"Imia!" The voice rang out again.

No! This terrifying familiar sound must have been my hallucination.

"What's going on - is she hurt?" Now his voice was closer, and he seemed a little restless. It's not my hallucination. I closed my eyes tightly, wishing I was dead. Or, at least, don't spit it out.

Jack was clearly feeling the pressure: "I think she's a little dizzy. I don't know how, she hasn't even started pricking her fingers yet. ”

"Imia." Now Roger's voice was right behind me, and he seemed relieved. "Can you hear me?"

"I can't hear you." I say. "Go away."

He chuckled.

"I'm going to take her to the infirmary." Jack said in a tone of apologeticism. "But she couldn't walk."

"I'll take her," said Roger, and I could hear him still smiling. "You can go back to the classroom."

"Nope." Jack protested. "This should be my job."

Suddenly, the sidewalk beneath me vanished. I was taken aback and opened my eyes quickly. Roger hugged me across his arms as if I weighed 5 kilograms, not 50 kilograms.

"Put me down!" Please, please don't let me spit on him. Before I could finish speaking, he strode up.

"Hey!" Jack shouted, being left ten paces behind us.

Roger ignored him at all. "You look scary." He grinned and said to me.

"Put me back on the sidewalk." I let out a grief. The shaking of his walk made me uncomfortable. He cautiously lifted me out of the way, no longer clinging to his body, but only supporting my weight with his arms - it seemed effortless to him.

"So, you fainted at the sight of blood?" He asked. He seemed to find it interesting.

I didn't answer. I closed my eyes again, closed my mouth tightly, and used all my strength to suppress the feeling of nausea.

"And that's not your own blood." He continued smugly.

I don't know how he opened the door with me in his arms. But suddenly it warmed up, so I knew we were inside.

"Oh!" I heard a female voice gasping for breath.

"She fainted in biology class." Roger explained.

I opened my eyes. I'm in the office. Roger walked straight through the front desk and strode towards the infirmary's door. Ms. Daley, the red-haired receptionist, ran up to him and opened the door. The grandmother-like nurse looked up from a novel and was shocked. Roger leaned sideways and carried me into the room, gently placing me on the fragile tissue paper that covered the blow-molded mattress that was the only canvas bed in the room. Then he walked through the small room, and walked to the other end of the room, where he stood against the wall, as far away from me as he could. His eyes lit up with excitement.

"She's just a little dizzy." He reassured the scared nurse. "They test their blood type in biology class."

The nurse nodded wisely: "There will always be one or two like this." ”

He let out a sullen laugh.

"Just lie down for a while, my dear, and you'll be fine soon."

"I know." I said with a sigh. The nausea was almost gone.

"Do you do that all the time?" She asked.

"Sometimes." I confessed. Roger coughed to hide another chuckle.

"Now you can go back to class." She told him.

"I think I'd better stay here with her." There was a certain convincing majesty in his voice. The nurse pursed her lips, but she didn't say anything more.

"Honey, I'll go get some ice and put it on your forehead." She said to me, and hurried out of the room.

"You're right." I said, closing my eyes.

"I'm usually right - but is there anything special about this time?"

"Skipping class is good for your health." I practiced breathing more evenly.

"Over there, you freaked me out for a moment." He paused and admitted. His voice sounded like he was admitting some humiliating weakness. "I thought Jack Pascal was dragging your body into the woods and burying it." "Haha." My eyes are still closed, but I can feel myself getting better every minute.

"Honestly—I've seen corpses, but they look better than you. I'm still wondering if I should take revenge on your murderer. ”

"Poor Jack, I bet he's mad."

"He really hated me." Roger said happily.

"You can't know that." I retorted. But then, I suddenly began to wonder if he could.

"I saw his face - I dare say that."

"How did you see me? I thought you skipped class. "I'm pretty much fine now, but I think if I had something to eat for lunch, the nausea might have gone away much faster.

On the other hand, maybe it's a good thing that my stomach is empty.

"I'm sitting in my car, listening to CDs." An answer that's all too normal -- but it surprised me a lot.

I heard the door open. I opened my eyes and saw the nurse holding an ice pack in her hand.

