13 Ways to Midnight (The Midnight Saga) Read online

  Mattie wiped her cheek with the side of her hand and successfully concealed the tears without sounding like she was crying. She did have to clear her throat before she spoke.

  “No, I’m like her car and my dad. She just owns me and wants me when she wants me. I’m a thing to her and nothing more.”

  Bri stepped up and moved her hair off of her shoulder. Mattie paused and looked into her eyes. For a moment I felt like I was sharing a private moment between the two of them but Bri lowered her hand when the bell rang, and we all made our way to first period as quickly as we could. Both Bri and Maddie took one of my arms and helped me along until we reached the door and I sighed. The word Biology stared back at me. It wasn’t until then that I remembered that I wanted to have a talk with Mr. Jenny. I guess it would have to wait until lunch.

  I scanned the hallway and watched as all the kids disappeared into the rooms and Bri opened the door so I could enter. I made my way over to my seat as Bri and Mattie took seats next to each other. I stared at the open book and the second bell rang just as the door opened and Thorn walked in, as majestic as ever. His eyes immediately found me, and he made his way over, taking a seat right next to me at the high desk. I tucked my hair behind my ear as he stared at me from the side. Finally, he leaned in and parted his lips but was interrupted when Miss. Hull began to speak.

  “Page sixty-nine. Today we dissect the frog.” Everyone moaned, but Thorn leaned in closer to me.

  “How do you feel?”

  I licked my lip and looked over at him. His face sat only a few inches from mine. My gaze lowered to his lips. “Better now,” I said quietly, but with honest intention.

  He pressed his lips together. I noticed his eyes. They now looked almost black again. The changes left me confused. One day blue, the next black, then back again. They were as mysterious as he was.

  An ever changing tide.

  He grinned as the thought entered my mind. “I met your father today,” I said without hesitation.

  He leaned back, and I could see the muscles in his jaw flex rock hard and then relax. He stared down at his hands that now sat on the desk in front of him. His fingers were intertwined very tightly.

  “Where?” he asked.

  “He showed up at my house in a black limo. I thought…” I paused, and he looked at me. “Thought what?” I took a slow breath and released it. “I thought it was you, so I got in without looking.”

  He laughed and leaned forward. “You got into a car without knowing who it was?”

  I shook my head, and my hair fell over my shoulder. “I know, it was stupid.”

  “And dangerous. Please don’t do that again.”

  I parted my lips and Miss. Hull stepped up and spoke. “Miss. Navarri, page sixty-nine. We’ll have you read the first paragraph.” I sighed and straightened up on my stool. My cheeks reddened, and Thorn glared at me. I tried to ignore him as I spoke but I couldn’t. I couldn’t even absorb the words, all I could do was read them out loud. Finally, the paragraph ended, and I had heard nothing but a ringing in my ears. Miss. Hull tapped my open book and grinned at me. “Good, so you see. Exploring the internal workings of a living breathing creature was an important step in the continuation of science. These small sacrifices, like those of frogs, led to a greater appreciation of the miracle that life is. Every sacrifice has a purpose, Miss. Navarri.”

  Her words lingered. They sank heavily into my heart.

  I nodded to her, and she walked away. A fellow student returned with a dead frog lying on its back in a tray. He sat it down in front of me, and I covered my nose with the side of my hand. The smell of the formaldehyde immediately made me feel sick, and I stood up, almost knocking my chair out from behind me. The sight of this dead cold thing in front of me sent me into a panic. My reaction totally took me by surprise. Thorn stood up and held my arm. Miss. Hull spoke up.

  “Oh, hon. Are you okay?”

  I half nodded and then had to cover my mouth again. “I think I may be sick,” I muttered. Miss. Hull looked at Thorn. “Could you show her to the nurse’s office, please, Mr. Vega?”

  Thorn nodded and led me out of the room. Once we stepped out, and into the hallway, I pushed away from him and placed my forehead on the wall outside the door. I closed my eyes as my heartbeat started to slow down one heavy thump at a time. Finally, the dizziness passed, along with the sour churning in my stomach. He waited, patiently, not saying a word until I turned to look at him.

