Hiding Something

Rowan

My head is still fuzzy from the tea he gave me, but I can focus just enough to work on homework. At first I was irritated when I saw that Adam contacted my professors, but now I am grateful for the chance to catch up.

Why am I trusting this man so much? That tea acted like a strong sedative and apparently a pain reliever as well. Does that mean he drugged me in the form of a spiked drink?

No, that's ridiculous. I won't even think about that. He's given me no reason not to trust him.

~

TWO WEEKS LATER

Adam has been coming over to my place every day, making sure I take care of myself. I don't mind it.

I almost skip to school because of how happy I am. Maybe I do have time for a relationship. Is that what this is? Or am I getting ahead of myself?

Per usual, I see him in class for my internship. I can feel my blush as he smiles at me, taking his seat. Why is this man so beautiful? Why is my heart pounding already?

Everything seems to be going smoothly with him in class until I look closer at his features. He seems pale today. I wonder if he's feeling sick? His hair is extra messy and he periodically checks the time on his phone, adding to my worry. Perhaps I should check on him later.

As class finishes up, I watch him walk out slowly as if he has very little energy. I make a mental note to go looking for him after my internship period. I'm worried about him.

I find him in the hall leaning against a vacant hall room's door. "Hey, Adam!" I approach him quickly and a little too excitedly.

I see his hand grip the door handle behind him as his body begins to sway. It's much worse than I thought. He's about to pass out! The door opens behind him as a result of all his weight on the handle and he falls backward onto the ground, looking disoriented. I look around, hoping no one is seeing this. I have a feeling Adam wouldn't want this to spread around. I scurry into the room and close the door behind me, crouching down on the floor beside him.

"Adam? Can you hear me?" His eyes are closed and I start to think I should call an ambulance until I hear him whisper something.

"I...I need something from home...I don't feel well..." I feel his forehead. No fever. If anything, his skin is much colder than I think it should be.

"Do you have a condition? Does this happen often? Should I call someone?" I reach for my phone instinctively and he quickly snatches it from my grasp.

"Don't call. Take me home..." I watch as he tried to sit up, only managing a few inches on his own. I help him up and let him lean on me. I'm about to start walking when something strange happens.

In the blink of an eye, I am at the doorstep of an old, decrepit looking off-white house.

"What-? How did we get here?!"

Adam is already unlocking the door as I speak. When the door opens, he collapses on the ground in front of me. I sigh and go in after him, helping him to a couch against the far wall. This must be his home. It's rather big for one person, but I don't ask about it. It's not the cleanest, judging by the dust on the fireplace mantle and the almost grey baseboards.

"Fridge. Red jar." He sounds like he's in some serious pain. I decide to save the questions for later and go into the kitchen, rushing to the rickety fridge and opening it. What's strange is that I don't see any food. What's more peculiar is that the fridge contains three different jars of dark red liquid. I grab a half-empty mason jar with a red lid and bring it to him.

He unscrews the cap with shaking hands and gulps the liquid down, wincing at something. I smell a sharp metallic odor. Where have I smelled that before...?

Miraculously, by the end of the jar he is looking better. His face has color again, his hands are no longer trembling, and he can keep his eyes open.

"Can you bring me another jar, please? I don't care which one."

"There are only two left."

"Two? Shit. Okay, I still need that jar." I nod and grab another one, handing it to him. He drinks the entire thing and looks almost back to normal.

"What did you just drink?" I'm surprised at how calm my voice is when I feel deeply unnerved.

"A homemade tonic. It's like medicine." I become acutely aware of how his eyes are trained on me. It's like he's examining me.

"Is it for a condition?"

"You could say that."

Give me something to work with, damn it!

"How did we get here so quickly?" I watch a range of emotions cross his face. Realization, annoyance, confusion.

"What do you mean? We took a taxi." He speaks softly as if I am a child that's asking how people die.

"I don't remember that. We were at the school and suddenly we were at your front door-"

"Are you feeling okay?" He feels my forehead in the same manner I did to him earlier. The irony.

"I should be asking you that." I swat his hand away.

"I'm fine. This happens when I forget to drink the tonic every few days."

"You get sick like that every few days?"

"Not always. Usually I have more time to get more, so I wouldn't worry about savoring it. I've been busy lately..." Right. He's been with me almost every night.

"How do you get it? Is there a shop you go to?"

"Not necessarily. I get the...materials." I can tell he's not telling me everything.

"Adam, please don't lie to me."

"I'm not, Rowan. I am not lying."

No, he's hiding something!

He looks me in the eye and I blink, confused. Why did I think he was lying? He would never lie to me.

He always tells the truth. He would never hurt me.

"W-What..." I feel so groggy and dazed. Why am I thinking those words and why won't they leave my head? I try to break eye contact, but I'm completely lost in a see of enticing grey-green irises.

Accept it. Move on.

Move on.

Move on.

Forget this.

I'm tired.

I need to sleep.

Sleep.

I feel my body relaxing and I close my eyes. I feel hands on my waist before I slump against a solid wall. An inviting scent. Musky. I like it.

I dream of red liquid and pale angels.