CHAPTER 30: THE KEY

“Stay away from me!!” Suzanne screamed, her arms flailing and legs kicking. They were grabbing her and dragging her to the Abyss, she was sure if it. She punched and shoved at the hands that were holding onto her, trying to claw her way out.

“Suzanne!”

The grip was strong but she wasn’t giving up.

*I’ll be damned before you get me…oh wait, I’m already damned. Damn it!*

“Suzanne…wake up!”

With great difficulty, Suzanne opened her eyes only to be greeted by two worried faces looking down at her. It was Tom and Hans. This was the best sight to wake up to, Suzanne smiled at them in relief.

Tom pulled her into his arms tightly, his hand holding onto the back of her head as he gently rocked her back and forth like how a mother would rock her child. Her shirt was damp with sweat and her heart was pounding.

“It’s alright Suzanne, we’re here,” Tom whispered, still embracing her.

She looked around, they were on the library floor next to the window. Thomas and the rest were nowhere to be seen. She pulled away from Tom, “It’s okay, I’m okay.”

Hans knelt on one knee beside her and asked calmly, “What happened?”

Suzanne bit her lips, as she always did whenever she was going to lie and averted Hans’ gaze, “I must have passed out…it was probably too stuffy on the room.”

Hans's eyes narrowed, he did not believe her one bit but said nothing. Instead, he looked at Tom and said, “Why don’t you bring her to the bedroom and let her rest? I’ll fix something for Suzanne to drink.”

Tom nodded and scooped Suzanne up in his arms princess style and carried her off to their room. Suzanne was tired, more than ever before, she rested her head on Tom’s shoulder as he walked wordlessly to their room.

On the way, they passed by the twins who looked at her in concern.

“How is she?”

“She’s fine, don’t worry,” Tom answered simply and they turned into their room. There, Tom gently laid her down before helping her to change out of her clothes. Underneath her sweater, her damp t-shirt was clinging onto her body like a second skin.

Tom pulled it out over her head before towelling her dry, first her hair, neck and finally her chest. His hands were warm and soothing, different from the ugly lumps of cold dark ice that she had felt earlier. She grabbed Tom’s hand and placed them at her naked breasts, allowing him to feel the beating of her heart.

“Tom…”

He looked at her, not questioning, only listening.

“On that day, if I fail, I want you to stab me here,” she pressed his hands hard against her chest.

Tom was strangely calm now, it was a great contrast to how he had reacted earlier.

*Did he see what happened earlier?*

“Tom….”

He quickly pulled his hands away and clothed her in a baby blue blouse before draping a jacket over her shoulders.

“Tom talk to me please….”

He gave her a peck on the head and started to say something when a knock came at their door. It was Hans.

“Can I have a moment with Suzanne? I need to talk to her in private,” asked not really waiting for an answer. Tom conceded and stepped out of the room, but not before giving a lingering look at Suzanne.

*Just how much did he see*? she wondered in shame. She could still feel the wave of numbing needles piercing through her very core from the encounter with the figure in black.

Hans closed the door behind him and knelt directly in front of Suzanne, holding her hands in his, gently rubbing at her knuckles. He looked up at her and asked, “Suzanne, is there something you want to tell me?”

Suzanne forced a laugh, “I can’t ever hide anything from you can I Hans?”

Hans shook his head and took a seat next to her on the bed, his weight causing them both to sink a little at the edge. He shook his head slightly, “No. We’ve known each other for far too long Suzanne.”

Another forced chuckle, “Yeah...I remember I used to run circles around you and whipped your ass during training with Hendricks.”

This made Hans smile a little, he had dimples on his cheeks, “I believe it was the other way around.”

He turned to her, changing the subject back,” Suzanne, I need you, to be honest with me about what happened earlier.”

Suddenly she felt defensive, “Only if you tell me what you omitted from the inscription.”

Hans hung his head down, looking at both their feet, “You were always the more compassionate one Suzanne. Remember the time when you almost lost your life trying to help that poor unfortunate soul? I had to drag you back from crossing the rainbow bridge.”

Her defensiveness melted away at the memory. Hans had always had her back, why on earth was she so jittery around him now? Hans had practically saved her life back then.

They had been in their teens, honing their skills while Hendricks was busy and Suzanne, being so young then lost control of her self and almost followed a lost soul across the rainbow bridge, She would have gone into the afterlife had Hans not pulled her back. He used up so much of his strength to save her that he fell ill for nearly a year.

“I’m sorry Hans…”

“I’m sorry too. You were right. I lied about the inscription.”

“I know.”

“You do?” he asked.

She nodded, “You saw what happened earlier?” She pulled her knees up and tucked them under her chin and squeezed her feet to warm them.

Hans shook his head, “Actually no. We only heard you scream. When we came out you were slumped on the floor. “

He reached out his hand and helped her massage her feet, “But I have an inkling as to what happened. Tom does too. Marcelino got Thomas and the twins to leave the room to give you some air.”

Suzanne stopped him and placed her palm in his hand, allowing him a clear view of the mark on her palm. Her hand looked so small in his. She sucked in her breath, “I’m changing Hans. I’m turning into one of them.”