  “That was crazy,” I whispered. He leaned his shoulder against the wall and stared down at me.

  “Do you want to go see the nurse?” he asked, and I looked up at him. I had broken out in a cold sweat that left me chilled.

  “Maybe I should. I don’t think I can go back in there and do that.”

  “Do what, Echo?”

  I swallowed and then had to clear my throat. “Deal with that thing.”

  He leaned up. “The dead frog?” he asked, and I took a breath and nodded to him.

  “Yes. It’s just, I hate it. I hate the thought of death. Everything about it. It isn’t beautiful or enchanting. It’s cold and empty.”

  “So you hate it.” It wasn’t even a question as much as a statement.

  I nodded to him and then looked down, allowing my hair to fall forward and mask my pale face. “More than anything. It steals things, takes away people that you love and leaves nothing but darkness behind.”

  He turned and shoved his hands deep into his pockets. The look on his face was solemn.

  “What did he say to you?” His tone had changed to something less emotional.

  I took a short breath and had to search my mind. “Your Father? He just....” I paused. I had promised not to tell. “He just wanted to introduce himself to me.”

  He pulled his hands out of his pockets, and his eyes darkened. “He what?”

  I cleared my throat. His reaction confused me.

  “He wanted to meet me, I guess.”

  Thorn looked down. “He shouldn’t be messing with you.”

  I leaned down, attempting to see his expression. “He wanted to know who you were, well, you know.”

  “What?” he asked.

  I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know, dating?”

  “Who said we were dating?”

  I pushed away from the wall and started to walk, feeling hurt, but refusing to let him see it. I felt his hand on my arm, and he turned me to face him. I looked away as my eyes filled with tears. I wasn’t sure why I was so emotional, maybe it was the injury or the shock of being questioned by Eyota Vega…or maybe it was just the way I felt rejected by Thorn for the first time since he had expressed that he cared about me as much as I cared about him.

  I spoke up like some jealous school girl. “Is it someone else?” I asked. Foolish of me, I know, but my mind raced straight to it without passing go or collecting two hundred dollars. I wanted to eat those words as soon as they floated in the air between us.

  “No, why would…” he trailed off and reached up, cupping my face in his hand. “I want you, only you, Echo Navarri.”

  My breath hitched. The words alone made my knees weak.

  I shook my head. “Then why would you say that?”

  “Say what, baby?”

  “That we aren’t dating.”

  “Have we been on a date?”

  I swallowed hard. “I guess we haven’t.”

  He stepped up and placed his arms around me, cradling me against his chest.

  “I’m sorry about your mother, Thorn.”

  His brooding eyes lifted and locked onto mine. “What?”

  “Misha, your mother. Your dad told me that she…well, I just want you to know that I understand what it’s like so if you ever want to talk about it, I’m here.”

  He took a couple of steps back and nodded to me. “Are you feelin
g better now?” he asked, and I tilted my head. “Yeah, I feel fine now.”

  “Good, listen, I have to go.”

  I held my hand up and waved it toward class. “What should I tell Miss. Hull?”

  He pulled a cell phone from his pocket, and I could hear the humming. He shook it in his hand.

  “That we both have the flu.”

  “Thorn,” I said as he turned and placed the phone to his ear. I couldn’t hear him, but he walked away with a purpose and zero intention of continuing our conversation.

  My attempt at getting closer to him had been a complete failure. Every time I felt like I may see a way in he pushed me right back out again. I didn’t know how long I could stand it.

  I let out a sigh and considered going back to class, but then the thought of Mr. Jenny popped into my mind and how upset my aunt was. Between my accident and his rejection she was about as far from her happy go lucky self as she could be. Maybe I could help. If not, at least I wouldn’t regret it by not trying.

  I turned and walked down the hallway, making my way toward his office and carefully going over what I wanted to say to him in my mind.

