Why?" I mouthed, but she only averted her eyes. This was when I touched her hand, hoping to say it would be okay. But once again, an electric current flowed through me, just like the first time.

I knew it.

When I woke up, I was inside a stable. A man who might be in his late forties and with a physique same as my father was raking some hay while humming a tune I didn't know. Not long after, his companion went inside . . . and shockingly passed through my body!

"What the fuck?"

It seemed that the guy who just entered didn't hear me and continued speaking. "Eleazar, you done there?"

"Did you hear that? Or did you just cuss?"

That voice. It was Dad's.

"Again with the ghosts?" his companion replied.

Being a smart ass surely came in handy. Now I knew that, one, I could be transported here if I touched Amielle, and two, no one else could hear me in here but this man—Dad.

"Dad . . ." I whispered, careful not to scare him.

The man turned around. It really was Dad.

"You . . ." I heard him say. "Who are—"

But as soon as our eyes met, I felt myself fading. He dropped his rake before running toward me, seemingly asking for an explanation why I was there and why he was seeing me. But I knew I had no more time. At least I was informed of two other things: he did not know me here, and I would return to the "real world" if our eyes met.

Before exiting, I screamed at the top of my lungs—

"Go back to us, please, Dad!"