Before either of us can answer, the door flies open. Everly barrels in, hair mussed, wearing an oversized hoodie. Faith is right behind her in a T-shirt and leggings. Robert and Caroline appear seconds later, Robert already moving like he’s done this before.
One look at the scene, me on the floor, hand pressed to my face, Charlie wild-eyed and shaking, and Caroline’s hand flies to her mouth.
“Oh God,” she whispers.
Everly doesn’t waste time. “Charlie,” she says sharply, but not unkindly, walking slowly toward him like she’s approaching a spooked horse, before crouching down to his eye level. “Hey. Look at me. It’s Ev. You’re safe.”
He flinches from her touch. “Where is he?” he rasps. “I lost him. I lost …”
“You didn’t lose anyone,” Robert says in a calm, even voice that makes the hair on my arms rise. “You’re not there. You’re here. With us.” He moves to stand between Charlie and the door, not blocking him, just … anchoring.
Everly reaches out, fingers brushing Charlie’s forearm gently. “Hey, big brother,” she murmurs. “Can you tell me where you are?”
Charlie’s jaw flexes. “I … I don’t …”
“Check in with me,” Everly says, coaxing. “Come on. What can you see?”
Charlie’s gaze flicks around, breath still loud. “Windows,” he manages. “Snow. The lake.”
“Good,” she says, nodding. “What can you hear?”
He swallows hard. “You. Dad. Mom. D …”
His eyes finally lock on mine.
And just like that, he’s back.
The wildness drains out of his expression, replaced by dawning horror.
“Derrick.” His voice cracks. “Oh my god.”
He crawls toward me, then stops short, like he’s afraid to get too close. “Did I …? Did I hit you? Fuck. Fuck.”
“I’m okay,” I say quickly, even though my cheek feels like it’s been hit with a brick. “I’m okay, it’s fine.”
“It’s not fine,” he chokes out. “I hit you. I …” He lifts his hands, staring at them like they’re covered in blood. “I promised … I would never …”
“You didn’t do it on purpose,” I say firmly. I push myself up to sit against the end of the bed, ignoring the way my shoulder protests. “It was a nightmare, Charlie. That’s all. You weren’t awake.”
He looks like he’s going to be sick.
Caroline is already moving, grabbing a washcloth from the bathroom, wetting it, and bringing it over with shaking hands.
“Oh, sweetheart,” she murmurs, eyes shiny. “I’m so sorry, Derrick.”
“It’s okay,” I repeat, gently taking the washcloth from her. “Really. I scared him by grabbing him. That’s on me.”
“It is absolutely not on you,” Everly snaps, but not at me, at the situation. She turns back to Charlie, her face softening. “Are you with us now?”
He nods, vaguely, but his eyes are glued to my cheek.
“Let me see,” Caroline says softly, reaching for my hand. “May I?”
“Sure,” I say, letting her tilt my face toward the light.
She winces. “It’s going to bruise,” she says quietly. “But I don’t think anything’s broken.”
Charlie makes a pained sound in his throat and turns away, palms pressed over his eyes.
