The chronicles of Phoenix Zach

CHAPTER 18:FRIENDS

“The heat intensified.

Fire stretched across the walls.

Across the ceiling.

Across the floor.

I gripped the sink so hard my knuckles turned white.

This wasn't possible.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

One.

Two.

Three.

Then opened them again.

The flames were still there.

My stomach dropped.

"What the hell?" I whispered.

The fire crackled louder.

Too loud.

Like it was trying to tell me something.

The orange light brightened until I could barely see.

Then—

A voice.

Soft.

Distant.

Almost swallowed by the flames.

Wake up.

I froze.

My heart stopped.

The voice sounded familiar.

Not familiar enough to recognize.

But familiar enough to terrify me.

Wake up.

The flames surged toward me.

A sharp pain suddenly shot through my leg.

"Ow!"

I stumbled backward.

Haru hissed.

His claws were buried in my pajama pants as he swatted at me again.

The sound snapped something inside my head.

I blinked.

The flames vanished.

The heat disappeared.

The bathroom was dark.

Silent.

Cold.

My pills were scattered across the floor.

My breathing came in uneven gasps.

Haru stood between me and the bathroom door.

Every hair on his body stood on end.

I stared at the bathroom wall for another few seconds.

Nothing.

No fire.

No heat.

No voices.

Just tiles.

White, boring tiles.

My pills were scattered across the floor.

Haru sat in the doorway, staring at me like I'd personally offended him.

I slowly crouched down and picked up the bottle.

My hands were shaking.

I hated that.

Because it meant a part of me wasn't sure what I'd just seen.

Maybe Mom was right.

Maybe I'd missed too many doses.

Maybe it was stress.

Maybe I was losing my mind.

Haru meowed.

His eyes were fixed on the empty corner of the room.

As if he could still see something there.

Something I couldn't.

My pulse hammered in my ears.

Slowly, I turned to look.

Nothing.

The corner was empty.

But for some reason...

I couldn't shake the feeling that I hadn't been alone.

Not this time.

"Yeah," I muttered. "Not my best moment."

He blinked.

Judgmental little creature.

I swallowed my medication and headed downstairs.

The second I stepped into the kitchen, something clattered against the counter.

I nearly launched the pill bottle across the room.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

"Jesus Christ."

I grabbed Haru automatically.

The cat looked deeply offended.

"You heard that too, right?"

Haru purred.

Completely useless.

Slowly, I followed the sound toward the kitchen.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

"Jesus Christ."

I grabbed Haru automatically.

The cat looked deeply offended.

"You heard that too, right?"

Haru purred.

Completely useless.

Slowly, I followed the sound toward the kitchen.

Only to find Dean standing by the fridge eating leftover pizza straight from the box.

He looked up.

"Thought I'd let myself in."

I nearly collapsed from relief.

"Phew." I pressed a hand against my chest. "Do you ever knock?"

"This is basically my house too."

"You almost gave me a heart attack."

Dean pointed his pizza slice at me.

"You look pale."

"I always look pale."

"No." His eyes narrowed. "Like... extra pale."

"That's reassuring."

"I'm serious."

"I'm choosing not to be."

Dean stared at me for another second before taking a bite of pizza.

"Okay, and since when do you wear your hair down?"

I instinctively touched it.

"Since today."

"Mhm."

"What does that mean?"

"It means today has been weird."

I rolled my eyes.

"Three teachers died, Dean. Of course today was weird."

"That's not what I mean."

I already knew where this was going.

Unfortunately.

Dean leaned against the counter.

"I saw you talking to Damien after the assembly."

There it was.

I groaned immediately.

"Oh my God."

"What?"

"Nothing happened."

"I didn't say anything happened."

"You were about to."

His mouth twitched.

"Maybe."

I pointed at him.

"Exactly."

Dean laughed softly.

"I'm just asking."

"Well stop."

"Why?"

"Because everyone keeps asking."

His smile faded slightly.

I folded my arms.

"It was for the assignment."

"Mhm."

"It was."

"Mhm."

I grabbed a spoon from the drying rack.

"Keep saying 'mhm' and see what happens."

Dean held up both hands.

"Violence. Nice."

Dean leaned against the counter.

"I saw you talking to Damien after the assembly."

I groaned.

"I'm serious, Zach."

"So am I. Im just sick to my ass with him being the center of everything"

"and you all know something, but hey lets keep Zach in the dark"

"What?"

"That stupid look proves it ."

"What look?"

"The one where you act like you know something I don't."

Dean didn't answer.

Which was an answer enough.

I folded my arms.

"Why does everybody keep acting weird whenever his name comes up?"

"Because it's Damien."

"That doesn't explain anything."

His jaw tightened slightly.

"Just be careful around him."

And there it was.

Again.

I laughed.

"Do you all share a script or something?"

"What?"

"Xavier said that."

Dean looked away.

"Jake said it too."

Still silence.

"And now you're saying it."

"Maybe we're saying it for a reason."

"Then tell me the reason."

Dean sighed.

"It's not that simple."

I threw my hands into the air.

"See? That's exactly what I'm talking about."

"Zach—"

"No. Seriously."

I shook my head.

"You all keep warning me about him but nobody will actually tell me why."

Dean looked frustrated now.

Good.

Because so was I.

"You know what's funny?" I asked quietly.

His expression softened.

"What?"

"The person everyone keeps telling me to stay away from..."

My voice cracked slightly.

"...is the same person who actually helped me after Jeremy."

Dean froze.

this was the only way; guilt...Dean's weakness

The kitchen suddenly went silent.

"He asked if I was okay," I continued.

"He was there for me."

Dean looked down.

"You all keep talking about protecting me."

I laughed bitterly.

"But when Jeremy happened, Damien was the only one who treated me like I mattered."

Dean closed his eyes.

For a moment neither of us spoke.

Then he sighed heavily.

"I just couldn't find the right time, i didn't know how to comfort you either."

I blinked.

That wasn't what I expected him to say,

yes i was mad about it, but i know my cousin, he was waiting for me to come to him

Dean rubbed the back of his neck.

"It's just..."

He stopped.

"Just what?"

His gaze drifted toward the window.

Like he was looking at something years away.

"We say this because we know him,we used to be friends."

I stared at him.

"What?"

"Me. Jake. Blake."

A sad smile appeared.

"And Damien."