The Awakening

Chapter Eight: WHOA...What just happened?

I run for all I'm worth, gasping, my vision blurring out. The sting of the needle lingers in my neck, and I shudder. I hate needles.

My mouth gapes open, desperately inhaling and exhaling fresh air. I need...to get...AWAY. My legs burn, and my lungs are on fire, but I push myself harder. I don't know how, maybe it was pure fear, maybe it was pure adrenaline, or maybe it was just a mixture of both. Whatever the reason, I ran for nearly 10 full minutes, terrified, never daring to look over my shoulder. 

When my legs finally give out, I slump on to the ground, exhausted. AIR. NEED AIR.

My heart nearly stops when I hear footsteps. I'm doomed. OH GOD, I'm doomed. Rick's come back, and I'm gone...I remember the needle, and that's when the tears start to fall. I can't stop them. They come quietly, hot and stinging. I raise my head to look into the eyes of the person I hate most, the person who--wait a minute, YUKI?!

Her full, pink lips are parted, like she was about to say something, and her eyes soften as she sees my tears. 

MY TEARS. 

I angrily brush the tears away. Why did she have to see me like this? Now she was gonna try to comfort me and all that. Gosh. I didn't need her pity. I don't need pity. Period.

"Vess?" She drops to her knees next to me. "Vess, honey? What happened?"

I look Yuki directly in the eyes, and smile, playing it cool. However, when I open my mouth, Instead of words, a strangled sob escapes, betraying my emotions.

Her facial expression does not change, but i see the brief flash of pure heartbreak in her eyes. HEARTBREAK. Because of me and my stupid emotions.

Bowing my head, I allow Yuki to pull me close to her. I rest my head on her chest and she whispers comforting nonsense in my ear as tears slide down my cheeks. All I wanted to do was lie there forever, letting Yuki do all the worrying for me, but that wasn't fair. Taking a deep, shaky breath, I sit up and wipe my eyes with the collar of my shirt. 

After an awkward silence, I finally decide to say something. "Hey, Yuki." I turn around and look at her.

She cracks a smile. "Hey, hon." 

"So, um..." I take another breath as my voice chokes up a bit. "Um, how'd you find me? Why aren't you in class?"

She rolls her rain-droplet blue eyes, and I'm struck by her beauty. Her flawless, tanned skin glitters in the sun, and her hair cascades down her shoulders in light-brown waves. 

Why was this beautiful girl talking to someone like me? Comforting me even? I shake my head.

"What?"

I'm confused, "What what?"

Yuki laughs, a pleasant, melodic sound. "You shook your head. Why?"

I blush. "Oh, nothing." I quickly look down before Yuki can read my eyes. She's good at that, judging people's thoughts by looking into their eyes. Kinda creepy how accurate she can be.

Smirking, she tilts my head upward so that I'm looking at her again. To my surprise, though, she doesn't "inspect" me, but leans back onto the wall, looking completely comfortable...which she probably was.

"Now, Vess, honey, can you tell me why you're here and not at school? And why you were upset?" Her voice is so kind I have to swallow a lump in my throat. 

Closing my eyes, I force my voice to stay steady and let the events of my day pour out. I tell her about Jake falling for Rin, the fight I had with her, the sudden surge of strength and adrenaline, the overpowering sensation of senses, the encounter with Rick, how he tried to drug me, and, finally, my narrow escape from his clutches.