Page 12 of The Pretty Psycho

"A-Adrian?" It was a raspy question on her lips, but it sounded like the sweetest song to my ears. She started lifting herself up, her eyes taking in her surroundings, when panic washed over her features and her hands started pushing against the sheets covering her. "No, no, no."

"Vega, stop it. Vega."

"Please, no," she cried out as my fingers wrapped around her wrists, stopping her from hurting herself. "Please don't hurt me. Please." Her tear-filled eyes locked with mine, shattering my heart all over again at the pure fear I could see in them. "Don't hurt me."

"Never, Bambi." My voice was barely above whisper. "I could never hurt you."

Her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths, while her lower lip trembled. She was killing me. Killing. Me. And I had no idea what to do to calm her. To show her she was safe, that no one was coming for her.

The biggest monster was already in this room with her, and I would rather cut my veins open than hurt her.

I didn't think, didn't even stop to take off my shoes, before climbing into the bed with her, smiling softly at her wide eyes following my every move.

"You're safe now, Vega," I murmured, positioning myself next to her, almost falling off of the bed. "I won't let anyone hurt you. I'm here, baby girl. I'm here."

She turned toward me, her body slowly relaxing as her IV-free hand slowly pressed over my chest, feeling my rapid heart underneath her fingers. I pushed my right arm underneath her, pulling her closer, needing her touch, to know that she was okay.

"You're in the hospital, Bambi. You're with me."

She looked up at me, the bruising around her left eye destroying the calmness I was trying to cling to, when the dam broke, flooding over, letting her tears fall down her cheeks as her body shook, moving me and the bed along with her.

"H-He," she hiccuped. "Oh my God, Adrian."

"Shhhh," I soothed her, tightening my hold on her, hoping she could take my strength and use it. I would give her anything just to erase the sadness clinging to her like a second skin. "I got you. I fucking got you."

"I-I can't b-believe he d-did this. I… I'm so sorry." Fuck. FUCK.

My eyes closed, unable to bear the brunt of the emotions flowing from her to me. She was apologizing. To me. Fucking fuck. I wanted to ask who it was. I wanted to know whose name I should carve on the tombstone I was about to prepare, but I couldn’t.

Not right now.

Not when she was in this state.

"This wasn't your fault, baby. None of this is your fault."

"I-I tried f-fighting," she sobbed. "I tried."

"I know," I mumbled, pressing my lips to her hair. "I know you did, because you're strong. You're the strongest person I know. You're my little warrior, Bambi, and you will survive this."

She had to survive this. She. Had. To.

The sound of her crying filled the room, her sorrow enveloping us, pulling us into the darkness, but I didn't dare move. I didn't dare say another thing, letting her cry it all out. Letting her exorcize the demons fighting inside of her. I couldn't even imagine what she felt right now.

I couldn't imagine what thoughts raced through her head, but I'd be here even if it killed me. I'd be here to help her through it, no matter what, because this wasn't about me. As much as her pain killed me, this wasn't about my feelings. What I felt, my anger, my sorrow, none of it mattered, because it was nothing compared to the devastation racking her body.

So I held her tighter and loved her harder as she let out all the pain she felt, allowing me to be here with her. And as her sobs quieted and her body stopped shaking, she looked up at me, breaking me with the determined look on her face.

"This changes nothing, Adrian." Her voice was steady, strong, and I knew she was nowhere near done fighting me.

But she should've known that I was nowhere near ready to let her go. She should've known that dancing with the darkness meant that said darkness would want to keep her forever.

Her eyes fluttered closed, her head resting on my chest, and as her breathing evened, telling me she fell asleep again, I pressed my cheek to the top of her head, smiling. "This changes everything, Bambi."

5

VEGA

There werepeople in my hospital room, and yet the only person I truly wanted to see was nowhere to be found.

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