Page 83 of Aftermath
Red continued to grow.
The little girl I saved stood close behind me, her tiny hand on my shoulder.
“Go find help,” I instructed her, just as I had every single time I lived this nightmare.
The moment she sprinted off, I called out, hoping anyone would find us before it was too late. In my heart, I knew she was beyond help, but I continued to scream.
Arms pulled me into someone’s grasp. I fought against it until I heard her voice.
“Stone,” Len said frantically. “Stone, wake up! It’s a dream. Wake up.”
The desperation in her words snapped me out of it. I sat up and opened my eyes, finding her watching me. Her brows furrowed, her hands shaking on my shoulders. She pulled them back quickly.
I caught a glance at the clock hanging on the wall—10:00pm, which meant I hadn’t been asleep long. We’d spent the rest of the day looking over the case details until our eyes were heavy with sleep.
“I’m sorry. I heard you yelling. I thought something was wrong…”She slid back from the couch, ready to return to her room.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you,” I apologized.
“What were you dreaming of ?” she asked gently.
I took a deep breath. She already knew everything, the whole story. What harm would telling her this do?
“I have nightmares about Blythe and everything that happened,” I admitted.
She didn’t look shocked, nor did herfeatures slip into judgment. Instead, I found understanding.
“I have them too,” she said softly. “About my attack.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, knowing the pain and horror of the nightmares that plagued me nightly.
She shook her head.“You shouldn’t be alone down here,” she said, her brows bunching. “Being alone is the worst part. I’ve spent three years plagued by the nightmares, trust me. Just come up to bed with me. It’s yours anyway,” Len finished quietly.
I hesitated, knowing that if I took this, everything would change. I’d be giving in to every emotion I was ignoring, the entire reason I’d allowed her to help me with this case in the first place. Something I’d never experienced before her.
“Okay,” I said gently.
A smile spread across her face, and she stood, heading for the stairs.
It was just the nightmares. This was to help them, a purely selfish reason. Nothing beyond that. I couldn’t let myself feel more than that, could I? How could I keep Len safe if I let myself feel too much?
I walked up the stairs behind her, my head racing. No matter how much I wanted to run back down them, I couldn’t my mind needed this.
I needed this.
I needed just one night of sound sleep, no nightmares plaguing me. That was all.
I found myself back in the room I had given up earlier for Len. Her stuff was sprawled in the corner, but otherwise, it remained as I left it.
She climbed back under the covers and left enough room for me to join. Slowly, I followed behind her, hesitant to cross any boundaries.
You’re already well past boundaries.
Grey would not see this as acceptable if he found out.
Merely inches from each other, I could feel the warmth of her body. I held my breath, afraid to even move. Already, I could feel the tension leaving me, forgetting about the nightmares that consumed me. Len’s presence was comforting, and somehow, I felt safer around her.
You still barely know her.
