Shapeless

Ch 6 secrets

Skyler hesitated when she and Jason made it to the entrance of Wintergreen High.

Here we go again. she thought, taking a deep breath.
"Home, sweet home," Jason stopped, clenching a fist slightly.
Skyler tilted her head. "Home? Ya, well, that's easy for you to say," she murmured, brown eyes cast at the ground.
Jason shook his head. "I can't wait to run into Kash," he smirked, fist clenched even more.
Skyler rolled her eyes. "You sure? Kash is really mean," she warned, trying to hide her amusement.
Jason blinked. "Yeah... well, so is my fist!" he boasted, throwing a punch at the wall.
He stopped short to yelp in pain. "Ow!" He rubbed his knuckles, now dusted with a white chalk.
Skyler snorted. "This is why we don't punch walls Jason," she teased. Her old feelings for him were returning and it was difficult to hide.
Jason winced. "Ha-ha."
Although she laughed on the outside, Skyler felt nervousness overwhelm her as they approached the building.
Jason met the frightened girl's gaze.
"Hey, don't worry about it, Skyler cat," he reassured her.
"I'll protect you," he offered.
Skyler ducked her head.
"I don't need protecting," she scoffed forcefully, face hot.
Jason shrugged. "Okay, but if you ever do, you know where to find me."
Skyler smiled softly. "I'll keep that in mind," she winked.
The two teens finally made it into the halls which were completely empty once again. Only now it was for a different reason.
Silence, pure silence. She felt a chill down her spine. Skyler hated the feeling of being alone. That was when she was left to her thoughts and triggers.
Her breath grew shallow as a fear briefly gripped her.
Memories came in short flashes.
The fear in a little boys eyes. The screams of terror in the night. The darkness that swallowed everything including sound. And finally that paralyzing silence when she realized that she was alone. Suddenly, the image of a hooded figure flashed through her mind.
She gasped in confusion. What was that? What was so significant about a stranger? And why would she be thinking about something that she had never seen before?
"Huh." Jason's voice brought her out of her state.
"What is it?" Skyler blinked curiously, trying to steady her breathing and bring herself back to the present. She was determined not to let him know about her violent episodes.
Jason's blue eyes were round.
"We are early..." he pointed at the clock on the wall.
"That's a first!" they pointed out in unison.
Exchanging a glance, the two laughed nervously.
Jason raised his eyebrows. "Ladies first," he gestured with a hand. Skyler laughed softly.
"You dork," she teased.
Jason bowed. "Only for you, Skycat," he winked.
Skyler folded her arms. "Whatever you say, goofball." She walked into the hallway.
Jason grinned. "Yeah? Well, how-"
Suddenly, a whispering chant interrupted him.
"It's coming! It's Coming! It's coming!"
Skyler whipped around towards the sound and Jason did the same. it was coming from farther down the hall. They exchanged glances. with a nod, they crept down the hallway, breathing echoing eerily.
"It's coming! It's Coming! It's coming!"
Behind her, Jason frowned. "What is that?" he blinked.
Skyler shrugged. "I don't know, but it is creeping me out," she shivered.
The whispering grew louder as they approached a door.
"It's coming! It's Coming! It's coming!"
Skyler's heart skipped a beat as she prepared herself for the worst.
Then it was quiet again. Too quiet.
"What are you two doing?"
She nearly screamed when a voice pierced the silence and she came face to face with a blonde haired boy.
sShe spun around.
"You scared me!" Skyler gasped.
The boy shrugged. "Sorry," he muttered. "It's not my fault that you guys were sneaking around being suspicious," he retorted.
Skyler rolled her eyes. "We weren't sneaking around!" she defended herself hotly.
Jason blinked. "Who is this guy?" he gestured at the newcomer. "Do you know him?"
Skyler squinted her eyes for a moment. She looked the stranger in the eye and smirked.
"I thought that was you, Peter," she greeted. Jason stared at her. "Y-you know this boy?" he demanded.
Skyler nodded. "Yep, he is the shy kid from our dance class!" she explained, causing Jason to sniff distrustfully. "Uh huh..." he wasn't convinced.
"I'm not shy..." Peter grumbled, folding his arms. "Oh really? Then how come you ignored me that one day?" Skyler demanded, poking his shoulder teasingly.
Peter rolled his eyes. "Reasons."
Jason huffed with jealousy. "Where were we?" he glanced pointedly at the library door, shooting a glare at Peter.
"Jason! Play nice," Skyler scolded, ruffling his brown hair.
That brightened him up really quick and he turned away to hide his blush.
"O-okay..." he reluctantly sighed. "So, uh, why is Peter still here?"
Peter folded his arms. "Because I want to be," he looked at Jason challengingly.
"He's not coming with us? Is he?" Jason gave Skyler a pleading look.
Skyler shrugged. "Why not, Smart guy? It's a free country," she winked, turning to Peter.
"You can follow us! We are investigating this strange chanting."
Jason shouldered himself between the two. "Yep and it is coming from that door," he pointed to the library.
Peter tilted his head. "Strange chanting?" he frowned. "What do you mean?"
Skyler motioned for him to be quiet, putting a finger to her lips. "Shh."
She blinked her brown eyes. "Listen."
For a few heartbeats, nothing stirred.
They froze when the silence held out.
Peter glanced at them uneasily. "I don't like this..." he shivered, eyes wide. Clearly he wasn't too fond of the lack of noise either.
Skyler murmured agreement. What is going on? she wondered as she flattened herself to the wall and crept closer to the library.
She could hear her racing heartbeat. Once again, her thoughts strayed and images filled her mind.
