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

across the ground. I try to warn Ava, but

behind her.

comes out. The shadow reaches for Ava, engulfing her, dragging her away as she kicks and struggles. I lunge

hand to comfort her, but the plane lurches, throwing us

Impact.

screeches and rends. Flames erupt. Pain

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

55000

monsters. And always, I'm helpless

watch as she suffers.

thrash against my chains, but I can't escape. I can't wake up. The horrors play out

finally, mercifully, I do

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

but I force myself to swallow. Anything to chase away the lingering

torment.

curious intensity. "How often has the

"Just once," I rasp out, wincing at

her head. "The withdrawal shouldn't be this strong, not for a single feeding." There's something in her tone, an undercurrent of emotion

you

she mutters, "He must favor

how to respond to that. The idea that this monster might favor me fills

]]

tie lase mast but no

weten, my mind dealle

Mariel's odd behavior.

aut all I want is to curl

ere will die

mure endle

she doesn't wees to care about my

her hate prodding

that make

press against my neck, my wrists, my ankles. It's only when she peers down at my shoulder that I realize what she's liŋoking

any I rasp out, my voice rough from disuse and

at me with a strange intensity. "Only once," she repeats, as if tasting the words. "But the withdrawal... it's so

and the sickening rush

return.

to push the sensation

on her 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

Fevers

For