Unedited.

This didn't go the way I planned but it rarely ever does once I start writing a chapter. The characters have a mind of their own.

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"If he's not awake, don't be surprised. He was only just revived, it might have to happen twice."

               Rebecca rolled her eyes, still following him. Mikael's footsteps were loud against the pavement, every step something Rebecca heard. Wearing all black he looked like someone about to get violent. He didn't look crazy at all. It only proved that looks were deceiving and you couldn't judge a book by its cover. He didn't look like someone that believed in non-existent creatures and went around accusing people of being one. He also believed people could come back to life.

               Unable to resist, she asked, "Does Skye know you're crazy?"

               He just hummed noncommittally, stopping at the sliding doors that were the entrance to the hospital. "It doesn't matter; we're not dating anymore. And I think she's crazier than me."

               Rebecca scoffed, stopping as well. "Somehow I doubt that. She's not the one who believes in little Tinkerbell's flying around. Or zombies."

               He frowned at her, watching an elderly couple walk by. They glanced at them with distaste. Rebecca didn't want to know what they looked like. Probably the cliché good girl, bad boy. "Do you remember that necklace I gave you?"

               How could she forget? It had burned her like scalding water and changed colour more than once. She was just as delusional as Mikael. Of course though, she refused to pretend it had happened. It was impossible. "Yeah. I'm wearing it." Thankfully, now it wasn't burning her now.

               He turned from her, muttering so lowly she only caught the end. ". . . Doesn't work then. Clearly."

               Rebecca frowned at him. "Huh?"

               Mikael shook his head. "Nothing. Now come on. Prepare to be amazed."

               "Sarcasm. Nice. Now, let's go visit the zombie. I want to get this over with. Then I can ignore you and pretend you never tried to convince me I was a faerie."

               Mikael said nothing in response to her comment, eyes drilling into hers. His gaze was unwavering, and frankly, it made Rebecca uncomfortable. Despite the fact that she was here just to humour him, she didn't like the fact that he was looking at her. It made her skin crawl. After being in hospital, she didn't want to know what she looked like. Did she have something on her face? Probably. It wasn't going to make a difference now. He didn't hold a grudge against her for swearing at him, but that didn't mean they were friends. Her crush on him — something she'd deny adamantly if anyone asked — wasn't helping anything either. Nothing would come of it anyway; if she told him he'd never talk to her again.

               In the back of her mind, she wondered why she was still talking to him. Maybe someone had knocked her on the head before she'd passed out. It was the only thing that made any sense. Considering, how badly she tried to avoid people, he was surprisingly easy to talk to. Well, unless he stared at her in an unnerving way. And tried to tell her that she was a mythical create.

               She honestly wouldn't be surprised if she was in a parallel universe, none of this real. The necklace he'd given her had burned her, changed colour and made her feel like she was crazy. Mikael was just as crazy, telling her that faeries were real and zombies existed. Next he'd tell her that a witch had cursed her necklace.

               "What did you do to Skye?"

               Caught off guard by the question, she blinked, frowning. "No. I said nothing to her. She just hates me. I didn't give her a reason, she made one herself." Rebecca hadn't given anyone a reason to hate her; she didn't even know the reasons behind it. She wasn't exactly about to ask them either.

               Mikael crossed his arms over his chest, the leather jacket hanging over his shoulder. "You're an orphan right? Skye said a lot about you; I don't know what she said that was a lie."

               Rebecca shook her head. Everything Skye had told him was probably a lie, though she said nothing. She didn't want to talk about her personal life with Mikael. "Don't we have a zombie to visit?"

               He stared at her, before a smiling, something that looked apologetic. "Sorry. I didn't realise. We have to wait for the doctors to leave before we visit."

               Rebecca shook her head in exasperation, raising an eyebrow. "We're sneaking in?" she asked, sarcasm laced through her voice. "Why does that not surprise me?"

               Taking it as a misdirected compliment, Mikael laughed, resting his head against the wall. "Yeah. We're sneaking in. Rebel for once in your life."

               "Rebelling helps nothing," Rebecca said, glaring at him. "Forgive me for not wearing leather and doing drugs. I want to go somewhere in life."

               He only shrugged. "I've gone where I want to. Being a scientist isn't my dream; I have other plans."

               Rebecca scoffed before she could hide the reaction. Mikael stared at her. "When are the doctors gone? My dad's waiting and considering . . ." She waved in his general direction, ". . . that I doubt he wants me near you. He'll look for me eventually."

               "I can be a gentleman," Mikael muttered, bending a knee so that the heel of his shoe rested against the wall. "And thanks for the vote of confidence."

               If there wasn't something she'd get out of this, she'd leave now. Rebecca stared at Mikael. "This is weird. Stop talking to me like we're friends. In case you haven't noticed, I don't have any friends." It was easier when they were arguing over imaginary creatures. Their conversation now, was completely different. Unsettling was the only way to describe it.

               Mikael frowned at her, messing his hair with his hand. Even his hair was black. He pulled off the bad boy look way too easily, it wasn't a surprise that he acted like it. "Sorry. I'll stop talking then."

