bathroom stalls » mileven

dix

"i think something's wrong," mike carefully started. they were standing by her locker. el carefully pulled one of her books out, making half eye-contact with mike.

"nothing wrong," el interjected, slamming the locker door shut.

"let me finish, babe, um, it feels like you're hiding something. are you?"

"no," el blatantly lied. "i was sick. i'm still not good." mike bit his lip. he didn't believe her.

"are you sure? you can tell me anything, el."

"i'm fine," she sharply said, turning away from him.

"el, don't shut me out. we can do this together. you saved me on that cliff. i saved you from my friends. don't do this. let me help you."

"mike," el whispered, feeling weak. she threw her hand outward, pressing it against the locker for support. the world spun, and she resisted the urge to scream.

"el?" she gasped, breathing heavily. "el, blood," mike freaked, pulling her into the bathroom which luckily happened to be on the same floor. "el, tell me what the hell is going on." it wasn't a question. it was a command.

eleven sighed and shakily leaned on the wall.

"someone trying to kill me."

"excuse me?" mike blurted.

"someone is channeling me. when they do that, it uses up my energy."

"so it's like a battery. they're sucking you dry."

"yeah," el whispered, touching a clammy hand to her forehead.

"and you were planning on leaving me? without telling me?"

"i had to protect you. i still have to protect you."

"i'm not a little kid."

"and i'm not your princess," el snapped. "the reality is that i'm the monster. i'm the monster. i need to end this, and i'll do it with or without you." mike teared up, realizing that he could really lose her.

"i love you," he finally whispered.

"no, you don't," el murmured in response.

"yes, i do."

"you can't love me."

"why not?"

"because i'm going to die, and you, michael wheeler, are not god and you can't prevent death."