Page 83 of Promises in the Dark

I heard the wood splinter under me, shards stabbing into my skin. I tried to move, but I couldn’t. Every inch of me was screaming in pain.

Through the haze, I saw him looming over Mom, a sick smile twisting his face.

I tried to fight back, goddamn it, I tried. But it all went dark. The pain faded into nothingness as I slipped into unconsciousness, the last thing I heard being my mother’s screams echoing in my ears.

Another fucking night.

Another trip down memory lane.

That nightmare had its claws in me again, dragging me back to hell, drowning me in memories I wanted to burn to ash. But you can’t burn what’s carved into your soul like graffiti on a wall.

I bolted upright, sweat soaking through my shirt. I ran a hand through my hair, fingers trembling with anger and frustration. It was the same goddamn shit every night—replaying that scene over and over again. Mom’s tear-streaked face, Dad’s drunken rage, the sound of fists meeting flesh—it was all too fucking real. I wanted to punch something, anything, just to vent this rage boiling inside me.

I swung my legs over the side of the bunk, the shitty metal frame creaking beneath my weight. My hands clenchedinto fists, nails digging into my palms until I felt the sharp sting of blood.

I knew I had to get the fuck out of my room before I punched a hole in the wall so I grabbed my combat boots and yanked them on, the laces snapping tight against my ankles. The familiar weight of my dog tags against my chest was both comforting and suffocating.

I stormed out of the room, not giving a shit about the late hour or the bullshit curfew. The base was eerily fucking quiet, the only sound the distant hum of generators and the occasional hoot of an owl.

Where the hell was I going?

Viper popped into my head—laid up in the med bay with his busted leg, probably bored out of his mind. Figured I’d drop by, shoot the shit with him, anything to stop my brain from going full psycho after that nightmare.

I made my way through the maze of corridors, the cold air of the base chilling the sweat on my skin. Finally, I reached the med bay, the sterile smell of antiseptic hitting me like a slap in the face as I pushed open the door.

And there was Viper, sprawled out on one of those shitty white beds, looking like death warmed over. I snorted at the sight.

“Hey, asshole,” I greeted him, trying to sound casual. “How’s it hanging?”

He grinned up at me even in his sorry state. “Bored as hell, but I’ll live. What brings you here, man? Looking for some action?”

I shrugged, trying to shake off the tension that had been gripping me since that nightmare. “Couldn’t sleep. Figured I’d come bother your sorry ass.”

Before Viper could reply, my eyes fell on her—Red. She was standing at the far end of the room, her back turned to me as she scribbled something on a clipboard.

And here I was, caught off guard like a clueless idiot.

“Doc,” I greeted her, trying to keep the bitterness out of my voice, like seeing her there wasn’t throwing me for a loop.

“Lieutenant,” she replied cooly, barely looking at me before going back to whatever bullshit paperwork she was pretending to be so into.

Shit. This was awkward as hell.

I cleared my throat, my voice gruff. “What are you doing here?” I asked, trying to figure out why the hell she was still hanging around this place. “Thought you were done for the day.”

She glanced up from her clipboard, her eyes meeting mine for a split second before she looked away, busying herself with some bullshit paperwork.

“We’re short-staffed,” she replied curtly, her eyes flickering over me before returning to her clipboard. “So, I’m pulling some extra hours.”

I frowned, the silence stretching between us like a live wire. I watched her hustle around the room, tending to patients like a goddamn angel of mercy, and my mind, goddammit, it went straight to that worthless piece of shit.

“Where’s that dickhead?” I asked, referring to her ex. “Shouldn’t he be here doing his damn job?”

Smooth, Rogue. Real smooth.

Couldn’t stand the thought of her being anywhere near that bastard. I stepped closer to her, my hand reaching out to lift her chin from the clipboard she was gripping tightly.

Red’s jaw tightened, a muscle ticking in her cheek, knowing exactly what I meant.

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