章 6: Syncope, effects

An audible, gentle, melodic tune hummed the lyrics, soon to intone another deep chuckle whilst her hands rested against the armrest. "Are we there yet?"

" Soon, Elie. Have patience ." Her mother said in a calm tone followed by another laugh from her father.

"Don't worry we'll buy as much as you want."

"No, too many sweets are not healthy."

With a sulk on her lips, her eyes met her father's assurance as he mouthed. 'We will.' She smiles and gazes outside the warm gleam of golden hour casts a farewell of winter dormancy.

The voices of her parents talking about her classes in the front took heed whille her father drove, he noted in a few remarks she couldn't help but admire them.

Spring break is over. She will go to college tomorrow starting her first year. To celebrate her new journey. Her parents agreed to a family outing and now they are going to buy some presents since she is going to stay in the dormitory. It's a resolution for the end of her teenage years.

Abruptly their peaceful endearing moments were ruptured as Eliena was drawn to the loud sounds of screeching tires and sickening crunches of metal onto each other her eyes widened she screamed for her father but before the man could grip the steering wheel another car barreled into theirs from the side causing her body to jolt violently shatter glass pieces pierce into her skin, head throb with the force twisted wreckage as she struggles to clutch the seat belt her vision slowly began to daze something warm drips down inside her shirt smell of smoke drape the air.

The world around her brimming with boisterous chaos screams yells, sirens and the pain increasing pace of her thudding heart slowing. "Sir! She is still breathing! Sir !" Everything turns black into hunting silence.

Maybe it doesn't take much to twist a perfectly peaceful night into an uncharted harrowing path. Someone should have let the six-wheeler driver know quaalude and coffee don't mix no matter how much you consume in your system to drive two cities.

It was that sting sensation that aroused her consciousness. She gasped to sit up momentarily. Comfort was appeased, knowing it was a dream. She sighed, but the relief didn't last long as she realized she was in a bed that wasn't hers. Which could only mean. The infirmary. Not again!

" You made everyone quite worried, Miss Warner."

She groused to herself, veiled worry of the head nurse facing her. She looks past. Why was she here? Surely she was with Isabelle. She knocked on her door to find…what?

Explanations. Right. That woman. There was a bloody woman in her room. Surveying her surroundings, she was certain she was alone, which could mean she passed out. Dammit!

"You're lucky you were unconscious inside Miss Carter's room. Anywhere else it'd be more trouble to find you."

Eliena stayed silent, struggling with bewilderment; her eyes flitted to the dark corners of the room, again and again, waiting for any movements.

"Miss Warner!" The head nurse's voice slightly raises, lacking sympathy, more of annoyance. Ostensibly, no one would be so pleasant calling out in the middle of the night. But the fearfulness in the young girl's eyes made her irritation wear off to concern. " Okay, you just lie still while I check your pulse." She draws her arm.

A Palpable feeling of something's presence in the room intensifies unfaltering, bracing. Eliena tried to focus on the ceiling until her skin crawled, her exhausted body pulsating again; her heart raced at the sound of the head nurse's reliance. However, she couldn't forget the tacky gleeful crackles it was still echoing in her ears.

Dense of thoughts, began to wonder about her unconscious self, almost lifeless. Any memory before passing out was the woman with her when she fainted? Or when she was running to her friend looming over her, smirking down.

Above all, can that strange feminine figure kill her? Was she dangerous? What did even Eliena do?

Before she could ponder her worries any longer, the door flew open. Principal Blake strides through, Eliena winces beneath the fiery questing gaze.

" Is she alright?" Ms. Blake asked, hardly offering any glance to the head nurse.

" Nothing physically wrong. But she hasn't spoken a word since waking up."

Ms. Blakes brows knit. Eliena coped with all her willpower not to let the woman peer into the shadows. She retained their stare coolly. Her birthmark pulsed the same itchiness.

" What happened, Eliena?" Ms. Blake demands.

The urge to scowl at the question fights back. " I- I don't know," her mind weighs. What could she tell? Should she tell them about the woman? About her hallucination? Perhaps how brutally her body is bruised by an unknown stranger. Bullshit. Even she doesn't believe it. It's so unreal and fake. " It's just that I…I was busy with studies, so I took some medicine to subdue my sleepiness, but I must've fallen asleep."

Calm collected complexion turns to the head nurse. " Mm, there must be side effects."

" Side effects? Who even gave her that medicine!" Ms. Blakes curt voice boomed into the room. Eliena flinched at the sharp lecturing tone even though she wasn't the one who was receiving it.

For a moment or two, Eliena searches for any hint of suspicion, her finger fidgeting with the ham of her pajamas; no response, she hesitantly implores. " Is it possible to faint with low sugar? Maybe my blood sugar level dropped at the same time," she reasoned, finding the principal blink considering her response.

" Yes, yes, it can happen, you should be more careful Miss Warner."

The head nurse was saved by the prying intense look of the principals at the girls' logic. The concern on Ms. Blake's face lingers, Eliena continued. " I'm grateful it was Belle's room. Where is she?"

