AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I frown. “You mean you were hearing people’s thoughts?”
“Yes.”
“How long has this been going on?”And why didn’t Reef tell me?
“Umm, it’s something I’ve always experienced, and been treated for. After I went to hospital on the mainland, they upped my meds and the voices more or less stopped. There were a few exceptions, like when I was late taking a dose or something.”
“And they came back today because it was your first time mixing with people outside of this house since coming off all of your medications,” I finish for her.
She nods, looking relieved that I believe her.
“The hospital call them auditory hallucinations.”
“They’re wrong. You’re not hallucinating, you’re not sick, and you’re sure as hellnotcrazy,” I tell her firmly.
“There was something else though. Something sort of new.”
“Go on.”
“Umm, I was seeing things.”
“Things like what?”
“It started the other day at the beach, when I was swimming. I thought I saw a mermaid tail.” She laughs but none of us join her.
The tension ratchets up.
“Then today, I thought I saw all sorts of weird things on campus.”
“Like…?”
“Umm a girl with wings, someone with a fox’s tail, a guy with fangs and someone scratching and talking aboutshiftingunder the full moon.”
I take a deep breath knowing that there’s only one way to explain all of this to her; the truth.
“What we’re going to tell you is probably going to sound even more crazy than what you told us. But I want you to remember something…” I pause and she nods keenly, probably eager to finally have answers. “Remember that youknowthat what you’re hearing is real, yes? Youknowthat you absolutely arenotcrazy, right?”
“Y-yes.”
“There’s a reason why the things you’re hearing are real, and it’s the same reason why the things you’re seeing are also real. Because magic, and the supernatural,arereal.”
There’s silence as she stares at me in disbelief and everyone around the table holds their breath, waiting to see how she’ll react. She laughs awkwardly. We don’t join her. Her laughter dies and her face falls.
“Is this some kind of cruel joke?” Her eyes flash with hurt as she looks between Cove and Reef.
“I’d expect this from those two, but you two?” She shakes her head.
“Malia, it’s not a joke,” Cove tells her softly. “What do you remember about our date?”
“I thought we were attacked and we had to jump into the water.”
“Yes.”
“You said it didn’t happen.”
“I’m sorry, I was trying to protect you.”
“Why can’t I remember what really happened?”
