CHAPTER NINE

The strange thing is, when I wake in the morning, the nightmare remains firmly lodged in my brain, and not blurry and distant like most dreams become in daylight. I can see with clarity the silhouette of the man, can hear his honey-like voice in my ear, and can still feel the cold hard object hitting my chest and the unbearable pain that followed.

It feels like more than just a dream – it feels like a memory.

I shake the feeling off and push the dream out of my mind. It was a nightmare and nothing else. It never really happened. It's not real.

It's not very easy to forget, however, and by the time I've reached school, thoughts of it swarm my mind, worse than before.

Once I'm through the gates, I see Caden standing alone in the courtyard and make my way over to him, hoping to tell him about it and get it off my chest. The strong wind blows against my cheek as I make my way over, but as usual, I don't feel it. I walk past the corner of the main school building and when I look over at Caden once more, I see that he isn't alone after all. My heart drops like it did yesterday as he left me on the field and all thoughts of my nightmare flee my mind.

He's talking to a group of guys, who are laughing at something he's just said. At the centre of the group is Branden, a casual smile on his face. As I stand there, rooted to the spot, their conversation drifts over to me, making me feel sick.

"...and she actually believed me," Caden's saying. "Right at this very moment, she actually thinks we're friends. You should have heard her yesterday. I swear, it was hilarious. I could hardly contain my laughter."

"How could you stand being around her so long?" someone asks.

"I honestly don't know. I mean, she's a freak. She had cuts all over her arms from when she made that glass smash in science and the next morning, they were gone. She told me that she was a fast healer, but I swear, she's crazy – psychotic."

"Aren't you worried?" a guy I only half-recognise asks. "She might try to kill you like she killed Courtney."

Caden laughs. "Melissa? Hurt me? She's pathetic. She couldn't intentionally hurt anyone, even if she wanted to."

I can't stand to listen anymore, and so I back away before walking quickly towards the lawn, keeping my eyes on the ground so people won't see the tear slowly making its way down my cheek. I've only known Caden for a few days, but what he's done to me hurts.

I sink to the ground in the shadow of the tree and try to control my breathing, which is coming out in short and fast breaths. This can't be happening – isn't my life already bad enough? I can feel a pain in my chest so intense that I have to hold a hand to my heart and press until it slowly fades, throbbing like an extra heartbeat. It takes me another few minutes to gain my composure and pull myself together. I still have to go to class and I definitely don't want people to see me like this.

First class is math, and I am grateful for the complex equations our teacher gives us to do. They distract my mind enough for me to forget about everything, even if it is only for an hour. The moment I step out of my math classroom and into the loud and noisy hall, thoughts of Caden return to me like a punch in the stomach.

My next class is history.

When I arrive, Caden isn't there yet, and so I take my usual place up the back, open my books and busy myself with reading through my textbook even though it isn't necessary for class. A minute before class begins, Branden and his friends walk through the door with Caden chatting to a guy I know as Mick. They all take seats in the first and second rows, and Caden slides casually into the seat closest to the door, not once looking over at me even though I'm sure he knows I'm here and watching.

Slowly, my sadness begins to morph into anger.

Class begins and ends without any drama, and at recess I sit alone, trying to reacquaint myself with solitude.

My daily heat attack comes at lunch, and I sit alone in blinding pain, facing the tree and placing a hand against its rough trunk. There's no one there to support me and even though I've been through this alone almost every day of my life, it still feels harder to get through than ever before, as if I've become dependent on Caden's support in a single day.

The image of Caden's red and blistered hand comes to the forefront of my mind and I wonder whether it was all for show. Surely he wouldn't have put himself through that much pain just so he could fool me into thinking he was my friend? And what about that ghost he said was out to kill him? Was that just an incredibly elaborate lie?

When the pain passes, I turn away from the tree and am thankful to see that no one has noticed my heat attack. I rise slowly to my feet, feeling dizzy, before heading for the main building, eager to get to the bathroom and wash the sweat from my face.

The bathroom is empty and I find myself staring at my flustered face in the mirror behind the row of sinks. Strands of my brown hair, which is as dark as ever, cling to my sweaty forehead and my ghostly pale skin is tinged pink on my cheeks. My sad icy blue eyes haven't changed, portraying a constant storm.

I splash my face with some cold water, even though it feels like it's warmed to room temperature, before wiping it off with a paper towel. Feeling refreshed, I leave the bathroom and take the quickest route to the lawn. It's not until I reach the main lunch area that I realise I'll have to walk right past Caden in order to get back to my spot under the tree. I swallow. There's no point in turning back now.

Mustering up all the courage I have, I walk down the narrow tiled pathway that divides the concrete courtyard in half, keeping my head focused on the ground.

I hear them before I see them; wild laughter, loud conversations and the unmistakable sound of Caden's voice drift over to my ears. I have to swallow my anger as I pass, and I push back the urge to scream insults at him.

I'm so focused on keeping the anger contained that I don't see the bag tossed into my path before it's too late. Suddenly, I'm falling and I hit the concrete hard, pain dancing in my hands, elbows and knees.

"Hey, psycho," comes Mick's voice, followed by an unnecessary amount of laughter. I turn to face them, and my eyes easily pick out Caden, who laughs as if it's the funniest thing in the world.