" I'd told her to go to bed but I'm pretty sure she is waiting for you in the corridor."

Suspicious looks remain. Eliena never finds enjoyment in hiding things from the only person who took all the burden for her wellbeing but she doesn't want her sanity to be questioned either.

Just deal with it, deal with it.

" I'm glad you're okay now," her relaxed voice softened. " Amid the swift past events if something is troubling you. I'm here."

" We're here," the head nurse included an ensured smile on the corner of lips. " Regardless, I would suggest you take a rest and stop taking any medicine without consulting me."

Eliena nodded. Last time examining the room, she was sure no dark phantoms were lurking nearby. Not yet. Ms. Blake's hand rests on her shoulder to help her stand on her unsteady, trembling limbs. She leans into the arms, offering the head nurse a glance. " Thank You Mrs. Grey."

The head nurse doubtfully eyed her. " Do try more caution," eyes shift to the principal. " Or I'll be in trouble."

Moonbeams sifted through the large glass windows like a silken blanket adorned the ancient stone walls to the polished floor. Most students had departed for the rooms leaving behind the chronic reprises of laughter. In the quiet stillness, footsteps resonate, and silence stretches. Her subconscious mind was still begging to tell Ms. Blake whatever happened but then again. Will they believe? " I'm sorry for giving you a headache."

A small quiet laugh relents. "Hmm, with the students, it's quite a match for my spirit."

"I'm really…"

"It's all right, you are my responsibility, Elie. Taking care of you is all I can do to repay the debt of your parents," the woman paused, and abundantly, everything ended with the same matter of her parents, the sake of her parents.

Taking hold of the inside flesh of the bottom lips, Eliena looks ahead, heartache with the raw memories of her loving family blooded in red.

" The attorney wanted to talk to you," could they never leave her? What else do they want? She already answered them, can't they just let her be her own? Irritation raged in her stomach. " Before you lawfully become an adult, it's important to make a choice," underlying with weariness, Ms. Blake spoke. " I'd told them we need time so you don't have to worry for now."

They were almost near the corridor when a flickering light bulb dimmed over them. The hair behind her neck is raised warm blood runs cold.

The student glanced across a faint flow of laughter shrieked, motions of the shadows behind the quivering lights seemed to dance even-tempered. She halted on her step and so did the principal. " What is it?"

"Do y-you hear that?" Eliena whispers as girlish giggles synchronously familiar joys, cruel violent tearing to shivers

"Hear what?" the principal frowned following the student's eyes.

Laughter rose louder labyrinth pure, lips parted words caught in her throat she couldn't move a muscle frantic beats of her heart thumped just when she thought her knees would buckle they heard a scream

" Lienah!" Isabelle jogs to her friend as soon as her eyes set on the girl. Without allowing any time to pass, she clutches the girl in her arms. " You're okay, you're okay."

Ms. Blake removed her hand from her student. The bubbling apology and thankfulness stopped as she cleared her throat. " Miss Carter, didn't I tell you to stay in your room?"

Winced almost ripped off her chest at how the warm hug was taken away, she looked at Ms. Blake, who sighed as Isabelle bowed to apologize. " Go to your room, both of you." She ordered.

She didn't need to tell them twice. They stroll together catching up with each other's steps. "So how did it happen?" Eliena asked.

"You're asking me, well you just burst into my room and fainted."

"I did?"

Her friend nodded, hands wrapped around Eliena's arms to keep their steps unhurried. " You wanted to tell me something?" she recalled.

When Eliena got inside her room Isabelle flopped down onto her bed. She turned to face the untidy girl. " Last night —"

" Look if it's about watching movies together, I'm sorry," Isabelle interrupted, shifting a little as she settled comfortably. " Aylin's mother wanted me to stay over. I couldn't say no to her ya know," a warm smile traced on her lips. " I'll make it up to you this weekend will be our night. What do you say?"

"You're kidding right," Eliena scoffed. " Did you hit your head," replicas of memories began to swarm Isabelle must be teasing her. " Last night huh? Last night we watched movies. You even use that shitty book to do some rituals."

The strawberry haired girl's brows creased, mouth open to say something, but Eliena raised a hand. " I don't know what you did and whatever it is whoever that woman is. If it's a prank. Stop it," solidly in frustration, she rubbed her temple sitting on the mattress. " I get it, maybe there are certain things that exist. So you just tell her to stop freaking me out."

" Woah, okay, first, who are we talking about? Second, I don't have any single clue about whatever you just said."

" I swear Belle," Eliena snapped, moderately holding back anger, her jaw clenched. "Because of her, I saw them again,and it hurts," averting past the small window she stated.

An amicable hand infused with tender heat rested against her back. " Eliena," soft call of pour deaf to her ears.

Something warm glides down her cheeks. Blood could it be? Arms gently cradled around like a cage, she couldn't breathe. Her lungs were suffocating.

Eventually, her body was stifled, rooted in its place, a warm body pressed against her side. Hush persisted with the speaker's proclamation. " I messaged you. Didn't you get them?" Isabelle softly imparts as if she is speaking to an innocent child.

