Gail's Point of View;

Presley didn't overreact. He kneeled beside me with his hand on my shoulder as he told me to focus on his voice and what I could see around me. That wasn't easy since this feeling was like I could run out of air and stop breathing at any second.

Presley was so calm through it all and kept repeating it to me. The biggest help was how he told me to control my breathing. I tried my best to do what he said but everything felt confusing. It was simple instructions but I struggled still. I tried to focus on his voice as he patted my shoulder and in time I began to calm down.

That was when Alejandra came out and saw me on my knees with Presley now helping me stand back up. They were speaking to each other but I still felt a bit dazed so what they were saying didn't make much sense.

"Hey I thought I heard your voice- oh! What's happening? Is she sick?" I saw Alejandra look concerned when she saw me.

"I'd say she's had a very stressful and traumatic evening but she'll be ok." I heard Presley's voice say something that seemed ease some of her concern as she came closer.

"Is there anything that I can do for her?"

"You can try to make her as comfortable as possible."

"Like get her some herbal tea and a blanket."

"That can work I guess but if she wants to talk about it make that comfortable also."

The next thing I knew was both Alejandra and Presley were helping me inside to sit on our couch. Alejandra went to the kitchen and I could smell the fragrance of herbal tea being made. That in itself made me feel a little calmer even though I still too out of breath to speak. Understanding what was happening around me slowly became less agonising.

Alejandra was asking Presley about what had happened to me.

"She's scared," was all that he uttered and for a moment he made eye contact revealing something more than empathy but genuine grief also.

By that time Alejandra had just finished making the tea and was bringing it to me. Then the lights in the dorm started flickering as Presley was getting up to leave but Alejandra stopped him. This was strange since the school runs on natural energy, we shouldn't have problems with power. Then I heard all of our phones get an automated text message to stay where we are. It also said that if we were not in our dorms we would have to call the number for the dean below to take us there. I guess it was for safety reasons.

Alejandra used this opportunity to insist that Presley take a cup of tea before he leaves. He first declined but no one can refuse Alejandra as I have come to learn. After accepting the cup he opened the door to leave but as soon as he did the lights in our apartment were out. We all had a flashlight on our phones so it was no big deal. The hallway still had some light because of those lamps that I think ran on its own solar battery instead of any direct connection to the school.

As Alejandra and I were alone she took out a bag and placed it on the table in front of us. In it reveal a great amount of candles, lanterns, and flashlights. As she was busy turning them all on I was beginning to feel like I had enough breath to talk again and I began helping her.

She smiled slightly at me then asked what had happened. It was still a bit difficult to talk but I was able to give her the main idea without going into too much detail. I could still see the look of shock and concern from earlier when she found me outside the dorm room.

After telling her I saw another expression from her that I hadn't seen since we've met. I could hear the glass of the lantern cracking under the pressure she put on it in her hand similar to what Presely did in the book-store. The only thing it could be is rage but she wasn't calm about it.

A rant that wasn't in English followed about how dangerous the city of HIDCA is. She couldn't seem to find the word she was looking for in her language. I unintentionally recommended one, to finish her sentence out of impulse. When I did that she agreed with me and started laughing. That amused me also as I could tell she forgot that I can actually understand her. Come to think of it that was the first thing we've agreed on since we became roommates. She seemed to calm down from that.

"You know, I had an older sister who went missing eight years ago in something similar that had happened in our hometown," she told me as her laughter faded.

It was so heartbreaking to hear about that and how she and her family never heard from her sister again. It's horrifying how common this is that I couldn't even express how I felt in any language. I just nodded and she touch my shoulder and continued.

"Promise me that you would be more alert to things happening around you. I can't loose another hermana. I know we haven't know eachother that long but we fight like we have."

She nodged my shoulder with hers after that and all I could do was manage a smile as tears ran down my cheeks.

"No te emociones conmigo ahora," she joked and I wiped my eyes.

"Its your fault I'm tearing,"

As we continued setting up the lanterns in the apartment she revealed to me that was one of the reasons her father put her in self-defense training since she was ten years of age. She wanted to share with me what she had learned.

I never wanted to be vulnerable like that ever again so in the moment I agreed to it. When we finished with the lanterns and took note of the time it was half twelve and I wanted to try to get some sleep as I was much more tired than usual. I was going to skip all my classes tomorrow because there was no way I was making it so early in the morning. Maybe I should even take a couple of days off. I could get the assignments from other students.

"How about later in the day we both go to the guidance counselor? Ill meet you after my morning class," She recommended.

I didn't think that was necessary but I was too tired to disagree. Maybe she would forget about it by tomorrow anyway. We said goodnight to each other as we went to our rooms.

As I lay on my bed I couldn't sleep even though I was tired. It seems like even if I close my eyes I would see the events of today replaying in my head over and over again. Then I remembered that I had promised Presley to research two students for him earlier today also. I knew he wouldn't expect me to do it again since he might think I'm too distressed today. But I need to refocus my thoughts on something else and the stillness of the dark wasn't helping.

Just as I though that the power came back on and I went got my laptop that was resting near the head of my bed in the charging port. It was a good thing I left it there so it was full now that I need it. It was forty-five mintiues past midnight and the power was out since curfew. It would take a while for the WiFi to start back up again so I tried to recall the names Presley mentioned in the bookstore.

I think it was Bertie Taksheel and Sandra but only look for high school records of her. This would be a lot easier if she had a last name but I'll see what I can do before I fall asleep, if I ever do.