-1-

Not finished with this chapter yet but the full version should be up by tomorrow afternoon

            Drool started to run from the corner of my mouth onto the desk. Mr. Blake slammed a book down on the desk at the front of the room. I had only been at this school for 3 weeks but I could tell he did it to wake me up from my daily naps.

            “Ms. Witherpool,” Mr. Blake addressed my last name as he approached my desk, “Ms. Witherpool…”

I sat up, wiping drool from my chin, glancing around the classroom to make sure no one had noticed. The other classmates seemed oblivious except for Drake who, once he noticed I was looking at him, turned away. He was a new student like me, although I hadn’t gotten the chance to talk to him much…

            “Ms. Witherpool, my face is up here.” Mr. Blake proceeded to interrupt my thoughts. He then raised a finger in my face, “This is the last warning Ms,”

            “My name is Fleur, Mr. Blake, and I will allow you to use it.” I interrupted, in no mood to listen to another rant I would be hearing again the next morning.

Mr. Blake straightened his back, “How considerate of you, I’ll try to remember that while you are making your way to the principal’s office- Ms. Witherpool.”

This time I looked Mr. Blake straight in his eyes. I will not go to the principal’s office; I will not go this time. I can’t go. As I thought this, Mr. Blake shook his head, the glaze over his eyes starting to disappear.

“Fine then Ms. Witherpool, but next time you will report to the front office without question.” With a confused a face, Mr. Blake went back to the front of the room.

Right when the bell rang I was out of my seat and through the door. I didn’t know what it was but every time I focused on someone and concentrated on my thoughts, they did things I wanted them to do. I know it was silly to assume that at the time but there was nothing else that made sense unless you would say it was a reoccurring happenstance.

I opened the door to my locker but it was brought to an abrupt stop by a hand from behind it. I flinched as the locker slammed shut, just missing my face, revealing Drake standing there. He leaned up against the neighboring lockers, gold eyes smiling mischievously.

“Nice act back there.” He pointed out, his gaze was cool but his words were slathered in malice.

I frowned slightly, “What are you talking about?” I asked, getting an uncomfortable twinge in the back of my neck.

That earned a chuckle. Drake came really close to my face. I could smell the scent of driftwood and fuel that wafted from him.

“You always were cute, Fleur.” He practically purred as he wrapped an arm around my waist and drew me closer.

My reflex was to push him back but my efforts seemed like nothing as he easily held me against him.

He leaned in towards me, “There’s no need to keep secrets from me, Fleur. I’m just like you.”

I slapped him but that only seemed to intrigue him more, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, let me go!” I snarled, getting defensive. I was aware of the hall, now empty as the bell rang, signaling the beginning of 5^th period. He was stronger than I was and I was already late for trigonometry; today the odds haven’t been particularly in my favor.

Drake pinned me against the lockers, sending a wave of shock through me. He pulled out a dagger from a sheath in his boot and observed it deviously. “I like you Fleur, that’s a lot to say coming from me- Please, don’t make me have to ruin it.” He whispered as he brought the blade to my face, tracing the outline of my lips with its point.

I couldn’t move, my heart was beating fiercely against my rib-cage and I was sure he could hear it. I was at loss for words.

“It’s really simple Fleur; I just need to know what you are.” Drake explained as he started to cut the fine blade into the skin of my neck.

I gasped as blood dripped down my chest. “P-please, I don’t know what you want!” I breathed, already beginning to feel lightheaded. I shouted out but my throat was tight and it came out more like a whimper, “Help!” Panic welled in my chest and I wanted to scream again but I could not physically make myself do it. There was no one around, where was everyone?!

“That’s not the answer I’m looking for Fleur.” Drake spoke calmly, exaggerating his syllables as though he was talking to a child.

By then, keeping my eyes open was a chore and I could no longer support my body weight. He kept the pressure on the blade, moving it around every now and then, as though enjoying it.

Drake’s hand then grabbed my lower neck just under the dagger, holding me eye-level to him as though I was hardly five pounds. He let out a sigh as though watching me die was nothing but a boring display.

Suddenly, there was a bright flash of light and Drake’s body was airborne. I fell to the cool, tile ground with a hard thud. The air burned my lungs as I inhaled desperately to catch my breath. A boy had interrupted the scene and stood before Drake who had started to step away. I managed to keep my eyes open and I flinched as the boy raised his arms. Flames shot from the boy’s hands. It could not have been Drake, for Drake was now nowhere to be seen.

