“He cracked his neck. In the hallway,” I say, closing my eyes to fight back the images in my brain.
Alyx gets it immediately. “Like the boogeyman in your dreams.”
“It’s not a boogeyman.” I push up to sitting before bumping my shoulder into him. “It’s a man, I just don’t know who it is.”
“Has the therapy been helping?” He wraps an arm around my shoulder.
“I think so.”
“Who does the therapist think it is?”
“She thinks it could be a memory I’ve repressed that my brain only seems to share with me at night.”
He hums in response, seeming to accept the information. “When’s your next appointment?”
“I need to schedule it. We definitely have some new developments to discuss.”
“I’ll say.” A comfortable silence falls between us before he speaks again. “Do you ever think it’s weird thatIcan touch you?”
“Not really. You’re safe, like Ethan and my stepdad.”
He laughs, throwing his head back. “So I can touch you because you know I don’t want to fuck you?”
“I think?”
“You think? Emma, I definitely don’t want to fuck you,” he says, laughing harder, removing his arm from my shoulder and holding his hands out in front of him in surrender.
“No, I mean, I think that’s why. I know you don’t want to do that.” I smile, comforted at how easily he can calm me down.
I pick at a loose thread in the comforter as a comfortable silence fills the space. I’m aware of the faint sounds of music and sex, and I concentrate on that, willing the thoughts in my head to be quiet.
“You’re coming to my place tonight so I can keep an eye on you,” he says, noticing a shift in my demeanor.
“That’s not necessary.”
“It is, Em. You scared the shit out of me. I need to know that you’re going to be okay, especially if your nightmares are still happening.”
“Ethan won’t be there?” I ask, worried.
“Nope, he’s been staying at his girl’s place lately.” He crosses the room and pulls his keys out of his pocket.
Alyx has been best friends with my older brother Ethan foras long as I can remember, and he’s always treated me like he has his own sister.
“Can Ella come too?” I ask, hopeful he’ll let my younger sister crash the party.
“No underage girls in my apartment. I don’t have a lot of rules, but that’s non-negotiable. Ethan would probably freak out if he knewyouwere staying.”
“Fine. I’ll let Ella know to cover for me.” Since I’m not in summer classes, I’ve been staying at home until I can move back into the dorms, and I don’t want my mom to know that my nightmares are back.
——————
The shadowy figure stalks closer to me, and I’m paralyzed with fear. I can feel my arms and legs; they aren’t restrained, yet I can’t move them. He towers over me, his presence larger than life, and I instantly feel small, insignificant.
I need to get out of here, but he’s blocking the exit. How did he find me here? His tall, thick frame fills the door, illuminated by light from behind, casting his features in darkness.
His steps are slow and deliberate as he claps his hands, threading his fingers together and then flipping them out, palms toward me as he stretches them, cracking his knuckles before punching a palm with his fist as he approaches the side of the bed. I need to move, need to run, but I lay there motionless. He’s going to kill me.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” he spits at me as he grabs my arms, pinning me to the bed, and then he climbs on top of me, straddling me and holding me in place. He moves his neck from side to side, stretching it like he’s preparing for a fight. My adrenaline kicks in, but it’s too late as I buck against his hold.
