Jake nodded, turning back to her. "Sorry...just a...a reaction...is all..." He licked his lips nervously, running a hand through his hair.
Jake reflexivly looked up, scanning the courtyard. They were still alone though.
"I'll stay with you." He took her hands. "I'll stay no matter what."
"Oh yes. So much." He rolled his eyes at his own sarcasm. "And maybe I should call you annoying little pest." He grinned to show he was only kidding.
Jake caughed as he tried to laugh again. "I do not sleep." He nudged her playfully.
"Aww come on Alyce." Jake quickly changed the mood around them with his cocky half-grin. "You know you don't mean that." He winked. "And I'm fine, don't worry about it."
"The rest of us will do the fighting. You just sit back and enjoy the show." Jake fought to stand, his demolished chest screaming at him. He winced but didn't let a sound escape his lips as he got to his feet, leaning against the wall heavily.
Jake evened out his breath, eyes watching Geryl and Alyce, deep in thought. If anything happened to one of them, especially Alyce...he'd never forgive himself. He was gonna make things right again. Together they would.
"We don't need the negativity." He shot at Geryl. He knew Alyce was afraid. He didn't want her any more worried than she already was.
Jake took her hand, slowly and gentally uncurling her wound up fingers. "It's okay...it's gonna be fine." His voice cracked though.
Jake swallowed, shaking his head. He quickly turned the page, searching for more. "There was another one." He skipped to a page near the end of the book. "Did...did you draw this one?" He knew the answer was no though. Across the page was the picture of the two of them outside, He was propped up against the wall and she was standing over him, both looking at a sketchbook in horror. It was another arial view, and Jake slowly looked up at the window it had been drawn from. He caught sight of a black shadow watching them, then it was gone like it hadn't been there at all.
Jake showed her the page he was looking at. It was the first day they had arrived at their dorms. It was an arial veiw so he knew it had been drawn from a window or something. There was himself sitting by the school fountain, and against the wall, almost invisible in the picture, was a shadow. But there was no one there. No body to create it. It was just there. "I think we've been being watched longer than we expected." He whispered. "And we didn't even know it."
"No...Nothing..." He scanned the drawing closely. "Um...Alyce...when you draw these...do you draw everything you see in that scene exactly how it is?"
They were all dated. He scanned through each one, looking for another message like the one on the cover but also admiring her work at the same time. He slowed as he got to the last few pages.
He pulled it open, flipping through a few of the drawings. He'd been looking for another message at first but a few of the sketches caught his eye and he found himself sidetracked. "Alyce... these are really good."
Jake stared at the cover for a moment. "I'm watching you..." He muttered to himself. "And you're sure nothing is missing?" He went to open it.
Jake's face hardend. "You're sketchbook?" He paused, apparently thinking. "May I see it?" He ignored her first comment.
"Wrong?" He raised an eyebrow, managing to prop himself up against the wall. "What makes you say that?"
"I'd call you a fool if you weren't." Sweat broke out on his fore-head as he went to sit up again. "But there's a way out of this. And we'll find it. You're going to be fine." He touched her hand with his thumb, stroking it softly. He caughed again, face twisting. "Ow..." He muttered.
Jake smiled the slightest bit. "Well, considering what just happend, you're probably a little stressed, afraid, like the world is comming down on you." His eyes softend as he looked at her. "Now look at me and answer again. Are you okay?"
