“You’re a great big brother, Drake,” I murmured to him. “She’ll be okay. They’ll figure it out.”
I didn’t know if I was trying to convince him or myself.
Chapter 8
I was standing in an abandoned building. The floor was stained. The windows were all shattered out. The wind howled relentlessly. I was dressed in a white nightgown. My feet were bare. I was cold. So cold.
I could hear a baby crying in the distance. I knew I had to go save the baby. It was in danger. I ran towards the wailing. I ran over glass. My feet were cut open. I ran through fire. I could smell the smoke from my hair.
Every time I thought I was close to the crying, it would stop. Then it would start in another direction. More obstacles popped up. Hindering me from finding the baby.
Tears were falling from my eyes. I was getting frustrated. The baby sounded distressed. I pushed open a door. The room was sterile white. It looked like a bare hospital room. A bassinet sat in the middle of the room. I crept towards it. Suddenly, Collin and Steven were in front of me.
Collin had a gaping wound in his chest and Steven had a bullet hole in his head.
“You’re too late, Blake,” Steven shook his head sadly.
“You weren’t quick enough,” Collin stuck his hands in his pocket and stared down at the ground.
“I tried,” I cried out to them. “Y
ou have to believe me!”
I ran over to the bassinet. It was now empty. The crying had stopped.
“How can they believe you?” a cold voice said from behind me. “You’re just a scared, little girl. You aren’t as strong as you think you are. If you were, you wouldn’t have so much blood on your hands.”
I looked down at my hands. They were now covered in blood. No matter how hard I tried to wipe them off onto my nightgown, it wouldn’t come off. I screamed out in pain, hopelessness, and fear.
Beautiful, wake up. Jaxson murmured. I felt the cooler air hit my skin as he slid in my sleeping bag with me. It’s just a dream. You’re safe. You’re with me.
The nightmare was still gripping me in paralysis. I could barely think logically. In the blackest part of the night I believed I was a failure. I believed I had let Collin and Steven down. I had failed them. They would never watch their children grow up because of me.
I tried to stop the tremors that wracked my body. They wouldn’t stop. I tried to stifle the tears that fell from my eyes but I was too powerless.
It’s okay beautiful. I’m here. Sleep. Jaxson wrapped his arms around me, spooning me from behind, as he rubbed my arms.
Some nights it worked. I didn’t think it would tonight. The nightmare still gripped me. The fire was dying a few feet away from us, and the cold from the ground and the air was seeping into my bones. I regretted not pulling on some warmer clothes. Instead, I had just thrown on a long sleeve t-shirt. I was hot when I fell asleep.
The snow was now falling in earnest above the pool. I trembled.
I’m cold. I mumbled to Jaxson. He was dressed in just his boxers, but I could feel the heat radiating off him. It just wouldn’t penetrate my chilled skin.
I looked around and noticed all the guys were sleeping soundly. They loved the cold. Of course they were sleeping soundly.
I’ll go add some wood to the fire. He volunteered.
I smiled. Thank you. Hurry up! I need you to fall back to sleep.
He gave me a tired crooked smile but withdrew from my sleeping bag. He ran over to the fire and added a generous number of logs before he ran back over to me.
It’s cold out there! Look at that snow come down. Jaxson exclaimed as he slid back in next to me.
He was now cold. I jokingly groaned. Nothing like an ice-cold body to wake you up further. I wasn’t going to complain, though. He had fed the fire for me, while I was ensconced in my sleeping bag. I really didn’t think I could sleep right now anyways. Sleep eluded me.
Some nights, he was able to lull me back to sleep with just his presence alone. When I was wrapped in his arms I was comforted by the thought that he would protect me. It was an inane thought, but I had tricked myself into believing it numerous times. The curve of his arms and body around me made me feel protected. Even from myself.
As if he read my thoughts, he rolled over onto his back and pulled me into his arms. The gentle rhythmic beating of his heart was comforting. I watched the snow come down and weaved my fingers through one of his hands as his other hand stroked my arm.