"Come over here, my dear." She put an ice pack on my forehead. "You look much better." She added.

"I think, I'm fine." I said, sitting up. I still have a little tinnitus but I don't feel dizzy anymore. The green walls are as clean as freshly painted on all sides, and stay where they should be.

I could tell she wanted me to lie down, but just then, the door opened. Ms. Daley stuck her head in.

"Another one." She gave a teaser.

I jumped out of bed and freed up the bed for the next wounded.

I handed the ice pack back to the nurse: "Here you go, I don't need this anymore." ”

Then, Jack staggered through the door, and now he was holding a boy with a very bad face. That's Leo Scott, and that's in our biology class. Roger and I retreated to the wall and stood to make room for them.

"Oh no." Roger muttered. "Get out of the office, Imia."

I looked up at him, a little overwhelmed.

"Trust me - let's go."

I immediately turned around, grabbed the door before it shut, and rushed out of the infirmary. I could feel Roger following me closely.

"You're going to listen to me." He was shocked.

"I smell blood." I said, wrinkling my nose. Unlike me, he wasn't uncomfortable at the sight of someone else's blood.

"Humans don't smell blood." He retorted.

"Well, I could- that smell made me uncomfortable. It smells like rust...... And salt. ”

He looked at me with an unfathomable look.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing."

Jack came out of the door and looked at Roger and me one by one. The look he cast at Roger confirmed what Roger had said—full of hatred. He looked back at me again, anger in his eyes.

"You look much better." There was a hint of accusation in his words.

"Just put your hands back in your pockets." I reminded him again.

"There's no more bloodshed." He said in a deep voice. "Are you coming back to class?"

"Are you kidding? Then I'll have to turn around and walk away and come back here. ”

"Well, I guess so...... You'll be coming this weekend, right? Going to the beach? He said, glancing at Roger again. The latter was standing motionless at the chaotic counter, like a statue, looking at the air in the distance.

I tried to make my voice sound as friendly as possible: "Of course, I'll definitely go." ”

"At ten o'clock, we meet in front of my dad's shop." His eyes raced over Roger again, wondering if he was revealing too much information. His body language makes it clear that this is not an open invitation.

"I'll go." I promise.

"See you at the gym, then." As he spoke, he walked uncertainly towards the door.

"See you later." I replied. He looked at me for a few more moments, his round face showing displeasure. Then he slumped his shoulders and walked out the door slowly. An ever-expanding wave of sympathy struck me. I thought about it, thinking that I would have to look at his lost face again...... In the gymnasium.

"Gymnasium." I sighed.

"I can take care of myself." That's when I noticed that Roger was standing next to me. But he whispered close to my ear, "Go over there and sit down, and pretend to be pale and weak." His voice was almost murmuring.

It's not that hard. I've always been very pale, and my face is covered with a thin layer of sweat from the fainting that I have just fainted. I sat on one of the creaky folding chairs, my head against the wall, my eyes closed. Fainting always exhausts me.

I heard Roger standing at the counter whispering softly.

"Ms. Daly?"

"What's wrong?" I didn't hear her return to her desk.

"Imia's next class is PE and I don't think she's back to being able to do PE yet. In fact, I think I should send her home right now. Look, can you allow her to take a leave of absence from the next class? His voice was as sweet as melted honey. I can even imagine how irresistible his eyes were.

"Do you need leave as well, Roger?" Ms. Daly said impatiently. Why can't I do that?

"No, I have Mrs. Jenny, she won't mind."

"Alright, everything is arranged. You're feeling better, Imia. She shouted at me from afar. I nodded weakly, and I only raised my head slightly to make it more exaggerated.

"Can you walk? Or do you want me to take you out again? As soon as he turned his back to the receptionist, he immediately changed to a sarcastic expression.

"I can walk on my own."

I stood up cautiously and felt okay. He held the door for me, smiling politely, but mockery was written in his eyes. I stepped out of the house and into the cool rain and mist. The drizzle had just started to fall, and it was just in time. It felt so good - for the first time I began to appreciate the rain that was constantly falling from the sky - it washed my face and washed away the sticky cold sweat.

