Chapter Nine: Trigger

                                    

                                          
My feet were rooted to the ground like thick tree trunks of a baobab. Words stumbled on my tongue.
                          
There was nothing to say. Or do.
                          
I didn't understand what I'd just witnessed but one thing was for certain.
                          
Anna Brooks, whether I disliked her or not, needed medical attention. Now.
                          
Unconsciously, my hand slipped out my phone from my back pocket and dialled the only person I thought might help me in this situation.
                          
"Hey Cass I'm kinda busy right now–"
                          
"Corey. You need to help me. Anna was in the bathroom throwing up blood. It was absolutely everywhere, like everywhere..." I explained my voice hardly there. I was too shocked by the scene I'd walked in on that I hadn't noticed myself moving away from the mess and outside the building until my body slumped to the ground and began shaking.
                          
I was trembling so badly my knees were jittering spastically against the cold earth. Flashes of images from years ago spun in my head.
                          
Despite the bullying Anna had inflicted on Corey in younger years, he'd reconciled with her to some extent. They weren't friends, nowhere near, but I knew that now she'd stopped being homophobic towards him he'd moved past his resentment and laid it to rest along with a thousand other burdens. 
                          
"Okay, Cassie calm down," Corey's reassuring tone brought me back. As if sensing my fear I heard in the background the muffled sound of moving. "Where did she go?" 
                          
"I-I don't know. She ran out. Oh God. I hate her but you have to help her. She is sick. Really sick. I don't know what it means if you cough up blood but..." My phrases were stuttered with trembles. I could feel all the visions coming back. Not only one, but all together. It didn't make sense, images from different time periods mashed together awkwardly. I couldn't think of anything else to say.
                          
"I'll find her. It's okay Cassie. I'll go help her. She's meant to be meeting people at the park anyway, so just go there and find everyone else. I'm sure she's fine. She's had this before,"
                          
I almost dropped my phone from my hand. Before?
                          
"Um... okay. I'm going to the park now," I whispered, confused by what he'd just revealed. "Don't tell anyone about this. This doesn't mean I'm worried about her it's just... so much blood..."
                          
My finger feverishly plucked stones up beside my feet in an attempt to calm the nerves.
                          
"Okay, I'll see you soon. Please, just don't worry. Go see Quinn or..."
                          
"Okay," I finished, knowing he was trying not to make it seem like I had no one to go too. Corey knew me more than anyone else, even if that wasn't very much. And although he didn't know why, he knew that I didn't like to talk about my problems with anyone. This made it seem like I didn't have any problems which was the idea I was trying to get across.
                          
However, Cor knew that if anyone could comfort or just calm me it was either him or Quinn. 
                          
Visions of the blood and vomit and Anna slumped over the toilet seat coughing haunted my mind. I shoved my head in my bent knees and breathed deeply.
                          
 My body was frozen and oblivious to the abuse I was receiving. My legs couldn't move, my limbs lamely stuck to my sides.
                          
I could cry, but no one would hear me.
                          
Nothing mattered anymore after what my gaze was transfixed on.
                          
I recognised her and hated that I did. Why couldn't it have been someone else? Someone who wasn't the cause of this. Then I would have felt sorry for her and done all I could to help. Maybe she could help me. But no.