Page 18 of Lost In The Dark

“That’s good. Take a deep breath and tell me one more thing,” Asher coached calmly.

“Y-you,” I replied. “I s-see you.”

“Keep looking at Eli and me. We’re right here with you, and you’re safe. Stay with us while you tell me three things you hear.”

I tried to listen, but I couldn’t hear anything beyond my own fight to get air in.

“Me…g-gasping,” I told him honestly. “And you…your breathing,” I added.

“One more, Addy,” Asher cajoled.

“I…I d-don’t hear anything else,” I admitted as I looked up to him.

“That’s okay. Can you try to take a deeper breath for me now? Breathe in and hold it for as long as you can?”

I looked to Eli, who nodded encouragingly, then took the breath Asher had asked me to. I couldn’t hold it for more than a second, but when he told me to try again I did. And again, and again, until finally my fight for breath had slowed enough that I could actually get some air in and clear some of the fog in my head.

“I’m s-sorry.”

“No talking yet. Just breathe for us, nice and slowly,” Asher told me.

I took a few minutes to calm down, trying to fight back the thoughts running rampant through my mind. I couldn’t think about the questions I needed answering, or I was going to fall right back down the dark hole Asher had only just dragged me out of.

“That’s so much better, Addy. You’re doing great,” Eli told me as he dropped to a crouch beside his brother.

“I’m sorry,” I tried again as I looked around us. We were still in the hall, the security now waiting by the elevator, giving us some privacy. “I…I think it was the lock…the beep. I….I remembered…It made me remember,” I explained.

“Are you hurt? You threw yourself from my arms before I could stop you,” Asher asked.

“I’m okay.”

“Can I help you up, so we can get out of the hall?” Eli asked. “It’s not warm enough out here. I want to get you inside.”

I looked between them. I still didn’t feel comfortable being touched after what I had just relived, but I trusted them, and God knew I needed the help. I was so exhausted, just holding my head up was a trial.

“Okay,” I nodded. “Just…maybe tell me before y-you t-touch me. The memory…it was b-bad.”

“I’m just going to take your hands and pull you up, okay?” Eli said as Asher got to his feet and stepped back. I nodded and Eli did exactly that, but as soon as I was up, the world around me spun fast and I had to grab for him to remain upright.

“Sorry. Dizzy,” I uttered as I slammed my eyes closed and gripped his shirt.

“What did we say about apologizing?” Asher said.

“Sorry,” I told him, then I laughed a little at how stupid that was.

“Can I pick you up, Addy? You’re barely staying on your feet right now?” Eli asked.

“Okay,” I agreed. I had little choice. I was going down if I released the grip I had on his shirt, and I knew it.

“Addy? You said it was the beep that triggered you? From the lock?” Asher questioned. I nodded; my eyes still clamped closed in an attempt to still the spinning around me. “Take her down by the elevator while I open the door,” Asher added, obviously talking to Eli.

“Cover your ears for me, okay shortcake?” Eli told me gently as we moved down the hallway. I hurried to do just that, not wanting to hear that beep and have it take me right back to that nightmare memory. I didn’t have the strength to see it, or to live it, all over again.

I opened my eyes as we started moving again and realized the hotel room was open. Asher was holding the door for us, the two bags they had with them, held in one of his hands.

“How are you feeling?” Asher asked as I dropped my hands from my ears as we passed him.

“Tired, but calmer,” I tried to reassure him. Eli walked us into the room and I looked around in awe. It was a beautiful room, painted in shades of gray and white. The windows overlooked the strip below and the whole space was open and spacious. There was a spiral staircase off to my right, which I guessed led up to the bedrooms. There was also a little bar and a full, shiny, modern kitchenette. The floors were all a sparkling bright white stone of some kind and the whole room was filled with lavish looking furniture. It was, without doubt, the nicest place I had ever been, in my entire life.

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