XV. Gravity
I woke up in an odd version of the infirmary at Hogwarts. I kind of felt like I was in a mixture of Harry Potter and the Mortal Instruments. Sitting up, I glanced around the long room and my eyes landed on the door at the far end. I furrowed my eyebrows and decided against attempting escape. There was no way I would make it very far without being caught. I didn't see anyone else around at the moment, but I was sure there were nurses of some sort somewhere around here. I wasn't sure I was ready to get on the bad side of one of them.
I sighed around glanced around me, looking for some sort of entertainment. I noticed a small remote on the table beside me and vaguely wondered if it controlled the small TV on the wall opposite my current position. I pressed the on button and watched the TV flicker to life, making the silence dissipate. I faintly recognized the show that appeared and I figured I'd leave it on out of curiosity.
When my eyes reopened, it was dark in the room and the TV was the only source of light. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, startled to find Daniel fast asleep on a chair not far from my bed. I chewed my bottom lip, contemplating ways to get his attention yet finding none. Eventually I gave up and decided to wait until he woke up.
About two shows later, he shifted on his chair and tiredly blinked his eyes open in my direction. At first, it didn't look like he registered that I was staring back at him, but after a moment he jumped slightly and rushed to my bedside.
"Are you alright?" He whispered quietly, kneeling beside my bed. I smiled softly at him and nodded, adjusting to check for soreness. Nothing. I smiled and reached out, gently touching his face. He rolled his eyes at me and pulled away, standing before me. Mentally he mumbled, I am glad you're okay. I will see you tomorrow.
I nodded to him and watched as he left, the TV still playing quietly in the background. I glanced down at my lap and played with my fingers, unsure of what to do now.
The next few days were spent sleeping in the day, receiving a single visit from Daniel to check on me and watching weird shows I had never seen before. I believe it was a Friday when they told me I could leave. I nearly did a touchdown dance out of the door. If I never saw that place again, it would be too soon.
I wasn't sure where we were going, although I was hoping it was somewhere better than our current place because it was raining and I was bored with staring out of the car window.
Nobody had told me what happened. I never asked. I figured they would eventually explain, but-
"What the fuck were you doing?" Viola finally spoke to me. I jumped, startled out of my thoughts, and gave her a confused look. She glared at me through the rearview mirror and I looked down. She was pissed.
"I don't even know what happened." I mumbled, wrapping my arms tighter around my body. There was a cold chill resonating from within my body and there was no way to warm myself.
"There are people that think we are killers. Cold hearted murderers. They attacked. The bell went off. Why didn't you take cover? You were in the safest place and managed to be the only person stupid enough to put yourself in the line of fire. You could have died." She pulled her blanket closer to her body, her voice growing with her agitation as she continued to speak. I sighed, refusing to respond.
After a few minutes, I mumbled, "I didn't hear it."
*
When we pulled into the parking lot of an old movie theater, I was told to not ask any questions. I followed the pair into the theater and deep into darkness. After multiple twists and turns, we entered one of the showing rooms and they flipped the lights on. Sitting in the front row was a head I recognized so well I almost cried.
"Mae," I couldn't even hear my own voice calling her name, but she turned and gave me a big smile and I scurried down to the front. She stood up and wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tighter than usual. I smiled brightly and hugged back just as tight. When we pulled back, she laughed and sat back down.
When I sat beside her, the lights dimmed until it was pitch black. The screen suddenly lit up, random images flitting across the screen until the opening credits to one of my favorite movies started up. I grinned at her, laughing loudly. I faintly recalled discussing our favorite movies ages ago and agreeing on most of the choices we shared with each other.
Throughout the whole movie, we laughed and talked about our favorite parts, quoting specific scenes at the same time and laughing at how stupid we were. For a few hours I forgot the odd occurrences in my life and focused on the norm.
When it was over, though, I found myself wondering why she was here. Don't get me wrong, I was glad, but I was also very confused.
"So, why are you here anyway? Like, what's with this sudden random meet up?" I turned sideways in my seat, gazing at her face. She turned towards me slightly and gave me a small smile.
"Viola called me and told me you were in an accident and had been hospitalized for a few days and that it would be nice if I could find the time to come be with you for a couple days. Actually, I'm really glad you're okay." She gave me one of her bright smiles and awkwardly fist bumped my shoulder. I laughed at her and nudged her shoulder with mine before I got up.
"Well, come on. I'm hungry." I pulled her up and led her into the hall of the theater. "Um, wait a second." I smiled sheepishly at her and told her I'd be back and to not go anywhere. Moving out of sight, I mentally called to Daniel and asked him for help with getting through the dark.
Focus on light and it will come to you. Was all he said.
I groaned and took a deep breath then let it go. Focusing on the image of light and the thought of light, I closed my eyes tightly and ignored everything else. I felt an odd tickle in my palm and opened one eye, glancing down. In my slightly closed palm, a small ball of red light rotated, flickering like a flame. I gasped and it disappeared, sinking me in darkness. I repeated the same thing and it reappeared. I grinned and walked back to Mae, giving her a sheepish smile.
"We have a lot to talk about. But first, popcorn!" I grinned and she rolled her eyes, grinning back. We hurried off down the halls, getting lost more than once before finding the snack bar.
*
Somehow forgetting the talk I had promised to have with her, we spent the next five hours watching movies and eating junk food we had carried back through the dimly lit halls and piled up on the floor before us. Eventually we both grew tired and fell asleep in bundles of blankets on the floor, surrounded by empty wrappers and whatnot.
