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Chapter 7
"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Liz asked worriedly from the door. "I mean, this cold came on pretty quick and we should have it checked out."
"I'll be fine, don't worry. Mrs. Marchetti and Miss Murray already know how I feel and I've had enough colds to realize that this one will pass in a couple of days. It's nothing a few days' worth of rest won't heal."
"Are you sure you don't want company though? I mean we're only going on a hike. It's not like we haven't done that before already," Sherie piped in.
"I will not have anyone come closer to me than you are now so no one will get sick because of me. I want you guys to go off without me and have fun. Don't miss out on anything just for me."
"But-"
"No buts, or I'll throw this pillow at you!" Mel threatened before a short coughing attack prevented her from saying anymore. The lighthearted chatter stopped and her friends took on a worried look. "I'll be fine, I promise," she said when she got her breath back.
"If you say so. Come on, let's get going or we'll be late," Liz said, urging them out to leave Mel alone so she could get some rest.
Thankful for the sudden peace and quiet around her, Mel settled herself back into bed, ignoring the breakfast tray her friends had brought up and set by her bed. Her scratchy throat irritated her slightly but she forced herself to close her eyes in an attempt for rest that didn't come. After ten minutes of not getting anywhere, Mel forced herself to sit up in bed. She looked at the tray next to her and decided she may as well return it downstairs. Mel swung her legs out of bed and forced herself onto her feet. Bright lights flitted across Mel's eyes as she got up too fast and her head swam. "I must be sicker than I thought," she grumbled as she steadied herself for a moment. Once her balance was in check, she took hold of the tray and made her way carefully down the stairs and into the kitchen. On second thought, she grabbed the apple from off the tray and gave her thanks to the people in the kitchen. Slowly, she made her way back up, stalling whenever she felt too dizzy to move on. "This isn't right," she mumbled. "This is supposed to be just a cold. Not a-"
Mel froze at the doorway of her room. She looked in and saw nothing wrong but her instincts told her otherwise. Despite her feelings not to go inside, she knew it'd look suspicious if she left. Closing her eyes, she stifled a cry of fear as she felt herself drawn up into the suddenly cold room. Nervously, she picked up a magazine from nearby and sat at the foot of her bed, munching the green apple and reading, acting like nothing was wrong.
The hair on the back of her neck rose as she felt a presence form behind her. So this is it, she thought to herself as rough arms encircled her waist, pinning her arms to her side. As the person straightened himself up to get a better grip on her, she started kicking out, hoping she'd be able to propel herself off the bed and they'd back up into the wall. Instead, she saw another pair of arms grab hold of her legs and tie them together before a rough sack was placed over her head and tied tightly at her neck. Her struggle was brief as her sickness kicked in and a coughing attack left her gasping for air. Vaguely, she felt her arms being tied behind her back, the same rough cords they'd used on her legs knotting her wrists together. She felt herself being hoisted onto a shoulder and cool air travel over her bare arms as the guys left her room.