               Then he went silent, just staring at her. Rebecca looked away, shuffling her feet on the pavement. Smoothing her hand over her jeans, she pretended to remove some wayward dust. The silence was worse. When they were talking, there was something to distract her from the fact that he kept staring at her. Now, all she could feel was his eyes, burning into hers — though she refused to look at him directly.    

               Finally not able to stand the silence anymore, she walked over to the wall, sliding down until she sat against him. Mikael stayed where he was, standing against it. "I hate silence."

               Mikael hummed under his breath. "Depends on the silence. Sometimes I'm okay with it."

               Rebecca rested her head against the brick wall, staring up at him. The day was still bright, the sun shining in her eyes. His silhouette looked even darker in the light. "Why?" she asked, images of the people he hung out with whirling in her mind. They weren't her. Nowhere near close.

               The corners of his mouth dipped down, all she could see of his frown. "Why what?"

               Rebecca waved her hand in the air, watching two people walk out of the hospital, heads together. "Why me? If you wanted to prank someone, surely there's someone else to do it to. I mean, off all the people you chose me? It just doesn't add up. I'm nothing compared to the people you know. You gave me a necklace, though now I'm thinking it may have been sabotage, considering what happened after. You've been kind to me. I just . . . don't get it."

               "You're not nothing," was all he said, voice deep and sure.

               Rebecca laughed quietly. "That's all you got from that?"

               "Well, not, but I had to say it. You're more amazing than you know."

               Squinting at him, Rebecca tried to figure him out. "What are you? An inspirational speaker?"

               He shook his head. "No. I just don't agree with it. But it doesn't matter right now. Is it such a crime to be nice to you?"

               "Small talk," Rebecca muttered in shock. She didn't have small talk. Out of her depth was an understatement. "Look at you. Then look at me. What do you see?"

               Mikael looked at her, and Rebecca looked off into the distance, pretending he wasn't staring at her. She'd brought it on herself anyway. He was silent for a few minutes. "We're both people. I'm a guy, you're a girl. You've never done anything exciting in your life; I've done things you never would. Other than that, we're not that different. You're a faerie too."

               Despite herself, Rebecca laughed. He had to mention he was a faerie. "Okay, I'm a faerie. Let's just pretend you're not crazy. You haven't answered my question — why?"

               "Do I have to have a reason? I've heard a lot about you but talking to you, it's not the same person," he said, sitting down next to her. "And the small talk? We have to pass the time somehow."

               His reasons weren't enough. He had to have some. No one just talked to Rebecca on a whim. It just . . . didn't happen. Ever. "They're rumours. What do you expect?"

               Mikael just rolled his eyes. "Girls. Too much hassle. I'll never understand them. Anyway, if you want to know why I can't give you an answer. I don't do heart-to-hearts."

               "Guys and feeling. You'd think it was a crime or something," she muttered.

               Mikael's voice was right near her, when he said, "I've knocked out more people than I can count. That's a feeling."

               Rebecca rolled her eyes in amazement. Was this what having a friend was like? Pointless conversations? If it was she wanted to savour the moment for as long as she could. "I can't say I'm surprised. How long do we have to wait before we sneak in?"

               Mikael shrugged, watching the inside through the glass doors of the entrance. "Don't know. When the doctors— Finally. Come on, let's go."

               Rebecca frowned, watching him stand. "How do you know?"

               "Eyes," he said dryly, waiting for her to stand.

When she was upright, Rebecca brushed some dirt off of her jeans. This time there was some. Walking with him to the doors, she rolled her eyes. "Time to see my first zombie."

*

               "Hurry up. Do you want to get caught," Mikael muttered, walking casually through the path of the hospital. Like he wasn't about to sneak into one of the rooms.

               Rebecca, on the other hand, was having a minor freak out. She was looking behind her, feeling the eyes watching her. They knew something was up, that they were doing something they shouldn't. She couldn't believe she was about to sneak into a hospital room. It was probably the worst thing she'd ever done in her life — and how sad was that?

               "You're awful at this," Mikael said, walking a little faster along the clinical, white hallway. Seats lines the sides of the left wall, white leather that didn't look comfortable at all. "Don't ever do this again. If I wasn't here, you'd have been caught already."

               Rebecca couldn't disagree. "They're all looking at us. They know."

               "No they don't. You're just paranoid."

               Rebecca still couldn't disagree with him. But, paranoia or not, she wasn't doing this again. If this guy wasn't something amazing she'd be mad. If they got caught she was liable to have panic attack. This was why she didn't do anything like this.

               "Can we hurry this up?" Rebecca snapped, watching a doctor walk by them. He stared at Mikael, then at her, before continuing on. Rebecca stared at him in amazement; he hadn't even stopped them. They were in the private area of the hospital, the wing where the patient's rooms were. You didn't just get access to it. It wasn't the waiting room. Surely the security wasn't this lax.

               "You're the one walking slowly," Mikael said, stopping in the middle of the walkway. "Okay. Room 16—where is it?"

               Rebecca stared at him incredulously. "Why are you asking me? I'm not the one with a grand plan to do something illegal. You planned this; you should know the rooms."

