Page 85 of Depraved

I opened my eyes, and for a brief moment, I was still there hanging from the ceiling. All I could do was swing my arms and ball my fists, crying and screaming while desperately trying to fight.

“Alyx! Stop. Stop. It’s okay.”

I screamed again.

“Alyx! It’s me. It’s me…Onyx.”

I opened my eyes and looked right at the familiar face. Onyx grabbed my wrists and pulled me toward him, wrapping his arms tightly around me.

“Jesus, Alyx. It’s okay.”

The relief that flowed over me was indescribable. It was like water over dry sand, and I soaked it all up right before sobs wracked through my body.

“It’s okay.” He rocked me back and forth while I continued to cry into his shoulder. “It was just a nightmare.”

The tears kept coming, and I couldn’t stop.

He weaved his hand through the hair on the back of my neck while clutching me against him. “I got you. It’s okay.”

His touch was warm against my neck, and the way he held me felt comforting, slowly easing away the horror of what I had just experienced. And as the realization of it only being a nightmare started to sink in, my sobs turned into soft, labored breaths.

Onyx pulled away an inch to look at me. “You okay?”

I nodded even though I screamed “no” on the inside.

He wiped a strand of hair from my face, fingers gently touching my cheek. “You sure?”

I nodded again, but this time I pulled away from him. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? Because you scared the bejesus out of me when I heard you scream like that. What the fuck did you dream?”

I wiped my nose with the back of my hand. “Nothing.”

He raised a brow. “That sure as fuck didn’t sound like nothing.”

“I’m fine.” I scooted up, pressing my back against the headboard. “Really. I’m fine.”

He seemed doubtful as he looked at me. “You sure?”

“Yeah.”

“Good.” He placed his hands on his knees, suddenly seeming uncomfortable. “Can I get you anything? Coffee? Sugar water? Xanax?”

I snorted. “If I say Xanax, can you give me ten?” I sniffed.

“Don’t push it.” He winked, his lips curled up in a half-smile.

I pulled my knees up to my chest. My heart was still pounding against my ribs, my gut still heavy with fear even though I felt the relief of it all being a nightmare.

“So, are you going to tell me what it was?”

I glanced at Onyx. “What do you mean?”

“What your nightmare was about?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Onyx nodded. “As long as you know you’re safe now.”