School of Claw| #Wattys2016

Side Effect -Nevaeh-

My cheek tingled. It was as if Drake's lips had been branded into my face. Was it my first kiss? No. Was it my first kiss from someone I actually cared about? Yes.

Despite the feeling of joy welling up in my cheek, I could feel the venom welling up everywhere else. My stomach pain had increased, and my physical existence was much of a blob; for I was overcome by fatigue.
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A good hour or so later, Drake and Oreo waltzing in.

"Nevaeh, you're awake!" Drake exclaimed.

I smiled and nodded.

He held out a cup, filled with dark, black, bubbling liquid.

I pulled down the oxygen mask.

"Ah...Drake! What...is this?" I stumbled.

"It's the purple extract from the Twilight Orchid. Go on, take a sip!"

"It's not purple Drake, it's black. Do you think I'm blind?" I spat.

"Of course not Nevaeh,"

"Don't even say my name," I cut him off., "I don't think that people attempting to murder me should let my name touch their lips."

"What? Oh no," Drake said. He turned to Oreo, whispered something, then hugged her.

"I also don't think that some foolish British Girl should touch your lips."

"Nevaeh, listen to me. You aren't thinking clearly, you're poisone..."

"I told you to never let my name fall from your lips again." I snarled.

I ripped off the oxygen mask, removed out the IV, and stumbled out of my bed. I scoffed.

My hand reached out and slapped the glass cup from Drake. It shattered on the floor, and purple liquid spilled out. Instantly, it turned black again.

"That was your temporary cure! This is all so sudden, just calm down," Drake said bewildered.

"Ok, snake Drake," I laughed.

Next, I went at Oreo. I grabbed her arm, twisted it, then shoved her onto the floor, into the glass. So much for cheating on me.

My feet carried me out of the infirmary and up to Drake's room. The stairs were falling rapidly to dust. With every step of my bare feet, with every crinkle of my plastic hospital gown, I saw a flash of reality, of the cherrywood woodwork and red velvet carpet. Yet it would always return to dark, black, churning dust.

He came sprinting after me. Once in his room, I slammed the door.

He opened it carefully, cautiously.

"Nevaeh? Nevaeh, are you in there?" He said, choking back tears as he looked at me. My heart hurt at the way he hesitated to say my name.

"I'm not sure," I whispered, "I don't know if I'm in here."

My vision was clearing, returning to normal. I no longer saw a cheating, murderous boy. I saw Drake. I started crying, thinking of my acts. The way I smacked the liquid from Drake's hand, the way I hurt Oreo.

"That liquid wasn't poison, was it,"

"No. It was Twilight Orchid extract, meant to cure some of Coarn's venom."

I had forgotten about Coarn, about the battle, about the gaping holes in me.

"And Nevaeh, I know this isn't you. You wouldn't do this." A tear rolled down his cheek. "This is all a side effect."

My vision started blacking at the edges.

"Maybe...Maybe I'm just a side effect,"

I sank to my knees and, quite suddenly, after feeling so much, felt nothing at all.