Chapter 19
Avidya
Blood splattered my face, coating a thick slickness across the bed. I watched wide eyed as the color drained from Becca’s once colorful face. Her mouth was opened in a silent scream, begging for mercy as the knife sliced straight through her stomach to her back. Her own eyes were filled with such knowing horror.
There was no warning scream. No warning gunshot before the pain sliced through me, tearing a deep burning hole in my own chest.
I wasn’t sure if I was frightened by my friend dying,again,right there with my lack of saving her, or from the piercing pain that nearly killed me.
I screamed for help, and no one came to my rescue.
Before I knew what was happening, my screams became more pronounced as the smell of burning flesh assaulted me, making me nauseous.
The face of a man I hoped to never see again stood, smiling over me. He was thrilled. Thrilled with catching me.
Why me? Oh God, please make this end!
His predatory like eyes pinned me to the spot I was in, my scream silenced by his hand as he covered my mouth.
Gemini.
The one and only man that had taken me in the dead of night after killing my best friend stood there, happy and content as though he wasn’t dead.
“What Aaron doesn’t know won’t kill him,” he chuckled like what he was planning was a huge little secret. “He wants you dead, but I have a better idea. So much better.”
I whimpered from the pressure of not just the phantom gunshot, but also from his hand on my mouth, causing any sound I’d be able to make non-existent.
“You’ll be dead sooner or later,” he went on, his voice turning dark. “No one will find you, and Cody will do anything to have you back.”
“Cody wants her dead just as much,” Shemoli’s voice reached my ears, although it sounded like he was underwater. Or was I under water? “We need to just kill her.”
My lungs weren’t able to bring any air in. I felt like I was drowning.
Iwasdrowning.
“She’s mine,” Zachariah growled out before two gunshots echoed inside my head.
“Avidya, honey.” Zachariah’s voice broke through my dream, soft and soothing. He seemed a bit frazzled, too.
I couldn’t breathe. Why couldn’t I breathe?
Was I dying?
I was.
I was sure of it.
“Come on, honey,” Zachariah said, shaking me slightly. “Wake up. It’s only a dream.”
Oh God!
“Avidya!” Zachariah spoke harshly, jarring me awake instantly. My eyes flashed open at the bright light of the room.
Even awake, I couldn’t catch my breath. I panted, pleading with my husband to make it go away. I wanted to be able to breathe normally. To be normal. My chest was tight as I fought, and failed, to bring air into my lungs. My eyes watered in fear.
“You’re having a panic attack,” Zachariah spoke, his voice calm despite the fear that was coursing through my veins as I attempted to gasp in air. “You have to breathe. In. Out. In. Out.”
I tried to follow his breathing as he kept his cool, coaxing me to breathe along with him.
