The next time she woke she was being carried to an ambulance.

She struggled.

"It's okay. It's okay, we're taking you to the hospital." Someone said.

She opened her eyes and frantically looked around.

A long moment passed and she realised she was looking for Alastair.

"Where is he?" She asked the person carrying her, hoarsely.

"Who?"

She opened her mouth to reply, but a figure flickered into life right on top of her, shaking his head.

Her cheeks brightened at the position of his body on top of her. She couldn't help but notice just how close he was, how close his lips were.

"The-um, principal. Are the police here?" She stammered, hurriedly looking away from Alastair.

"Yes but we-"

With all the strength she could muster, she pushed herself out of her carrier's hold. Landing on her two feet and hobbling inside the school. Where she was constantly trying to be persuaded to go into the ambulance.

She went straight to the cafeteria. Where thankfully no one was.

She limped over behind the counter and raided the water bottles.

She almost drank a gallon in itself before she grabbed at the packaged food. Ripping into the Oreos and bread.

All while her mysterious carrier watched. Along with another pair of invisible eyes.

When she felt some of her strength return, she looked up and saw her friend Tyren gaping at her.

"I'm fine," Tara mumbled, though she really was not.

"You... I got a call yesterday from your mom, you didn't go home yesterday did you?"

"No." She grabbed another loaf of bread and hobbled out of the room as fast as she could.

The soreness in her legs decreased slightly as she kept on walking.

She didn't know where she was going until she stumbled upon a police officer talking to someone hallway.

She almost cried with relief.

"Officer." She croaked.

The officer turned to face her, eyes blowing wide when he saw her.

Tara's face held the same reaction when she saw who he was with.

Jacob Wales, the renowned physics professor.

Jake, the Murderer.

She felt her heart rate speed up and sky-rocket as the simple calm looking man looked her over in concern.

Worms crawled under her skin wherever his eyes lingered.

"Are you okay, my dear?" He said warmly.

She wanted to vomit, cry and scream all at the same time when Alastair appeared behind him, shaking his head. Do not say anything in front of him.

She started shaking, terrified to the very core when Jake reached out and touched her arm in worry.

She yelped.

She imagined she looked bad. Dirt mud, vomit and the dye from yesterday covered every inch of her. Along with other sorts of ick and with her shaking like a thousand volts.

She looked at Alastair desparately, barely thinking straight when he pointed to the officer and mouthed the word 'Alone.'

She grabbed at the Officer violently, dragging him over to what she thought was an empty room, threw him inside and locked the door behind her.

The Officer looked flabbergasted. Even more so than her, perhaps. Clutching his arm in pain.

She was just standing there staring at him when that familiar voice started to dawdle in her ear.

"Repeat after me." He said.

And so she did.

§§§

"I did okay i think," Tara told Alastair as they sat on a bench in a deserted classroom two days later.

"I heard. 'I was looking for a place to boink.' Really? I told you to repeat after me, not add your own personal remarks and adjectives."

Tara blushed as she made imaginary patterns on the floor with the soles of her shoes. "Well I couldn't copy you exactly when you use words like you do."

Alastair sighed as he leaned back against the chair. "I always dreamed of this moment... Now that it's passed I don't feel like it's really happening."

She scoffed. "You better goddamn believe it, i'm still sore."

He laughed and winked at her.

"Besides the forensic report just came in. It's going to be some time before they find Jake and arrest him."

"It's been days, how much more time do they need?"

"It's delicate work."

"Whose side are you on?"

"Mine, of course." Tara joked but she gave him a look that would tell him all that he needed to know.

They stayed silent for a while, but it wasn't like the rest of the time. This was a quiet and comfortable silence.

Peaceful.

"Do you think I could... leave now, Tara?"

Tara made a move to hold his hand. But it just passed right through. And for the first time, it really bothered her.

She lifted her hand a little and hovered it just above his hand. So it looked like they were touching.

She could feel tiny sparks dancing through her palm.

Alastair did not move away.

"Yes." Tara's lips quirked downwards. "I think you could."