Page 28 of Master of My Heart

“Sabrina... Sabrina...”

He’s calling, but he can’t find me. I see him in the darkness, walking... looking... searching for me. But he can’t see me.

I hear a growl, seeing him looking in my direction. He knows I’m here, but he can’t see me. I can feel his anger and frustration.

“I will find you, Sabrina. You are mine and cannot escape.”

He runs toward me blindly, then I feel him wrap his arms around me.

I push against him. I don’t want him to find me. I want to be free! “No!” I exclaim, grabbing his arm and trying to pull it away, but he is too strong. He pinches harder and kisses my neck.

“Mine, Sabrina. You are mine.”

I whimper as his hand slides down between my legs.

“No... no... No!” I cry and twist away from him. His eyes flash with anger as he lunges toward me.

“No!” Sabrina screamed, sitting up in bed, sweat streaming down her back and face.

Her eyes snapped open, but she was blind in the darkness. Where is he?! her mind screamed. She still felt the ghostly arms around her. She tried to stand, but something twisted around her body and legs immobilized her. Sobbing, she desperately pulled against the restraint.

Light appeared near her and she screamed again. Whatever held her loosened. She fell away from the light onto the hard floor. The impact knocked the breath out of her. She turned onto her hands and knees, struggling to suck in much-needed oxygen.

A man approached. She yelped and crawled away from him, knocking her head into a hard object. She twisted around and stared in horror as the man towered over her in the darkness.

“Sabrina? What—” He reached out, and she screamed and shook him off.

He crouched down and held his hands up. His voice was soft and soothing. “Sabrina, it’s okay. It’s Jayson.”

She froze, trying to place the name. Images flashed before her eyes. Trains. Drinking. Dancing. Cereal...

“Jayson?” she whimpered.

“Yeah, Sabrina. It’s Jayson.” He slowly reached out again. This time, she didn’t scream or shrink away. “You’re okay. Do you remember where you are?”

After a few deep breaths to slow her racing mind and heart, she remembered. “Boston?” she whispered. “Your apartment?”

“Yeah.” Jayson sat down next to her and took her hand. “Did you have a nightmare?”

She nodded and opened her mouth to tell him what happened, but the vision was gone.

“Do you have nightmares a lot?”

“My life was a nightmare,” she said, then bit her lip, scolding herself for admitting such a thing.

He squeezed her hand. Warmth spread through her body, helping calm her erratic heartbeat. “I’m so sorry to hear that,” he whispered. “I hope this is a new beginning for you.”

They sat silently for a few minutes as her pulse returned to normal.

“Are you hungry?” he asked after a while, breaking the silence.

“Hungry?”

“Yeah. Some buddies of mine come over on Wednesdays and we play poker. The pizza just arrived, if you want some. Or there’s healthier stuff in the fridge.”

Sabrina took a deep breath, smelling the pizza, and her stomach rumbled. “That sounds good,” she admitted, thankful for the change in subject. How long has it been since I’ve had something as simple as pizza?

Jayson stood and helped her to her feet.

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