"Thank you." He walked out after him, and I said to him. "You don't have to go to physical education class, and it's worth it if you get sick."

"No thanks." He stared straight ahead, squinting into the rain.

"So, will you come? I mean, this Saturday? "I do hope he comes, although it's unlikely. I can't imagine him hitchhiking with other kids at school with his big bags on his back. He is not from the same world as us. I could only count on him to and make me feel the first wave of pain enough to crush my passion for this hike.

"Where's you going, exactly?" He was still staring straight ahead with a blank face.

"Over at Bellingham, First Bay." I examined his face, trying to read his expression. He seemed to squint, albeit with minimal movements.

He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye and smiled sarcastically. "I don't really think I've been invited."

I sighed. "I was just inviting you."

"You and I won't irritate poor Jack this week. We don't want him to jump off the wall. He blinked. He seemed to be unusually fond of the idea.

"Jack - stupid jack." I muttered to myself, captivated by the tone of his voice as he said "you and me." I like this statement very much.

Now we are close to the parking lot. I subconsciously turned left and walked towards my truck. Something grabbed my jacket and pulled me back.

"Where do you think you're going?" He asked in an enraged tone. He was grabbing my jacket.

I was puzzled. "I'm going home."

"Didn't you hear me say that I was going to send you home safely? Do you think I'm going to let you drive back on your own in this physical condition? His voice still looked angry.

"What is this state of affairs? So what about my truck? "I grumbled.

"I'll let Milani drive her away after school." He tugged at my jacket and dragged me towards his car. All I could do was not let myself fall backwards. But even if I fall, I think there's a good chance he'll continue to drag me along.

"Let go of me!" I insisted. He ignored me. I stumbled along the way, sometimes stepping on the edge of the wet sidewalk, sometimes falling under the sidewalk. It wasn't until we got to the Volvo that he let me go. -- I hit the passenger door.

"You're so a**!" I complained.

"The door is open." That's all he had to say. He got into the driver's seat.

"I was totally able to drive home on my own!" I stood next to the car and said angrily. The rain got heavier and I didn't wear a hood all the time, so now my hair is dripping on my back.

He lowered the window and leaned sideways over the passenger seat to me: "Get in, Imia." ”

I didn't answer. I was mentally calculating how good a chance I would be able to get my truck back before he caught me. I have to admit that the odds are not great.

"I'll drag you back again." He guessed my plan and threatened.

I struggled to maintain my dignity as I got into his car. My efforts weren't very successful - I looked like a drowning cat with squeaky boots.

"It's unnecessary." I said it stiffly.

He didn't answer. He's busy fiddling with switches, turning the heating on, and turning down the music. As he pulled out of the parking lot, I was ready to greet him with silence - I straightened my face with the most displeased expression - but soon I recognized the music that was playing, and curiosity overcame my resolve.

"Faust?" I asked in surprise.

"You know Liszt?" He sounded surprised, too.

"I don't know very well." I confessed. "My mom played a lot of symphonies at home. - But I only know a few of my favorites. ”

"It's also one of my favorite tracks." He stared at the rain outside the car, lost in thought.

Sitting in the light gray leather seats, I listened to the music and relaxed again. It is impossible to remain indifferent to such familiar, calming music. The heavy rain blurred the view outside the window, and everything turned into a gray-green stain. I began to realize that we were going fast. But the car was so smooth and smooth that I didn't even notice the speed.

Only the town that flashed by outside the window leaked the heavens.

"What kind of person is your mother?" He asked me suddenly.

I glanced at him and saw that he was studying me with curious eyes.

"She looks like me, but she's prettier." I said. He raised an eyebrow. "I've inherited too many Chuck traits. She was more blunt and courageous than I was. She is very unreliable and has a somewhat eccentric temperament. Her cooking skills are always full of unknowns. She's my best friend. "I stopped. It's always a little frustrating for me to talk about her.

"You're old this year, Imia?" For some reason I can't imagine, his voice sounded filled with frustration. He had pulled over the car and I realized we had arrived at Chuck's house. The rain was so heavy that I could barely see the outline of the house. It's as if the car has been flooded by a river.