Glowing eyes flashed across her vision for a brief heartbeat. The screams of her parents filled her ears and she collapsed to the ground as terror gripped her.
She heard herself crash to the floor with a thud, and her friend peered down at her with concern.
"Skyler?" Jason's voice sounded panicked.
Skyer's vision was failing her and all she could do to respond was grip his hand with fear.
"J-Jason! I-I can't see!" she choked out in desperation.
She gasped and again, the hooded figure filled her mind, but this time it didn't leave right away.
Skyler had been flung into some kind of a vision;
She was in a dark alleyway, the light from a single post shone dimly. A black cat stalked a rat under a porch and leaves blew across the path, crackling under something that approached. Skyler whipped her head around and cowered, backing into the shadows as a figure shrouded in fog entered the street. iIt didn't seem to have any sort of distinct shape, peeling away as if a part of the darkness itself. aA rasping hiss shook it's body and it sizzled as if on a stove. iIts' skin writhed, seeming to melt away, and a thick cloud of emptiness wreathed around it.
Skyler's eyes widened as she watched the transformation unfold before her. *I don't think I'm supposed to be seeing this...* she swallowed, but she couldn't look away. tThe creature, whatever it was, shivered in pain, letting loose a shriek that made her ears ring. sShe winced, shielding her ears, hands over them protectively. sSomehow, despite the pain she didn't make a sound. tThe creature seemed to dissipate into the ground, before swirling back up into the cloud. Skyler finally wrenched her gaze away. *no more! no more!* she thought, terrified. wWhen the movement in front of her ceased, she dared take a last look at the creature. iInstead, standing there where it had been, was a hooded figure. iIt seemed almost human, with a dark colored jacket that hid it's face from view.
Skyler sighed in relief, only to freeze. tThe thing had heard her. iIt stiffened, turning its head to face her. Skyler's chest tightened with fear and she gaped. tThe creature had no visible face! bBehind the hood was a void of nothing. aA darkness that nothing penetrated, immune to the moonlight. The color was a thick black, almost like a tear in the earth's fabric. Letting loose a malevolent hiss, the creature's eyes opened. tTwo red spheres of glowing light that cut through the darkness at once, flickering like two hot coals. The terrifying creature began slinking towards her, shaking and seeming to glide over the ground, leaving no footprints. Skyler let loose a cry of terror. She tried to flee, but her feet were rooted to the floor. sShe couldn't move. Skyler braced herself helplessly and then it was upon her, the whooshing of a cloud surrounding her. sShe tried to scream as the blackness filled her eyes and ears.
"Ahhhhhh! help! no please!" she kicked with fear, trying vainly to escape.
a light touch on her shoulder made her gasp and her eyes flew open. she was shaking, intense breathing, curled in the feedle position, her friend crouched in front of her. "No! NO!" she screamed again, jerking away, shivering violently.
"Skyler! sStop! it's me, Skyler!" Jason's voice snapped her attention away from the vision but only for a moment. sShe froze, eyes wide. "iIt's coming for me! iIt's out there!" she whispered, traumatized. Peter shook her roughly. "sSnap out of it!" he shouted, looking horrified.
Jason shouldered him away. "eEasy!" he snapped, drawing his friend closer to him.
Peter looked offended. "gGeez, iI am just trying to help!" he shot back. Jason ignored the blonde.
"What is it, Skyler? wWho's coming?" he demanded worriedly. Skyler opened her mouth but no sound came out. sShe felt a shudder pass through her body. "I-I don't know... b-but he was coming!" she choked. "hHe's going to get me!" she jerked, in a fearful trance, eyes glazed.
Jason stroked her dark hair. "nNo, sleeping beauty, it's okay. yYou are safe. no one is gonna get you." he soothed. Skyler was trembling. "B-but It iI saw-" she whimpered. Jason hugged her gently to calm her down. "sShh. I got you." he murmured.
tThey stayed like that for a while; in the stillness, alone, shaking. There was something so comforting and familiar about the way he held her.
Finally, Skyler's breath stilled. Her eyes cleared and she lifted her head, finally back to her normal self.
"Jason?" she exclaimed, surprised, jumping away with embarrassment. Nearby, Peter let out a sigh of exasperation. "fFinally,." he sniffed.
Jason blinked at her worriedly. "aAre you okay?" he hesitated.
Skyler nodded. "wW-why wouldn't I be, silly?" she teased.
Jason looked serious. "You don't remember?" he relaxed in confusion.
Skyler frowned, puzzled. "wWhat are you talking about?" she blinked.
Jason shook his head. "yYou-it doesn't matter, all that matters is that you are okay." he ran a hand through her hair again fondly.
Peter didn't get the hint. "yYou are crazy!" he gasped. "yYou were being insane!" he sounded shocked, blue eyes wide.
Skyler shook her head. "nNo, I wasn't!" sShe turned to Jason. "Was I?" she blinked, still in his arms.
Jason didn't answer. He stood up grimly, pulling Skyler to her feet. hHis brows were wrinkled in concern. "Come on Skyler, let's get you to class,." he said softly. Skyler smiled forcefully. "oO-okay." She had almost forgotten they were at school. She let him lead her down the hall. Peter trailed behind them.
cConfusion spiked her as a shudder passed through her for no reason. Skyler narrowed her eyes. wWhere had this pounding headache come from? wWhat was happening?. What was Jason hiding from her? And what was that strange chanting?
Skyler didn't like this. there was another thing she hated along with silence and darkness. Secrets.