Hollow Mate: The Roma Academy

Chapter 2

-Tinsley POV-

“How is that possible?” Marco asks.

“I was hoping that you could find out... or that crazy doctor friend of yours could.” Ezekiel says.

“Daniel?” Marco asks.

Ezekiel nods. “Yes... but keep him away from me. He gives me the creeps. Gives me mad scientist vibes.”

“He’s not a mad scientist, he is just... weird.” Marco says.

I can feel them turn to me and stare. I act like this food is my religion and it is all I care about.

This time, Ezekiel lowers his voice more. “From what I saw, she is taking some strong medication. Maybe that could be a factor.”

Marco, pinches his bottom lip, deep in thought, and then looks at me. “Tinsley, would you allow our doctor to take a look at you?”

I stop eating and stare at him. My face is as serious as it can be.

“It is free of charge.” He adds.

“What for? I’ve already seen a doctor.” The only emotion I let show on my face is distrust.

“What kind of doctor?” He asks.

I am hesitant to answer. “A doctor. What does it matter.”

“A psychiatrist?” Ezekiel asks.

I look away and nod.

I guess he figured that from seeing my medication.

“I want a different doctor to see you instead. A physician. Just to make sure that you aren’t hurt.” Marco says.

“I am not hurt.” I quickly say.

Ezekiel crosses his arms. “If I am correct, you are not healthy either. You are pale and your under-eyes are darker than they should be.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Well, that’s rude.”

He smiles. “Let's just make sure that you are healthy.”

I don’t like where this is going but I nod.

Marco smiles then quickly grabs his phone and calls someone.

I manage to finish my food and not even a few seconds pass when another man walks in. He has a brown leather bag with him and I know this is the doctor.

Seeing him reminds me how much I dislike doctors and I quickly regret my decision.

My knees start to bounce and my hands clasp tensely.

“Tinsley, this here is doctor Daniel.” Marco says.

Dr. Daniel gives me a smile and looks at me, studying me.

I give him a strained smile and quickly look away. But to add to my nervousness, the first thing he takes out is a needle. He flaunts it in front of me and my eyes widen.

“I thought this would be just a physical checkup!” I jump up ready to jump over the table to get out of the room and damn anyone who gets in my way.

“It is, dear.” Daniel says.

Ezekiel carefully stands in front of me. “Hey, if you do this, you can stay till tomorrow in a nice warm bed in a room just for you. You will even get breakfast tomorrow. It is just a little tiny prick. What do you say?”

(Goddamn this man is clever. He knows what to tempt me with.)

“You can’t possibly go out into that blizzard anyways.” He walks over to the window and opens the curtain.

All that can be seen and heard is the snow falling violently in the darkness and the wind howling.

I cross my arms, defiantly. “And I know that you would never throw me out there if I don’t comply.”

“And how do you know that?” Ezekiel asks putting up a serious expression.

“Because you have been very kind to me and unless I am misjudging your character, your morals won’t allow you to do such a thing.” I confidently say, knowing I am right.

The corner of his mouth twists into a smile.

“True, but... how about you think of this as... payment for all our kindness.” He says. “I am sure I am not misjudging you either into knowing that you don’t like to accept free kindness.”

He is right. I don’t like people pitying me.

I take a deep breath and nod. “If I do this, I get that bed you said and meal.”

Ezekiel smiles and nods.

I sit back down, take my jacket off and stretch my arm towards Daniel who patiently waits.

He actually looks nice and not weird at all. Looks pretty normal.

“Why are you doing this anyway? Why do you need my blood.” I ask as Daniel starts to prepare everything.

“We just want to make sure that you are healthy.” Marco says.

“And I'm a vampire. I might want a taste before I drink it.” Ezekiel says in a joking way.

I roll my eyes. He seems to treat me like a child and I hate it. He is not much older than I am though he does act more mature.

When I look at Daniel, he is already done and putting a band-aid on my arm.

I am surprised that I didn’t even feel it.

He does a thorough check-up on me and once he is done, he gets ready to leave.

“I’ll have your results ready by tomorrow morning.” He says.

Marco nods. “Thank you.”

Daniel then looks at Ezekiel and his eyes shine with a twinkle. He fixes his glasses with his finger and smiles. “I haven’t seen you in a while. You are due for a checkup.”

“F, U, C, K, YOU! No!” Ezekiel crosses his arms and looks irritated.

I almost start laughing because now Ezekiel is the one that looks like a child.

Daniel laughs and walks out.

“The guy almost drained me out of blood last time I had a checkup with him.” Ezekiel mumbles.

Marco turns to me. “Alright, I’ll show you to your room.”

“Before you go..” Ezekiel stops me. “... I won’t be here tomorrow so if you need anything, Marco will be the guy for you.”

