Chapter 4 — Fever
"How was school?"
Indianna's mother, Iris, was by the door when Indianna arrived home after school. She was smiling kindly, but Indianna didn't smile back.
Indianna had a difficult relationship with her mother, and she was quickly growing tired of it. Iris had been a wonderful mother when Indianna was younger. She had adored her and done everything she could for her.
That was until Indianna's father died.
From then on, Iris had retreated into herself and didn't show Indianna the love or affection she once had. She still cared about her daughter, but Indianna often felt unwanted.
She didn't think her mother cared anymore, so on the few days when Iris seemed to perk up and take an interest in Indianna's life, Indianna knew it wouldn't last. She knew that her mother would lose interest the next day or the day after, and Iris would go back to walking around the house, lost in her own mind and not talking to Indianna about anything personal.
The only conversations they had remained basic and simple.
"It was fine," Indianna said and continued upstairs to her new room, which was littered with cardboard boxes containing the belongings she had yet to unpack.
She sat down on her double bed and fell back onto the soft duvet. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she sighed, her mind going back to the day.
She thought of the voice in her mind and then of Greyson before realising that there was a pushing feeling in her head.
The voice was in her head.
Indianna's eyes flew open, and she sat up, ready to talk to the voice, but her world started to spin. She raised a hand to her mouth, suddenly feeling very queasy.
A wave of nausea made her gag, and heat washed over her body. She could feel sweat forming on her back already.
Indianna looked across the room to the door that led to her ensuite and cautiously rose from the bed, focusing on the door that was swaying slightly in her vision.
"Oh no," Indianna whispered as her stomach churned.
She scrambled to the bathroom and threw herself onto the floor beside the toilet. She gagged, and seconds later, the contents of her lunch were in the toilet bowl.
Indianna gasped and clutched at the side of the toilet, gripping the seat tightly to hold herself up. She suddenly felt very weak and groaned as she was sick again.
Afterward, she found herself lying on the bathroom floor, feeling too weak to hold herself up. Her heavy eyelids closed, and it wasn't long before darkness overtook her.
Indianna woke up with a start, jolting upright from the bathroom floor. Her skin was slick with sweat, and she was breathing heavily.
She rubbed her eyes and pulled herself up from the floor, stumbling weakly back into her room. It was dark outside, and after checking the clock, she realised that it was morning. She had been asleep on the bathroom floor all night.
Indianna sighed and returned to her bathroom, squinting at herself in the mirror when she turned on the light. Her skin was pale, and she had dark circles under her eyes, making her look as bad as she felt.
She decided to shower, hoping that the cool water would help bring down her temperature and soothe the headache that was starting to form.
It offered her temporary relief, but as soon as she stepped out, the heat washed over her again, leaving her feeling ten times worse than she had the previous evening.
She dried herself and dressed in slow motion. Any fast movement made her vision blur, and sickness formed in her stomach.
She pulled a vest top over her head and stumbled, reaching out towards her bed for support. Once she was fully dressed, she fell back onto the bed, panting with effort.
Her body felt like it was being engulfed by tiny needles, and she whimpered quietly, hating the feeling.
She reached for her shoes, not wanting to go to school, but she hoped that a distraction was all she needed. She was sure she'd feel better once she was on her way to school.
Why are you going to school? You are clearly ill, sugar.
Indianna had been waiting for the voice to say something. She had felt his presence before she fell asleep the night before, and she had felt him since waking up.
You took your time to speak up.
Why are you going to school, sugar?
It's my second day. I can't skip it already.
Yes, you can, and you should.
No, I shouldn't. Besides, I'm not going to be stuck at home with my mother.
You don't get along?
Indianna frowned.
Not really.
That shouldn't be the reason you are going to school.
It's not the only reason.
You should stay at home, sugar.
I'm fine. This will probably all be gone in a couple of hours.
Indianna sounded as though she wasn't only trying to convince the voice, but herself too.
The voice scoffed.
It probably won't.
Indianna ignored the voice and stood up.
I guess we're going to find out.
The sun was shining brightly, and it was making Indianna feel worse as she walked into school that day.
You shouldn't have come in, sugar.
If you aren't going to answer my questions, then don't talk to me.
Indianna was quick to reply, narrowing her eyes at the ground as she entered the school building. Her temper was particularly short today.
"Hey, beautiful."
Indianna stopped in her tracks when a brown-haired boy appeared in front of her. She looked up, her eyes going wide.
"Are you new around here?" the boy asked.
Indianna felt extremely uncomfortable as she watched him, his eyes shamelessly trailing up and down her body.
Indianna hadn't dressed as modestly as she had the day before because of her soaring temperature, but she didn't think her shorts and vest top were an invitation for boys to stare at her like she was prey.
"I'm sure I would remember somebody like you," the boy continued, smirking.
He clearly thought he was charming, but Indianna just felt wary. She didn't like the sleazy glint in his eyes.
"Sorry," she apologised quietly and stepped to the side. "I have somewhere I need to be."
"Where are you in such a rush to?"
The boy placed his hand on Indianna's arm, and she stiffened, not liking the touch of his clammy skin against hers.
"I can show you around, sweet cheeks."
"I'm good, thank you," Indianna murmured and tried to step back, but she was suddenly pulled forward.
The force with which she crashed into the boy's chest left her slightly dazed, but his tight hold on her arm quickly brought her back to reality.
"You should be more grateful!" the boy snapped, and Indianna shrank as far away from him as she could. "A pretty little thing like you shouldn't be left alone. There are some mean guys around here."
"G-get off me!" Indianna whimpered, her heart pounding in her chest.
She tried to push the boy away, but he was strong.
"You need someone like me to look after you, darling."
There was an edge to the boy's voice, and fear filled Indianna.
"P-please!" Indianna begged. "Please, let me go!"
"You—"