  24

  I stood in front of Mr. Jenny’s door, and I thought I could hear voices behind it. I leaned in and placed my ear close to the frosted glass and everything fell silent, then the door opened up, and I gasped at the sight of a woman with long black hair, tightly curled over her bare shoulders. She wore a tight fitting black dress that fit snuggly on her arms, along her waist and accentuated her rounded hips. Her lips were painted in a bright red, and her eyes were chocolate brown, nearly black in color. Her face was soft. It looked airbrushed, not one wrinkle was showing. Her almond shaped eyes inspected me as her stoic expression held fast. Her skin tone matched Thorn’s, as well as her jawline. She removed the phone from her ear and placed it in her small black clutch.

  She extended a hand. “Persephone Vega.” She spoke with confidence. I took her gloved hand and felt the chilled leather. She eyed my lips, then my neck. I felt like I was being stripped bare until a voice rose up behind her. I leaned to the side and could see Mr. Jenny sitting there at his desk. He looked pale and tired. I could see dark circles under his eyes even in the dull light from his desk lamp. As usual, Port Royal provided no real illumination.

  “Mr. Jenny!” I said with more enthusiasm than I meant to express. I immediately looked back at Persephone. “Echo…” I started to say, and she interrupted me. “Navarri. I know.” She said calmly.

  I narrowed my eyes, and she let my hand go and sauntered away from me without saying another word. I watched her hips sway back and forth down the hallway. She called back to me without looking. “See you soon, Miss. Navarri.” Her high black heels clicked along until she reached the corner and was out of sight, but not before she looked back one last time and shot a coy grin at me. I tucked my hair behind my ear and stepped into his office, closing the door behind me.

  James held his hand out and waved it at the chair in front of his desk. I made my way over to it and sat down, keeping my eyes on him. He looked terrible. He started to cough and then grabbed a handkerchief, covering his mouth and closing his eyes. I could hear the rattle in his chest, and it concerned me. I had spent enough time traveling with my parents to see a few people who had fallen ill with pneumonia, or other illnesses just as dangerous.

  I leaned forward in the chair. “Have you been to a doctor?”

  His coughing slowed, and he lowered the handkerchief, and I swear I could see a tiny trace of blood on it. My eyes widened. “You need medication, Mr. Jenny.”

  He picked up a clear bottle with a white label on it and shook it. I could hear the pills slam against the plastic and then settle down as he placed it back into his pocket. He took a slow breath and leaned forward, trying to collect himself.

  “No offense, but you look like you’ve been hit by a train.”

  He laughed, and a small cough started up then he suppressed it. “Echo, I’m less concerned about this cold that I have than what happened to you in the pine.”

  A flash of memory ripped through my mind as red eyes glared at me out of the darkness.

  “Echo?”

  I looked up at him, and I’m sure my expression was one of confusion and a bit of terror.

  “You should really go back to the doctor and get something stronger. Pneumonia kills older people.” He laughed, and I felt terrible for saying it that way.

  “I didn’t mean…”

  He waved a hand. “No, Echo, compared to you I am old…or older. It’s okay.”

  I sighed. “My aunt is really worried about you.”

  He paused and leaned back in his chair causing it to creak. I wanted to tell him to go see her, but it wasn’t my place. I had no idea what had happened between them and maybe they had fought about something, and my aunt just wasn’t telling me.

  “Echo.” He paused and placed his open hands on the desk, pushing upward and swaying on his feet. He was noticeably sicker by the moment.

  “I…” He dropped to the floor and disappeared behind his desk. I yelped and rushed around the back of his desk to find him muttering to himself. I leaned down and tried to understand him, but it was gibberish.

  I grabbed the side of the desk and pulled myself up, fighting through the sharp pain in my calf. I gained my footing and stared down at him. “Hold on Mr. Jenny. I’ll go get someone.”

