pte

floor. My eyes were closed, and my body felt weak, b

ught me to the clinic. I h

s Kri

His voice was filled with worry. "Damn it! What's with all

to a soft bed. Someone g

probably the school nurse. "We ne

hat's ha

se dizziness and weakness. I wanted to pass out just to es

y searching for something and w

d. I tried to see who was speaking, but my

Who are

oo," the unfamil

ere about to do something inappropriate. "I'm the one assigned here, sir. You

elt a sharp prick

miliar

eed

s that a

ed sy

t, but before I could do anything, a

body subsided, and the dryne

hat, I felt

found two unfamiliar pairs

feeling?" t

t know." I s

own at the obje

nd jumped off the bed

you j

blink in confusion when I found no blood or even a

ertain he'd

er that question anymore," the

st

onto the bed. He touched my forehead, and

miling man who was

you inject

e," the ma

some reason, I suddenly fo

closer t

When it comes back... it'll

y, he slipped somet

him. "May I know your name? Tha

an ch

call

ced bac

now. It was a pleasure meeting yo

e walked out

for a few seconds before

ristan, who was s

en he let out a deep sigh, and the worry on his

embered what he

you," I w

e again and tou

urmured with a soft chuckle. "

before tak

re okay now, and that's

d a fain

st

tearful girl who had jus

threw herself at me, nearly knocking me o

"You already died last night, an

at her d

ted best friend everyo

, Dahlia," Kris

d the tears from her eyes.

on the shoulder. "You weren't feeling well earlier, but you still insiste

said, stopping her

ll going to clas

n't a

return to class. But remembering what the s

ry relief wo

e that had happened, I would

red the voice

ore you will suffer. Welcome

id tha

nge sensation? How could I endure

hat man wa

it

wa

uc

Dahlia smacked

Or that post I saw on Facebook might come tru

oked caugh

t let you go home alone

tra. If Ophelia makes you clean, tell her I'll br

aug

er a little because she always brought her coffee and sugar. In excha

me to clean?" I teased, raising an ey

dn't a

rush on Eliyah?!" Kris

cheeks tu

s to men. That's why she likes the most handsome, responsible,

arder as Kristan and

understand what s

e. He was

hat w

the nurse returned. Her

be a doctor," she announced firmly, her fists clenched i

not a doctor?"

pproval to treat anyone here. He probably made up the name he gave us,

ia asked, looking

what he injected Astra with. What if the effects are only tempora

rse he

tion entered the campus. In fact, no one who

ean?" I asked, th

itted with a sigh. "I'll have t

me and touche

e feeling better. Still, we can't be comp

said a

Dahlia asked, still struggling

no, Miss Martin?"

stead," I replied. "I

eed to be

me home?" I

ed but didn't an

a deep

I can manag

or with a fake name? Can someone p

d began putti

nurse insisted. "We'll release you after a full checkup. I'll personally escort you. Your

o home now,"

" Kristan offer

ag and carri

sswork. I'll ask the nurse to he

sighed in

t's the

to a desk and

sible for anything that might happen to you as a resul

r, placing it on the table, and

ne, I handed

stop me, so she si

m still here!" D

ed tow

orrow, Dahlia. I just want t

ted me as we l

to listen. He seemed ready to carry me the ent

I was com

about it. I just didn't wa

that I saw him only as a friend. Th

the difference in t

henever Dahlia tried to push

ng when I saw you lying o

king strai

oing to change. But can you at least p

n't r

ed my arm, stoppin

him, and his worr

t struck me fo

istan," I said,

he replie

like that about you. No, scratc

y squeez

t to be. Learn to recognize the difference, Astra. T

odd

d, Kr

O

arm and stepped back as

Another we

strange sensation began c

retur

o go home n

le terminal. He insisted on escortin

y troubled

lone and asked the driver t

made it home w

eyebrows, but I ignored her. Even while she wa

nd clean!" I could still h

ered my room, I

d my clothes. Then I stood in front of

elt anxious or unwell. Facing the mirror a

flection, I could cl

as o

and ign

d breeze swept

my arms st

ne were watching me, o

I dropped the

again. The dryness in my throat returned, fol

t anymore," a voice

un a

I tried to stand and walk away,

orward, clutching the leg of who

me..." I

d him

But on one c

t v

ard it

gasping as though some

ed until we we

ace, but my vision was too blurry.

early see the smile

lighted by m

me while you beg.

sh

ha

tightly that I thou

ightened. "I am Brixton Cardinal. I am your m

nally recogni

ou say, Mas

voice ins

heard l

asn't Br

lse was i

. She's struggling,"

nd I collapsed onto th

fer," he rep

o cruel to

shole, Oscar! That's

to control her completely," Oscar reasoned. "And don't forget, Brix

pau

's on

" Brixton

eing lifted off

ce sounded b

e, Astra. Always

hed in

athetic

e, m