CHAPTER 23
Theo
Matthew was curled up in the middle of his bed when I managed to track him down.
He didn’t even look at me when I entered.
“Matt-“
“I don’t want to hear it.”
I exhaled, running a hand through my hair “well I want to say it.”
“Fuck.” Matthew curled up tighter around himself, voice trembling “save it.”
“What’s wrong with you?” I asked, taking in the paleness of his face, the scrunched up expression as if he were in physical pain. I stepped forward.
Matthew hissed through his teeth “I don’t feel well.” He sounded tearful. I stepped closer still, crouching by his head.
“Hey.” I said, throat tight “what- why?”
“Don’t know.” He whispered “my stomach hurts. A lot.”
I frowned “you drink too much?”
“No.”
“Did you drink?”
“Yes. Fuck.” He scrambled off the bed and nudged past me.
I followed him to the bathroom, where Matthew retched into the toilet whilst I hovered in the doorway.
“Feel better?”
“No.”
He stayed hunched over the toilet, shuddering.
“This come on just like that?” I asked slowly.
“Hm. While I was arguing with you.”
“Okay.” I sighed “uh…”
Matthew heaved again. I winced.
“There’s blood.” He whimpered.
“Wh-what?” I stuttered, stepping inside and peering into the toilet. Sure enough, there were dregs of blood in the frothy vomit. Blood was bad. I knew puking blood was bad. I felt frozen in place as panic started washing over me.
“Th-Theo.” He gasped, gaining my attention again and snapping me out of it “John…”
“Why…did you accept a drink off someone, Matt?”
“I-I was pissed that you left with the girl. I- fuck.”
I shouted for Nico, who I knew was in.
The young man poked his head into the bathroom moments later “what’s up…you okay, Matt? Drink too much?”
“No.” I replied for him “you need to get John, I think he’s been poisoned.”
“What?” His eyes widened to the size of saucers.
Matthew threw up again. I noticed the sweat soaking his clothes.
“Nico!”
“Right, on it”
“Nico went to get him, Matt. It’s gonna be fine.”
Matthew shook his head weakly, curling into himself and letting out an agonised moan. My gaze shot back over my shoulder, where Dean had appeared, summoned by me calling for Nico- talk about nosy. He had bitten his lip so hard that he’d made it bleed.
“Dean.” I called anxiously as Matthew heaved again. I crouched and tried to uncurl him, but he didn’t budge, not even when the stream of puke ended up down his front. Except it wasn’t puke.
“Dean! Blood!” All blood.
Dean surged forward and joined my side in seconds, cursing.
“He’s burning” Dean mumbled “Matthew? Matthew, can you hear me?”
The only response he got was another choked gag, more blood, and then Matthew’s face lost whatever colour it had previously possessed, and his body went rigid. I was sure my heartbeat stuttered.
“Dean” I said urgently “do something.”
“I’m not a healer-”
Matthew’s mouth started to foam.
“Fuck!” My hands hovered helplessly as Matthew began to convulse. I could feel myself panicking. The boy made another choking noise and frothy vomit spilled out of his ajar mouth, mixed with blood. Too much blood.
Dean gasped, eyes wide, unable to do anything but stare.
Matthew then stilled, rolling back over onto his back. His eyes snapped open and he gasped for breath, one hand flailing to grab my arm and the other holding his stomach.
“Stay down, Matt.” I prompted, voice trembling “It’s...just breathe.”
“W-wha’ happened?” He panted “Theo, wh-” he cut himself off with a sharp gasp, letting go of me and clutching his chest. It was scary. He was so pale he looked translucent, pained tears were streaming freely down his cheeks and he was slick with sweat, shivering violently.
“Breathe” there were tears in my eyes now “Matt, you have to breathe.”
“C-can’t...”
I’d never been so relieved to see Johnathan when he raced into the bathroom.
I watched as he took in the scene before him- the mess on the floor, the state of Matthew, mine and Dean’s terrified expressions- and dropped to his knees.
“Make him throw up.”
“What? He has been!”
“He needs to try and puke it up while I find the antidote. What was it? Do you know what it was?” Johnathan asked urgently as I coaxed a gasping, shaking Matthew over the toilet.
“Stop.” He croaked, weakly trying to push my hand away “can’t….”
“Shh.” I hushed, speaking past the lump that had formed in my throat “uh...arsenic, probably.”
“Activated charcoal, then. Keep him puking.”
“Right.” I grimaced, sticking my fingers down Matthew’s throat until he vomited again, holding him up.
“You’re okay.” I mumbled in what I hoped was a reassuring tone “you’re okay-“
“Don’t.” Matt choked out, gasping “let me go.”
“What?” I muttered back, holding him through another vomiting session.
“I want to go with her.” He whispered frantically, clasping my sleeve in a death grip “let her…please…let her take me with her. I want to go with her.”
My blood ran cold. I had an inkling that he was talking about his mother, who happened to be dead.
“Forget it.” I snapped “she can have you when I say so.”
“Th-“
“No.” I spat “keep throwing it up. There you go. You’re not going anywhere, ya massive idiot.”
“Theo.” Matthew shuddered violently, face screwed up in agony “please. Please, I can’t-“
“Keep. Throwing. Up.”
“I’m tired.” He sobbed weakly.
Dean moved forward beside me, resting a hand on my back as he spoke to Matt, “it’s okay,” he murmured, “you’re gonna be okay.”