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"I don't know whose bright idea it was, but changing your name won't help you. It won't keep you safe. Not from me anyway."
Too much has happened for me to give her a free pass, but first I need to get her above ground. Where I can see her at all times.
PHOENIX
My head throbs violently. Like someone has hit me with a sledgehammer, not content on the one hit and continues hacking away. I try to focus on the hazy world around me but all I can hear is a deafening silence, aside from the erratic beat of my heart hammering against my chest, beating a little too fast.
I try to open my eyes, but quickly close them again as a rush of nausea washes over me and I’m forced to swallow it down, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. I don’t think Flick would appreciate wearing what little I managed to eat last night.
Fuck.
What the hell has happened to me? I was perfectly fine last night. Well, apart from my standoff with Caleb everything else seemed okay. Nothing happened out of the ordinary,especially compared against some of the eventful nights I’ve had so far at Stonebrooke.
I dig deep and search my memories but nothing jumps out at me. I remember dinner. I remember heading back to our prison and I can remember the two of us chatting nothing but utter bullshit and it felt so good just to have someone to talk to… and then nothing. Everything zoned out from there until now.
We crashed at some point, and if I had any nightmares then I don’t remember them. Instant relief fills my chest, thankful that Flick wouldn’t have been disturbed by the pain of my past. Memories I shut down by day but I’m forced to relive and endure each night. Except for last night, it seems.
I can’t remember the last time my demons didn’t haunt me, trapped deep in my subconscious, but something numbed the pain. Hell, I could sure get used to the welcome break. The pounding head, not so much.
I haven’t felt this rough in years. It feels like I’ve drank my whole-body weight in alcohol. The chance would be a fine thing but I don’t think that’s something I’ll be experiencing anytime soon. First years don’t get to experience much, we just have to find ways to exist—to exist without disturbing anyone else.
Inhaling deep through my nose, I push through the dull ache, forcing my eyes open. Not that I can see all too much. Darkness graces my vision. Lights out means lights out down here. Our oil lamp must have burned out at some point during the night but I still try to focus, pushing past my blurred vision as I slowly adjust to my surroundings.
The faint sound of Flick’s breathing tells me she’s still dead to the world. A rush of jealousy consumes me because rightnow I’d do anything to be able to close my eyes and sleep off this pounding headache, but I can’t.
My whole body is on edge. Something has disturbed me and pulled me out of my sleep. The thought sends a ripple of unease through my body. I can’t shift the feeling that there’s someone here, hidden in the darkness, watching me as I sleep.
“I’m being stupid.” I tell myself. I know it’s probably my paranoid mind overthinking every possible opportunity as usual. Working overtime, trying to manifest my biggest fears into my reality. Creating problems which aren’t there.
There’s only me and Flick here. I made sure to lock the door and check it three times, the way I’ve always done. I’m just being paranoid. Extra sensitive because I feel delicate. Maybe I did have a bad dream and I just don’t remember it and my body is still trying to fight off the invisible threat.
I’m safe. The monsters aren’t out to get me anymore.
I try to fight it but anxiety knots deep in my stomach, my heart beating faster as a flicker of movement dances in my peripheral. My chest rises and falls rapidly, my breathing picking up speed as the realization that me and Flick aren’t alone becomes a possibility.
My eyes scan the room, trying and failing to seek out the intruder but it’s pointless because I can’t see shit. I don’t allow that obstacle to deter my stubborn mind though as I force myself up the bed while willing my eyes to focus, but I still struggle to see anything.
“Did you miss me, buttercup?”
I bite down on my scream as it threatens to break free when the familiar sound of Dane’s voice cuts through the silence,instant fear seeping deep into my body, right down to the marrow of my bones.
“How do you get in here?” I demand, not really expecting an answer, and Dane rewards me with silence just like I knew he would. He might think he holds the power here, but there’s no way I’m going to sit back and allow him to silence me into submission. That’s not my style. Never has been and I’m not about to change… not for him or for anyone else.
“How long have you been watching me for?” I press, my shaken voice barely a whisper as I try to remain calm and unaffected by his sudden and unexpected appearance in my room.
“Long enough.” He finally breaks the silence after a few beats, and I don’t miss the hint of danger in his tone. I’m rendered speechless as his open confession hangs heavy like a deadweight in the stagnant air between us and my stomach knots some more, a mixture of fear and excitement courses through my body at the thought of him watching me sleep. I should be disgusted but it makes me hot. Flustered, desperate to feel his wicked touch again.
“What do you want, Dane?” I can’t see him clearly but I can still feel the heat of his eyes burning into me, scorching my skin, marking me for all eternity.
“Would you believe me if I said I’d missed you and that smart ass mouth of yours?”
I shake my head as his words hit me. “I’d say I’m surprised you remember who I am.”
“What…”
“Well, you didn’t say shit to me last night in front of your brothers.” I hate myself for being so open. The last thing I want is for Dane to think I care, or worse… that he has some kind of hold over me. Hell, I shouldn’t fucking care where he’s concerned, but my body betrays me at every fucking turn wherever he’s involved. It’s annoying as fuck.
“You feeling left out?” He mocks. “I’d tell you I’m sorry but apologies aren’t in my vocabulary.”
