I wake up slowly to a bright light bulb on the ceiling. I'm laying down. The brightness of the bulb makes me wince, and as I study the light, as if I'm reading it's thoughts, I hear it ringing.
It's piercing, but it's not too loud. Just as I'm about to sit up, I hear a door open, then close. I clench my fist, grabbing a weird fabric as my fingers curl.
"Grace, I see you're awake! Finally." It's a female voice, and it sounds familiar. I hear writing on a hard surface, like a clipboard.
"What happened-" Just as I try to sit up, a face comes into view, gently laying me down again. Scott's mom.
"You passed out in the lacrosse field right before first period. Stiles and Scott found you in passed out right before lunch. They said you were shaking and mumbling something as well. You were out for a long time, luckily they told Cassidy to bring you over right away." She smiles oh so gingerly, And I bang my head on the crisp pillow as I cringe in stupidity. I don't know why I feel stupid, but I do.
"Lydia and Cassidy said they heard a scream right after you disappeared. Your scream. Why were you screaming?" She looks concerned. I gulp. Should I tell her. I now sit up, not caring if she says no.
"Um...no reason." I fumble with my fingers, and she looks at me. As if she knows there's a reason, but I'm glad she doesn't push.
"Welp, I can go now. I'm good." I hop up and she points to my clothes over in the corner, I look down at my hospital gown and shrug. I change and Right before I open the door, she says,
"They're all out there. Waiting for you." She smiles and I wearily smile back.
Great. I can't avoid this. I take a deep breath before I go out. Everything is still vibrating, just not as bad as it was. I still hear a ringing in the back of my head, but I ignore it.
"Grace!" Liam stands up and rushes over to me the minute I open the door.
He scoops me into a hug, and I barely hug back. Gosh, I hate this. I want to kiss him, I want to be okay with him. But I can't. As he leans back to look at me, I don't see normal Liam.
I see blood and scratches and nasty wounds all over him. I see the Liam the night of the school parking lot situation.
I step back, and Liam fills with confusion. Before he can say anything, they all surround me, hugging me and saying things about how worried they were, asking what happened. I just stand there, my eyes moving to each one of them, mouth dry. They notice.
"Grace? What's wrong?" Cassidy says, and Paige takes my arm again. Scott looks at me with worry, and Stiles is dry mouthed. Liam looks like a lost puppy. I look at Lydia.
She looks worried.
She knows.
How does she know?
Because inside my brain, inside my mind,
I'm screaming.
She doesn't say anything, though, she just stares. I gulp at her, and she raises an eyebrow. I lick my lips, I can't take this anymore. My eyes dart to the nearest exit, and I race to it. I run out of the door, and out into the world, sun burning.
I run.
All the way to my house.
Screaming in my head.
The ringing, getting louder.
