Don't Fear the Reaper

Don't Fear the Reaper: Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

              Amanda and I were sitting cross-legged on the couch, with a bowl of nachos and dip, laughing at the scenes of Friends on the TV. Nail colours were scattered over the centre table of the living room, a few Elle magazines opened to the pages that showed off the best dresses, and a stack of music CD’s was upturned at the side.

Sleepovers with Amanda were hardly ever boring. After the second date with Nex, it seemed to be the perfect end of the perfect day – excluding the part of taking a trip to the spirit world.

That visit had ignited unnecessary doubts and questions that pleaded to be answered, to be satisfied. However, with Amanda, all my worries seem to die. We’d stay up talking about everything in the world for hours, whether it was life changing or just the tiniest little thing: she truly was the best friend.

              There was a short, loud rap on the door.

“It’s two in the morning!” Amanda exclaimed, jumping to her feet, and making her way to the entrance.

“Claire?”

I knew that voice. At once, worry engulfed me. Amanda slid open the lock, recognizing the voice as well.

A soft, low, breathless voice rang through the hallway. “Claire, I need to see Claire.”

“Why, I’m fine, thank you, Nex,” Amanda greeted him with sarcasm, “Holy shit, what happened to you?”

I had reached there before she completed the sentence.

“Nex, what –” my words trailed off. There was a red gash at the middle of his chest, shown by the shirt that was worn unbuttoned. There were circles under his eyes and he was panting.

Amanda steered him to the chair next to the shoe rack. “You wait here.” And she disappeared into the kitchen.

              Nex was still trying to catch his breath. “We…must…leave…” He caught hold of my wrist, giving it as hard a tug as possible.

With my free hand, I pushed him back down on his seat, when he tried to rise. Sounds of my heartbeat were deafening my ears. Running my fingers through his hair, which was soaked in sweat, I patiently asked, “Where?”

Slowly, he gained control of his breathing. “Anywhere. They’re coming for you.”

“Who –”

Amanda appeared with a glass of water.

Nex almost shoved it out of her hand. “We don’t have time for this!!”

Amanda looked a little aghast.

Voice less stern than before, he added, “Thank you for your hospitality, truly. But Claire and I have to leave.”

“Whoa, no way,” Amanda replied before I could, making him grip the glass in his hand, “First, you drink this. Then, you explain everything that’s going on here.”

Obediently taking a sip, Nex diverted his eyes, which had turned sapphire again, at me. They seemed to scream: please. Trust me.

              I didn’t understand it. My mind seemed to be in a whirl. Moreover, I suddenly felt tired, involuntarily welcoming the need to sleep.

“Amanda,” I sighed, “I need to go.”

Her eyes widened in astonishment, and then she turned furious. “What the hell? Am I the only sane one over here?”

Not knowing why myself, I wrapped my arms around her in a tight hug. Maybe it was the feeling that I’d be gone a while. “I do. Nex is in trouble.”