I Hate Myself but I Love You

Chapter 19

"Carm? What's wrong?" Laura asks, reaching out. She lightly grasps my arms, trying to be comforting.

My mouth opens and closes, but no words come out. Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit. I try to find an excuse that won't worry her and find none. But then I remember that video that Ginger One showed us.

"Uh, its fine Laura, really." She doesn't look convinced. Time for plan B. "I think there might have been someone in the background in the video that broke the ginger scientist."

Laura's eyes widen and I recognize what I affectionately call her "Louis Lane" expression. She's in journalism mode.

"I'll pull up the video on my laptop," I murmur.

Laura nods and follows me to the desk. "We'll need to warn whoever that person is about Perry/the Dean and suggest that they don't hurt her or you'll eat their face." I raise an eyebrow at her as I wait for my computer to start up. "I'm protective of my friends. Plus, Perry hasn't done anything wrong. Not willingly, anyway. She's innocent in all of this."

"I agree cupcake. Ginger Two might be crazy, but she isn't capable of doing any of that."

I type in the password and pull up the internet, easily finding the video. I press play and we watch it all the way through.

Those last few seconds crack my heart open too wide for it to be ever sewn shut by my shaky hands again.

She's alive? Oh gods, she's alive?

Laura says something but I'm lost and I can't decipher what she's saying. She grabs me and pulls me up into her arms. I nestle closer to her and realize I must have been shouting. Laura makes soothing noises through the sounds of the both of us sobbing.

"Mattie's alive," I whisper when we've calmed down enough for coherent speech. "She's alive."

"I'm glad she is." Laura admits, burying her face in my shoulder. "The first thing I'm going to say to Mattie is that I'm sorry. I seriously thought she was the one doing those horrible things."

"I know." I stroke her hair, trying to be calming. She snuggles closer to me and my breath hitches. Stupid feelings. "I know. Hey, Xena's alive, too."

Laura looks up at me with pleading eyes. "You'll help her, right? You'll help her get out of there? And maybe help her adjust to her..."

"Newfound vampirism? Don't worry too much creampuff, I can do that. I might not like her, but this is difficult for everyone. And with her self-righteousness and reckless bravery, not to mention her whole vampires are scum attitude, will make it much more difficult. She might be able to help Mattie get out of wherever she is."

"She's probably under the floor boards." Laura suggests.

Ah, right. With the spell to revive Xena, Mother might have revived Mattie as well if she was under or near Xena.

"Maybe. We'll have to skype her."

Laura perks up and sits down on my desk chair. "Good idea! Let's do it!"