Maybe

Driven Away

12: Driven Away

Scarlet's POV

His hand no longer held onto mine; it was limp. I couldn't feel his heartbeat against my palm anymore. I didn't hear it. His chest had stopped rising. Hesitantly, I raise my fingers to the bottom of his nose, and nothing, not even a weak breath, was let out. 

Panic. That's what people do, right? But I sure didn't feel like panicking. I couldn't. Nathan can't be dead. Not now.

Is it that bad? Is it that bad to become a creature that nearly killed you--to become the creature that has scarred you for life? Would you rather become your worst nightmare or die? There was a choice. And I guess Nathan chose the second.

I wanted to do something. I really did. But as I said, I couldn't. His face was flushed from the warmth inside of him, the him that wanted to come out so bad. Nathan was finally cooling down, peacefully in his sleep. I never thought I grew to like this boy, much less care for him. 

I still don't know why he didn't change. Did the doctors do something to him? Was it the hospital that made the wolf inside of him temporarily run away? Or was it just Nathan, fighting against himself? As these questions run through my mind I realized that Nathan's hand was still in mine, and that I am panicking. 

"Nathan," I said, finding my voice. "Nathan," I called again as I hit his cheek softly. "Wake up, Adams." I seriously was going to shake him awake until I heard his faint voice in my head.

Bye, Scarlet.

And Nathan was no longer with me.

Nathan's POV

I heard her footsteps, echoing louder and louder against my ears. I heard her from the creak of the stairs to the creak of my bedroom door. It was so peaceful, so quiet in the room, that Scarlet's shoes sounded like pure thundering.

It was freaking hell.

I was too weak. The fever had taken over completely. My eyes--I couldn't open them. My body--I couldn't move it. The only thing I was able to do was think, but my head was numb. Everything felt numb actually. 

Soon the footsteps came to an end, and I nearly died searching for another sound. I thought death had finally taken over. But soon a warm hand held onto mine (as if I wasn't already hot enough) and it sent tingles up my arm. 

Scarlet was quiet, but all I needed was her here. As mad as I was, I can't be mad at her. I've been alone, hiding from what I truly was, even if I didn't want to be it. I don't want to be alone anymore. Do you know what it feels like? To be hiding not only from yourself but from... life in general? And now look at me--I'm more trapped. I'm trapped in my own body. 

She squeezed my hand, and then a faint voice in my head began to grow.

Stop fighting, Nathan. Stop fighting your wolf self. It was Scarlet's voice... in my head... This was wickedly creepy... C'mon, you can't die. Don't die on me. Being a wolf is cool, even if one tried to turn you. You can fight my dad back if you want, Nathan, just don't die.

She really did care. 

I didn't know how to reply in my head. Do I just think what I would say? Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my heart. Literally.

Ahh... I tried to groan, but nothing came out. As I said, I was weak.

Nathan? I heard her again.