Page 21 of Shattered Dreams

Mav

You have two minutes before I change my mind and don’t let you in.

Cal

On my way!

Willa

$50 says he loses the first race.

Me

I’m not dumb enough to take that bet.

Cal

Fuck you guys.

I snicker and toss my phone on the nightstand.

I’m just about to turn the lights out and try to get some sleep when I hear a blood-curdling scream coming from the room next to me.Belle.

I’m instantly on my feet and banging on the door that connects our rooms.

“Belle!” I scream as my fist pound on the door. “Belle! Open the door!”

She screams again, and I feel it hit me like a knife. I back up and run at the door, shoulder first. Pain flairs when I connect with the wood and I can hear it splinter, but it’s still closed. So I back up again and run at it with everything I have.I’m coming mo chridhe.

This time the door gives, and I stumble into the dark room. There’s a sliver of moonlight that illuminates the room enough for me to see Belle on her bed. I rush to her. Her limbs are tangled in the sheets, and she’s covered in sweat. Tears fall down her face as she screams again.

“Belle,” I whisper as I gently shake her shoulders, trying to wake her.

“No!” she screams as she thrashes. My heart breaks seeing her like this. So broken by a man that he can still get to her in her sleep.

“Belle, it’s Kai. Wake up,” I say as gently as I can.

“Kai. . .” she mumbles but doesn’t wake. Her grip on the sheets relaxes, and I can see her body visibly calm.

I push the sweaty hair out of her face and look at her. Her face is no longer contorted in fear and pain, making her look peaceful. She’s wearing a baggy t-shirt with our band’s logo on it and pink sleep shorts. Everything is covered in sweat and she’s getting goose bumps.

Before I can think more about it, I scoop her up in my arms and take her to my room. She buries her face in my chest, and I hold her tighter. Walking carefully around the ruined door, I put her down on my bed as gently as I can.

Grabbing my phone, I quickly call Willa.

“I swear, if you tell me you’re bored now too —”

“Willa. I need you to come to my room. Belle was having a nightmare,” I tell her quickly.

“Fuck. Alright. Two seconds,” she says and hangs up.

I watch Belle sleep. She’s so beautiful, it’s physically painful to look at her, but I can’t stop. All the pain she carries throughout her day is more obvious when she’s sleeping peacefully. The minute that realization hits, so does the rage.

I stomp over to my door and swing it open to see Willa standing there, fist raised like she was about to knock. She’s in the same t-shirt as Belle, and her lilac hair is in a messy bun on the top of her head.

“Her sheets are soaked from sweat. So are her clothes. I couldn’t wake her up, so I moved her in here. I don’t think I should be the one to change her.”

Willa nods. The look on her face is indecipherable.

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