Page 73 of Silver Secrets

“Shit. Sloane? It’s okay. You’re safe. Remember, we’re at The Trident? We were sparring and the lights just went out.”

She stepped back, tripping over something.Her shackle. It was wrapped around her ankle, holding her in place. Trapping her. The darkness was disorienting, if she could just get a little light, she could run.

“No, no. Don’t touch me, please don’t touch me. You can’t… I can’t be here. I can’t be back here again.”

“Okay. I won’t touch you. But I need you to slow down your breathing. You’re hyperventilating. Can you sit down?”

“N-no.”

“Can I help you? I’ll have to touch your arm again.”

She shook her head, even though it was a useless gesture in the dark. “Can’t. Can’t move.” She bent forward, trying to get air into her lungs. Tears were streaming down her face but her mind wouldn’t break free enough to let her wipe them away.

“You’re going to hurt yourself. I’m so sorry, Sloane, but down you go.”

“NOOOO!” She screamed, her throat burning with terror.

“STONE!! Where the hell are you guys?”

Gage’s panicked roar pulled something loose in her chest. A light bounced out in front of a shadowed figure. Shit, she tried to blink, but her vision was blurry.

They dropped to their knees in front of her. “Hey, Red. You’re okay. You’re okay.”

The fog was still so thick in her mind. “No, please,” she whimpered. “Please don’t touch me. Don’t hurt me. Please.”

“It’s Gage, baby. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m not. I’ll keep you safe. I promise. Can you look in my eyes? You are so fucking brave, Sloane. Look up and see that it’s me. Look up and see that you’re safe.”

She shook her head. “The darkness…”

“I know. I’m so sorry, Sloane. Here.” He pressed something into her hand. The flashlight. “You control the light. Okay? Is that better?”

She kept her eyes glued to Gage’s face as her shoulders relaxed and her breathing evened out. “I hate the dark,” she whispered.

“I know you do, sweetheart. I know. I’m so sorry. I’m going to touch you now, is that okay?”

She shook her head, hating the disappointment that flashed across his face before he hid it away behind a smile. “Okay. We can just sit here until you’re ready.”

“No. I, yes… I mean,” she forced herself to take a breath. “Could you give me a hug?”

“You don’t have to ask twice.” Gage gathered her in his arms, twisting so his ass hit the floor while she rested on his lap.

“God, that was so scary.” She nuzzled her face closer to his neck, breathing in that sandalwood scent she was starting to associate with comfort and safety. “I hate how my mind works.”

“What do you mean?”

“I hate that it forces me to hide. To break down. I’m stronger than that. I train so hard to be able to protect myself and no matter what I do, the part of my brain that is still so fearful and damaged just takes over. There’s no rationalizing with it. I literally can be screaming in my head for my body to do something and it just won’t. That’s how it was when Lily and I were in that cabin together. I was so strong. I was able to push through. But the minute he climbed on top of me… I just froze. I wasn’t going to fight him.”

“You know trauma is like that. One day, you’re laughing. Next, you’re trapped in your mind, reliving the worst days of your life. But you do the bravest thing I’ve ever seen anyone do, Red.”

“What’s that?”

“You keep going.”

Her arms reached around Gage and squeezed. “I know someone else who did that. And I’m so grateful that he did,” she whispered.

A kiss pressed into her hair before she started to stand.

“You okay?” Stone asked as she stepped towards him.

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