Jacqueline to trust Nadia. Nadia can visit me any time if Jacqueline does.
“I guess you’re right.”
Jacqueline strolls over, but Nadia is so deep in her thoughts, she doesn’t even glance at her. Jacqueline bends down and grabs Nadia’s hand. “Here, let me help you,” she says in her most sickly sweet voice.
Nadia jerks her hand away, eyes wide, and before Jacqueline can even take a step back, Nadia screams.
NADIA
The grass rustles next to me and before I can turn my head to see what’s causing the noise, a warm hand grabs me. A rush of energy pulses through me and the taste of tangy orange floods my mouth as I stare into Jacqueline’s eyes.
My heart hammers and my stomach flips. I wasn’t expecting Jacqueline to be outside and she startled me. I can’t get her dream off my mind. The mysterious boy who could see me for who I am. It’s all I thought about through dinner. I shouldn’t have gone into her dreams, but I couldn’t help it. I’m still recuperating from my hunger strike and Alyssa is off limits. I can’t put that strain on our friendship.
I scream and jerk away, crab walking back as far as I can. I breathe heavily. I resist the urge to lash out at her, call her crazy, and run away. I don’t want her to know what I am. I’m not ready yet.
“You scared me!” My voice is shrill and she winces, crossing her arms.
“I’m so sorry. I heard you fall. I was only trying to help,” she says.
My cheeks warm and it takes everything in me not to scowl. “It’s—it’s okay. I didn’t think anyone was out here. People don’t usually venture out this late.”
She steps closer and holds her hand out to me. I try not to flinch as I take her offered hand and let her pull me to my feet. I already sense that she’s still tired and will probably be asleep within the hour. I can almost taste her dreams. I will taste her dreams.
“I needed to clear my head,” she says. Her eyes shift from lavender to hazel and back again.
“Me too.” My heartbeat stabilizes and I force my mouth to smile. I turn and look at the front door to the dorm. “You don’t get a lot of privacy around here.”
Jacqueline plays with a curl that has fallen from her bun and tucks it behind her ear. She shifts her weight from foot to foot and stares past me. Her eyes change again and she subtly shakes her head. If I wasn’t staring at her so intensely, I wouldn’t have noticed it.
After a moment, she blinks rapidly and shrugs. “I’m okay with that. I’m tired of being alone.”
“I don’t think I could ever get tired of that. When I’m eighteen, I’m getting out of here.” I don’t know why I tell her, but I do, and it’s too late to take it back. I’ve never told anyone my plan, not even Alyssa.
The corner of Jacqueline’s lip curls and she looks away. After another long pause, she says, “You’re better off staying here where you’re safe.”
I raise my eyebrows. “I’m not better off staying somewhere I hate.”
Her eyes shift colors and I think of Hunter. It’s all it takes to keep me from running back into the dorms. Guilt floods through my mind. I should resist my craving to give Jacqueline nightmares. If I back away now, I have a fighting chance at controlling myself.
“Let me walk you back to your room,” I add, instead. You’re doing this to investigate. You just want to figure everything out. It’s not a big deal.
But it is a big deal.
I’m letting my nightmare inflictor side control me. It won’t be long until it takes my humanity too.
HUNTER
Jacqueline is in such a deep sleep and snores so loudly that I almost miss the sound of the door clicking close. The air shifts and I recognize Nadia’s presence. I’m surprised she came back so soon to see me. I’m not complaining though. I’ve been anxious to see her again in the dream world.
“I don’t have long.” Her voice wraps around me and tugs me into Jacqueline’s dream.
Nadia is leaning
“I guess you’re right.”
Jacqueline strolls over, but Nadia is so deep in her thoughts, she doesn’t even glance at her. Jacqueline bends down and grabs Nadia’s hand. “Here, let me help you,” she says in her most sickly sweet voice.
Nadia jerks her hand away, eyes wide, and before Jacqueline can even take a step back, Nadia screams.
NADIA
The grass rustles next to me and before I can turn my head to see what’s causing the noise, a warm hand grabs me. A rush of energy pulses through me and the taste of tangy orange floods my mouth as I stare into Jacqueline’s eyes.
My heart hammers and my stomach flips. I wasn’t expecting Jacqueline to be outside and she startled me. I can’t get her dream off my mind. The mysterious boy who could see me for who I am. It’s all I thought about through dinner. I shouldn’t have gone into her dreams, but I couldn’t help it. I’m still recuperating from my hunger strike and Alyssa is off limits. I can’t put that strain on our friendship.
I scream and jerk away, crab walking back as far as I can. I breathe heavily. I resist the urge to lash out at her, call her crazy, and run away. I don’t want her to know what I am. I’m not ready yet.
“You scared me!” My voice is shrill and she winces, crossing her arms.
“I’m so sorry. I heard you fall. I was only trying to help,” she says.
My cheeks warm and it takes everything in me not to scowl. “It’s—it’s okay. I didn’t think anyone was out here. People don’t usually venture out this late.”
She steps closer and holds her hand out to me. I try not to flinch as I take her offered hand and let her pull me to my feet. I already sense that she’s still tired and will probably be asleep within the hour. I can almost taste her dreams. I will taste her dreams.
“I needed to clear my head,” she says. Her eyes shift from lavender to hazel and back again.
“Me too.” My heartbeat stabilizes and I force my mouth to smile. I turn and look at the front door to the dorm. “You don’t get a lot of privacy around here.”
Jacqueline plays with a curl that has fallen from her bun and tucks it behind her ear. She shifts her weight from foot to foot and stares past me. Her eyes change again and she subtly shakes her head. If I wasn’t staring at her so intensely, I wouldn’t have noticed it.
After a moment, she blinks rapidly and shrugs. “I’m okay with that. I’m tired of being alone.”
“I don’t think I could ever get tired of that. When I’m eighteen, I’m getting out of here.” I don’t know why I tell her, but I do, and it’s too late to take it back. I’ve never told anyone my plan, not even Alyssa.
The corner of Jacqueline’s lip curls and she looks away. After another long pause, she says, “You’re better off staying here where you’re safe.”
I raise my eyebrows. “I’m not better off staying somewhere I hate.”
Her eyes shift colors and I think of Hunter. It’s all it takes to keep me from running back into the dorms. Guilt floods through my mind. I should resist my craving to give Jacqueline nightmares. If I back away now, I have a fighting chance at controlling myself.
“Let me walk you back to your room,” I add, instead. You’re doing this to investigate. You just want to figure everything out. It’s not a big deal.
But it is a big deal.
I’m letting my nightmare inflictor side control me. It won’t be long until it takes my humanity too.
HUNTER
Jacqueline is in such a deep sleep and snores so loudly that I almost miss the sound of the door clicking close. The air shifts and I recognize Nadia’s presence. I’m surprised she came back so soon to see me. I’m not complaining though. I’ve been anxious to see her again in the dream world.
“I don’t have long.” Her voice wraps around me and tugs me into Jacqueline’s dream.
Nadia is leaning
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