Chapter 08 — Stepping Closer

Vine

My feet dragged me towards a semi-dark room filled with vipers and no matter how hard I tried to retreat, I couldn't resist.

"Please save me..." Laila's frail voice echoed in my voice causing my breath to come out in short gasps of trepidity.

"I'm... I'm right here, avenge me," The atmosphere was so eerie and smoky yet her voice aaa so enthralling, pulling me into a room full of vipers.

Just as one of the venomous snakes widened its mouth to swallow me whole, the snake turned into a pendant and I jerked up from my bed, wide-eyed, my hands on my fast-beating heart.

"Are you okay?" Clyde rushed to me from her side of the room and I nodded.

"It was just a nightmare."

"You sure it has nothing to do with what happened yesterday?" She asked and I shook my head in the negative.

"Want some water?" She offered but I shook my head.

"No thanks."

Then I got up from my bed, rushed into our bathroom, and splashed some cold water on my face.

Slowly, I raised my eyes to the mirror, sweeping my hair back as I wondered about the meaning of the nightmare I had just had.

My sister was definitely trying to ask me to avenge her, I'd had this dream so frequently, I was definitely getting closer to my dream than I thought.

A small smile crept up my lips.

Was this a sign for me to get closer to Tyler?

I went back into the room and pulled out a chair for myself. Then I opened my laptop and started searching for volunteer opportunities for girls interested in providing medical support for the hockey players in Silverclaw Academy.

I'd just have to be there after their athletic training to apply ointments on their wounds, indicate when they need therapy or more experienced physicians.

I smiled when I saw a vacancy but frowned the next minute when I saw the review of the girl who had volunteered left.

"The hockey players made my work a living hell..."

I swallowed hard.

Well, I would have opted out, but I had a mission to carry out.

Suddenly I noticed a sticker note with Ace boldly written on it and I picked up my pen and stabbed it.

"Just you wait." I grimaced.

****

"Here, water." I stretched a water bottle towards Ace the moment I got to him.

I'd come here immediately. I was done with my classes, knowing that he'd be training here by the evening.

Back there, I had sat back in the rows of seats, watching him with every fiber of my attention in me.

And now he was done with practice and I was free to meet him or so I thought.

"I told you not to bother me again. Don't be so rude."

He began walking out on me, and that's when I saw the four guys he trained staring at me while talking to themselves. With the way they gestured while their eyes were fixed on me, I knew they were talking about me.

But I was so engrossed with getting closer to Ace that every word meshed into needless noise.

I ran after him, then went to stand in front of him. The sun shone high against his glistening cheekbone and as he ground his teeth ever so unconsciously, I finally understood why he stood out amongst his teammates. Goddess, was he handsome.

Internally, I slapped myself back to reality.

I had to find out how my sister died. There was no time.

My eyes lifted to the black necklace with a black image of a viper on its pendant and chill coursed through me.

"If you have nothing else to say, then get out of my way."

"No wait."

I stuck out my hands in front of me. It was awkward but my vision was clear.

"Look! Maybe you think the water's poisoned or something, but here."

I removed the cap from the water bottle and then raised it above my head, and with my eyes still fixed on his, I started pouring it, wetting my hair.

Oh, remind me of how curly and psycho my hair looks when I let it shrink without straightening!!!

My mind screamed but I screwed it. And that's when I realized I should do more if I wanted to convince him that it wasn't poisoned, so I parted my lips letting the drops of water glide in as I swallowed and choked.

Instantly, his eyes shifted to my face. And he turned his back on me again.

"Fuck you Ace! Can you just stop being so rude?" I thundered as he began to leave and I strode towards him. Suddenly, he stopped but since I hadn't gotten a heads-up I bumped into his back and the water spilled on his back while I gasped.

He pushed me back, and with the most animalistic growl rolling off his chest, he muttered.

"I'm about to murder you right now.”