THE FORGIVEN BITE

Chapter 27 - Like I'm Gonna Loose You

I woke up squinting at the bright light streaming through the curtain. The window was closed but I could see it was a bright morning- may be past eight. I wasn't sure so I twisted my head about to look at the clock.

Eight fifty... Already?

Why didn't Gran wake me up? Even Ron did not ring me.

I groaned, pressing the pillow against my face. I needed to get out of the comfort of my bed to go to school but I didn't want to. And to add to that I was unreasonably felling tired, exhausted as if I had taken fifty rounds around the school's football ground with heavy weight tied to my legs.

I wanted to stay in my bed. It was the most comfortable place right now. Going to school meant pretending a smile and answer greetings- it was exhausting you know. No doubt I loved the feeling of being popular but sometimes it just unnerved me. What was the use of such popularity that couldn't earn me the boy I loved? Coming to that, going to school meant facing Steven. Steven...

For one moment- one brief, glorious moment- I'd forgotten about the night before, the night when Steven grinded my heart on the ground, the night when Ron broke the news that he is being asked to go to Florida, the night when my two worlds fell apart.

Then it all came back to me. My head throbbed with the memory and I squeezed my eyes shut.

A horrible bird-creature, mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth and massive black wings stretched behind it had tried to hurt me. Something was out there in the darkness and even while thinking about it I felt stupid but it was close to the truth. Heck, it was real! It was almost impossible to wrap my mind around.

I dreaded to open my eyes and see around and confirm what I prayed to be just a nightmare. I wished it to be a nightmare. The last thing I remembered, my room was razed by strong, powerful wind while I was in intense pain in my arm, and then I fell unconscious.

What would I answer Gran what happened here?

Did I want to confirm my fear? I guess I did. Refusing to surrender to the childish urge to dive under the bedcovers, I fought down the terror that was bubbling up within me. I opened my eyes, staring up at the ceiling. I couldn't turn my head to see. If I didn't look, maybe, maybe I would be wrong. But denial wasn't the solution. So I trailed my gaze down, slowly taking in the condition of my room.

Terror started to build up again in me. The first thing my gaze caught was the vase at the corner. The Blue and White archaic Vase- decorated with Chinese scenes in blue- stood proudly holding the artificial roses, and looked like smiling knowingly at me.

I frowned.

How was that possible? I expected to see it in pieces on the tiled floor, because I remembered it clearly shattering. Was I relieved to find it in good condition? Yes, for a brief moment before I registered my room. I scanned each and every corner. It was perfect as it always had been- simple, neat and clean. Not a single leaf was lying on the floor. Not a thing had been moved from its place. Everything was normal, just as it had been usually. Then what was that happened last night?

I remembered I had gone to meet Ron in the park. I was damn sure I had gone there and talked to him and I wasn't insane to make up these stories in my head. And all that happened after seemed real but... unrealistic.

It did not make any sense!

Lying in bed all day wouldn't solve anything, though. I willed to get up but it was hell difficult. I rolled over and sat on my bed, pulling the cover off me in one hasty move. I scanned my clothes for the damage it had been through. Shockingly, it was in all well condition. There was neither trace of it being torn nor any stain of blood. I pulled up the sleeve of peignoir and checked my left arm. Nothing. I checked the other arm. Still nothing.