Leap Before You Think

Chapter 7

The school hospital is filled with kids. Some are injured so badly that it seems unlikely that they will recover others are wrapped in light bandages and are standing next to their friends who are in a worse condition. I have a bandage wrapped around my whole left arm, the nurse said that it was sliced deeply in several different spots. Judah and Jackson look as bad as me. Jackson has a bad black eye that has sealed his eye shut and a bandage wrapped around his head Judah also wears a bandage on his arm and a matching one on his leg. All of us are still in the same clothes and I see the blood on Judah's shirt from where my arm was pressed against him.

The nurse says that the three of us can be released today and that we can go back to our normal lives. I scream at her that nothing is ever going to be normal ever again and I storm out of the room with Jackson and Judah behind me. Tomorrow will be the first of the funerals for all who died in the invasion. Six days from now is Harper's funeral. I'm not going to dress up for it she wouldn't have found it necessary

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I walk down the aisle to her coffin slowly I don't want to see her but for some reason, it's required. I hate this so much. Judah and Jackson stand by my side the whole time like the loyal friends that they are but something about Judah seems off.

After her funeral Judah and I stop talking. It's not one person's fault, I mean I guess it's more his than mine since he tells me that we can't speak for a bit since I remind him of her which is odd because I think the same thing about him. But I'm fine with it I mean who needs a BFF when you're grieving? I certainly don't. I don't need him to know that I sleep in the library every night because being in my room makes me cry and that I wake up every morning seeing her die again in my head. He doesn't need to know that my fear of being alone has grown and that each time I see him I want to cry because screw them being cousins they look like twins.

Three days after Harper's funeral I get called to the Chief's offices. I drag myself and my still hurting heart down to his smelly place.

"Ah-" he lets out a puff of cigar smoke from the side of his mouth, then he takes a swig from his wine glass, "Miss. Lorie Ventus I have some let us just say wonderful news for you,"

"Yes sir?" my voice cracks because of all of my crying

"Well we've found you —and your friends— a new group mate. Her full name is Piper Emma Dior. She's been staying in your room and walking around the school the past few days but she says she hasn't seen you once."

He stops talking, giving me a chance to think. At first, I don't understand, but then his words sink in and it makes horrifying sense.

"No!" I scream, "I don't need, nor do I want, a new roommate. Harper," a sob rises in my throat, "hasn't even . . . she isn't just . . . you're . . . " I scream as loud and as high as I can.

When I see that Chief's expression is still calm, and even a little mocking, I scream again, then storm out of the room, slamming the door behind me. I have absolutely no desire to interact with this new girl when she comes, just as I have no desire to eat apples, which I one hundred percent dislike. I also don't want to entertain the thought of either of them.

Not to mention that I had a horrible night's sleep last night. Someone tried to attack me so I took someone's discarded letter opener and sliced their hand and ran.

I stomp down the hall not caring who sees me. A hand comes out of nowhere and covers my mouth I'm jerked into a room. I kick the person in the shin and they let go of me. I spin around and meet eyes with the person. It's the boy who escorted me and Judah to the offices last week. I knew something was off about him.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm a searcher."

"And I'm tempted to scream for my friends."

Dylan smirks, "They won't hear you."

My eyes widen slightly. What did he do to them? Did he hurt them? No, the boys would've put up a fight. I tug on one of the charms on my bracelet, still concerned. I hope they're okay.

"If you're so why don't we test it?"

"Because she might hear your scream and that would be bad for the both of us."

"How bad?" No seriously, I wonder how bad.

"Uh, likely death for me and an unexpected heat attack for you."

My mouth falls open slightly but no words follow. His smirk returns and I'm really tempted to scream bloody murder. I have questions that need answering so alas I can't do that.

"Who is she?"

He shrugs, "I don't know her name or face. I don't think anyone does."

Okay, that doesn't answer my question, but it's a start.

"Who are you?"

"Dylan Knight, level one searcher."

Is one good or bad?

"Why are you watching me?"

"Who said that I was?"

Oh, I didn't think of that. I'll just have to play it off smoothly. Reword my question. Then again he did say that he is a "Searcher" and someone who searches is looking for something or someone, which they normally track down and watch.

"Are you watching me?" He smirks angina and I feel a flutter in my chest. That look has to mean that I was right the first time. Right?

"Yes,"

"Why?"

"Because I like watching people like a bird watcher watches birds." I barely bury the laugh that wants to burst from my mouth.

"Why?"

"Because my boss "King of the People Watchers." told me to." He rolls his eyes.

"And who are they?"

"You sure do have a lot of questions, Lorie."

"You may not call me that."

"Okay, Miss. Ventus."

"Not that either," I cross my arms.

"Lorelai? Lo?" I shake my head at both, "Then what shall I call you? I've heard that friend of yours call you Blue Eyes."

He's watching my friends?! Should I be trusting this boy? 

"Answer my question."

He sighs, annoyed. "What was it again?"

"Who's your boss?" I wave my hand at him in a way that signals that it's his turn to speak.

"That's classified."

"Of course it is." I start fidgeting with the charm on my bracelet again, "What can you tell me?"

"That I have been watching you since the beginning of this year. That you are special. My boss has been watching you since your parents' death. That I have been behind all the events that've happened lately. That—"

"You are the reason Harper's dead?"

Tears burn my eyes. And to think I had finally almost found a way to stop thinking about it. Well, that's a lie, I will never be able to stop thinking about her. He loses his grin and his brown eyes sadden.

"No, . . . I . . . I don't kill. I was trying to help. How else do you think you . . ." He trails off.

"What!?"

"Never mind. The point is that everyone you love needs your help or they might die."