The Educator (dark h.s)

Chapter 45 - camera

A/N: pretty please don't be a ghost reader? Votes and comments mean a lot to me, thanks and enjoy xo

A small, black device fell from the envelope onto my hands as I observed it, pinching and turning it in the palm of my hand.

A camera. Obviously, such a tiny device couldn't offer very good image quality and performance, but it was enough to provide whatever message my dad wanted to pass.

Twisting it one more time in my grip, I noticed a small green button shaped like an arrow on its right side, immediately pressing it gently so the camera wouldn't break under my touch.

To my great disappointment, the dreadful sign of no battery flashed across the small screen before turning black. I frowned down at it, clicking the arrow one more time a little more aggressively in hope it might suddenly come back to life.

It didn't.

Huffing quietly so Harry wouldn't question my irritation, I shoved the device in the pocket of my jeans, slumping back in my seat. The burden of heavy eye-lids soon started to have an impact on me, and I felt all the energy draining out of my body like blood oozing out of a dead body. As impossible as it may sound - I dozed off.

***

Panic arose in me when I opened my eyes to see the unfamiliar wall with a few paintings hung, my frenzy picking when I felt the bed slightly caved in like someone was sitting on it. I shot up when the ache in my heart returned, the tragic events of yesterday dementing my body.

I brought my hand up to wipe at my stained cheeks, the horrific dreams that I had been tormented with, causing me to cry in my sleep. I also wiped at the perspiration that had gathered on my forehead as I let out a shaky breath, taking the way too warm duvet off my sweaty body. How could it be warm, when it isn't? It's just my body seemed to be the sun of itself, my migraines creating and releasing heat.

I turned around warily to face whom ever had taken the brave choice to wait for me to wake up. I felt a surge of both confusion and warmness when my eyes met the honey eyes of Gemma, whom I hadn't met in ages. Her face held such sadness and compassion as she frowned at me and I returned her expression, not in the mood to be pitied.

I felt somewhat relieved Harry had brought me here rather than to the "headquarters" for it felt way more homely and far from the usual trouble and aroma of that place. I missed Gemma a lot too, she was a phenomenal figure in my life who I didn't want to lose.

"Gemma." I whispered, voice slightly groggy.

She sent me a warm smile, scooting herself up further to sit next to me, lulling her head to the side so she was looking at me.

"I've missed you girl, especially now that I know who you are."

My eyebrows raised in surprise and my eyes widened, not expecting Harry to let Gemma into his business. When we were kids, Gemma sometimes used to join in and play with us. She wasn't a permanent member of our small clique, but she was a great caring friend.

"He told you?"

Gemma suddenly huffed, an irritated frown replacing her once smiling face.

"I wish he did, I would much rather he told me." She looked away and I noticed water gathering up in her kind eyes. Gulping the lump in my throat down, I softly questioned:

"How did you find out then?"

She sighed, rubbing her hands against the fabric of her trousers slightly anxiously, the matter obviously flooding her mind with bad memories.