North Way High

Chapter 9

Today is the first day with the confuser gas in my system. I just woke up and I'm already fighting so hard to keep my mind pure. I get ready for school, even though I can't learn anything except for how to cast spells on things that I have no ability to do.
I run down the stairs and eat breakfast. Since Alex is still captured, I told my dad that he was sleeping over at his buddy's house and playing video games. I try my hardest to stay silent in the car, but eventually my Father talks.

"So, how is school? You always stay quiet about it. Is something wrong? Because I can definitely talk to the principal about friends and tutor-" I cut him off.

"School is fine." I say, quick. He just nods and continues driving.

When we arrive, I can't help but slam the door without saying goodbye. I feel guilty and I re-open the door.

"Sorry, dad. Have a good day at work." I say. I force a small smile and try closing the door a little less hard, but I slam it shut anyway. I see what Chase meant about not being able to control the gas from changing you.
Everywhere I go I feel like tricking someone, or snapping their neck if they seem to happy, and not focusing on the good things. I decide to find Chase, quick. I need him to get this stuff out of my system before I do something really bad.

I've been looking for a few minutes now and I haven't found him yet. I'm getting very angry. I see everyone so happy with their friends, and I can't even find mine. I can hear small voices all around me, but no one is actually talking. I think I'm reading their thoughts. I don't like it. It's giving me a headache. I hear someone say that I'm crazy to themself, and I grab his arm and twist his wrist. Not quite enough to do good damage, but enough to leave a nasty bruise. He winces and tries to get away, but I trip him and he falls flat on his face. I laugh hysterically when I see the blood from his knee. I feel a little guilty, but not guilty enough to help him. I start to walk away, but before I'm too far, I mutter a quick sorry. He gives me a look of hatred, and I have to force myself not to punch him in the nose. I find Chase, but he's not by himself. He's talking with the fairy people. I can't remember what they are actually called, and frankly, I don't care. I don't know how he can be nice like that.

"Chase, we need to talk. Let's go." I say, as sweetly as I can manage.

"Not now, Jamie. I'm a little busy." He says. That ticks me off and I don't want to hurt anybody else, so I take a deep breath, and wait patiently.
I wait about a minute, and I can't stand it any longer. "Chase! Let's go!" I say, angrily. He offers me a mint from a small tin box in his pocket. I look at him like he's gone bananas, but he gives some kind of mind message to trust him, so I take it from him and put it in my mouth. The longer I suck it, the calmer I feel. I take three more and put them in my mouth, and I'm back to my normal self. I wait another few minutes, and then he's done talking. He gives them a kind wave goodbye, and the two of them fly away gracefully. Chase and I walk to his secret place--in the back left corner of the library. I never really go to class anymore, because the teachers don't care, and I don't learn anything useful anyways. For some reason, I find peace in here. Even though I'm passed out most of the time when I find myself in here. I would love to just spend the rest of my life in here with Chase, but I need to get my brother back.

"So, in case you were wondering how we stay controlled, it's those mints. If you have one of those in your mouth, you're calmer." He says. He goes into his cabinets and I see stacks and stacks of the mint boxes. He gets about three or four packs, and hands them to me.

"This should last a good month or two." He says. "When your running low, don't forget to ask me for more." He smiles and I nod in reply. I put three packs in my backpack, and examine one. I open it, and inside the little blue tin box are the mints. I take one out and look at it. It's a purple mint, with the word "Morrison" indented in each mint. I put it in my mouth, and it's a little strong at first, but then it turns sweet after it does its calming magic. I love these. I put the tin mint box in my pocket.

"So, how am I going to get my brother?" I ask. He looks at me like I'm nuts and he laughs. After he sees I'm not laughing with him, he stops.

"Are you serious?" He asks me. I nod my head. Im not sure why he thinks that's funny.

"Jamie, we can't get your brother out. We have no idea where they could've taken him, and I'm not confident enough that you could get out of there alive. Besides, there's a chance they already corrupted his mind and killed him." He says, carelessly.

"What?! No! We have to get him! I'm not going to let this happen!" I say, alerted.

