Heterodox (BOOK 2)

Chapter 10

~Vesper~

This morning...

Dunno how long I slept but I woke up at about 8 AM (probably the most sleep I've ever had in a while). It was then that the flu decided to make it's presence known. A stuffy nose, a chill in my bones and a headache that felt as if Thor was braining me with his hammer was enough to make me flop back on my pillow with a new mission of falling asleep.

But I couldn't, you see.

Call it shock, but I rose up feeling basourdi as to how I arrived in my bedroom. I took a glance at my clothes. Yep, It was the clothes I wore yesterday at Refuge G. I did not dream it all. Uneasily, I looked at my phone lying on my dresser. I had no doubt that The Frame's message was still open on my phone and at the time being, I wasn't ready to face facts with a pounding headache. Looking the other way, I did my morning routine and changed into some pajama shorts, a tank top,my fussy slippers and my long, plaid robe that always kept me warm on lonely nights.

It might not be laundry day, however I needed something to get my mind off my well- being and all the stress thrown unto me over the past few days.

My mom for example.

I found her right after, knocked out in the master bedroom, snoring like no tomorrow. Dark bottles that once held cognac sit at the foot of the bed and her blonde hair looked like it encountered static. I'll admit; I'm pretty upset with her long absences and feeble excuses. Sometimes she gives me none at all. She is barely awake these days, not having the energy anymore to even nag me about my grades or even give me a sloppy kiss on my forehead for passing with an A+ in an exam.

But most of all, I'm worried.

It's only the two of us right now and we only have each other. I need her and I know she needs me. So, I made a resolution to chat with her when she wakes up.

I just pray that Dad will come back soon, to help fix our currently broken family.

After putting a load of clothes into the washing machine and watching it swirl for a few moments, my headache shoved me into the kitchen with the hope of finding temporary relief. Don't get me wrong; I hate medicine like a cat underwater.

Still; desperate times call for desperate measures.

I couldn't help but sigh happily when I saw none in the cabinet, though. I peeped in another for tissues. None. Irritated, I opened the fridge for some orange juice since it helps fight the cold. None either.

No medicine.
No tissues.
No orange juice.
And no breakfast.

Great. Now I had to go to the supermarket. Really wasn't eager to go anywhere today.

"Oh, you're awake."

I spun around to find Talon propped on his elbows on the other side of the kitchen counter.

"Good morning," he smiled cheerily with his relaxed British accent, "Feeling better?"

"WHA- WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? HOW DID YOU EVEN GET IN?!"

The boy quickly raised his hands up in defense. "The door wasn't locked, genius. Just came back to check on you; since you're sick and all."

I folded my hands over my chest, indignantly. "I am not sick."

"Right," He rolled his eyes. "You said that last night and look how that turned out. Me and MB had to carry your unconscious *ss home."

"You carried me home?"

Nervously, Talon scratched his neck, blushing. "Yeah, When you suddenly, teetered on top of me, we carried you home. Your fever was so high! We carried you to bed and I nominated myself to be your caretaker overnight. Your mom wasn't too keen on the idea, but I didn't take no for an answer. She seemed kinda... unstable to make decisions."