Page 13

“What’s wrong?” I ask. Weirdly, my heart is racing at the thought of her in danger.

“I heard a noise and raced to her room. I found her screaming and crying, like she was having a crazy nightmare. I tried to comfort her, but she yelled at me to ‘get out’.”

“I’m on my way,” I say, hanging up. “Finish up here and return to the office. I must head back home,” I say to Smith and take the car keys from him and drive home as fast as I can without breaking too many laws.

“Where is she?” I ask the moment I enter the unit. My heart is racing in apprehension.

“Still crying in her room,” Ice responds.

I move fast and open her door gently. She sees me and rushes into my arms, crying and trembling.

“I need to speak to Jonah, please,” she mumbles through tears.

“Come on.” I guide her to the bed, her grip tightening on my arm, and I have to fight the involuntary tremor that runs through me at her proximity. “Sit,” I say.

She obeys and clings to me, crying. “Talk to me. I will notify Jonah. In the meantime, tell me what happened.”

She tries to talk but chokes up.

“I…I saw them again,” she stutters.

“Saw who?”

“All of them, my mom and all the bodies, and Dad too. And the guy who was trying to choke me again.”

“What guy?” My voice is low.

“I never see his face, just his deep blue angry eyes and the tattoo on his neck as he tries to choke me.” Her voice is clearer.

She pulls away from me and puts some distance between us. “I’m sorry.” Her voice gets a little steadier. She wipes her tears, but her body still trembles in fear.

“Don’t be sorry. Can you tell me what happened?” I ask gently.

“I don’t want to talk about it. I’m sorry Ice called you, it won’t happen again,” she says, trying to control her shaking hands.

I hold them in mine to steady them.

“Jonah asked me when I spoke to him if you slept.”

She drops my hand and puts distance between us.

“Please, don’t tell him I’m having nightmares again. He won’t like it,” she pleads.

“I won’t, if you tell me what causes it and how I can help you.”

“I don’t know what causes it. My therapist tells me to write it down, everything, maybe we can figure out what causes it. I have pills that I take to sleep. I don’t have nightmares when I take the pills, but when I do take the pill, the building could burn down, I wouldn’t wake up. I could easily be killed in my sleep, that is why I stopped taking it, unless I feel completely safe. I only take the pill when Jonah tells me it’s safe, or when Amrit said it’s okay. Otherwise, I try to sleep close to someone.”

Now that explains her visits to my room.

“I didn’t sleep well last night and tried to nap, and it all came back.”

“Can you tell me how your mom died?”

She shakes her head, but I feel her tremble again.

“Okay, you are coming with me to my office,” I say.

“I promise I will be good here. I don’t want to disturb you.” Her voice shakes.