(Still in Kara’s perspective)
“Okay, keeping this in perspective. Hypothesis one: I’m dreaming.â€Â
I was sprawled across Leisha’s bedroom floor, in a position not unsimilar to that of The Thinker. My hands were at my temples, and I was taking long, deep breaths.
“Solution: Ask Leisha. Leisha, am I dreaming?â€Â
“What? Oh, no, unfortunately.â€Â
“Okay then. Hypothesis two: I’m hallucinating.â€Â
“Why do none of your hypotheses involve being in real life?â€Â
“Shhh, I’m getting to that part.â€Â
Silence.
“Okay, maybe you’re right. Maybe this has a logical explanation.â€Â
“If it does, I’d sure like to hear it.â€Â
“Okay. Here, I’ll ask you some questions. ‘Kay?â€Â
“Okay.â€Â
“Um. Ummm… Have you noticed anything besides the obvious?â€Â
“What do you mean?â€Â
“I mean, like, have you changed in any other ways?â€Â
“Um, I don’t think so. I don’t know.â€Â
As she looked in my direction, however, I noticed half-inch long fangs protruding from her mouth. I decided not to mention it.
“Okay. Um. Where is Nainiyare?â€Â
As I watched, her face grew a tortured expression. Her shoulders raised, and her head fell into her hands. She
stayed this way until I interrupted.
“Leisha?â€Â
She hissed at me. “Don’t ask that. Please.â€Â
“Okay. But, did you really just hiss at me?â€Â
She looked surprised. “Did I?â€Â
“Yeah.â€Â
“Oh.â€Â
We sat in silence for a while.
“The real question is, how are you going to go to school like this?â€Â
(Dun Dun Dun! High School!
)