Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Slave

I didn’t lose consciousness even though I collapsed on the floor. My eyes were shut, my body still weak, but I was aware of everything around me. Someone carried me and brought me to the clinic. I heard someone call my name... it was Kristan.

"I just saw her lying on the floor," I heard Kristan say. His voice was filled with worry. "Damn. What's with all the questions? Can you just do your job? She’s badly hurt!"

I felt my back settle onto a soft bed. Someone gently touched my forehead.

"W-what?" a woman gasped—it was probably the school nurse. "We need to call an ambulance now!"

"Wait. What’s happening?"

I tried to open my eyes. My vision spun from the intense dizziness and weakness. I wanted to pass out just to stop feeling this way, but my body resisted. It was as if it was after something and wouldn’t stop until it got it.

"Excuse me," a strange voice cut through. I tried to see who it was, but I couldn’t. "I know what to do."

"Wait. Who are you—?"

"I’m a doctor too," the unfamiliar voice replied.

"What?! You can’t do that!" the nurse objected, as if the man was about to do something inappropriate. "I’m the one assigned here, sir. You can’t interfere with my job. I need to bring her to the hospital right away."

I winced as I felt a sharp prick in my right arm. That familiar pain... a needle. Wait. Was that a syringe? I hated syringes!

"What did you do?!"

I was ready to resist when I suddenly felt relief. The feverish heat in my body dropped, and the dryness in my throat disappeared. Just like that, I was alert again. I opened my eyes properly and saw two unfamiliar pairs of eyes staring down at me.

"How are you feeling?" the man asked.

"I... I don’t know?" I swallowed hard. I looked down at what he was holding. I suddenly sat up and jumped off the bed when I saw the syringe in his hand. "Did you just—?" I looked at my arm where he had injected me. I blinked when I saw there was no blood, no sign of a puncture. But I was sure he had injected me.

"I don’t think you need to answer anymore," the old man said with a small laugh.

"Astra!" Kristan rushed over and pulled me to sit down. He touched my forehead, and I saw the shock in his eyes. He turned to the smiling man still staring at me. "What did you inject her with?"

"A sedative..." the man said as he approached. For some reason, I couldn’t move. He leaned close to my ear. "It won’t last, Lady Astra. When it comes back... it’ll be unbearable," he whispered.

I felt him slip something into my pocket before he walked away.

"Mister?" the nurse called after him. "May I know your name? That was incredibly disrespectful."

The man chuckled. "Just call me..." He looked back at me. "Mr. Billy. Anyway, I need to go now. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Astralla. Until next time." Then he exited the room.

The nurse stared after him for a few seconds before following him out.

I turned to Kristan, who was also looking at me. He seemed stunned for a moment, then let out a deep sigh. The worry on his face eased when he saw I was okay. I suddenly remembered what he did for me.

"T-thank you," I whispered.

He sat beside me again and touched my forehead. He shook his head and chuckled softly. "What is up with today? So many unexplainable things." He paused, then took my hand. "But I don’t care. You’re okay now, and that’s all that matters to me."

I smiled faintly.

"Astra!" We both turned to the tearful girl who had just rushed into the clinic. I gasped as Dahlia threw herself at me, causing Kristan to drop my hand. "OMG, girl. You already died last night, now you’re trying to die again?"

I laughed at her dramatics. Here comes the exaggerated best friend everyone needs.

"She’s fine now, Dahlia," Kristan said.

Dahlia let go of me and wiped the tears from her eyes. She sniffled and nodded.

"I told you not to come to school!" she scolded, giving me a light smack on the shoulder. "You weren’t feeling well earlier and still forced yourself to come. It’s not like you’re smart enough to worry about your grades."

"Hey, easy," Kristan said, stopping her from smacking me again.

"So? Are you still going to class?" Dahlia asked.

I didn’t answer. I felt okay now, so I could technically go back. But remembering what the man said earlier made me uneasy. This temporary relief wouldn’t last. If not for all the weird things that happened, I wouldn’t believe any of it.