I nod feeling a bit disappointed. I don’t know the guy but I feel... safe with him somehow.

“I’ll brief you on your mission once I am back.” Marco says to Ezekiel, starting to walk out of the room.

“I assume I am taking Wolf and Theo?” Ezekiel asks.

Marco nods. “Yes, give them a call. You are all going to London.”

“London!?” Ezekiel's eyes almost come out of his sockets.

“Yes.” Marco’s voice comes from out of the room already.

Ezekiel sighs then looks at me and winks. “See you pup.”

I stand there for a few seconds and nod.

“Thank you.” I say softly and walk out before he can say anything else.

Thank you is not something I am used to saying since I don’t come across much kindness.

I quickly catch up to Marco.

“Before you decide to leave tomorrow, come see me. I will have breakfast for you and hopefully, we can talk some more.” Marco says.

He stops at a door and opens it to a nice small room. It is beautifully decorated like the rest of the house and best of all, it is warm.

“Will this do?” Marco asks.

I look at him like he is crazy, asking me a question like that.

“It’s amazing. Thank you.”

He smiles and nods. “If you need anything, the room next to my office is mine, let me know.”

I nod as I watch him close the door.

I take a deep breath and feel my anxiety leave me. I was worried all week because I didn’t know how I would pass this storm. Usually, I would have to go down to one of the bridges and I hate it because it swarms with other homeless people. Now, I know a lot of them and many of them are friendly and nice but you also get the sickos and the ones that are not right in their heads. Having to sleep with one eye open while I freeze is not something I was looking forward to.

I look around and my eyes fall on one of two more doors in the room.

“It can’t be...”

I open the door and there is a restroom with a shower. I almost scream with excitement.

Usually, I take showers in the gym for which I had to get a membership for but is either paying a little bit of money to get clean or not bathing and that is not even an option. And to make things worse, those restrooms are not private at all.

I take a long warm shower and when I lie on the bed, it seems I lose consciousness because when I wake up, light shines through the window. It is not bright and it tells me that it is a cloudy day.

I close my eyes and stretch. It's been months since I slept in a bed and it feels nice.

I look at the clock that is on the end table.

"Nine? I slept that long?"

I am surprised but then again, I haven't slept this comfortably in a while.

I sigh knowing that it is coming to an end and since I don't want to get used to it, I start to get ready. I put a white, long sleeve clean shirt on and my old pants. I get my backpack ready and put my sneakers on. Then I make sure to take my medication before forgetting. I walk out of the room with my backpack and my jacket in my arms but am met with an unmovable warm wall.

Before I know it, I am falling but someone grabs my hand and holds me up.

"Are you okay?" A husky low voice asks me.

My green eyes meet beautiful yellow-orange ones, like Marco's. Almost like amber.

The guy standing before me is something out of a perverted woman's dream which I naturally say I have had before.

(My... god!)

I can feel my mouth is opened but nothing comes out.

He is much taller than me. His messy dark hair falls on his eyes making him look boyish but with a hint of a bad boy, especially with the tattoo peeking through the back of his neck. His strong jaw gives way, to perfectly full lips that I instinctively look at.

I straighten up and notice that his muscles barely fit in his gray shirt. My eyes helplessly roam his broad lean chest.

(This guy looks around my age but I have never seen a guy my age look like this.)

"Who are you?" He suddenly asks, taking me out of my drooling state.

(Am I still asleep?)

I look around to see people walking through the hall and I know I am not asleep. My eyes dart back to him who now looks at me with amusement.

Before I can answer, I hear Marco call me. "Tinsley."

My attention goes to Marco who walks up to us.

"Come to my office. Let's talk." Marco says.

I nod.

Marco looks at the guy who is still in front of me.

"Leon... is there something wrong?"

(Leon? So, this is the guy causing trouble yesterday when I got here?)

"Nope..." Leon says and then looks at me. "...right... Tinsley?"

The way he says my name makes my heart race. The hint of a smirk on his face does not go unnoticed.

"No." I speak softly.

Leon gives me what seems to be a nice innocent smile but he looks like anything but a saint. I can tell with just one look that this guy is trouble and I've had enough of that in my life to know how to say, no thank you.

(... but maybe...- NO! I can’t get distracted.)

I Look at Leon again.

(Damn it! Why is he so good-looking!? And even worst, why is he looking at me like that?)

I turn away and start walking, not even waiting for Marco.

"Who is that?" I hear Leon ask.

"We'll talk later." Marco says and walks after me.

"Why is there a human here?" Leon asks.

"We'll talk later." Marco says again.

I am confused. (Human?)

(Oh my god! They are all crazy... am I in a mental hospital again? Is that what this really is?)