Page 108 of Afflicted

I sniffle a little. “That was the last thought I had before I… Before I… In the stream. That I was sorry that I’d never get to draw with you.”

Silas crushes my mouth with a kiss, wrapping me so tight in his arms that I think I’m going to melt straight into him.

I love him.

Tears spill down my cheeks. A few months ago I wanted to die. Now I want to live, but I can’t, not the way I want to. I’m in love with a man I can never have, who can never have me.

“Don’t cry, angel,” he murmurs against my mouth as saltwater spills down between us. “It’s alright. Don’t cry.”

But I do cry. I cry all the way back to the dorm, where he explains to the guard that I was sick and had to be isolated in case it was contagious. I cry as I leave his side, head down because I can’t even kiss him goodbye, orsaygoodbye. I cry as I crawl into bed, pulling the blanket over my head as the others begin to stir.

Then I mercifully fall asleep, but I don’t sleep peacefully. I dream of Silas slipping away from me, dragged down by grabbing, grasping hands, and voices that screamNot allowed, not allowed,over and over again.

* * *

I wakeup to a quiet dorm. Light rain still patters against the roof, but the storm has mostly blown itself out. Silas must have told them to let me sleep.

I breathe out heavily, trying to erase the weight of my nightmares still bearing down on me. When I stretch my legs, they hit something solid at the end of the bed. I start up, pulling the blanket around me protectively, and find myself looking straight into the redhead’s eyes.

“Hi.” She smiles brightly, crinkling her nose. “You doing OK, hon?” She’s pretty, tiny and petite with full lips. I can see why Silas slept with her. But the way she’s looking at me makes me feel so fucking small. She’s much shorter than me, but she could still tear me to pieces, and she’s letting me know just that.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Silas said you were in the infirmary, some sort of suspected infection?” Her tone sends chills down my spine. Her smile isn’t reaching her eyes.

“Uh, yeah, he just wanted to make sure I didn’t get anyone else sick.”

She tuts and shakes her head. “That man, so caring and considerate.” She leans closer to me. “And kinda hot too, right?”

Oh Jesus shitting what the fuck? I hope my face doesn’t betray the panic that’s sending goosebumps down my legs. My veins are filled with ice.

“Uh I mean, I guess, he’s… He’s a nice guy.”

“Oh, you can tell me, it’s just us girls.” She leans back on a hand, like she’s my best friend who’s come over for the gossip after my night with the hot guy on campus. “I know you two have sort of become friends, everyone can see he likes you a lot.”

I shake my head quickly, casting my eyes down to the bed so I don’t have to look at that smile that’s starting to border on maniacal. “We’re friends, that’s all. He’s nice to me. We understand each other.”

“Oh,do you?”

Goddammit, why did I say that? I fidget with my fingers, wishing she would just go away. I have to keep the panic at bay or I’m going to fuck up, I’m going to give us away.

“It’s just a friendship.”

“Yeah, I know.” She smoothes a hand over the sheets, still smiling that creepy smile. “The boss thinks it’s good because of what I did.”

“Oh, OK.” Unease is making my throat swell shut.

“It’s not as though Ilikekilling people,” she says, her fingers still running over the sheets. “But sometimes you have to make a point. Let people know who’s in charge.” She lifts her eyes to mine, and they’re bright red. She tilts her head, looking me up and down. “I can see why he likes you. You’re so cute.”

“Thanks.” Is my jaw chattering? God, I hope she can’t see it.

“You smell good, too.” She leans closer, and inhales. “Mmm. Almost like something I smelled in his cabin this morning. But that can’t be, right?”

Oh fuuuuuuck. I swallow hard, opening my mouth to speak, but Sam laughs, tossing her head back.

“Good to have a little girl chat with you, hon.” She rises to her feet, grinning, her fangs protruding over her bottom lip. “Let me know if you need anything. Always happy to help.”

The door opens just as she heads down the aisle, and Silas steps in. Sam spreads her arms, almost skipping towards him. Silas stops short, his eyes darting from me back to her.

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