               He just rolled his eyes. "For one, it's hardly illegal. Well, unless we kill someone. Second, I don't spend my days stalking hospitals."

               The joke was the farthest thing from funny. Rebecca didn't smile, didn't laugh. The body was still burned into her mind and she suspected it would stay forever. She wished it had never happened. "Can we hurry this along? My dad is waiting."

               Mikael seemed to realise it was wasn't funny in the slightest. Sobering quickly, he said, "Yeah. Let's go."

               He turned walking forward, closer to the doors. Checking the numbers, he strode through the hall with an air of confidence Rebecca wished she had. She wasn't so relaxed, her gait stilted and too fast to look normal. She was a dead giveaway — that, she was under no illusions of.

               Finally after walking down four doors along, he stopped. "Here we are. Number 16. You ready?"

               Rebecca forced a smile. "To see a zombie? Count me in." The false excitement in her voice was something she couldn't hide. She sounded as excited as a snail. Now, standing here, her confidence was gone. There was no way Mikael was right and it only left one option . . .

               . . . One she didn't even want to consider. Her stomach was as weak as they came; a body lying on a table was something she didn't need to see. She'd already seen it. Once was more than enough.

               Putting the thoughts out her mind, she sighed, mentally preparing herself. "Okay. Let's go."

               Mikael stared at her, as if assessing whether or not she was telling the truth. After a few seconds, he shrugged, turning to the door. Reaching out to grab the handle, Rebecca was surprised when it didn't stop him from opening it. The door wasn't even locked. They really needed new security, or at least some of it.

               Rebecca stepped through the open door, not sure what she expected. Earlier, she'd been in one of the hospital rooms so she knew what they looked like. Sterile, white, a bed in the middle with a large bench lining the side of the wall. A sink was on the bench, along with some scary looking needles that Rebecca didn't even want to consider. The bathroom was in an adjacent room off to the side. This room wasn't any different. Somehow, though, it seemed worse. Maybe it was because of the person lying on the bed, something she didn't want to see.

               "Are you going to look?" Mikael asked, tone light.

               Rebecca wanted to shake her head; back away. But she couldn't back out now. Her curiosity was one of the main things keeping her in the room. Taking a deep breath, she looked up. Someone lying on the bed was the first thing she saw. Pale arms. Walking closer, more came into view. The face that greeted her was gaunt, eyes closed. He didn't move. The sheets covering him, obscured her view of his body though she could tell there was an IV drip in his arm.

               "He's . . ." She couldn't finish the sentence, heart constricting at the words.

               Mikael's voice came from next to her. "No he's not. Tap your amulet."

               Despite how horrified she was at the person in front her, she couldn't help her sarcasm show through. "Yes. I'm doing that."

               He didn't say anything snarky back, voice so serious Rebecca had to glance at him to see if it was him. "Yes. You are. It's the only thing that'll wake him up. You completed the first part, now you have to do the second."

               Rebecca frowned. "First part? Second?" Why had she bothered to come in here? She was questioning her judgement now, more than ever before.

               "Yes. You brought him back the first time. Now you have to do it again."

               Rebecca could believe her ears. She also refused to believe that the necklace had started to burn against her chest — something she could feel, emotionally . . . but not physically. "I didn't bring anyone back."

               "Yes you did."

               Mikael seemed so sure, he was obviously believing his words. Rebecca rolled her eyes. "Sure I did. It's because I'm a faerie right?"

               "Just do it."

               Heart constricting in her chest, she placed her palm over where his heart was. It was still, not even the slightest movement. Closing her eyes, she placed her hand on the necklace. It burned under her touch, like a simmering fire she couldn't feel but she knew was there. She stayed like that for what felt like hours, all her focus on the necklace. In the back of her mind, she knew she should run. She just couldn't bring herself to it.

               Finally, she couldn't stand it; ripping her hand away and backing up as far as she could. She hit the wall, breathing choppy and heavy. The necklace . . . Rebecca couldn't describe what it felt like. Whatever it was it wasn't normal.

               With wide eyes, she watch the still body lying on the bed, take a deep breath. Blinking, she shook her head, willing the vision away.

               "Nice to have you back, dude."

               Rebecca ignored Mikael's voice in favour of closing her eyes and willing everything away. Movement rustled by, like the sounds of sheets.

               "Rebecca. You have to look some time. You can't avoid him forever."

               Rebecca just shook her head.

               "Just do it."

               "No." Her voice was hoarse, like she'd been crying. Rebecca wanted to deny it, but something felt . . . off. The room felt different, heavier somehow. Whatever had changed, she didn't want to know.

               "He's in your debt forever now. You brought him back. It's the way things work. He's waiting for you to say something."

               "No," she whispered again. No one was in her debt. None of this had happened.

               "Look at me," the voice was little more than a croak.

               It was what made Rebecca open her eyes, the voice that sounded eerily familiar. It wasn't Mikael. Rebecca wanted to believe it was though.

               When she looked towards the bed, the figure was no longer lying down. He was sitting up.

               Looking right at her.

Rebecca ran from the room, having just gained memories that would haunt her forever. Wishing she could scream at the top of her lungs.