Chapter three

My head.

My head.

"Arya, wake up, wake up"

Arya srang up from her bed and took off her sleep mask, her breathing frantic.

"Are you okay" Vitalis asked,

"You were growling" Izzy said

They were both standing by her bed with worried looks.

"My head hurts," Arya cried, clutching her head, Izzy ran out of the room and returned with Beatrix,

"Something is wrong with Arya,"

Beatrix sat beside Arya on her bed and took her into her arms,

"Oh dear, you are burning up, I think you have a fever."

"Arya is sick?" Izzy asked in confusion, "Arya is never sick,".

"Where is your bracelet?" Beatrix asked, noticing her bare hands.

Arya looked at her hands with no memory of what had happened, "I don't know, I don't remember" she answered weakly, still clutching her head.

"That's okay, hold on," she walked out of the room and returned seconds later with a cup, she held it up to Arya's mouth, "drink this".

"Hell no, that smells nasty," Arya said weakly,

"It will help with the fever," Beatrix explained, giving Arya a serious look.

Arya closed her eyes and poured the liquid down her throat, she was right it was nasty.

With a satisfied look Beatrix turned to Vitalis and Izzy, "alright guys let's give her space," turning to Arya she said firmly, "you need to rest, for the herb to work, I don't want you out of that bed."

Normally Arya would have come up with a snide comment but she could already feel herself drifting off.

"Yes, nurse," she still managed to say, and Beatrix smiled.

…

Two hours later Arya slowly opened her eyes, her head no longer hurt and she no longer felt like someone had increased both the volume and the brightness in her brain.

She stepped out of her bed and walked into the bathroom to brush her teeth because her mouth still tasted like the herb Beatrix had given her.

Arya stepped into the sitting room and found Izzy and Vitalis watching a movie, they spotted her and ran to her, "are you okay, are you feeling better," they both asked simultaneously.

Arya being sick was weird for them because the only person that fell sick in the house was Izzy, and even that was rare.

"I'm fine guys, where is Beatrix?" Arya asked, looking around.

"She left in a hurry just after you fell asleep" Vitalis answered,

"I thought she had the night shift?" Arya stated, taking a seat beside them and digging into their popcorn, Vitalis shrugged.

They continued watching the movie until it was time for them to get ready for their prom.

Izzy, more excited than the both of them combined, helped them put together their previously selected outfits and a make-up look to match.

By the time they finished they both looked like they fell out of the Pirate of the Caribbean movie.

It was almost time for them to leave for the prom and Beatrix still wasn't back yet.

"Where did you guys say she went again," Arya asked, turning to the clock hanging on the sitting room wall.

"She didn't say where she was going, she just left in a hurry" Vatalis answered.

"Maybe she got called into the hospital, wouldn't be the first time," Izzy suggested,

"She would have called," Vitalis countered,

"Maybe she forgot," Izzy said,

"When have you ever known Beatrix to forget anything", Arya replied.

They were getting worried because it was time for Vitalis and Arya to leave for their prom and they couldn't leave Izzy home alone, she was meant to go with Beatrix to the hospital, when she left for her night shift at 10pm.

"Maybe we should just stay," Arya suggested, "no way," Izzy exclaimed, "it's fine I can stay with Gillie" until you guys or Beatrix return.

"I thought you said her house smelt like fish," Vitalis asked,

"It does, but I'll manage," Izzy replied.

Gillie was their next door neighbor, she was the literally old woman with too many cats, and honestly she freaked the girls out, but she was nice and she was always okay with them staying over when Beatrix had night shifts.

Vatalis and Arya looked at each other, silently contemplating between themselves.

"Fine," they agreed and Izzy grinned

Few minutes later a car pulled into the driveway, the girls eagerly looked through the window to see if it was Beatrix but it wasn't her it was vitalis' boyfriend Tristen, and following just behind him was Dean Murphy Arya's date.

They walked Izzy to Gillie's doorstep and waited for her to go in before leaving with their individual dates.

The school gym has been decorated and practically transformed into a huge ship. Teenagers walked around dressed in various pirate costumes, in several corners of the room they gathered in their separate cliques discussing and laughing.

Arya, Vitalis and their dates walked into the hall at the same time, the loud music and colourful lights setting the mood for partying.

As soon as they got into the hall, Vitalis told Arya to make sure she had fun and then she and Tristen vanished into the crowd, so much for someone not being left alone, Arya rolled her eyes.

"Do you want something to drink," dean asked with an awkward smile,

"Sure," Arya replied and they walked to where the drinks were arranged.

Arya grabbed the disposable cup that was provided and turned on the tap to one of the numerous coloured liquid to pull into her cup.

"No, that one is spiked," Dean tried to warn her.

"Really, cool" she said and then downed the drink.

Dean let out a nervous laugh.

"Let's dance" Arya said and pulled him onto the dance floor.

Arya danced, moving to the rhythm of the songs playing, Dean, infected by Arya energy, joined in and soon enough they were both having fun.

The music changed to a slower song and Dean offered Arya his hand and she took it, they started moving together to the slow song hugging each other but then Arya felt a piercing sharp pain in her head. She flinched away from Dean's hold.

"Are you okay," Dean asked,

"No," Arya cried clutching her head,

"Wait here, I'll find your sister,"

"Hurry, please," tried to wait there but the pain kept increasing, the music coming from the speakers became louder and everything felt brighter. She couldn't breathe, she needed air and so she started towards the doors.

She stepped outside, the night cool air engulfed her, but she didn't feel better, her whole body hurt now.

She walked towards the parking lot trying to locate Tristen's car, to see if Vitalis was there, but the parking lot was empty.

And then she saw him, silver eyes.

"What is happening to me," she cried as she heard a snapping sound followed by a sharp pain in her spine. She fell to the ground, her leg bent in an odd direction.

"You are shifting, shit," he cursed, a panicked look etched on his face.

"Help me" she cried and followed it with a loud scream. Silver eyes placed her bracelet on her hand in panicked motions, but nothing happened.

"Shit, shit, shit," he cursed again.

"Yeah. shit. help. me."

"You are experiencing your first shift, you need to stop fighting it." He advised.

"How the fuck am I supposed to do that." She screamed again and another loud snapping sound followed.

"Relax, try to relax" she gave him a look of disbelief but tried anyway and she saw a bright flash of light and then darkness.