THE LAST BLOODLINE

Chapter 4: The End Of It

SKYLAR

I got back and pushed the door open, only to find Nyla on a call — all fine and even cursing. Then I hear my name. She's cursing me?

I make a sound and she turns around. When she saw me, her eyes widened for a split second before she acted normal.

"Mom, I'll call you later."

Mom?? She was talking to Mom?

"Why are you back?" She asks me and I look at her without saying anything.

"What is it?" She asks again.

"I'm unable to pretend like I'm fine when I'm not," I reply and go towards my bed for my phone.

"You are also sick?"

"No. I'm coming for my phone." I take the phone and turn to leave.

"And besides, are you even sick?" I'm not one to confront, but I'm not letting this one go.

"What do you mean?"

"I heard you. You were cursing me. And to Mom? Even if you don't like vegan food, you don't have to be so hateful about it." After saying that, I don't wait for her response. I leave and slam the door shut behind me.

She's been so weird since I turned 18 and now this? I hope she gets over whatever is wrong with her, because I won't tolerate it one bit.

REINA

Skylar is not someone who goes quiet when she's with people she knows, except when she's pissed at someone or something.

After returning with her phone, she tells me that her wi-fi was off and she didn't know that's why the assignment didn't come.

The assignment finally showed up with a short message apologizing for the lateness.

I wanted to tease her about the apology, but she didn't respond and now, she's not really eating her food.

'Could it be Nyla? She's the only one that was at the dorm, or she just met someone who pissed her off?'

I look at her again and she's still being picky with her food, unlike her usual self.

Soon, we are returning when she suddenly hands over the burger and juice she bought to Becky.

"Give it to Nyla," Skylar says.

'So Nyla messed with her and she's mad about it for real!'

I was confused when she ordered the takeout, but I'm not anymore. Turns out, someone is pissed at her big sister.

When we get to the dorm though, Nyla is playing games and laughing. When Skylar makes eye contact with her, she looks away almost immediately and goes into the washroom.

Becky gives Nyla's food to her and she thanks Becky.

Skylar is back but still not talking.

I'm also just going to leave her be because I know how she can be when she's in a bad mood.

She's sitting on her bed with her phone when Nyla speaks up.

"I wasn't talking about you, Skylar."

Skylar looks up but she doesn't reply, so Nyla continues.

"Remember me asking if you met someone new? It was this girl who was talking trash about you. She said she was going to teach you a lesson."

"I was telling Mom about that and she was the one I described with the b-word, not you," Nyla finishes.

"This is what I heard, 'That kid is so secretive and so b-wordy about it. Yeah, I know. Skylar is complicated.'" Skylar says and I have to hold my lips tight before I speak up because that's foul.

How can Nyla say that?

"The girl is the one I was talking about and it's true, you are complicated. You have weird dreams and say you reincarnated. Whenever I ask you a question, you make sure you don't really answer. What are you hiding?!" Nyla is yelling now.

"You are one to ask. If you can fake sickness just to make a phone call and show so much interest in a life that's not yours and think you are not complicated, then I'm not either." Skylar is almost yelling now. She walks out of the room but I don't follow her. She needs the fresh air.

I don't know how I feel about her argument with Nyla, but I sure don't feel bad. Nyla has always given me this weird energy.

I do mindless scrolling while waiting for Skylar to return.

***

It's 11 pm and she's still not back. Becky and Nyla are already asleep.

I text her but hear her phone's notification go off on her bed.

"Where are you, Skylar?"

SKYLAR

The wind blows my hair to my face and I finally get up while tucking my hair behind my ears.

Letting out a loud sigh, I get up from the bench I am sitting on in the school park.

I return to my dorm and they are all asleep. I just stare at Nyla for a while before putting off Becky's bed lamp and covering Reina properly.

I take a shower and lay in my bed.

I pick up my phone and swipe it open, then I see Reina's text which makes me smile lightly.

I put the phone down then go to sleep. It's 12 am already.

****

I'm back in the time loop I call a dream once again. I have no idea where I am going when a sharp wail cuts through the air.

I spin around. No one is there.

I turn back and I slam straight into the figure that terrifies me.

It still terrifies me cause it's still ugly. Still inhumanly ugly.

I scream and land hard on my butt, but the creature keeps coming closer, stretching a ragged, filthy palm towards me as it always does.

I scramble backward.

"Come with me! You belong with us!!" it shrieks

Its voice still sounds like autotune blasted through a megaphone. Horror crawls all over my skin.

I crawl, then push myself up and run. It chases me, shrieking the whole time.

Then it suddenly appears in front of me and I think that I'm going to die for real tonight. But then I notice its eyes, for the first time.

I can't hide the shock when I see its strong resemblance to mine.

"How come I have never seen it?" I question myself, then look at the creature again.

This time, we make eye contact and the birthmark on my neck starts burning like it's been lit on fire.

I yelp while going down slowly.

But I didn't miss it.

The creature bowed.

It bowed to me?!

I inhale sharply when my eyes open.

I wake up and I'm still on my bed!

To Be Continued...