Page 37 of Written In Flesh

Skully

DAD: Your avoidance of this family is becoming childish. You have a job to do just like the rest of us.

My head was already pounding after the wake up-call in the form of a very familiar nightmare. The same nightmare that used to haunt me before my magic returned. I thought I had beaten it. I thought my subconscious had finally calmed now that I remember magic, my power, and the large part of what made me who I am. I don’t know if it was the flashes of what felt like déjà vu recently or my talk with Baylee the other night, but I was thrown awake this morning, feeling like I was drowning all over again. The screams, the lights, the flashes of silver and gold before being submerged in darkness. I barely made it to the bathroom before dry heaving in the toilet, my chest feeling the phantom pains of losing air. Now I had this lovely message from my dad. I have been able to dodge all of his attempts to get together since being back on campus, but my luck has run out.

ME: I’m not avoiding. I am just really busy getting caught up and working. I wasn’t aware I had any other job or requirements.

DAD: Don’t be dense, Skallan. We all take a role and responsibility in this town for the Haven.

ME: What do I need to do?

DAD: Find Madden. He’ll fill you in. I expect more from you, Skallan. The time to goof around is over. With or without your memories, you have an obligation to this city.

And just like that the rest of my day is going to be ruined. The last person I actively want to seek out is Madden. It has been almost a week since the night I ran into him at my job and he demanded I quit, and three whole days since our run-in on campus. Since then, I’ve been better at looking out for him. The campus is no longer free for me to roam; I am now aware of any corner he could be around. I am also avoiding Heath, Aero and definitely Killian. Not because Madden ordered it, but because I am afraid that Madden has a beacon for it. Like if I even think of Killian, Madden will show up. Now, my dad is forcing me to actively seek out the one guy who is making this college experience tougher than it needs to be.

Not only am I still scrutinized by paranormals and humans alike, hearing them murmur horrible things about me, I am also treated like the plague. Everyone gives me a wide berth and I’ve been left solo on three different group projects so far for my classes. When I brought it up to the professors, I was given a mild shrug of indifference from one, told I could handle the extra work by another, and the third reprimanded me like it was my fault. Madden’s reach goes further than just with the student population if the faculty is also bending to his will. Two of those projects are worth at least 50% of my grade for that class, which means if I’m not working, I am going to be studying or in the library. I am going to have zero time for anything else, which is what I am guessing he wanted. Anything to push me away from his life here. I should be happy, rejoicing even, but I can’t stop the little pit of despair that settles into my stomach each time I think about it. These feelings make no sense to me, not when I’ve known Madden’s true feelings since the moment I woke up in that hospital bed.

An anxiousness flows through my veins, and I quickly grab my phone, doing the one thing I stopped myself from doing a hundred times since setting foot back here. I pull up Azriel’s contact and hit the call button.

“Hey, this is…

“Az I need—”

“Please leave me a message, and I’ll get back to you if I feel like it.”

My shoulders slump and my knees give out, my body landing on my bed. A few seconds of silence accidentally recorded in a voicemail before I remember to hit the red end button. I blink and tears fill my eyes, my fingers dashing them away as quickly as they started to fall. This is the loneliest I’ve felt since coming back here. I knew it would be a trial, and I was prepared to find things I didn’t like about my past. I guess I just didn’t think the animosity would last this long. I am the one who was hurt, right? I am the one who jumped from a cliff because of the mess my life was. If the stories are true. Which makes it even more confusing with Madden’s continued attention on me and the chaos he is creating in my life. He doesn’t want me around, but he can’t leave me alone either.

With those thoughts fueling the anger in my veins, I manage to get back up and finish packing my bag for class. I am not going to allow Madden to ruin school for me. All I have to do is graduate with my degree and then I am free to leave River Falls again and never return. It’s only a few more years. With one last look in the mirror, I swipe under my eyes where my mascara had started to run, then head out the door. The rest of the apartment is thankfully quiet; Baylee must still be sleeping. I grab a banana from the counter and exit, making sure to close and lock the door behind me.

Once again the campus is shrouded in shadows, the morning sun just barely cresting the tree line as I make my way over to the arts building. Breathing in the crisp, fall air gives me a chance to figure out how I’m even going to get a hold of Madden. I remember his name being on my contact list in my old phone. When I moved to California, I got a new one and didn’t bother to sync any of my old contacts, so calling or texting him is out of the question. We don’t have any classes together. I also don’t even know his major or which buildings he spends his time in other than at the pool. There’s no way in hell I’m approaching him on campus either.

My feet stomp on the concrete path leading up to the building when a low chuckle catches my attention.

“It’s too early for a tantrum, isn’t it?” Heath strolls lazily toward me from the other direction, a playful smile on his lips.

My head tilts back as he approaches, taking in his messy, brown hair and crystal blue eyes. How are all these guys so tall? Is it a reaper thing?

“It’s too early for many things, yet here you are,” I throw back, with a tight smile on my lips. Of all the reactions I don’t expect Heath to laugh, a deep rumble straight from his stomach. His eyes that had been watching me warily, glint with something else. Something familiar but then it’s gone in the next instant.

“Not a morning person, yet you have all morning classes,” Heath observes, his arms folding over his chest. “Interesting.”

My brow rises, and I feel my chest tightening. “How do you know my schedule?”

He grins, his white teeth looking almost sharp, as he bends to my eye level. “It’s our job to know information about all the paranormals in River Falls, Skully. Not being prepared would be stupid.”

My head nods along as if agreeing, and I want to shake myself. My body has grown comfortable around him the longer he stands here. Heath feels familiar, in a way, as if we’ve sat around and chatted before in multiple different settings. I almost relax, and that is stupid.

Clearing my throat, I pin him with my gaze, letting my mask of indifference fall back into place. “Speaking of stupid, my dad texted me this morning. He said I needed to start pulling my weight with some job. I’m supposed to talk to Madden about it but…”

“But he’d be an ass to you if you even approached him?” Heath finishes for me, his brow rising and another mischievous smile playing on his full lips.

My cheeks feel hot and I bite my lips against an angry retort. “Something like that.”

Heath scans my face, taking in how uncomfortable I am now before exhaling loudly. “I don’t keep secrets from my brother. I also know he’s been busy lately with everything we’re facing and that seeing you could upset him.”

“Charming,” I practically growl, which only makes Heath smile even bigger.

“So I’ll take one for the team today. There’s no practice tonight and I’m taking over the late shift at the Gate.”