Page 32 of Frosted Torment

A warm sensation moved through my body. The excruciating pain in my head started to dissipate, and I wiggled my fingers and toes. My body soon relaxed into the mattress.

I turned to rub my arm, and Nakoma came into focus. He wore aqua-colored medical scrubs and clung to a stethoscope with slim fingers. The smooth, rich brown tone of his skin accentuated the lines of his muscles and chiseled jaw. And his long black hair was pulled back into a braided pony-tail.

His soft chestnut eyes penetrated mine, refusing to let go. I slunk back from him as he observed me. They all wanted what I had, but I didn’t know how to reach it. Within two days, I became part of a world I never knew existed and was uncertain about my future in it. How would I ever protect myself?

“Rest, Noa. I’ll be back to check on you later,” he stated with a pat on my arm.

As the door closed, a heavy silence settled in the room. I wasalone, trapped in the darkness with only my racing thoughts for company. My purpose, whatever it entailed, weighed heavily on my mind, casting shadows of doubt and fear.

I tried to steady my breathing, willing myself to remain calm amidst suffocating uncertainty. But the grip of anxiety tightened around my heart, along with slumber. The unknown can be a cruel companion when facing the prospect of death.

CHAPTER 13

My eyes shot open as morning screamed through the window. As soon as I pulled the covers up over my head to block the light, Lex stepped into the doorway wearing black fight training shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt. His muscles bulged sideways from all the training he had done.

Time to wish away any thoughts that perked my desires for him as I hid in my blanket cave. He was lethal with that body, but I made a promise to my friendship with Ivy. I wouldn’t go back on it. After two deep breaths, I peeked out from under the sheets.

Damnit!

He caught my eye and walked closer. He also carried a glass with him and set it on the nightstand. I felt every ache slice through my bones and sat up.

I didn’t know what on earth I’d gotten myself into by following them here. I could barely lift the rim of the cup to mynose, but when I did, the smell of eggs and licorice punched my nose.

I gagged and slammed the cup down on the nightstand. “What is this?”

“Consider it immunity support.” He stood with arms crossed, and every muscle flexed out in the open as the light caught each line of definition.

On his right thigh, an intricate tattoo of a triangle encasing an eye stared back at me in the middle of a dream catcher. Black feathers cascaded around it, falling from the sky. I focused harder, and a tree blooming with small pink flowers rose up behind it as the roots branched out below it.

I sucked in a sharp breath at the similarity of the tree compared to the one that the man hijacking my mind had shown me.

Lex rolled his eyes and pointed to the cup. “Drink.”

“I’m getting to it.” My fingernails tapped the side of the glass, and I gestured my head in an upward motion. “Interesting tattoo,” I said.

“Oh,” he smiled. “It’s the all-seeing eye. We each have some variation of it.”

“What is that tree?” I asked, trying to memorize every detail.

Lex traced the lines of his tattoo and smiled. “It represents the tree where we fell. The one I told you about in the story.”

I nodded, praying he couldn’t see my mind racing at what it might mean for me, but his reaction didn’t tell me he did. Something told me I should keep the mystery man and his brain chatter to myself for the time being. It was possible if he would stop trying to give me an aneurysm.

I grabbed the mug and brought the drink to my lips, tryingto find the courage to swallow the rotten sewage. Uncertain of how I felt about the new information, I needed to see if I could get to that tree somehow. I pinched my nose and held it as I swallowed in one chug and coughed hard.

“Disgusting,” I choked and stuck out my tongue, wishing the taste away.

He took the glass and inspected the contents with a smile. “Good.”

“My vape would help me the same way, you know.” I flung myself back onto the bed.

Deep lines formed between his eyebrows as he tilted his head down at me. “Don’t even think about it. We need your brain firing on all cylinders, so alcohol and weed are no longer part of your vocabulary.”

“You can’t be serious about me having to stop vaping,” I said with disbelief.

“I am. You need a clear head with demons after you.” He was stern, as if he were speaking to a child.

My lips pursed as I looked deep into Lex’s eyes. “Fine,” I said, my tone firm. “I’ll give up the vices if that’s what it takes to survive.”

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