Page 62 of Hiding for the Holidays
“Stay,” Grant says, with a hand on my shoulder.
“Do you feel okay?” Leo asks, and I take a second to assess myself. I feel… really good.
“Yeah, I feel good. I’m sorry I blacked-out. I wanted to return the favor.”
Leo grins as he strokes my lower legs in his lap. “We have plenty of time, there is no rush. Just try to relax and watch the movie. You’ve had a pretty busy day.”
I nod and turn my eyes to the movie. I feel pretty sleepy. Maybe just a little nap.
The next time I open my eyes, I’m surrounded by darkness, and my brow furrows in confusion.
Where am I?
I can’t make out much since it’s so dark here, but I feel a soft bed around me.
A creak in the room has my head whipping around, but I can’t make anything out. I feel my pulse quicken and I start to sweat.
“I-is someone there?” I whisper into the room. There’s no response, and after a moment, I hear another creak of the floorboards. It’s definitely coming from inside the room.
I try to sit up, but my body is frozen. I try to wiggle my fingers but they won’t respond.
What’s happening to me?
I try to yell for help, but all that comes out is a tiny whimper. The floor creaks again and a dark shape emerges at the foot of the bed.
“I told you I’d find you,” the voice says as he leans forward and grabs my ankles. I would recognize Scott’s voice anywhere.
I scream, my voice finally breaking free and he lunges, jumping on top of me as his hands wrap around my neck. My hands, finally able to move, grab his hands and try to pull them off me but they won’t budge.
I try to yell for help, but my airway is completely cut off. Tears leak down my face as I squirm and buck and try to get him off me, but he just laughs in my face.
My vision grows blurry as I try to reach for his face, but my arms are too short. My mouth opens and closes, unable to get sound out and he chuckles.
“Oh, Rosie, I love seeing you like this, at my mercy. Rosie. ROSIE!” His voice changes to a worried tone, one that doesn’t sound like him at all. He pulls me up by my neck and slams me back down against the pillow as he yells again, “ROSIE!!”
My eyes fly open and I gasp, struggling for breath. My hands fly to my throat as I take in the well lit bedroom. Asher, Grant and Leo all sit around me on the bed, looking as terrified as I feel.
“W-where is he?” I whisper, my voice feeling hoarse and rough.
“You were dreaming, Rosie,” Grant says sadly.
I allow myself to take in what he just said as my eyes dart around the room in confusion. He isn’t here. I was dreaming.
“My neck feels bruised,” I tell him as I rub my hand over it.
He pulls my hand away to take a look, then shakes his head. “It’s not, I think it was just a very powerful nightmare.”
“Here, drink this; it will help,” Leo says as he gently moves a glass of water to my lips. I cover his hand with mine as he slowly tips it up, letting me drink slowly.
I wipe my mouth as I tell him, “Thank you, I feel a bit better. I’m just a little confused. I guess I was dreaming that hewas in here. He was strangling me.” I rub my throat again, and Grant moves to sit beside me, leaning against the headboard and pulling me into his side.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. We’re here now, and we’re not going anywhere.”
“You’ll stay?” I ask as I grip his shirt and look up at him. I feel weak for asking, but the thought of being left alone in here again has my heart racing in fear.
“Of course, as long as you want me.”
“I don’t want to sleep alone. Is that bad? I feel so weak for asking, but I’m scared.”