Then I remembered the voice in my head: “The more you endure it, the more you’ll suffer. Welcome to my world, Astralla Martin.” What did that mean? Why am I enduring this strange feeling? How can I endure something I don’t understand?

What does he want me to do?

Wait... who was he?

"Ouch!" I winced as Dahlia smacked me on the head. "You idiot, go home and rest!" she snapped. "Or that post I saw on Facebook might come true. Kristan will take you home. Right, Kristan?" she asked him.

Kristan was clearly caught off guard. "U-uh? Of course. I can’t let you go home alone after what just happened."

"See?" Dahlia grinned. "Just go home and rest, Astra. If Ophelia makes you clean, tell her I’ll bring her a jar of coffee and sugar tomorrow."

I laughed. Unlike me, Dahlia came from a well-off family. Aunt Ophelia spoiled her a bit since she always brought her coffee and sugar, in exchange for being a bit nicer to me.

"What if it’s Eliyah who tells me to clean?" I teased, raising an eyebrow. "What will you do, Dahlia?"

She didn’t answer.

"Wait, do you have a crush on Eliyah?!" Kristan asked, shocked.

Dahlia’s cheeks turned red.

"Dahlia’s picky, Kristan. She has high standards when it comes to guys. That’s why she likes the most handsome, responsible, and mature guy in the world—my dearest cousin, Eliyah Lavoza!"

Dahlia blushed even harder as Kristan and I laughed. I still didn’t get what she saw in Eliyah. Okay, fine. He was handsome. But that was all.

We all fell silent when the nurse came back. Her expression was angry.

"The admins don’t know the man who claimed to be a doctor," she said firmly. Her fists were clenched in rage. "The nerve of that man. That’s a crime!"

"Wait... he’s not a doctor?" Kristan asked.

"I don’t know," the nurse replied. "But he didn’t have admin approval. He probably made up the name he gave, too. This is infuriating. I could be held responsible for what he did."

"Wait, who?" Dahlia asked, clueless.

"Then we need to catch him!" Kristan insisted. "We don’t even know what he injected Astra with. What if this is just temporary and things get worse? We can’t let it go, Nurse."

The nurse hesitated, and I raised an eyebrow. "The guards said no man matching that description entered the campus. In fact, no one came in today who isn’t a teacher or student."

"What does that mean?" I asked, confused.

"I—I don’t know..." the nurse sighed. "I’ll have this investigated, don’t worry." She approached and touched my forehead. "But what matters is that you’re okay. Still, we can’t be complacent. We’re taking you to the hospital."

"No," I suddenly said.

"Wait. Who’s the doctor?" Dahlia asked.

"What do you mean no, Miss Martin?" the nurse said.

"I want to go home instead," I replied. "I just need rest."

"But you need to be checked—"

"Can you take me home?" I asked Kristan.

He looked confused. He didn’t respond.

I took a deep breath. "Never mind. I can manage on my own."

"Wait guys. Who is this fake doctor with a fake name? Someone please answer me!" Dahlia said.

I stood up and started putting on my shoes.

"I can’t let you go home after what happened, Miss Martin. You’re my responsibility," the nurse insisted. "We’ll release you after a full check-up. I’ll personally escort you. Your fever earlier was intense... burning hot. That must mean something."

"I will go home now," I said.

"I’ll take you," Kristan said as he stood up. He took my bag from me and carried it himself. "I’ll also take care of your classwork. I’ll ask the nurse to help me with an excuse letter."

The nurse sighed. "If that’s the case..." She went to a desk and retrieved a form. "Please sign this. Once you do, I’ll no longer be liable for anything that might happen to you because of what happened. But, I really don’t recommend—"

I cut her off by grabbing the paper, placing it on the table, and signing it with a pen nearby. Once done, I handed it back. She couldn’t do anything anymore and just shook her head.

"Hello, guys? I’m still here!" Dahlia reminded us.

I turned to her. "I’ll explain tomorrow, Dahlia. I just want to go home. Go to class now."

