It was extraordinarily visceral for a hallucination.
Natalie didn’t even seem to have noticed him enter the room, sitting in the nurse’s chair with her head buried in her hands. Her glossy black hair spilled out between her fingers, cascading down about her knees. The thing stood as still as death, its torn gray clothes fluttering lightly around it.
“Natalie?”
Her head jerked up, eyes wide and staring, and she forced a weak smile.
“Hi. Alex.” Her voice sounded remote.
“I just wanted to check on you,” he said uncertainly. “How are you feeling?”
“Oh. Not well. I…can’t be…here anymore.” Her speech was oddly staggered, coming out in short bursts. Very unlike the exuberant, talkative girl he knew her to be.
If he had hoped seeing her would reassure him, he was sorely disappointed. She seemed worse than ever, worn down, drained of all personality. At her side, the thing turned in Alex’s direction and shifted slightly beneath its rags.
“Do you think you’re sick?” Alex pressed, keeping an eye on the hallucination.
“I think I’m…sick,” she said lifelessly.
The thing stopped its indecipherable whispering and abruptly took a step toward Alex, removing its hand from Natalie’s back to shuffle over to him. It moved its head back and forth, as if searching him out. Alex took an involuntary step back, horrified despite himself, his heart beating faster.
“Alex?” said Natalie, in a voice that was suddenly more her own. “Are you okay?”
“Y-Yes, I’m fine,” he managed. Act natural. She doesn’t know you’re hallucinating.
It drew closer, but didn’t seem to see him, apparently staring right through him to the door at his back. For the first time, Alex could fully make out its face. The glassy eyes were like the night sky, black and full of stars. Its hollow cheeks were dusted with a short, bristling beard, and its patchy gray hair hung down in lank locks. There was a soft noise as its fetid clothes dragged upon the ground behind it.
“Okay.” Natalie gave a weak laugh. “The nurse just had to take a phone call, but she’ll be back in a minute. So…what are you doing in here? Are you feeling sick too?” She tilted her head a little. “And what are you staring at?”
“N-Nothing,” he said. He forced his eyes back to her and saw a little more color in her cheeks. “And yes—I mean, no, I’m feeling fine. I just wanted to check on you.”
“You shouldn’t be here,” rasped the hallucination with a soft sound of irritation.
That was the final straw for Alex. “What?” he snapped, turning on the thing.
“Huh?” Natalie frowned.
He whirled on her, running both hands quickly through his hair.
“Alex,” she said cautiously, “are you sure you’re feeling okay? You’re acting…quite insane.”
Yes, he was acting insane. He felt insane.
“Natalie, don’t you see this man?” he finally burst out. He jumped forward and pointed at the figure, now moving slowly back to her side. She recoiled a little and looked blankly where he indicated.
“Man?”
“He’s standing right next to you. He’s reaching toward you. Right there.”
Natalie looked alarmed, even a little afraid. She grew very still as the thing replaced its hand at her back, the energy seeming to fade from her limbs again.
“Alex…” Her lifeless tone returned. “I…I think I have to go. Home.” She rose gracefully and walked to the door. “I…hope you feel better.” Alex gaped as the thing followed her out, one hand at her back again.
“Don’t interfere,” hissed the hallucination before continuing its low whisper.
“Home?” Alex exclaimed, rushing after them into the crowded hallway. “We can’t go home without permission, I’ll need to—”
Two things happened at once: the gray man disappeared, and Natalie—as if struck by a bolt of electricity—lurched forward into a swarm of students, vanishing from Alex’s view.
“Natalie!” Alex called, his voice drowned out by the loud chattering. He pushed past students to chase after her, but when he got through the crowd and reached the other, sparser end of the hallway, she was nowhere in sight. Alex felt a breeze and looked to his left.
The side door was open.
He sprinted to it and slipped out, emerging in the parking lot at the front of the school. He looked around for Natalie, but still couldn’t see her. She must have left the compound already.
What in the world was going through her head? Alex couldn’t even begin to fathom it.