Tangled

166

166

166 Lisa: Fevers and Dreams

LISA

How long has it been?

A few days?

Weeks?

The sun should keep me oriented, but a fever gets me the first night I'm there.

The girl, Marisol, comes by every so often. Always with food. A few times with bowls filled with some noxious liquid that has my nostrils trying to close, avoiding the smell coming from within. She's expressionless as she shoves it down my throat, and I'm too weak to fight her off.

It's medicine, I think.

I think that because I slowly get better after the third bowl,

In between moments of lucidity, I dream.

Normal life. Home. Mom and Dad.

Working with Ava at Beaniverse.

Flirting with that cute guy who accidentally wandered into our professor's Eng Lit class instead of some sort of philosophy class

two doors down.

Cozy, happy dreams, of a place far from here..

An escape from the reality that chains me.

17:37

At some point the dreams turn from happy comfort to something uneasy and dark.

Sunshine warms my face as Ava and I relax at our favorite cafe,

sipping lattes and chatting. For a moment, the world feels right again, like I'm back where I belong

But then the shadows come

the edges of my vision, dark tendrils snaking across the ground. I try to warn Ava, but my voice

behind her.

shadow reaches for Ava, engulfing her, dragging her away as

shifts, and we're on a plane, Ava beside me. She's gripping the armrests, making a joke about the turbulence. I reach for her hand to comfort her, but the plane lurches, throwing us forward. Oxygen Ava's screaming. I'm screaming. The world outside the windows is a blur

Impact.

screeches and rends. Flames erupt. Pain sears.

horrific than the last. Ava, drowning in a sea of blood. Ava,

55000

always, I'm helpless to save

watch as she suffers.

but I can't escape. I can't wake up. The horrors play out again

I do wake

back in my cell, shivering and drenched in sweat. My throat feels raw, my limbs heavy and weak. Marisol kneels beside me. holding a bowl of that foul-smelling liquid to my lips. "Drink," she commands,

liquid hits my tongue, but I force myself to swallow. Anything to

torment.

with a curious intensity. "How often has the Master fed from you?" she

stare at her, surprised by the question. "Just once," I rasp out, wincing at the pain

this strong, not for a single feeding." There's something in

you

"He must favor y greatly,

monster might favor

]]

room, tie lase mast

weten, my mind dealle

with Mariel's odd behavior.

want is to

ere will die

mure endle

she doesn't wees to care about my

to me agan her hate prodding at my skin with

detach that make

my ankles. It's only when she peers down at my shoulder that I realize

rasp out, my voice rough

"Only once," she repeats, as if tasting the words. "But the withdrawal... it's so strong. He must have

fangs sinking, the agonizing pain, and the sickening rush of pleasure

return.

to push the sensation

heels, crossing her arms and resting her check on them as she stares at me. There's something wistful in her expression, a longing that I can't quite comprehend. "When did you know? she asks softly, her eyes never leaving mine. "When did you realize you

Fevers

For