The Secret Door

Chapter 4

I woke up to the sound of voices. My head felt light. I slowly opened my eyes and saw that everyone from the field was there. I looked around and noticed that I was in the nurse's room. I was in a bed.

"She's awake!" Mason came running towards the bed. "How are you feeling?"

I slowly got up as Mason helped, "Alright I guess. What happened?" I asked.

"You got hit in the head with the soccer ball and then you passed out. Jace picked you up and brought you here," Juhi explained.

Jace! All this time I had been horrible to him and he had helped me out in return. Guilt built up inside of me.

Nurse Ginger walked in and saw me. She walked over to me. "How are you feeling my dear?"

"Okay. My head just feels light headed."

"You almost had a concussion but I think you're fine for now. You can go back to your sleep hall. Just don't get your head hit in the next 24 hours and you'll be fine." I stood up. I felt dizzy and Mason held me at my waist to steady me. I smiled at him.

Massie walked me to the Sleep Hall. After we were all comfortable in our bunks, Massie started to talk.

"You should give him a chance."

"Who?" I asked already knowing the answer.

"Jace. Scarlett, He's a good guy. I watched how he took care of you after you were hit."

"Massie, I'm sure it was alright."

"Alright!" Massie stuck her head off the top of the bunk to look at me. "You weren't even conscious! How would you know?" She went back to face the ceiling. "Do you want to know what happened while you were passed out?"

"Massie, It's fi-," I started.

"No," Massie interrupted,"Let me talk. I want you to know. I heard from Conner that after you were hit, Jace had picked you up and ran you to the nurse's office. I was on my way to the library when I saw him run past me along with everyone from soccer. I joined them when I noticed that it was you he was holding. After that Jace didn't leave your side until Nurse Ginger forced him to go to his study session at seven. He helped Nurse Ginger while we all just watched. Scarlett, you shouldn't be horrible to him."

I was speechless. Jace had watched after me even when I was so mean to him. I didn't know what to say. Massie stirred in the bunk above.

"I'm going to sleep now. You should sleep on it," Massie said after I didn't reply.

After a few minutes I could hear Massie breathing slowly indicating that she was asleep. I lay in bed running through everything that had happened.

Jace. I didn't know what I would say to him the next time I saw him. Would I apologize? Would I thank him? What would he say to me? I thought about the first time I had talked to him and how rude I had been. Guilt was pouring up inside me. I felt so bad. Thinking about ways to confront Jace, I slowly drifted into a deep sleep.

~

Trees. They were everywhere. I was in the woods but this time I wasn't alone. Jace was on his fours at my feet. His head was down and his dark hair uncombed and messy. He lifted his head. I looked into his blue eyes that reminded me of a sky on a bright blue summer day. A deep bloody gash ran on his left cheek.

"Jace! You're blee-," I started.

"Scarlett! You need to run!" He interrupted. He sounded breathless as if he had been in a marathon.

I heard roars behind me. There were howls and screams of different kind. I covered my ears. The sound was cutting through into my head. It created pain and my hands covering my ears had no effect. My head throbbed. I wanted to scream.

Jace put one hand up to his ear while the other one was still supporting him from collapsing onto the ground.

I looked around and saw nothing. I found no source from where the sound could come from. In the distance, I saw the dust stir and saw the silhouettes of many things.

"Scarlett, go!" Jace yelled.

"I can't just leave you!" I dropped to my knees and cupped Jace's face into my hands observing the gash. Jace pushed me away.

"Scarlett! Please! You have to go! I'll be fine!" His eyes looked desperate. The screams came again and I felt light-headed.

"SCARLETT! RUN!"

Jace's voice echoed as I awoke with a startle. I shook from fear and my hands were wet from sweat. This had been the worst dream so far and it had felt the most real.

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Who knew all this would happen while you're knocked out? And what's up with that dream? Keep reading to find out!