Chapter 6 jason

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Chapter 6: Jason’s POV

The first day at a new school is supposed to be exciting, right? A fresh start, new faces, new opportunities. That’s what I told myself when I walked through the gates this morning. But standing here now, completely lost in a maze of identical hallways, I was starting to think I’d been overly optimistic.

The campus was sprawling, far bigger than my old school, and the so-called map I’d been given might as well have been written in hieroglyphics. The more I tried to follow it, the more turned around I became.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “Fantastic, Jason,” I muttered under my breath. “First day, and you’re already the clueless new guy.”

I was supposed to check in at the principal’s office first thing, but at this rate, I’d be lucky to find it before lunch. The hallways were eerily empty, the occasional muffled voices from classrooms reminding me just how late I already was.

Then I saw her.

At first, I thought she was just another student, maybe heading to class like everyone else. But something about her caught my attention. She was walking slowly, almost stumbling, her movements unsteady. Her oversized shirt and baggy jeans looked like they belonged to someone twice her size, and her messy hair fell over her face, obscuring her features.

There was something strangely captivating about her, though I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe it was the way she seemed so out of place, like she didn’t care about blending in. Or maybe it was the vulnerability in her posture, the way her shoulders slumped as if she was carrying the weight of the world.

But then I noticed the pallor of her skin, the way her steps faltered with every move. She didn’t look well—far from it.

“Hey!” I called out, quickening my pace to catch up to her.

She didn’t respond.

Before I could reach her, she stumbled and collapsed. My heart leaped into my throat as I lunged forward, catching her just in time.

“Whoa, hey! Are you okay?” I asked, my voice tight with concern.

Her head lolled against my arm, and I could feel the heat radiating off her skin. She was burning up, her forehead slick with sweat. Her lips moved, but whatever she was trying to say came out as a barely audible mumble.

Panic surged through me. I didn’t know her, but I couldn’t just leave her like this.

“Hey, stay with me,” I said, shaking her gently.

Her eyes fluttered open for a brief moment before closing again. She was completely out of it.

I glanced around the empty hallway, my mind racing. Where was the infirmary? Why hadn’t I bothered to memorize the layout of this place?

“Okay, Jason, think,” I muttered to myself. “You can figure this out.”

Adjusting my grip on her, I hoisted her into my arms. She was surprisingly light, but carrying someone who was barely conscious wasn’t exactly easy.

I started walking, my eyes scanning the walls for any sign of where I needed to go. The hallways seemed to stretch on forever, each one looking more identical than the last.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I spotted a small sign pointing toward the infirmary. Relief flooded through me as I quickened my pace.

When I reached the infirmary, I kicked the door open with my foot, startling the school nurse.

“She’s burning up,” I said, my voice urgent as I laid her down on one of the beds.

The nurse immediately sprang into action, checking her temperature and assessing her condition. I stepped back, my heart still racing as I watched.

“You brought her just in time,” the nurse said after a moment. “She’s running a high fever. She needs rest and fluids.”

“Is she going to be okay?” I asked, unable to hide the worry in my voice.

“She’ll be fine,” the nurse reassured me. “But she shouldn’t have been walking around like this.”

I leaned against the wall, finally allowing myself to exhale. She was in good hands now.

As the nurse worked, I found my gaze drifting back to the girl. There was something oddly familiar about her, though I couldn’t quite place it. Her features, now that I could see them clearly, stirred a vague memory in the back of my mind.

Her eyes fluttered open briefly, and when her gaze landed on me, a flicker of recognition crossed her face.

“You,” she murmured, her voice barely audible.

“Yeah, me,” I replied, a small smirk tugging at my lips. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

Her brows furrowed slightly, as if trying to piece something together. “Do I... know you?”

“Not really,” I said, leaning casually against the wall. “But you sure know how to make an impression. Fainting in the hallway? That’s one way to meet people.”

She frowned, her pale cheeks tinged with faint annoyance. “You could’ve just left me there,” she muttered.

“And miss all the fun? Not a chance.”

Her glare would’ve been more intimidating if she wasn’t so weak.

“You’re annoying,” she mumbled, closing her eyes again.

“Thanks,” I said with a grin. “I try.”

The nurse shot me a pointed look. “Maybe let her rest,” she suggested, her tone firm.

“Right,” I said, raising my hands in mock surrender. “I’ll stop bothering her.”

I stepped back, but I didn’t leave. Something about her intrigued me, something I couldn’t quite put into words.

As I leaned against the wall, watching her breathe steadily, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the first time our paths had crossed.

And I couldn’t help but wonder: who was she, and why did she feel so familiar?

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