"I'm sorry, Jamie. I told you to be safe and hidden at this school, but you didn't listen! Now you and your brother have to pay for it. I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do." He says simply. I lose control of myself.

"No, Chase! I don't accept that! We need to at least try! Maybe your brother will be nice and let him--"

"No! Don't you understand? You can't control Morrisons. Not even if they're your family. It's over." He yells, harshly. I feel my tears threatening to spill over. I suck it in the best I can.

"You're right. You can't control them. And I'm one of you now. You can't stop me from doing this. I'm not a quitter. I'm going to save Alex no matter what you say." I say, incredibly solid and cruel. For a moment, I can't believe that was me who said that. He gives me a look of disapproval.
"Jamie, please don't do this. I'm begging you." He says in his relaxing, hypnotic voice. I tell myself ignore him, don't stay. But it's really hard. I shake my head, hard, trying to get him out of my head. I waver into and out of his trance. I finally snap back into reality.

"Stop it, Chase! You said you wouldn't hypnotize me anymore! You better stop or...or I'll..." I can't finish my sentance once my eyes wander to Chase's beautiful, hypnotic, ocean eyes.

"Shhhh... Jamie, listen to me. I'm doing this for a good cause. I don't want you to throw your life around with my brother. Please just stay here with me. Please?" He asks, relaxingly. I try my hardest to fight off his soothing, sweet voice. Just stay with him. Don't listen! Leave! Stay! There's no reason to run. I don't know what to do. He tangles his fingers in with mine.
"Please?" He asks. He hold my hand so softly...
"Okay...I'll stay with you, right here." I smile. He gives a sigh of relief and hugs me, tight.
"Thank you, Jamie." He whispers. And we stay in his secret place and talk about nice things. Like drinking hot chocolate when it rains and how comforting it is. After an hour or so, I start to lose control again. Chase and I are still holding hands, but the confuser gas pushes me to squeeze harder on his hand. As he talks, I tense up. He doesn't know that it's taking over. I force myself to lighten my grip on his hand and pull my hand away, but he just smiles and gently grabs and holds my hand again. I squeeze his hand so hard, that he winces. He tries to pull his hand away, but I squeeze even harder.
"Jamie? Are you okay? Your gripping a little tight." He says. For some reason, this throws me off.
"No! I'm not 'okay'. My brother is getting killed by your family, and you won't do anything about it!" I yell. I grip so hard on his hand, that it's turning blue and purple.
"Jamie, please let go of my hand." He says in his hypnotic voice. I refuse to listen this time. Instead of letting go, I start to twist his wrist. He tries really hard to pull away, but I'm gripping so hard that he can't. I give it a good twist and he cries out in pain. I give him a cruel smile when I see tears coming down his cheek.
"Jamie, don't let the confuser gas control you. Don't let Jackson win this fight. You're better then this." He says. I'm about to break his wrist, but I think about what he says and I release his hand. He moves his wrist around and I see his tears land on the couch. I see blood breaking through his skin because I held on so tight.
"I'm so...I'm so...so-...sor-..." I can't say it because I'm not actually sorry. In fact, I want to do it again. I'm about to, but he stops me.
"Jamie! Snap out of it! Get a mint!" He says, trying to help me. I don't listen. I jump on top of him, and try to break his arm, but he kicks my side and I roll over on my back. He runs to his drawers and grabs something. Some type of thing with a sharp needle. I try to get up, but he comes to fast and holds me down. I furiously try to get out of his possesion, but he moves my hair and injects the shot into my neck. I scream and push him away from me. We both get up. I run to tackle him, but I suddenly fall to the ground. He comes up to me and sits right by my side.
"Okay, Jamie, I just gave you a shot that will put you to sleep for a while. Remember that I only did this for your benefits." He says something like 'I love you' but I see too much light that it's blinding and I can't hear clearly. The room starts to spin and lighten. Chase has become a twisted figure, his mouth a black, gaping hole. I try to get up, but the shot brings me somewhere else. As I go into this odd world, I feel a kiss on my forehead, and I go into the world of sleep.