I pull myself to my feet with as much dignity as I can manage, conscious of the eyes of my classmates as they watch the confrontation in interest. I'm glaring at them before I can stop myself, and out of nowhere, an insane amount of courage pools inside me and I turn my glare on Caden. When he does, his laughter slowly fades away, and so does everyone else's.

They've never seen me angry before.

Caden's face remains blank even after he's set his eyes on mine, which only increases my anger. How can he do this? Rage swirls inside me, coiling around my chest, and my instincts have me moving towards him with purposeful strides. The group around him backs away as I get closer, looking more than afraid, but he stands his ground.

I'm vaguely aware that the wind has picked up, blowing my hair in front of my face. It whistles through the buildings and swirls around and around my shoulders, as if dancing.

The words burst out of me the moment I come to halt. "You think this is funny, do you? Lying to my face before revealing it was all one big elaborate joke made to make me feel like shit? Do you find amusement in the fact that I've spent thirteen years being tormented by people who hate me for something that isn't my fault? Or that because of the disease I have no control over, people have died? This isn't something to laugh at, this is serious and I thought you knew that. Or maybe you were just lying about that as well?"

The first hint of emotion flickers in his face – pain – but it disappears almost as fast as it came, taking with it my courage. I had hoped for a response.

"Fine," I say after a minute, sadness leaking into my voice. I take a step back, feeling the threat of tears and the heat of embarrassment on my cheeks.

"Fine," I repeat softly to myself, before storming off into the building, heading back to the bathroom. I'm done with him – I'm done with everyone. Maybe I'll extend my stay for an extra month and watch them freeze. After all, why should I do anything for them? They've done nothing for me except cause me pain.

I'm halfway down the hallway when I hear Caden's voice, calling out after me. Pretending that I haven't heard him, I continue making my way forward, desperately hoping that he'll change his mind and go back.

He doesn't.

He grabs my arm from behind, spinning me around to face him. The apology is written all over his face before he even opens his mouth. "I'm sorry. I never lied to you, I just–"

I sigh. "Will you cut the crap already? What are you really doing here?"

"I'm sorry?"

"You moved schools. Why did you come here? You said it yourself that I was in the paper. Surely you knew I went to this school. Did your decision have something to do with me?"

He looks uncomfortable. "Why would you ask that?"

"Because you don't make any sense! On your first day, you approach me – me! Out of all people! And you claim to see what only I can see before telling me that a ghost – who radiates the cold – is out to kill you. And then you start acting like it was all a joke, spreading the news of your hilarious trick to the whole school. Why would you do that? You don't even know me!"

Caden looks stunned, and it takes him a while to find words. "The only reason I acted like it was joke was so I blended in with everyone else. I had to keep up appearances so they-"

Somehow, the wind has gotten into the hallway, and it swirls around and around my shoulders, blowing my hair all over the place. Strangely, it doesn't go anywhere near Caden, and I watch carefully as he notices and stops talking, a slight frown creasing his forehead.

"And that's supposed to make me feel better?!" I continue, deciding that oddities to do with the wind can wait for another day. "Oh, yeah, no, I understand," I say sarcastically. "You can just talk to me when no one's watching so that I don't ruin your status."

I start to turn away, having had enough of this conversation – enough of him – but he places a hand on my shoulder, forcing me to turn back. "It's not like that. You don't understand."

"I don't understand?" I laugh at the ridiculous of his statement. He's the one who knows nothing about me – the one who can't grasp the concept of my thirteen years of victimization.

If it's even possible, the wind gets stronger, whirling around Caden now, too.

"I'm pretty sure I understand – I make you look bad. I get it."

But Caden isn't listening to me anymore. He's focusing on something else, over my shoulder. "The wind..." he says, frowning. I can almost hear him thinking.

Anger boils up inside me. "Are you even listening to me?! What is it now? Has the ghost finally come to kill you?"

An exceedingly strong gust of wind blows as I speak, and suddenly, as Caden gaze falls on me, his eyes go wide. He grabs my arm. "We have to go!"

"What?"

"We have to go, now!" And then I'm being practically dragged down the hallway, despite my great efforts to stay in place.

"Let go of me!" I shout, but he ignores me, pulling my weak body along behind him. I try to pull his hand off my arm but it's of no use.

"What are you trying to do?! Embarrassing me wasn't enough so now you have to kidnap me?"

He doesn't reply, and when we near the end of the hallway, I look at his face, trying to discern the reason behind all this. Is this just another elaborate joke?

But the moment I see the urgency and fear scrawled over his features, I know it isn't, and the reality of the situation hits me – something is definitely up.

We turn the corner and I go willingly with him, no longer resisting. With his left hand, he pulls his phone out of his pocket, types in a number and brings the phones to his ear. I watch on in curiosity.

"Hey Rand?"

Who the hell is Rand?

"I've got a problem here at school. Do you think you could come pick me up?" He pauses, waiting. "Yeah." For a few seconds, the only sound is our shoes squeaking as they rub against the polished floor, and then: "uh–" he casts a look in my direction "–she's coming too." Another pause, and my heart starts pounding in my chest, my breath getting caught in my lungs. "Alright, I'll see you soon."

He hangs up, and suddenly I can't hold my questions in any longer. "Who the hell is Rand and why does he know who I am?" There's no answer as we hurry down the hallway. "Where are you taking me? What's going on?!"

Caden doesn't answer any of my questions. Instead, he leads me outside through the front door of the school, where the trees are swaying violently in the gale-force winds, and says, "It's time you learnt the truth."