My body goes cold with dread, and I don’t hesitate this time. I turn to run, but something I can’t see strikes my face, sending me sprawling in the dirt. Crying, I reach up and touch my face. Dark liquid coats my fingers, and I start shaking. Riley is by my side in an instant, helping me up.
“I’m sorry!” he cries.
Why is he saying sorry? He didn't hit me.
The burning feeling from my stomach races through me, and hot fire burns my body, making me stumble. I fall to the ground again. Riley tries to pull me up, but I can’t move. I’m hurting too much. I don’t think I’ve ever felt pain this bad before, even when I broke my arm jumping out of the tree at school.
Rushing footsteps approach us, and Riley jumps to his feet.I see a dark shadow wrap around his leg and pull, causing Riley to fall heavy next to me, his head smashing the hard ground. His hand reaches for mine, gripping it. Tears roll down my cheeks in quick succession.
“I’m sorry,” Riley whispers, our eyes locked.
Suddenly Riley is yanked away from me. I scream his name, reaching for him, but he’s dragged away from me into the mist. Riley’s hands claw at the dirt, desperately trying to get away. Before he disappears, his eyes lock on mine in pure terror. Then he’s gone.
I cover my ears, crying as the sound of bones cracking fills the air, my brother’s scream joining them. There is a loud crunch, and then silence. My body aches, but I manage to lift my head and look around the dark forest.
“Riley!!” I cry into the dark night.
My heart is hammering so hard in my chest I feel sick. My tears mingle with the blood on my face. Having no energy left, I lay my head back down in the dirt and close my eyes.
“Riley,” I sob over and over.
A gentle hand strokes my face. No one has ever been gentle with me. I shift, feeling soft silk sheets under me, and realize I’ve been dreaming. I pry my eyes open, not ready for the set of turquoise eyes that will be looking down at me.
Salena bends, kissing my cheeks softly, wiping away the tears that have been falling. My stomach twists at her seeing me like this. This is why I don’t have sleepovers. These damn nightmares. Embarrassment floods me, and I go to roll off the bed, but she’s quicker than I expect, and straddles me. Against my wishes, my cock hardens.
“Don’t leave,” she whispers.
My voice is rough when I manage to speak. “I think it's best.”
The emotions from my nightmare are still swirling around in my chest. I don’t have them as often as I used to, but when I do, it’s the same every time.
“You don’t have to talk. Just, don’t leave. Please,” she begs.
Drawing in a deep breath and releasing it slowly, I give a small nod in response.
Sliding off me, she curls into my side, her fingers tracing Riley’s name on my chest. I bring my hand up and cover hers over my heart.
“No one believed me,” I whisper hoarsely into the dark.
“What happened?” she asks, and quickly adds, “You don’t have to tell me.”
I squeeze her hand gently before answering, “They all thought I was in shock. Maybe I was, but . . . ”
“You don’t have to tell me,” she murmurs again, stroking my face.
She never looks at my scars with disgust or pity. I like that, with her, I don’t feel like I need all that heavy armor wrapped around me. I can just be. It is so freeing. I’m tired of keeping everyone at a distance, and I don’t want to do that with her. She’s the first person apart from Sander that I’ve wanted to open up to.
“When I was five, my brother and I went exploring the woods one night. He was my older brother, and we did everything together. I knew something wasn’t right that night, I tried to get him to go back, but he wouldn’t listen.” My voice lowers as I continue, “Something was stalking us in the dark, and my brother was killed. After the attack, my parents withdrew from me, they couldn’t even look at me. I was a reminder of my brother. The scars on my body are a reminder of what happened. A week after I was released from the hospital, my dad dropped me off at a bus station and put me on a bus heading for Portland. That’s the last time I saw him. My parents just abandoned me. I lost everyone I loved, all in one week.”
Salena’s body trembles. I think she may be crying, and I don’t think I can handle that. But she is suddenly sitting up and launching herself off the bed. I sit up, startled by her sudden movement. Her wild eyes lock on mine in the dark, burning like the hottest flame. I notice her fists are clenched and her shoulders are bunched.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now!” she shouts.
My brows drop and I tilt my head as I watch her. I reach over and turn on the bedside lamp, needing to see her better. I wasn’t expecting this reaction from her.
“Sorry?” I ask, confused.
Her jaw clenches and her hands ball into fists. “They fucking left you?! You were just a kid. You witnessed your brother getting killed. What selfish fucking–” she cuts herself off and starts pacing, muttering under her breath. I am completely bewildered by her reaction. She’s so angry, it looks like she’s ready to go to war for me. I was expecting pity. But this . . . this is . . . this is unbelievably sexy.
