Entwined

Entwined Ch. 11

~11~ 

~Samantha’s POV~

We were all sitting at our table. It had been some days since I found out about Tom getting his claymore. At first, I was a little shocked that Dragon would do something so forward. Then again, he was Tom’s mentor. I guess Dragon knows what’s best. 

But the Tom Kaulitz I was looking at now was complete 180 turn from what he was before. I had never seen him so…miserable. His skin was paler and his chocolate brown eyes were a few shades lighter, not to forget to mention the dark rings under them. He looked ill. Even though he was able to sit, he forced himself to stand because he wanted to work on his posture. Whenever we asked if he was okay, he just smiled and said not to worry. I couldn’t help but do the opposite.

While Georg and Tom were discussing the techniques of the claymore, I was busy staring intently at Gustav, who was across the table. Gustav was full of energy and focused every day, but now he was dead asleep, his head resting on his arms. For some reason, even though I was staring right at him, I felt like he wasn’t there. It was like he was a holograph, but he truly was there, flesh and bone.

“Sami? Is something wrong?” I heard Tom’s inquiring voice.

My line of vision never moved as I reached over the table and poked Gustav’s shoulder. When he didn’t respond, I poked him again. Before I could stop it, I said bluntly, “He’s a rock.” 

Unexpectedly, Georg erupted with laughter. It was awkward hearing his laugh; it was unusually high for his deep voice. He clapped his hands once and sighed, “He’s fine. I’m betting he was studying a little too much last night.”

Bill giggled and poked Gustav repeatedly, “Juschtel wouldn’t be Juschtel if he wasn’t smart.”

“Juschtel?” Krystel and I mused.

“It’s a nickname we gave him, like Bill’s nickname is Macky,” Tom smirked devilishly while Bill hung his head, his face flushed in embarrassment.

“I think it’s cute,” Krystel said thoughtfully and smiled softly.

Somehow, Bill’s face got redder.

“It kinda sounds like my name! Mickee, Macky, Mickee, Macky,” Mickee chanted playfully.

“What about Mickee and Kenickie?” I asked.

Mickee gasped and beheld Kenickie, “We could be a superhero duo!!”

Everyone (except Gustav, of course) laughed hysterically.

As I settled down, I noticed that my drinking glass had a crack in it, and soda was slowly dribbling from it. I know it’s a really random thing to notice, but it bemused me. It wasn’t there before… I guess it was already like that. I pointed at the glass, “Hey guys, my cup is kinda broken-” 

The second I pointed at it, the crack split down the side and the glass exploded. Everyone bolted away as shards and splinters flew in every direction. Tom wrapped his arms around me protectively while everyone else dove under the table, Mickee dragging Gustav with her to the floor. Kenickie stared at me in tremor, “What the hell did ya do?!”

“I didn’t do anythin’!!” I screamed and began to tremble. I didn’t…did I?

Tom held me tighter and I smelled a metallic scent. I pushed away and saw a few scratches on his cheek. 

“Don’t say a word,” he said softly, “It wasn’t your fault.”

“But the glass-”

He covered my mouth with his fingertips, “I’m fine.”

I glanced away from his eyes and noticed Gustav was awake pacing around the table, observing the damage. He was completely silent; I couldn’t even hear him walking. And the air around him seemed…cold. His softly glowing eyes caught mine, and he froze in astonishment.

“Hey,” I asked, “when did you-”

“Damn,” he muttered.

Bill popped up from the floor, picking a few pieces of glass out of his hair, “Is everyone okay?”

“Yeah,” Mickee called, “but Gustav is still asleep, which is kind of weird because-”

“No he isn’t, he’s over here,” I motioned over to the blonde boy.

Tom saw him and jumped a little, “What the hell are you, a ninja?!”

Gustav’s voice was low, “How did you-”

“But guys, he’s-” Mickee peered over the table edge and saw Gustav standing unharmed. Her face immediately went pale and she stuttered, “H-He’s still over h-here…”

I looked over to where she was and gasped. Gustav’s body was still on the ground, motionless. He was breathing, but other than that… 

Georg got up and set a sheet of paper on the table top. It was a circle with a bunch of overlapping shapes and symbols that I couldn’t recognize, “No one else has a clue what’s happened, and this Circle makes sure of it.”

It was true: All the other students were about their business, as if nothing had happened in the first place. Or as if we didn’t even exist.

Kenickie looked at the design in comprehension, “Usin’ alchemy, eh? I don’t blame ya.”

He sat down calmly, his chin resting on his hand, “I think it’s time to share some things. Don’t you agree?”