Chapter 6 Overdose

Mason dropped Nadia off at the entrance to the forest and bid her goodbye. As she approached her home, she could faintly hear voices that belonged to Noelle and their mother. And they were screaming.

Fearing the worst, Nadia broke into a sprint as her heart rate spiked at the thought of anything happening to her sister. She burst through the door, panting like a wild animal and scaring both Noelle and their mother.

"Christ Nadia! Why the dramatic entrance? You almost gave me a heart attack." Adelaide said.

"I should be the one saying that! I heard you two screaming bloody murder and thought something bad had happened to her. Why on this bloody earth were you screaming at each other?!" Noelle demanded.

"Because mom here refuses to acknowledge anything I'm saying and is treating me like a child!" Noelle replied.

"And if you spew any more nonsense I'll keep treating you that way. I come home after nearly a week of overtime completely exhausted and instead of letting me have a break, you're here stressing me out further with your damn hallucinations again!" Adelaide shot back.

"I'm not hallucinating! Nadia saw it too, tell her Nadia."

"Yes Nadia, tell me."

Nadia's eyes darted between the two before she sighed.

"I cannot believe you made me sprint almost 40 meters for nothing. Noelle, you need to calm down and rest, you know you only get like this when you're stressed."

The look of shock and hurt in Noelle's teary eyes seared Nadia's heart like a freshly smithed blade. But she was willing to carry that guilt if it meant their mom didn't suspect them both.

Adelaide's stern gaze melts into one of relief mixed with an emotion Nadia couldn't quite place. It looked like sadness or, guilt.

Before Nadia could study her further, Adelaide turned and went into the kitchen. She returned with a bottle of Clozapine. She grabbed Noelle's arm strongly and dropped two pills into her palm.

"Nadia, go get your sister a glass of water. Clearly, taking you off your meds was a mistake. Luckily, these haven't expired yet."

Noelle's eyes widened and she thrashed around, trying to get away from her mother's grasp to no avail.

"I never consented to being given those before, and I won't take them now! They must be what always made me feel dizzy and weird. Edibles are better than whatever those are!"

"Consider yourself an addict henceforth then, because you will be taking them regularly. Now stop being difficult and just take them."

"Fine! You want me to take the drugs? I'll take the flipping drugs!"

Noelle angrily snatched the glass of water from Nadia and downed the pills in one gulp. She then snatched the bottle from Adelaide and started dumping more down her throat. Adelaide slapped the bottle away and tried to stick her finger down Noelle's throat, but Noelle pushed her away before she could.

"Are you out of your mind? Throw those up this instant young lady."

"I thought you wanted me to be an addict? I'm just doing what I'm told, Mom."

Noelle tried to storm off, but the drugs hit her faster than anticipated. Her vision blurred and she stumbled backwards into Nadia, who barely caught her. Adelaide threw the bottle of pills into the trash can and fetched a soda for Noelle.

"Noelle, can you hear me? If you can, I need you to open your mouth for me, okay?"

Noelle's eyes were glazed over and her vision unfocused, but she seemed to still be somewhat conscious as her jaw went slack a few seconds later. Adelaide poured the soda down her throat, making sure she swallowed as much as possible.

"Nadia, hold her over the trash can. I'll go get some water."

By the time Adelaide returned, Noelle was heaving over the trash can and emptying her stomach. She washed her mouth and face, then helped her drink some water.

"Nadia, can you look after your sister for a bit? I need to get rid of the rest of her medication and make a few calls. Take the bowl up with you."

Nadia nodded and helped a weakened Noelle up to her room. She dropped her onto her bed, then proceeded to undress her down to her underwear and take out her contacts. Noelle's eyes drooped, and her speech slurred as she tried to call out to Nadia.

Nadia placed her hand on Noelle's forehead and sat beside her.

"It's okay Noelle, I'm here. I'll still be here when you wake up, so just go to bed, okay?"

Noelle nodded slightly and let her eyes close fully. Nadia let out a sigh of relief and fell back on the wall.

Realizing that she didn't take off her backpack, she pulled her Kindle out and resumed her reading. Right as she turned it on, though, the hairs on her neck stood and she turned to the window.

She had felt someone watching her. She went over to the window and looked around for any movement, but there was no one there.

"Was it just my imagination? I must be more strung up than I thought."

She concluded that it was all in her head and turned her attention back to her Kindle, doing her best to ignore the way the hairs on her neck still stood.

Hours and a book later, Noelle stirred. Nadia noticed and poured her a glass of water as she sluggishly sat up and squinted at her surroundings.

"You are in your room. I took out your contacts before you passed out. Have some water, you will feel better."

Nadia brought the glass to her lips, and Noelle obediently drank. Nadia set the glass down on the bedside stand and handed Noelle her glasses.

"Sorry about earlier, I couldn't risk Mom putting us both on those meds. How do you feel?"

"It's alright, I understand, it still hurt though. And I feel a bit better, thank you."

"That is good. I will get going now, call me if you need anything, okay?'

"I will–"

Before Nadia could even put her Kindle away, Noelle began to heave again. Nadia quickly grabbed the bowl and thrust it into Noelle's chest just in time for her to spew out the little that remained in her stomach. Nadia pulled her hair back as she dry heaved a few more times before settling.

She passed her the half-full glass to rinse her mouth and rubbed her lower back to soothe her.

"You good? Do you need anything?"

"No, I, I think I'll just lie down for a bit."

Nadia nodded and gathered her things. She emptied the bowl in the toilet and flushed before rinsing it in the sink and placing it on the bedside stand just in case.

Just as she's about to leave, Noelle called out.

"Nadia?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks for taking care of me."

Nadia smiled softly at her.

"Of course, if I don't, who will?"