The boy approached and I, wondering if I had truly lost my mind, tried to get away but my arms failed to support my weight. Just as I was losing what was left of my consciousness, I was lifted from the ground into the boy’s arms. I panicked at first, thinking he was going to fry me but nothing happened- maybe the loss of blood was getting to my head... As he carried me away, my world went black and I prayed that I would wake up.

 

*   *   *   *   *

I woke up in a dim room. It was large and other than a bed and a desk it really didn’t seem like a bedroom at all…

            “And she finally awakens.”

I immediately jumped out of the bed, only to fall back in shock. Intense pain shot through my body and my head felt as though I had driven it into a wall. I fell back onto the bed, my heart was racing.

            “…Or not.”

As I was fading, I felt something, someone, pull the covers over me before my consciousness was lost again…

I awoke sometime later, feeling ill. I hadn’t known how much time had gone by for there were no windows and no clocks lined the empty walls. I was beginning to think this was some kind of storage room or basement.

My breath caught in my throat as I caught sight of a pair of eyes lurking in the shadows. Slowly, as if noticing I was aware of his presence, a boy slipped out of the dark.

It was the same boy that had interrupted Drake from- I suddenly felt at my neck, remembering what happened. Thick bandages were bound tightly around my neck where the wound had been.

I looked back to the boy and started to scoot back on the bed, putting as much distance as possible between us. I glanced around, wondering if Drake was here and if not, where he could be.

“He’s not here, you’re safe, trust me.” The boy stepped forwards slowly as he spoke, “Just don’t freak out this time, I don’t need you passing out again.” His brown hair fell in his face and I noticed something strange about his eyes. One eye was hazel and the other was almost purple. I was slightly captivated by their odd coloration but I was still careful to keep my distance.

The boy seemed about my age, around seventeen. I guess he noticed my curiosity as the corner of his lip barely lifted into a small smirk.

“I get that look a lot- I was born this way, the color never fully developed y’ know.” He said with a shrug. “My name is Quinn.” He introduced himself with a bold smile.

I didn’t really know how to react so I just nodded slightly.

“You don’t talk much do you? �" I don’t guess I would either, considering you don’t know me at all… I’m sure you have a lot of questions but I think it’s best Mitch answers them for you. Can you walk?” He asked, spilling out all the words rapidly. He sure seemed animated but his smile never faded.

I hesitated for only a moment but figured the kid didn’t seem too harmful.

“I think so.” I croaked, my throat was dry and it burned with a passion so strong it nearly sent me to the floor again.

Quinn stepped forwards and steadied me, raising a brow.

“Well, sort of anyway.” I went on, “Thanks.”

Quinn smiled, “Right then, I’ll just carry you.” He announced. He did not wait for me to answer before he swept me up into his arms.

“W-wait, I can walk myself!” I exclaimed, starting to squirm in his grasp. I hardly knew him at all and I really did not know what he was planning on doing with me.

Quinn laughed, “Mitch said you would be a pain- I didn’t believe him because it’s a pretty hypocritical thing for him to say, but now I’m having second thoughts…”

I frowned, “Who is Mitch? Where are you taking me anyway?” I asked, still trying to get out of his arms but he seemed unfazed by my struggle. As I gave up my thrashing, I noticed his embrace was warm- almost hot.

 He seemed to look confused for a moment but then he smiled. “I almost forgot you aren’t familiar with any of this.” Quinn replied, walking up a staircase that led to a door. He opened the door and walked out.

A rush of cold air blew in through the door and the sun was bright to my eyes. I clung to Quinn, digging my face in his chest to block the light.

“It must have snowed over the night.” Quinn murmured, shifting me in his arms. He actually set me down on the ground.

I looked up at him questioningly as he started to take off his jacket. “Wait, over night? How long was I asleep?” I asked in alarm.

He glanced over to me, “Just about 2 days. That’s not a bad thing though, your body needed time to recover anyway- but I’m sure the others are wondering where I am…”

Confused, I could only stare up at him.

Quinn let out a quick breath before throwing his jacket to me. “Put that on, I don’t need it…” He began to walk around a little,  

I didn’t bother to argue, I was too cold. My eyes finally adjusted to the light and I shakily slipped my arms through the sleeves of his jacket which seemed rather large on me. We were in a forest and I realized we had just come out of some sort of base in the ground.  “Quinn, how do I know I can trust you?”

That got his attention and he turned to look at me over his shoulder for only a second; his gaze almost seemed sad. “Honestly, you can’t know… But that’s why I’m going to try to prove you can- in the end it’s all up for you to decide really.”