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Fortunately he had closed his eyes during the stretch and opened them just as I looked up. Simon gave me an easy smile and my breath caught. Would I ever get used to how gorgeous he was? I continually wondered why Simon was interested in me. I had wondered if it was because I refused his advances. Maybe he wasn't used to refusals and he was excited by the chase. But that didn't seem like Simon. I wondered if it was because I was unlike other girls, who were so free and open, eager to share everything with him. Maybe I intrigued him. I couldn't come up with an answer that satisfied me, so I just decided to stop wondering. It didn't really matter at this point. The most important thing was keeping him safe.
"Well, I'll let you get to bed," he said, popping the lid back on the container and setting it down on the dresser next to the door. He then enveloped me in a hug and I relaxed against him. I relished these hugs from Simon, loving the closeness of his warm hard body against mine, hearing the beating of his heart against my ear, breathing him in. In these moments, I was able to believe that everything would turn out okay. That I wasn't crazy and I had a future worth living. Unfortunately those feelings slipped away as his arms did, and reality came crashing back.
"Goodnight," I said softly.
Simon smiled at me sweetly. "I'm right down the hall if you need anything. My mom knew not to put you too far away from me. I'll leave my door open in case you need anything. Goodnight."
Simon grabbed the container as he left the room and closed the door softly behind him. I didn't ponder his statement about his mother. I was too tired to think about anything. I decided it would take too much of an effort to unpack my toiletries to get ready for bed. So I just fished out my shorts and t-shirt I used as pajamas from my suitcase and changed, gratefully crawling into bed. Despite my problems falling asleep in strange places, the bed was so comfortable and warm and I was so tired that my eyes were fluttering shut before I realized it.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The girl was moaning, blood pooling by her head. The piece of wood was laying beside her, looking innocuous except for the end where it was soaked in blood, tinged dark red. The girl was rocking her head from side to side, as if she was trying to clear it of something.
I was rooted at the same spot I always was, but this time when I willed my legs to move, they obeyed. I ran the short distance over to her, quickly looking around but not seeing her look-alike, her vardoger, anywhere. I dropped to my knees and bent over her.
"Claudia," I said urgently. "Can you get up? We need to get out of here." I had a driving desire to flee and take her with me. I didn't know what the vardoger would do, if anything, but it was better than waiting around for something to happen.
Claudia's eyes fluttered open, pain and confusion muddying the grey depths.
"Caitlin?"
I sucked in a sharp breath of air, her thready weak voice calling out my name shocking me. This didn't seem like a vision. This seemed real. Too real. Claudia could see me, could recognize me. Fear started pounding in my heart.
"It's me, Claudia. Please, try and get up," I pleaded as I tried to help her stand by scooping my hands underneath her arms.
"I can't," she moaned. "It hurts so much."
"I know, Claudia, I know. But we need to get out of here before it comes back." Tears were streaming down my face as I looked at hers twisted in pain.
She seemed to try and cooperate, propping her shoulders up, when suddenly her body bowed violently, her neck bent at an unnatural angle as she shook violently.
"Claudia! What's wrong!" I tried to straighten out her back, to take the pressure off her neck before she broke it, but she was incredibly strong in resisting.
A guttural scream ripped from her throat and suddenly my hands on her body felt as if they were burning. Her body burst into flames and I ripped my hands off of her, stumbling back. The smell of burning flesh filled my nostrils as I stared, too horrified to scream.
Her mouth opened as if she were jawless, gaping wider than humanly possible. A rush of air flew out of her mouth. But it was denser than air and colored grey, almost as if it were smoke. But it didn't drift out like smoke. It came out in an intense rush that forced Claudia's head back even more.
It ended as abruptly as it had started and Claudia's body straightened, falling back against the ground. The flames disappeared and she just lay there, still and silent. I crawled back over to her, shaking her shoulders.
"Claudia," I begged. "Wake up. We need to get out of here."
Before I realized what had happened, Claudia's eyes flew open and her hands rose to wrap tightly around my neck. Violent panic rose in me as I stared into Claudia's eyes, clawing at her hands around me. Claudia's eyes were no longer grey but black, as if her pupils had taken over her irises. They gleamed with animalistic hatred as she tightened her grip, her nails digging into my neck. I frantically tried to loosen her hold, but it was futile as I felt myself growing weaker, spots crowding my vision.
As my consciousness started slipping away, I vaguely wondered if I would die in real life if I died in my vision. I felt my necklace slip out from under my shirt, gravity pulling it loose as I was held over Claudia's body by her hands. The iridium tusks fell against Claudia's hands and she hissed as she pulled back abruptly. She bared her teeth at me like a wild animal but didn't try to choke me again.
"You think that will protect you?" she hissed, her voice
sounding inhuman. "We're evolving, just like you. You can't stop us. Stupid girl. You'll soon see."
Before I could try and respond, try and wrap my head around what was happening, I was pulled back, as if someone was behind me, physically pulling me from the scene. The last thing I remembered was opening my mouth to scream.
"Caitlin!"
A voice called to me urgently as I felt myself being shaken. I tried to force myself to the surface, to the familiar voice calling me back.
"Caitlin! Wake up! You're having a nightmare!"
My eyes shot open and I instinctively cowered from the person standing over me, shaking me.
