Page 53 of Written In Flesh

Skully

EVERY MUSCLE IN my body screams at me as I push up from my bed. It’s been a straight week of hell between classes, work and now trying to juggle the training sessions with Aero and Heath. Madden had lasted for five minutes at each training before leaving, claiming he was doing a patrol of the cemetery. In fact, he’s going the extra mile to avoid me altogether. I should rejoice in this aspect, but my traitorous heart feels a stab of pain every time I’m greeted with his back, watching him walk away. Since the night with the Hell Hounds, he’s rarely around campus. After their swim meet this week, the whole team showed up to the Deck afterwards except for Madden, Aero, or Heath. I hadn’t replaced my Oliver face t-shirt and opted to wear just a regular logo one that day. Only Madden didn’t show and Killian was the only one who noticed. My cheeks flame red just remembering how he winked at me, motioning to the front of the shirt and mouthed the words Four Whore at me. Apparently that was the nickname their groupies got. All the women who flock to them, who go out of their way to try and please them, sexually and otherwise. Regardless, I made a note with my manager that I never want to be on the schedule for another swim meet, day or night. It’s going to hit me hard with the loss of tips, but I’ll make money some other way.

With my mind filled with vindictive thoughts of Madden, I hobble to the bathroom and turn on the water for a shower. Steam rises in the air while I take care of my bladder and then brush my teeth. The air thickens, and for a few terrible minutes, my vision swims. My hands clench the edges of the sink, holding my body upright while everything sways around me. I can’t breathe, my hand jumps to my throat clutching at the invisible force. The mark on my arm burns.

The skin around it tingles and the black design grows taunt. I can feel myself losing consciousness, my legs grow weak, and my lungs burn to take in air. My eyes frantically look around the smaller bathroom, but I’m alone. There is nothing or no one for me to reach for to get help. My magic feels stuck, sliding through my veins looking to break free.

My knees buckle, my hands slide off the sink, sending my toothbrush and the tube of toothpaste clattering to the ground. My body fights to stay upright, but I can feel it curling in on itself instead, the bathroom floor rising up to meet me. My vision darkens, time slows, the rushing water from the shower echoes and suddenly I feel like I’m being plunged into frigid water.

Silver.

Rushing blackness.

Gold.

A sinking feeling in my stomach.

My heart ripped open.

Smiles.

His smile.

Love.

A dress.

Freefalling. No air.

“Skully!” Baylee’s voice comes into focus. “Holy shit.” Her fingers land on the pulse point at my neck, right as air rushes back into my lungs, and my chest surges up for air.

“Fuck, okay good, you’re breathing.” Baylee’s legs slide under my back, and she pulls me into her lap. “What the heck, Skully?”

“Air, I need air,” I gasp, my throat finally unlocked, my hands reaching greedily in front of me.

Baylee helps me sit up and reaches into the shower, turning off the water. The room is filled with thick air, the full mirror covered in a layer of condensation.

“Come on, I got you.” Baylee helps me to my feet, keeping my arm over her shoulders. My body sways, and she wraps an arm around my waist, steadying me. Baylee pulls me into my room and over to the window. Her hands work quickly to shove it open. I sink to my knees, arms resting on the window sill, and inhale deeply. The October air is frigid in my nostrils and the smell of dying leaves and a soft hint of cinnamon coats my tongue.

“What happened, Skully? I was so scared,” Baylee whispers next to me.

My gaze lifts to hers, taking in her ashen face and widening eyes. She looks terrified, and I suddenly feel bad. “I don’t know.”

She shakes her head, and tears drop from her eyes. “You weren’t moving. I heard the clatter and came to find you. The door was unlocked, but I couldn’t open it.”

A frown tugs at my lips. “I’m sorry. I don’t know. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t call out. I knew I was passing out and then memories…”

“Your memories came back?” She glances at me, hopeful, and reaches for my hand.

I shake my head, squeezing her hand with mine. “No. It was weird, like flashes of things, feelings but not an actual memory. It’s like every time I want to remember, my mind pushes me out.”

The lines on Baylee’s forehead push together over her brows in concentration. “Was it me or your memories that made it stop then?”

“I don’t know,” I say again, my breath coming in raggedly as tears fill my eyes. “What is happening?”

Baylee sighs and leans her back against the wall next to me. “I wish I knew, girl.”

A vibrating noise jolts us both. Baylee moves to my nightstand and grabs my phone before handing it to me. I can’t hit accept call fast enough.