Hybrid

FORTY

⫷ ARIA ⫸

FOUR MONTHS LATER

The roar of thunder shakes me from my thoughts. I jolt forward, restless from the lack of sleep I've been blessed with. Whenever I close my eyes, I see all the blood that had been shed all those months ago.

I see Carlos dying. And Taylor. I feel those shocks in my body. Feel that serum under my skin. Feel how the poison slowly spread through my brain. Every time, I would wake up screaming.

So, I just stopped sleeping.

"No luck tonight?" Charles calls from the bedroom door. I hear his pitter-pattering of feet make their way over to me until he's standing directly behind me as I peer out of the large window.

Not looking at him, I shake my head. "Nope."

Charles plops down beside me on the window seat. "This road trip idea is starting to sound pointless. Why'd I decide to follow your depressive ass around the world, again?"

His words cause me to smile, although it quickly falls from my face. Usually, it would be Taylor adding the next retort. Taylor, Charles, and I. We were inseparable in high school.

"Because I'm pathetic and you love me."

"At least you're not in denial."

For a while, we sit in silence. The storm rages on with dark clouds that bid us no chance in catching a glimpse of the moon.

Charles, being an advanced wizard, has been keeping my heats at bay with sedatives. They're getting worse with time, apparently because neither James nor I have performed a formal rejection.

It's not that I don't want to go back to him. I do. And I will, if he will take me back. I just can't stand the idea of him seeing me like this. So... Weak. Until I get over whatever phycological crap is going on with me, I have to stay away from him.

I just hope he understands.

"I personally want to see the Great Wall of China tomorrow, capeesh? No more of this boring claim and search shit. Yah hear?"

"Ay, ay captain."

Charles chuckles, suddenly throwing his arms around me in a tight embrace. "There she is."

"You're suffocating me," I gasp as I struggle to break free from his grip.

"Sorry... Actually, nah, I'm not sorry." Charles pulls away. I note his change in demeanor; his face is suddenly serious. "I think this guy can help, Ar. I've heard a lot of good things about him. Can't guarantee that he can speak English, though."

My attention shifts back to the strike of lightening that goes off far beyond the mountains. Our hotel is situated on the side of a cliff; Charles' idea.

I want them gone, just like they've been gone before. I want my memories to be taken permanently. For good. Poof. Gone. I know for a fact that Charles doesn't approve, but at least he's being supportive.

After Payton figured out my intentions, she left. That was about two weeks ago, and we hadn't heard from her since.

I don't want my last memory of my mother to be that she tried to leave me. I don't want to remember watching the life leave the eyes of one of my friends. I don't want to know that my best friend had the intentions of killing me.

I don't want to remember that I almost killed one of my friends. A soon to be father, no less.

"Oh! I almost forgot." Sheepishly, Charles dug in his pant pocket. He pulls out a tiny flask full of glowing blue liquid. "This stuff will knock you right out. No dreams. Promise."