What does surprise me, though, is Moni sitting on the sofa. If anything I expected her to be there for JP. Spotting me, Knots jumps up and heads to the kitchen. “Good morning. How are you? Want something to eat? You slept through breakfast.” He greets me with a bright smile.
A chill runs through me as I remember his first cooking attempt and shake my head. “Morning. No thanks. I think I’m just going to head to the cafeteria early,” I say, slipping on a pair of shoes. Looking back up, two pairs of eyes stare back at me like I’m an alien.
Glancing down at my shirt to make sure I’m presentable, I give them a questioning look. “What?”
“Are you okay?” Moni asks, flying over and placing her palm over my mouth. “Well, you don’t seem to have a fever,” she announces as I push her hand off my mouth.
“Moni, I’m okay, I promise,” I assure her with a smile. “I—I just need to get out. I feel like I’m running on autopilot and I need to switch it up.”
“Do you need me to come?” Moni asks, but I see the hesitation in her eyes. I know if she came with me right now, I would possibly bring her down with my mood, and I want her to enjoy the high she’s getting off of her relationship with Chester while it’s still new.
“No. I think I can handle the dreary cafeteria all by myself. Why don’t you go out with Chester and check out the cooking contest? Make a day out of it. I bet JP will be surprised to see you there.”
Watching Moni’s smile grow assures me that I’m making the right choice. It might be hard to step out of this dorm, but if it gives Moni and JP a chance to get their lives back, then I’m willing to deal with the discomfort. She jumps around excitedly and pulls me into a hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, so much! You are amazing. I love it. I love you. I can’t wait to tell Chester,” she rapidly fires off. Releasing me from her grasp, she steps back and promptly faints into Knots’ waiting hands.
Since he’s been around, he’s been pretty good at seeing her tells, so I didn’t always have to go diving for her. Placing her gently on the sofa, Knots walks over to me and gently lifts my chin up with his thumb. “I don’t like you leaving without someone by your side, but I understand why you need to. Will you yell out if you need me?” Quirking my eyebrow at his weird phrasing, he continues. “A Door Knight can pass on the message to me and let me know you need help.”
I smile at his thoughtfulness and pull out my phone. “How about I just call or text Moni?” I hide my smirk, not wanting to hurt his feelings, and reach up and plant a sweet kiss on his lips as he frowns. “I’ll be fine. I’m just going to grab an early lunch and switch up my routine, okay?” Knots lets out a sigh and his shoulders slump a little, but he gives me his crooked smile and a nod. That’s good enough for me.
With that reassurance, I give a little wave before walking out of our dorm room by myself for the first time in a week and step out to normalcy. As I travel down the empty halls, my mind starts to wonder about what’s happened in the past week. The weird nightmares that seem so real are at the forefront of my mind along with my booby-trapped room.Why would someone want to kill me? And what sick sadistic asshole would make me relive that horrible night once again while they did it? And why am I dreaming of Lynx being in that God awful place, suffering like that? Why does my mind hate me so much to torture me this way?
Walking into the cafeteria fully numb, I move to the back of the room, bypassing the harpies’ and boys’ tables before sitting down. Even though I know that they are empty—most people are at the competition in Nova—I refuse to spare their tables a glance. I don’t have the emotional strength to try to comprehend their betrayal of me, not when I’m mourning other things. As far as I’m concerned, they are as dead to me as Lynx. A sob escapes me at the thought, and I angrily wipe away the tear that dares to run free.
Picking up the menu, my eyes glaze over as I focus on the moving words—because, of course I don’t know the different languages it’s written in.Fuck this.I run my hand over the section that should have salads and I quickly order my chicken caesar with water. Dropping my head into my hands, I wait for my food. Feeling a presence as the air shifts after a minute, I glance between my unruly curls at an unfamiliar girl sitting across from me. I know I look a mess in my baggy clothes and medusa hair, but I’m in mourning. Seeing no reason to strike up a conversation, I drop my head back down on my arms and let my mind wonder. There were plenty of empty seats to park her ass in, so it’s her choice to sit at a table with a moping girl. People should be lucky I’m even functioning at all, especially since someone tried to kill me in my own room.
Who does that?
Is Lynx really suffering like I’m picturing, or am I on the brink of a psychotic break?
Whoever was behind the act didn’t know Lynx was more than just a Familiar. He was my everything. A friend I’ll never get to laugh with again. My foundation that kept me together. The mate I’ll never get to experience the rest of my life with.
“He’s not gone, you know.”
Huh?
Peering back up, the girl across from me picks up her menu. I push back my curls and tuck some behind my ear in order to get a good look at the petite girl. She’s bundled up in a black sweater that engulfs her, and her brown hair is thrown into a messy bun on top of her head. Her bright blue eyes shine behind dark lashes as she looks up and makes eye contact with me.
“W—what did you say?” I reply, struggling to get the words out.
She mumbles out her food order and places the menu down in front of her, folding her hands on top of the table, and gives me a flat stare.
“The one you're mourning for. He’s not dead.”
And just like that she drops an atomic bomb in my lap, and not knowing what to do with it, I go with my instincts first.
“What?” I ask, shock consuming me for a moment as I stare at her. She doesn’t move or fidget, but meets my gaze. “Who put you up to this?” My voice cracks as I try to hold in the tears that are burning to be set free. “It’s not funny,” I spit out and turn to leave. Who really needs lunch anyways?
This was a terrible idea.
“Please. I—I don’t mean to offend,” she begs, looking around to see if anyone is watching us. I glance around also and that’s when I notice a few people on the other side of the room have trickled in. “I know this sounds crazy.” She ducks her head slighty and looks to weigh her words before continuing, “And you have no reason to trust me, but—I can see remnants of your dreams clinging to you.” Her brown eyes dart to mine and quickly back down like she’s scared to continue.
What the fuck is happening? It’s like I’m seeing two different personalities sitting in front of me. And didn’t she have blue eyes a moment ago?
First this girl was giving me a blatant stare down, and now she’s acting all nervous and stuff, like she’s about to bolt if the way she’s looking at the entrance is any indication. Dismissing her crazy talk about Lynx and dreams at this time, I tackle what’s in front of me first.
“Are you okaaaay?” I hedge, sitting back down in my seat. I pull out my phone and place it on the table, fully aware that I just might have to call for help. This lady might be off her rocker. “I can go get Dr. Steinbeck if you’re not feeling well. We go waaay back.” I point to the door that I’m really contemplating running out of myself.
Her body does a sharp jerk before she sits up straight and gives me a confident smile with those piercing blue eyes again.
