“Ihave to goto class,”she said.“Will you be okay while I’m gone?”
“Yeah.”
Hopefully, it was true; I was disoriented, my surroundings were hazy, everything was confusing and words were becoming hard to understand. I was slipping into the in-between stage of episodes. I would probably end up with another memory gap tomorrow.
“Are you sure?”Shewaited until I gavea quiet‘mhm.’“I’m really sorry, Emy. I’m so sorry for what I did.”
“It’s okay. You didn’t do anything.”
“I said horrible things and then I left.”Her voice was quivering. Mine was somehow steady.
“It’s really okay.I’m feeling better. Go to class before you’re late.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? Like really sure?”
“Positive.”I forced my voice to stay natural. The mask of water helped, because apparently she believed it.
“Okay.”She hoisted her backpack over a shoulder. “Are yousureyou’ll be fine if I’m gone?‘Cause I can—”
“Ari, go to your midterm.I’ll befine. Stop worrying.”
“Okay. I love you. Call me if you need anything, and I fucking mean it. I’ll keep my phone on vibrate so I can slip out or finish the test early if I need to. I don’t have to triple check for mistakes like I usually do.”
“Bye, I love you too.”I waved over the shower door as she said a reluctantbyeand left, once again leaving me to my wandering thoughts.
I finished up in the bathroom, wrapped a towel around myself, and crept down the hall to retrieve jeans and a hoodie from Ari’s bag—I wasn’t in the mood for my own clothes today. I took them and went back to the bathroom.
The mirrors were fogged up and hard to look into. I shut the door and wiped some fog away. Nothing was there. No reflection, no shadow, no sparkles or shimmers where my face should be. It was surprising, despite the fact I knew it would happen. Everything seemed so surreal.
Iwhirled when something dashed past thesink. I crossed the room to where the figure had been and touched the wall, feeling for traces. Whatever it was, it was gone now.A steady ringing was growing in my ears. And then something movedin the mirror. Ikept my eyes on it, watching the shadow for new movement. My heart was pounding and the ringing was growing. I had no idea if this was real or my imagination.
I quickly got dressed, never taking my eyes off the figure, and left in search of someone to keep me company. My mind was going blank. I had no idea where Dennis had gone. Or Sean, or Mateo. My senses were too muted to listen for heartbeats or footsteps. I didn’t even try.
I stopped in the kitchen and stared at the corner. It was empty, save for some cabinets along the polished wall. I walked over and sat down, scooting so my back was to it. I pulled my knees up and stared ahead, keeping tabs on anything that moved.
My paranoia increased as quiet voices picked up from across the room. Or maybe they were somewhere outside. Or possibly in my head? There were two men talking and I didn’t understand. I didn’tlike this conversation. It was confusing.
“Vixen?”
I jumped at Dennis’voice. Istared at him, trying to process the word. He was frowning.
“…hi,” I murmured.
“You look so out of it.”He waited for a response. I kept staring. “What are you doing?”
“…I don’t know.”I answered as honestly as I could. I had no idea what I’d been doing all day.
“Why are you over here?”
“I don’t know.”I gripped my knees tighter, fighting the urge to look past him. It felt like something was coming for me.
“So, this is the corner?”
“Huh?”
“Never mind, it doesn’t matter.We’re going somewhere.”Hetook my hands and hoisted me up. I didn’t ask where we were going, just followed to the living room and headed for the door.“Don’t you want shoes?”He stopped me partway.
“Oh.”I hadn’t noticed I was barefoot.“Sorry.” I laced into a pair of boots while he told me not to be sorry.Ifollowed him outside to the car. It was already evening. I buckled my seatbelt and waited. He glanced at me as he started to drive.