  I rushed out and ran down the hallway the best I could, hobbling but fighting through the pain. Finally, I reached the office, and I slid in, completely out of breath. The woman behind the counter looked up at me, and I spoke as calmly as I could. I pointed behind me. “Mr. Jenny is passed out in his office. He may be dying!”

  She stood up very quickly and ran out while another woman stepped up to the phone and made the only call that was needed.

  “Yes, we need an ambulance at Port Royal High School, please hurry.”

  I backed up as she ran past me and I found myself taking a seat in one of the hard plastic chairs. Everything seemed to slow down all around me.

  “He can’t die. He just can’t.” I whispered.

  25

  I sat in the waiting room staring down at my boots. My lace had come undone on my right foot, and I didn’t even care. My aunt knelt down and tied it up, not unlike she had when I was five. Her fingers moved slowly, methodically, as she made sure to double knot it at the top right behind the perfect bow. She rose up and took a seat next to me; her expression was calm, but I could sense the turmoil churning beneath the surface of her skin. Of course, she was upset.

  My voice cracked. “I’m so sorry,” I spoke in a hushed whisper. She gave me a small nod to affirm that she had heard me but said nothing, which was unlike her. My heart sank but then sped back up when the doctor came walking down the hallway with a clipboard in his hand. My aunt stood up and wrung her hands, so I stood up next to her, placing my hand on hers and taking it. I wanted to offer something, even if my words didn’t help, maybe my support could.

  She glanced at me and then back to the handsome doctor who had come to share, what I hoped to be, good news. He held his hand out to my aunt and waved it behind us. “Could we talk, privately?” he asked, and I let her hand go. “I’m okay, go. I’ll just wait here.” I said as she looked at me glossy eyed.

  She glanced back at the doctor. “Is it okay if my daughter comes with us?”

  I parted my lips, the fact that she said daughter and not niece affected me much more than it probably should have. She squeezed my hand, and I didn’t correct her.

  He spoke with compassion. “Sure, this way.”

  We sat in front of his desk, and he tapped his hand on the folder. He opened it up and spoke as calmly as he could.

  “Mr. Jenny is unconscious. He seems to have fallen into a coma, and we are making him as comfortable as we can. The fever was dangerously
high when he arrived, but we are doing everything we can to lower his body temperature.”

  My aunt covered her mouth and started to cry. I leaned forward. “What’s wrong with him?”

  The doctor’s attention reluctantly left my aunt, and he looked at me. His eyes were green, brighter than my own, almost otherworldly. “A virus, blood born. It seems to be attacking his immune system, and it has swollen the lining of his brain, thus inducing his body’s defense mechanism. So he’s gone into a vegetative state while everything fights to correct itself.”

  “Oh my God.” My aunt choked out through tears. I squeezed her hand and tried to keep the situation as clinical as possible. If I lost it, then it would do her no good.

  “Blood born?” I asked.

  The doctor nodded to me. “Yes, it seems that Mr. Jenny was bitten by something. An animal.”

  “What kind of animal could give him a blood born virus?” I asked.

  “Unfortunately we have many insects here in Port Royal that could easily cause these symptoms, from mosquitoes to spiders.”

  “It’s too cold,” I muttered.

  He looked me over, and half grinned. “You aren’t familiar with our region; I assure you we have many that survive throughout this season and some into winter.”

  “I’m sorry, I’ve just never heard of it before. I spent most of my life in the jungles or deserts with my parents. Insects are indigenous to warmth and moisture.”

  “Ah yes, the famous Navarri’s.” He almost sounded spiteful.

  I didn’t correct him. It really wasn’t about me at all. I looked at my aunt and spoke to her. “I’ll call my dad. He knows about all of this stuff from seeing it happen on our digs in other countries, maybe he’ll know something they don’t.”

  The doctor stood up and stared at me. “If you don’t trust that we know what we’re doing then I would be happy to call in a specialist from Crow’s Landing.”

  My aunt shook her head. “No, he’s right, Echo. We do have a lot of poisonous spiders, and if he says he was bitten, he was bitten. Others in town have fallen ill before but just never this bad.”