A flash of a black hoodie rushes past me, making me choke on a terrified scream. I'm not scared for myself, but terrified of what he finds as he crashes to his knees a few yards away from me.
Where's Mama?
I swear I just saw her a few minutes ago. She said she would follow. Mama told me to go inside, so I did. I should have stayed with her. Maybe then she wouldn't be missing and I wouldn't feel like I'm going to die without her.
MAMA! Nothing comes out, only a pained whimper. A plea for someone to fix the mistake I've made. Someone bring Blue back! I need her.
Suddenly my throat begins to burn, and bile rushes past the barrier of anxiety. I turn to hurl into the nearby bush, butI'm shoved off balance and struck in the hip with something solid.
Vines of horror wrap around my throat, halting the fiery bile where it rose. It feels like my esophagus is burning, which only heightens my fear.
My vision swirls as worried eyes stare down at me. I can't make out who they are, but they aren't helping me anyway.
Just as I lose sight of the murky world around me, the sound of someone talking jolts me awake for a moment longer. "You are the only one who can help yourself, Violet."
My eyes fly open at the sound of the voice ricocheting through my brain.Mama?I can't fucking speak! I can't shout for her to come get me. Words don't make it further than a terrified croak at the back of my throat.
Tears blur my vision as I rapidly look around to see her. Maybe Jared was wrong and he didn't find her blood on the ground. Maybe Mama was with me this whole time, and I just got lost. When I'm lost, she's always there.
But she wasn't. She went missing. And it was all my fault.
"Breathe..."
A muffled curse follows Mama's encouragement. "Breathe, my love."
The endearment slams a shocked gasp into my lungs.
"I want Blue!" I scream on my exhale, lunging for the sound of my mama's voice. "I want my mom!"
"Whoa, Sweets..."
Warmth rubs lines up my back, and something encompasses my chin, making me screech and rip to the side.Where am I? Why am I sitting up?
"Hey, hey, hey! Careful," the masculine voice warns me right as the touch on my chin snaps to my bicep.
"Is she okay?" a quiet voice asks. "Here." Just as the new voice says that, a lamp is flipped on.Cassidy.
As if Cassidy flipped a switch inside of me, I release a big breath and slump forward. With my face in my palms, I finally register the fact that Jamie is sitting on my bed, chatting quietly with my friend.
Once I hear Cass leave and close my bedroom door behind her, I peek between my fingers to glance at the man in my bed. A man who has never once been in here, let alone inside of my apartment.
"I'm too tired to ask," I murmur when he just continues to stare at me.
He winces and moves to petting my thigh. "Sorry, Sweets. Cassidy texted me. You were screaming in your sleep, and she didn't know how to help."
I blink. He should know what I'm going to ask now.
"She has my number because she was helping me plan a birthday surprise for you. Nothing more. I'm glad she had it for tonight," he whispers, plucking my left hand from my face. "What were you dreaming about? Your mom, right?"
Tears immediately fill my eyes as I recall the warpeddream I had. Two different traumatic scenarios wove together to create something truly awful.
"Come here," Jamie coos, tugging me onto his lap so I'm cradled sideways in his arms. "Just please keep breathing. You stopped for a moment there, and it scared the shit out of me."
"I'm so?—"
"Don't apologize. Just tell me what your nightmare was about if you feel comfortable to. Or just rest and try to fall back asleep. Here, take a sip." He presses the spout of my water bottle to my mouth, and I greedily suck the cool liquid down.
"Thank you," I sigh once I'm done.