Kristan supported me in every movement. I told him I was fine already, but he wouldn’t back down. It was like he was ready to carry me just so I wouldn’t tire myself. Not that I was complaining... I don’t know. I just didn’t want him to get the wrong idea from my actions.

I had already told him long ago that I only saw him as a friend. That’s all we are now—just friends. But I could see something different in the way he treated me. That’s why I get annoyed at Dahlia when she pushes me toward Kristan, even jokingly.

"I almost stopped breathing when I saw you lying on the floor," he said. I just kept looking straight ahead. "I know, Astra. Your feelings won’t change anymore. But can you at least promise me you’ll take care of yourself?"

I didn’t respond.

He suddenly grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks. I turned to face him, and his worried eyes met mine. I felt a slight pang of guilt for ignoring him.

"I-I’m good, Kristan," I said, forcing a smile.

"For now," he replied seriously. "I know you’re brave, Astra. I like that. No—scratch that—I love that. But..." He gently squeezed my arm. "I want you to know when to be brave, and when not to be. Learn to recognize the line, Astra. There’s a thin line between bravery and recklessness."

I nodded. "Noted, Kristan."

"Ow!" He suddenly let go and stepped back, as if burned. "Damn it. Another weird thing."

I swallowed hard as that strange feeling crept back in.

It was returning...

"I—I need to go home now," I said.

Kristan took me to the tricycle terminal. He still insisted on escorting me all the way home, but I declined. I was already troubling him enough. I got on the tricycle alone and asked to be dropped off at our house.

I made it home. Aunt Ophelia met me with her usual raised eyebrows, but I didn’t pay attention to her. Even while she was still talking, I quickly went up to my room.

"I told you to just stay home and clean!" I still heard her yelling.

As soon as I entered my room, I locked the door. I placed my bag on the desk and changed clothes. Then I stood in front of the mirror to brush my hair. It’s something I always do when I’m anxious or not feeling well—face the mirror and brush my hair. It calms me down.

From the mirror’s reflection, I could clearly see the window... it was open.

I sighed and ignored it.

But I froze when a cold breeze blew in. My hair stood on end. I felt like someone was watching me... like I was being observed.

Moments later, I dropped the brush in shock. My hands were trembling. I braced myself as my vision began to spin again. The dryness in my throat returned.

And then... the tightness in my chest.

"You can’t conceal it now," I heard a voice behind me.

I turned around. My vision was blurry with tears. I stood up and tried to walk, but I fell to my knees. I reached out and clutched someone’s leg—whoever was standing in front of me.

"H-help me..." I begged.

I heard him chuckle.

"Sure. But on one condition..."

That voice... I had heard it before.

I clutched my neck as if being strangled.

The man knelt so we were at eye level. I looked up, hoping to see his face, but I couldn’t make it out. Still, I clearly saw the smile on his lips. He looked delighted by what he saw.

"Call me by my name while begging. Can you do that?"

Asshole.

"What?!" I felt him grip my jaw tightly, like he wanted to break it. "Did you just call me an asshole?" His grip tightened further. "I am Brixton Cardinal. I am your master. Now, say ‘Master Brix’ while begging."

I smirked, finally recognizing his voice.

"Whatever you say, Master Asshole," I said.

He was the voice inside my head.

Then, I heard laughter—but not from Brixton. There was someone else in the room.

"Just help her, Brix. She’s struggling," the other voice said.

Brixton released me, and I collapsed to the floor, unable to move.

"Let her suffer," he said coldly.

"Don’t be so vile to her, Brix."

"She called me ‘asshole,’ Oscar. That’s not how this works!"

"She’s still in transition. Who knows? After this, you might be able to fully control her," Oscar reasoned. "And don’t forget, Brix—Papa is waiting for her. If you still can’t present her to him... that’s on you."

"Fuck it!" Brixton growled.

I felt myself being lifted again.

"You are my slave, Astra. Always remember that."

I mentally laughed.

What a pathetic asshole. Slave, my ass.