Stricken

Chapter 3

The next morning I was on my way to school with Whitney who was jamming out to Avril Lavigne. This morning I had woken up to discover that last night was just a dream. The mirror and the feather were still in contact and there were no signs of a break in. Dream or not it had been the most alive I had ever felt. No dream had ever felt so real.

"You okay? You look like you've saw a ghost." Whitney glanced to me then back at the road.

" Yeah I'm fine. I just had a nightmare last night." A nightmare that's exactly what it was.

"What about?"

I hesitated. If I told Whitney what had really happened she'd think I was crazy. I still hadn't told her about finding the feather. " Oh ya know just your average zombie attack." I decided it wouldn't hurt if I kept this little thing from her.

" Damn those zombies are scary I totally get ya, I'd be jumpy for a week!"

The first bell was ringing just as Whitney was pulling her baby blue beetle bug into the student parking section. We had five minutes to get to class and we both had geometry first period together. We rushed into the school and walked together to geometry on the second floor.We found the room and took our seats.

Mr. Conley had been generous enough to not give assigned seats as long as the class didn't get too loud. Whitney and I always sat second row back sharing a lab desk. I glanced around the room, most of everyone was here.

Mr. Conley clapped his hands together getting everyones attention. He glanced over to the door and that's when I saw him. Brown sandy haired boy with the electric blue eyes. The one who had been beaten up the night before! Goosebumps began to form all over my body. The boy had no bruises or any signs of injury. Mr. Conley held a arm out and the boy walked to be beside of him. He looked around the room at every person, except for me.

Mr. Conley held the boys shoulders and gave him a rough squeeze. " This is Landon he is a transfer." Mr. Conley pointed for Landon to sit in an empty lab table in the back corner of the room then turned back around and started writing problems on the board while Landon took his seat.

I turned to face Whitney with big eyes. " That's the boy." I whispered.

"What boy?"

" The boy who got beat up last night at the club. That's him I swear." She turned around then looked back at me.
" Wow your right he does look like a grape." Whitney said sarcastically turning back to finish copying the problems Mr. Conley was still jolting down.

I rolled my eyes got my notebook and quietly moved to the back of the room to take the other empty seat at Landon's lab desk. I sat down beside him and stayed still for a minute then faced him. He was already looking at me and our eyes locked. His face was expressionless, but his eyes held panic.
I was about to open my mouth to say something when Landon reached his hand to mine that laid flat on the desk. He flipped my hand over and slipped a small piece of paper into my palm then curled my fingers over it. I looked at him and then the note. I reached to unfold it and he shook his head no and mouthed the words later.

He began doing his work and as did I. Why was I solving geometry problems when what I needed to be doing was questioning Landon? I knew now that the feather I had found in my purse was the feather. Why had he given it to me? Why did he appear to be not hurt at all? I had seen him! He was bruised bleeding and looked terrible. Nobody heals that quickly! And how is he connected to the men in black? My mind was racing with thoughts and I had to prop my elbows on the desk and hold my head so I wouldn't get dizzy.

I looked over at Landon who was finishing up the last of his equations. " Why me?" I asked him.
Why had he put the feather in my purse?

He looked me in the eyes. Just as he was about to open his mouth the bell ring. He looked up at the inner com then smiled at me a boyish smile I might have found attractive if I wasn't so freaked out about what he had done. He had healed in one night. I wasn't imagining it, it had happened! How? I had no idea.

Everyone in the class got up and left including Landon as I lingered there a little bit longer. I reached for the slip of paper that i had stuffed into my back pocket after Landon had slipped it into my hand. Anxiously I opened it my fingers fumbling hurriedly unfolding the paper several times until it was unfolded all the way. A shiver ran through my body as I read the message.

Protect it, keep it safe. If they find out you have it, they will kill you.