Chapter 3

3.

Lucas didn't come home that night. It wasn't hard to guess where he went.

I kept Nancy home from school and went to pick up our train tickets.

On the way back, a sharp pain shot through my abdomen. I broke out in a cold sweat, my legs barely holding me up.

I dragged myself to the clinic, only to find Lucas standing at the entrance.

He blocked my path, his face like stone. "What are you doing here?"

"I need to see a doctor…" I wheezed through the pain.

He studied my pale face, his eyes searching for any sign that I was faking it.

"Let me in…"

I tried to push past him, but I had no strength. I stumbled back.

He frowned and hesitated, reaching out to steady me. "Fine, I'll take you in."

Before we could enter, Celia appeared in a hospital gown. She recoiled when she saw me.

"Lucas? Why did you bring her here?" she whimpered, looking terrified. "The doctor said my condition was caused by their bad energy!"

"Make her leave, or she'll hurt Seraphina and me!"

I looked at Lucas imploringly, shaking my head as tears pooled in my eyes.

I was at my breaking point. If he listened to her and kicked me out, I didn't know if I'd make it.

Lucas hesitated for a second before turning to Celia.

"Lily looks really sick. Let me just get her checked out. Go back to your bed."

A tear escaped. For the first time, Lucas had chosen to help me.

But it was too late to mean anything.

As he started to lead me in, Celia's eyes flashed with resentment.

Suddenly, she collapsed onto the floor, wailing.

"Lucas! My head! It hurts so much… it started as soon as I saw her!"

"It was getting better, and now it's back! Lucas, help me!"

She looked at him with tear-filled eyes. Without a second thought, Lucas let go of my arm.

He rushed to her and scooped her up, running toward the wards.

Before he disappeared, he shot me a look of pure annoyance.

I collapsed onto the cold ground, my body shaking with fever and pain.

When Lucas came back out, I reached out a trembling hand.

"Help me get a doctor… Lucas, please…"

There was nothing but rage in his eyes now. He grabbed my collar and dragged me toward the exit.

He threw me out onto the sidewalk like a piece of trash.

"I told you to stay away from Celia!" he hissed. "She and Seraphina have been miserable because of you. Go to the city hospital if you're so sick!"

"Don't you dare show your face here again!"

The bus to the city was a two-hour ride away. He was leaving me to die on the street.

He turned his back on me and walked away as if he were escaping a plague.

I used every ounce of will to crawl to an old local healer's house in the alley.

After getting some herbs, I fell into a deep, feverish sleep for a full day.

The next morning, still lightheaded, I took Nancy through the back hills to the main road.

We flagged down the bus and headed for the station.

We boarded the train without looking back once.