Messages. Messages. She did. She had read it aloud. 15 messages appeared on her notification last night. Most of them read sorry and explanations. But how could she forget about them if Isabelle massaged her then who was the girl—

There was a girl. Wasn't there? It wasn't a dream. It has to be real.

Her eyes closed, tainted alone, grapples with chills, a dissonant melody of their voices, dawdle presence, the torrent of conflicting emotions deepen abundant memories, prolapse nebulous thoughts parallel intricacy braid among apiece vague.

Just deal with it, deal with it. She murmured to herself.

"Maybe you're tired,"

Was she? Inner uneasiness swathed her visions as she gazed back at the window." The attorney wants to talk to me." Words slip past her lips.

"Again?" Isabelle asked with equal interest, dismissing the conversation they were having before. Since she had observed the habitual inherent reaction of her friend so far. Whenever the topic would get distressful Warner would shun them away. The repeated jerks of knees and chews of the inside of lips gave her enough hints. Right now, Eliena was on edge, turmoil inside her brain, terrified.

" Uncle is pressuring them before I turn eighteen. He wants me to stay with him." Eliena sighed a breath of relief.

Fingertips softly illustrate imaginative silhouettes over the palm. " Is that what you want?" Isabelle rested her head against the shoulder as she noticed how the repeated actions were restraining.

" I don't know. They want my fortune. As soon as I sign the documents they'll kick me out."

"You can stay with us," she insists. "My parents like you more importantly, you don't have to offer anything in return. But of course," the sincerity in her words was fraught with an inferred genuine grin. " It's your choice, I won't force you." She willingly allowed the decision in her friend's favor. " Just for your information, we've got an extra room, and my mother's cooking skills are better than our cafeteria chef's."

Eliena pretended to be convinced. "I'll think about your offer Miss Carter." Her lips curled up using the same terms the principal uses earning an unpleasant grumble and an eye roll.

By the time Eliena was about to close the door when Isabelle turned something gleaming over her cherubic countenance. "Hey, you will tell me if something is wrong right?"

She forced a smile. " I'll tell you when I can't handle it."

"Okay," Isabelle gently squeezed her shoulder. "Remember you can always trust me. I'll be there for you."

Liar! Someone shouted. Her head whips behind to catch the speaker. Still nothing. Except the gentle blows of winds. How did the window open? It was closed before. Wasn't it?

Swiftly the hand that had rested upon her shoulder was withdrawn. "Good Night Liena," Isabelle said over her shoulder, departing to her room.

"Night."

The door closed with a heavy sigh. She saunters to the familiar emptiness of the room that enwrapped her in a cozy blanket, unforgiven, vast. The chilly breeze brushed against her flushed cheeks as she shut the window and locked it.

Stepping into her bathroom for once, she ventured forth gingerly, lifting her pajama; her reflection stared back, eyes gawked starkly dumbfounded. There was not a single scratch on her body, none. She blinked, rubbing her eyes again, looking back still nothing. Fingers traced over the smooth skin of her chest all the purple bruises and teeth marks had faded. Has it all been a dream?

She turned her back slightly. The angry nail marks had been replaced by unblemished skin except her birthmark. Clutching her hair up, trembling pads of fingertips reached to touch the faint, small half-dark wing, which seemed to emerge new intricate patterns pulsating with numinous fervency. Was it there before?

All the logical explanations were leading to only one conclusion: tucking back her pajamas she got out, stood in the middle closer to her bed, closed her eyes, took a breath, and called. " Lilith?" She was nearly convinced everything was a hallucination until

"Yes, Darling."

Came the response. In a beat of her heart.

She looked behind soft room lights lit the serene environs, eyes awestruck over the refined femme fatale emblems of divine seraphim dressed in ethereal white ravan hair cascading down the board shoulders framed her delicate feature, hands clasped behind. " Took you a while," a step ahead.

Eliena stepped back. " I'm not dreaming," she confirmed irreproachable empyrean laughter teased her core. " I'm not," she gulped, still unable to tear her gaze away her eyes were trapped on the sight of upwelling tangles of wonderment.

The beautiful, sweet talker tsk-ed her tongue, almost silent, even so lenient for Eliena's hearings. " Of course, you are not," again a step. "Isn't that obvious?"

The edge of the bed pressed against her calf meaning no way to move. The corner of the woman's sumptuous mouth twisted in an amusing smirk.

"Who are you?" Eliena asked, legs nearly holding her up on the ground.

" Lilith," she answers plainly, getting into Eliena's personal space unblinking beholding deep, making sure the young student could never shake off the feeling of her presence ever again. " Yours truly."

" What do you want from me?"

" Everything."

Words lingered like a cold whispering kiss of a cherished lover to her warm skin, the weight of the alluring unearthly enchantress slender presence darkening her surroundings to blur the boundaries of hallucinations and reality fading into obscurity, a connection in the world fraught with certainty as darkness embraced her.

No matter how much Eliena hoped medicines gave her side effects, as the head nurse mentioned, alas, they just messed her head. This time, she was sure she passed out on her bed in Lilith's arms because the tender, pleasing smile could never be forgotten again.

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