When I finally gathered enough strength to look around, I realized that I was no longer on the school campus. The air was damp and moist. All I could see was the rocky interior in the faint light.
A groan left my lips as I tried to raise myself. I had barely moved an inch before my body went limp again.
“Don’t move,” Stella’s voice sounded to my right. I turned my head to find that her dressed in a strange black gown; her expression was dead serious. She kneeled beside me and placed her hand on my shoulder. “Do you trust me, Miraya?”
I tried to reply, but my mouth felt drier than sawdust. My lips parted, but all that left my lips was a soft gust of air. With a groan, I nodded.
“Leave everything to me and relax. I promise that you will recover soon.” A strange sense of warmth flowed through me and the next thing I know, I was in Stella’s bedroom; lying motionless on her bed.
I groaned and buried my head in my hands as I sat up. It hurt everywhere and my body felt like it was still burning. I sat there like that; unable to comprehend what was happening to me.
I looked up as something cold was pressed against my head, “Miraya….”
My lips curved slightly in an attempt to give her a weak smile. “I feel like shit. Were his teeth made of steel or something? How can a simple bite make me suffer so much?”
“It is the venom,” Stella said as she sat beside me and took my pulse. “Your body is particularly sensitive to va…” she stopped talking abruptly. Her eyes widened, but she regained her composure almost immediately.
“There is nothing to be worried about,” she smiled, handing me a glass of water. “Your body is just over-sensitive to infection.”
“Did you take me to a cave or something?” I muttered, massaging my forehead. “And what was with all that chanting?”
“We… umm… had to give you some powerful medicines to fight against the infection….” She averted her gaze. “It must have caused some delusions.”
I was hallucinating? Why did it feel so real then?
Bang! The door slammed open and Cassius rushed to my side. His anxious gaze drifted from me to Stella. “What happened to her? She looks so pale.”
“It’s nothing, Cassius. She is just down with a bug. I have already given her medicines. She will be fine after some rest.”
I gave Stella a grateful nod. The last thing I wanted was for Cassius to confront that moron.
Cassius held my hand and squeezed it gently. “I am sorry, Miraya. I should have taken better care of you.” He traced light circles on the back of my hand and a sigh left his lips. “I got so caught up in the match that I didn’t even know you were so sick.” His eyes teared up. “I am your boyfriend. I should have been able to say that you are not feeling well at an early stage.” He brushed the stray strands of hair from my forehead and placed a soft kiss. “How did I let it get so bad?”
My heart ached to see him like this. I was tempted to tell him the truth, but Stella’s glare made me stop. Something about her stare warned me that telling Cassius about this incident would be disastrous.
I smiled at him and snuggled closer to him. “It’s not as bad as it looks, Cassius. I will be fine after a night’s sleep.”
“Then, go to sleep my love,” Cassius said, adjusting the pillows. “I will be right here when you wake up.”
My heart fluttered at his sweet words. I looked into his golden eyes, brimming with emotions. What had I done to deserve such a man in my life?
“I don’t think you can stay here, Cassius,” Stella spoke up, bursting my bubble. “Some guests are coming over and….”
Cassius frowned; his gaze fixating on her wringing hands, “Since when do you have to lie to me?”
Wow, Cassius could say that Stella was lying with a single glance. He must know her really well.
Stella’s face turned pale, and she stuttered, trying to explain, “I… I am not lying…. It is just that….”
“It’s okay, Stella. You don’t have to try so hard to explain,” He spoke in a dead voice, getting to his feet. “Since you don’t want me to stay, I will leave.”
He placed a soft kiss on my forehead. “I will come to see you tomorrow morning.” His gaze drifted from me to Stella. Giving her a curt nod, he walked out of the door.
A small pang of guilt clenched my heart. “I am sorry, Stella. You had to lie to your childhood friend because of me.”
“It is better than him finding out about Andres.” Stella adjusted my comforter as she spoke. “Andres… umm… he seems like a man who holds grudges. It is better not to get Cassius involved.”
That was a point we both agreed upon. Cassius didn’t need to find out about this. Knowing his nature, he would probably confront Andres. There would be a fight and Cassius could get hurt.
Stella stayed with me till I fell asleep, chatting and telling me stories. I had this nagging feeling that she was hiding something from me. There were several instances when her expressions and words didn’t match.
The next morning, I was in for another shock. The bandage came off while I was in the shower, revealing my smooth skin; no scars, no teeth marks.
I couldn’t stop myself anymore and confronted Stella. “I want to know what exactly happened, Stella. “Why do I keep recalling these glimpses of being in some sort of cave?” I pulled the edge of my T-shirt down over my shoulders. “How can I heal so quickly? I remember that my blouse was soaked in blood after he bit me. But now….” I brushed my fingers along my smooth skin. “There isn’t even a scar….”
“You think too much, Miraya. I already told you about the medicine we had to give you. You were probably hallucinating.”
I was still not convinced. The cave, the incantations; it didn’t seem like an illusion at all.
“What about the scars?” I countered, looking into her eyes.
“You must have great healing abilities.” She patted my back and threw some clothes at me. “Now, hurry up! We have a test in the first lecture, remember?”
The thought of going back to college made me shudder. Licking my dry lips, I stuttered, “I can’t possibly go back there. What if I run into Andres?”
“Don’t worry. He is out of town meeting his relatives.” Stella reached over and squeezed my shoulder. “Plus, you have me. I will stick to you like glue the entire time.”
With a sigh of resignation, I nodded. I couldn’t possibly drop out just because I was afraid of Andres. It would disappoint my parents and they would figure out something was wrong as well.
True to her word, Stella stuck close to me. Andres was nowhere to be seen, either. The day proceeded as usual, and I attended the morning lectures.
Toward the end of the test, that mild burning sensation started building again. I didn’t want to worry Stella or Cassius. So, I left on my own, once the test got over.
I thrust my hands into my pockets, walking along the stony path. The thick foliage of the trees hung on both sides of the road; blocking most of the sunlight. The shadows cast by the branches and leaves formed terrifying patterns on the path.
The fear of looming danger often heightens your senses. Everything in my surroundings stood out with stark clarity; the soft crunching of the leaves as I stepped onto them, the accidental snap of twigs, the clicking sound of my shoes, and the loudest of all; my pounding heartbeats.
I shouldn’t have left alone; even if I was sick. I should have gone to the infirmary or stayed at the canteen.