I lay on my back with my eyes closed against the dark night of my room. I feel a dip in my bed next to me and find that my hand is intertwined with Romeo's. His cold smooth skin against the veins that pump my hot blood around my body.

"Can you feel my pulse?" I whisper into the dark, my lips barely parting.
He chuckles softly, pausing. He is so silent that I wonder if I was dreaming or he had just disappeared. But his voice cracks the silence.
"Yes. I can feel it on my skin. I hear it all the time even when I'm far away from you." He lays on his side, facing me. I turn to him and open my eyes tiredly. He brushes his hand above my face, not yet touching my skin.
"I can feel your heat radiating from you. It's wonderful. Like you're in your own bubble of warmth." His hands close my eyes, making their way down to my neck. His fingertips are cool and make my neck tingle.

"Your heartbeat keeps me sane."

—

When I wake up in the morning, I take a moment to track the events from last night. I'm reminded by the note that Romeo has left me.

"Good Morning, beautiful.

See you in school.

-R
x"

A smile tugs at my mouth as I feel the soft paper between my fingertips. I slide my legs over my bed and walk over to my shelf, standing on my tiptoes as I take down a small wooden trinket box with ornate engravings on it. I open it to reveal all the other notes he has left me, putting this one in the collection before placing back on its place on the shelf.

I make my way to the bathroom avoiding the mirror.
My eyes are shut right, reluctant to look at myself. Flashbacks of the pouring blood from my eyes makes me grip my fingers and my chest heave. I finally open them and I'm pleasantly surprised with my normal morning bedhead, my normal skin that is desperate for moisturiser, and my normal eyes that carry bags not blood.

I blink my blue eyes to try and feel something but I don't. I don't remember it hurting, I just remember the warm wetness welding itself around my eyes for no reason. It lied a mystery to me and Romeo.

—

After taking a needed shower, I make my way to the dining room and I'm surprised to see my mother sitting there with a coffee in her hand, reading a file probably from work.

"Good morning." I mumble and take the milk out from the fridge for my cereal.

She doesn't reply and I pretend to not acknowledge it. I keep pouring the milk over my cereal before putting it away in the fridge.

I sit on the other side of the dining table, and stare down at my cereal taking long mouthfuls feeling the suspense on my back.
My mother slams down the file and uncrosses her legs.
The table shakes and I munch on my mouthful more carefully.

I can see her glare at me from the corner of my eye as I look down at the cold milky mush.
"What were you and Jack talking about then?" She spits out.
I grip my spoon tightly in my hand.
"Nothing." I mumble after swallowing.
She stands and walks over to me. I still look down at my cereal, not wanting to meet her eyes.
She placed a hand next to my bowl. I can see the bones on her hand raising as she tenses. She's angry.
"Don't lie to me Azra." She says softly in a faux gentle voice. The voice she uses brings a childlike fear in me. It's been a while since she used it. "Look at me when I'm speaking to you."

I can't meet her eyes. My hand starts trembling and my glare at my cereal becomes more intense. She suddenly grips my face in her hand and turns my head to face her.
Her piercing eyes are like snakes that are biting at me already.
"Where's your respect for your mother?" She grits her teeth and suddenly the palm of her hand has met my cheek.

The burning sensation reddens my cheek from her touch.

Her grasp on my chin hardens and I find myself holding a breath.
I swallow dryly and bite my tongue whilst a single tear makes its way down my red skin.
She sees the fear in my eyes, a smirk appears on her red lips as she bends down to my eye level. "Good girl." She whispers and pushes my chin away from her hand harshly before walking away calmly.

The click of her heels on the tile floor echo in my ears. I look down at my cereal trying to catch my breath. I wipe away the tear quickly and rest my hand on my hot cheek wishing for time to stop. But it doesn't.
Time is still ticking making me later for school so I have to move on quickly. I always have to.

—

"How come you were so late?" Levi asks.

He's back at school now and he looks better than ever. His skin is glowing and his eyes have a brightness to them that wasn't there before. He looks happier too. I'm sure Cole can't wait till he turns.

"I woke up late." I lie as Charlie helps set up the circuit, the practical for physics.
Levi's gaze lingers on me. Perhaps he can hear my heart lie.
"Lev, could you pass me a red wire?" I ask to ease suspicion.
"Uh yeah, here." He says and hands it to me, hopefully not thinking of anything else.
"Are you guys doing anything tonight?" Cole asks looking at Charlie and then me.
Charlie looks at me and shrugs. "Nope, why?"
"Why don't you both come to practice?" Cole says hesitantly.
We both nod. "Of course we could."

I untangle the wire and connect it to the mains, but before I do, I feel a burn and a tingle run through me.
"Azra!" Someone yells at me.
I look down at my hands and I'm gripping onto the wire as the electricity runs through me.

I feel a warmthness run down my cheeks. It's wet. Thicker than water. Sticky and red.

I see Levi and Cole looking at me with wide eyes and Charlie's grasp at my hands. I hear that same feminine scream ringing through my ears like it's from a distance.

That's when my eyes shut tight and I fall into a black abyss.

—

"Why is this happening?"
"I don't know. It happened last night too."
"I swear she was fine before."
"Maybe it's just an electric shock."
"No, because it happened last night."
"Do you think...."
"No. We need to talk to them first."
"What if-"
"Shut up, she's waking up."

I shuffle around and my eye open. I sit up straight and try and gasp for my breath but an arm wraps around me.
"Hey, it's okay." Romeo says.

I look around and I'm in the school infirmary.
My bed is surrounded by Charlie and the twins.
"How are you feeling?" Charlie asks.
"What happened? What's going on?" I exclaim and look at Romeo for answers.
"Listen, it's okay." He says and rubs my shoulder comfortingly.
"No, it's not okay! You were bleeding Azra." Cole says and takes a step toward me.
"Bleeding from your eyes!" Levi adds.

It happened again.

"It's nothing to worry about, okay?" Romeo says after gritting his teeth and takes my hand.
"We need to take her to my mum." Charlie says.
"Then what's going to happen? More spells and shit to cover up the truth?!" Cole is yelling now.

What truth? What spells?

Romeo stands suddenly and meets Cole's eyes with a threatening glare. "What spells?" They ignore me.
"Shut your mouth before I make you. You're scaring her." He says quietly.
"No. She deserves to know." Cole retorts back.

I can't take it anymore.
"Know what?!" I yell getting their attention.

"What's happening to me?" I say desperately.

♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎
authors note:

thanks for reading!

i was thinking about writing a new book, check out my recent post for more details. i would love to know what you guys think.

also, do you like the gifs i put in?

-kiim