Linked

Thirteen : Sensations

Waking up is accompanied by the strangest sensation. I can feel Corin's light, even breath tickling my shoulder, ruffling my hair. His arm is draped over my waist, hanging over my side of the bed. Sure, it's strange just to be sharing a bed. There are no refreshing cold spots in the sheets, instead my stretching legs are met by the heat of skin.

But the strangest thing is the unusual feeling that we are enclosed in a cocoon, that we've been wrapped into a single parcel whilst we slept. Carefully, I pick up Corin's hand and place it back onto his own body. It feels a little bit cooler now, but my skin is sticky and overheated. I sit up. The threads of the invisible cocoon resist, prickling my skin. Corin stirs as I swing my legs onto the carpet.

"Ouch," he grumbles, blinking sleepily. "What are you doing?"

"I need to get a shower." I try standing up. It stings, like the rip of waxing paper. Corin and I both cry out.

"What the hell?" Corin grabs my hand, and the pain subsides, a wash of relief surging through our limbs.

"Looks like our super-Link hasn't diminished overnight."

He chuckles, dimpling his left cheek. "Well, this is going to make showering interesting."

I glare at him. "I fail to see the funny side."

How am I going to get clean with this uncomfortable pain each time we're apart? A worse, horrible thought strikes me: how are we going to go to the bathroom? I don't want him to hear me.

"I'll hold your hand through the shower door. Promise I won't peep."

"I can't wash my hair with one hand, it'll take forever." I reign back the urge to stamp my feet. "And of course you'll peep. You are male."

He rolls his eyes. In the early morning sunshine the blue seems peppered with gold flecks, mimicking an actual sunrise. They are beautiful.

"We'll figure something out."

We both wince as he lets go of my hand to slide off the bed. Corin links his arm through mine, checking his digital watch on his other arm as we cross to the bathroom accessed through a small sliding door on his side of the bed.

"We should hurry up if we want to make the continental breakfast. I'm starving."

My turn to roll my eyes. "You men and your impatient stomachs." Jesse was the same, always counting down until his next scheduled meal, grouchy if it was running late. I wonder if Jesse is at school today, thinking about me. Feeling my absence. No doubt I am the hot topic of gossip. My cheeks burn at the thought of it, even though I'm not there to know for sure.

"You're blushing," Corin remarks. "Why?"

"No reason," I lie, not wanting to get into it. It's the first time I've lied to Corin. My stomach twists a little.

The bathroom is a small windowless square, tiled from top to bottom with a sickly green shade that's probably supposed to be calming. The light flicks on, sensing us as we enter. To our right is a sink complete with a tiny tube of toothpaste and a packet of foldable toothbrushes, all in individual boxes. Opposite the sink is the toilet and shower cubicle, neighbouring each other. Clean, simple.

"A glass door," I say, unhappily, rapping it with a knuckle. "Not even frosted."

"It'll steam up once the hot water's been on for a bit."

He reaches in and runs his thumb over the scanner to switch it on. The room fills with the angry hissing of awesome water pressure.

"Well, then. Undress." He's having trouble hiding his smile.

"Turn around and close your eyes, first."

He lets go of my hand and turns around. The pain isn't too unbearable in such close proximity, but still unpleasant. I undress as quickly as humanly possible, whipping my T-shirt over my head, chucking it haphazardly on the floor.

"I don't know why you're so embarrassed Benna," Corin says, folding his arms, still staring at the nausea-coloured wall. "You've got a great body."

I step out of my underwear and kick my pile of clothes into a corner. Covering myself as best I can, I edge into the running water.

"How would you know?"

"I did have my arms around it, last night."

I don't need to see him to sense the pleased grin spreading across his features.

"Shut up and take my hand," I demand, poking my arm out the transparent door. Every inch of skin pulls and burns until his fingers close around mine.

While I am awkwardly trying to lather shampoo with only one hand, I think about my journey to get here. It's been so crazy already, I've done things I'd never thought I could or would do, and I have a sneaking suspicion the journey has only just begun. A pang of regret hits me like a punch to the gut, as I realise the missed opportunity on the train. I had Frenchwood's notepad. It was right there with me, and I was alone for hours. Instead of scoffing croissants and letting myself fall asleep, I should have investigated her files. Who knows what answers I could have found? Goodness knows I have enough questions. What if there was a file on how many, if any, Mindlinkers they have found so far? Are they trying to cure it? And why me? I am such an idiot. I let my temper get the better of me, and I can't let it happen again.

Corin must be thinking about similar subjects, as his voice appears in my head, louder than the gush of water streaming down my back.

You're not going to stab me are you? For joking about this showering situation?

"Shut up," I reply aloud, to give it more threat.

It's just, I never realised I was linking with a homicidal maniac. Do you think I could swap you for someone of a gentler nature?

"You wouldn't want to even if you could."

That's true. I guess I'll take my chances. He squeezes my hand. Are you nearly done in there?

"Give me a minute! Washing singlehandedly is surprisingly difficult. Anyway, it's not homicide if the victim is still alive. Frenchwood must be fine if she managed to send those guards after me so soon, and report back to my father."

Speaking of which, we should get a move on after breakfast. Corin says silently. The sooner we get there, the better. And also, I think I should have custody of that sharp tree thing you have, just to be on the safe side.

I decide to ignore his remark about my wind chime tree/weapon. "Where exactly is 'there', Corin? Are you ever planning on telling me?"

When it's safe, I'll tell you everything I know.

I shut off the water and instruct him to hand me a towel. Depressingly, sometimes it feels like I will never be safe again.