"I'm seventeen." I replied, somewhat confused.

"You don't look like a seventeen-year-old."

There was a reproachful tone in his tone, which made me laugh.

"What's wrong?" He asked, curious again.

"My mom always said I was thirty-five years old, and I was getting older every year." I said with a smile, then sighed. "Well, some people have to become adults." I paused for a second. "You don't look like a junior high school student in middle school." I noted.

He grimaced and changed the subject.

"Why, then, did your mother marry Aiken?"

I was amazed: he remembered the name. I've only mentioned it once, and that was two months ago. I thought for a moment before I answered.

"My mother...... She is much younger than her actual age. I think Aiken made her feel younger. At least, she was madly obsessed with him. I shook my head. This attraction is a mystery to me.

"Do you approve of it?" He asked.

"Is there a difference?" I retorted. "I just want her to be happy...... And he was exactly the one she wanted. ”

"It's very elegant...... I think so. He said thoughtfully.

"What?"

"Do you think she'll embrace you with the same kindness? No matter what kind of person you choose? He suddenly became enthusiastic, and his eyes met mine.

"I-I think so." I stammered. "But she's a parent after all. It's a little different. ”

"Then no one can be considered scary." He scoffed.

I grinned toothily and retorted, "What do you mean by scary?" Piercings all over the face and a whole bunch of tattoos? ”

"That's one of those definitions, I guess."

"What's your definition?"

But he ignored my question and asked me another question. "Do you think I'm going to be scary?" He raised a frown, a faint smile lit up his face.

I thought about it for a while, not knowing which would be more popular, the truth or the lie. I finally decided to tell the truth. "Uh...... I think you will, if you want. ”

"Are you afraid of me now?" The smile suddenly disappeared, and his angelic face became grim.

"Don't be afraid." But I answered a little too quickly. The smile returned to his face.

"So, are you going to tell me about your family now?" To distract him, I asked. "That must be more interesting than my story."

He immediately became vigilant: "What do you want to know?" ”

"You're an adopted child of the Wright family?" I asked him for confirmation.

"Yes."

I hesitated for a moment: "What happened to your parents?" ”

"They died many years ago." He said in a flat, straightforward tone.

"I'm sorry." I muttered.

"I don't remember them very well. Peter and Annis have been my parents for a long time. ”

"And, you love them." This is not an interrogative sentence. You can tell from the tone in which he talks about them.

"Yes." He smiled. "I can't think of anyone better than the two of them."

"You're very lucky."

"I know I'm lucky."

"What about your siblings?"

He glanced at the clock on the dashboard.

"As you can see, my brother and sister, as well as Ekas and Alice, will be very upset if they have to wait for me in the rain."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I think you've got to go. "But I don't want to leave the car.

"And you might want to get your truck back before Sheriff Ryan gets home, so you don't have to tell him about the hiccups in biology class." He grinned at me.

"I'm sure he already knows. There are no secrets in Victoria. I sighed.

He burst out laughing, but the laughter soon stopped abruptly.

"Have a nice stay at the beach...... It's really good weather for sunbathing. He glanced out the window at the rain curtain.

"Can't I see you tomorrow?"

"No, you can't. Dyson Card and I will leave early this weekend. ”

"What are you going to do?" A friend can ask that, right? I hope the loss in my voice doesn't come too clearly.

"We're going to hike the Goat Rock Heath, just south of Rainier National Park."

I remember Chuck mentioning that the Wright family often went camping.

"Oh, well, have a good time." I tried to make my voice feel more earnest. But I don't think I can fool him. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Would you like to do me a favor this weekend?" He turned and looked me straight at me, making the most of the magic of his burning golden eyes.

I nodded helplessly.

"Don't be angry, but you seem to be the kind of person who attracts accidents like a magnet. So...... Try not to fall into the sea or trip over anything, okay? He smiled wickedly.

As soon as he spoke, my helplessness vanished. I glared at him.

"I'll keep an eye out and see if I can help." I yelled, and jumped into the rain. I slammed the door behind me with a particularly hard bang.

Still laughing, he drove the car away.