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Chapter Nine
Seven
It’s been hours since I fell asleep and even longer since Brynn went to her room, but a loud bang against the roof wakes me.
The wind is blowing hard enough that I can feel a slight draft through the boarded-up windows.
I have no doubt that by the time we wake, broken palm tree fronds and scattered debris will be everywhere along the beaches and up against every one of my neighbor's houses.
I listen for a few seconds longer to determine if I need to go outside and check things out, but I don’t hear anything on the roof anymore. Whatever possible damage that is done will have to wait until tomorrow when it's safer to go back outside.
I close my eyes again, when my ears perk up to a completely different noise.
It’s almost a whining sound.
Or maybe it’s more of a sob.
I pull the sheets off of me and swing my legs over the bed. I head for my door when I finally pinpoint that the sound is coming from Brynn’s room.
I knock on the door softly at first.
“Brynn, are you okay?” I ask, but she doesn’t respond.
Now that I’m standing at her door, I’m sure that the sound is coming from her room.
Maybe she’s having nightmares, and she’s not really awake.
I debate, turning back and heading to my room, but the sounds continue.
I can’t knowingly leave her like this—I won’t get any sleep.
I knock again.
“Hey, Brynn… are you okay in there?”
Still, I get no response, but the distressing sounds continue.
I check for the door to find that she didn’t lock it.
Twisting the doorknob, I carefully push through the door slowly.
“Brynn, I’m coming in,” I warn and then open the door the rest of the way.
I find Brynn sitting on the floor at the foot of the bed, in the fetal position.
She’s holding her legs against her chest with her face buried against her knees, and she's shaking like a leaf.
A panic attack.
I’ve seen a few in my life, and this one is unmistakable.
“Hey, you’re okay,” I say, walking quickly up to her and bending down to touch her arm.
She feels clammy, sweaty, and cold all at the same time.
“Come on, you’re coming with me,” I tell her.
She doesn’t move or nod in agreement but I can’t knowingly leave her like this.
