Page 100 of Pretty Little Fears

Myhead shoots in that direction butIdon’t see anyone.Iturn over to wake upEmmett, butI’mcompletely alone.

“Why?”Thewhisper floats through the room once more.

“Why!”Withevery repetition, it gets louder.

“WHY!”

“WHY?WHY?!WHY!WHY!WHY!”

Theword circles in the air as the blood continues to seep into the mattress, from where?Idon’t know.It'sbecoming difficult to breathe.Ineed to find help.Peelingthe saturated blanket off of me,Iclimb out of the blood-filled bed, but there is a force that yanks me back under the covers.

Cuffsgrip my wrists and ankles, keeping me in place. “No.No, no, no!Notagain!”Iyank on the restraints trying to free myself but it's useless.Itfeels likeI'msinking into the mattress, being consumed by the deep red surrounding me.Theonly word that continues to echo around the room is, “Why?”

Isqueeze my eyes shut asIsink deeper into the mattress.Thesmell of iron fills my nostrils and hot breath fans my face.Idon’t want to look.IfIdon’t see it,I’llbe okay.Ihear a cry that sounds like my own, coming from inside the room, causing me to force my eyes open.

Ican’t stop the blood-curdling scream that leaves my throat as the monster of my past hovers above me, blood dripping offof him and onto me.Itlands on my face andIswearIcan hear him speak beyond my screaming.

“Evenin death, you will not escape me.”

Hepulls out a knife from his back pocket and wraps both hands around it.Bringingit up above his head, he plunges the knife, straight into my stomach.

Myeyes shoot open as a silent scream leaves my throat.Mymouth is dry and scratchy as ifIhad been yelling.Itry to suck in air as a tear flows down my cheeks.Nomore than a moment later,Emmett’spulling me into his chest while my hands reach up and clutch at my throat as if trying to pull the scream out of it.

“It’sokay,Blair.You’realright.Itwas just a dream.”Hereassures me, pulling strands of hair from my sweaty, sticky forehead.Grabbinga hair tie from the nightstand, he pulls my hair back so that it’s out of my face and secures it comfortably.

Withhis hands holding me to him, his thumb glides over the beating pulse in my neck.Withevery swipe, he tells me how braveIam.HowstrongIam.Howhe’ll always protect me.

Thisside ofEmmettis rare.It’sreserved specifically for me.Thethought causes my heart to do somersaults.Iwant his love.Iwant his affection.Iwant it because he understands.Heunderstands what it’s like to lose a parent, to have to grow up too fast, to have things taken away from you.Emmettknows firsthand that a part of your soul cracking doesn’t equal irreparable damage, and he refuses to let me see myself in that way.Myfeelings for him have developed quite fast,Idon’t know ifIshould call it love, but whatIfeel is more than lust.It’smore than friendship or a fucking trauma bond.Thesefeelings started to arise before the kidnapping, beforeLorenzo, and beforeIfound out the truth aboutLorelei.

Itake some deep breaths and rub my eyes.Aknock sounds on the door andIquietly admit her entrance.Mom’sface fills my doorway as she smiles at us.It’son the tip of my tongue to break down and tell her everything, to get her unconditional love and comfort, butIcan’t bring myself to do it.She’dnever let me return toBlackwood.EventhoughI’munsure of my return myself,Idon’t want her to solidify the feeling and take the option away from me.Enoughhas been taken from me.

“Hey!I’mgoing to head to the grocery store, do you guys want me to pick up anything specific?”Sheasks.Ishake my head no, not trusting the weakness in my voice.

Emmettmust sense my struggle as he speaks up for me, “No,Ithink we’re all good,Mrs.Stirling.Thankyou.”Hestates with a warm smile, causing his dimple to pop.Mymom gives a knowing look before nodding her head and shutting the door behind her.Ihear the sound of her small heels clicking against the floor receding as she descends the stairs.

Ilet out a breathIdidn’t knowIwas holding and look over atEmmett, my confessions start to pour out of me, “Idon’t know ifI’llever want to go back toBlackwood.Idon’t know howIcould.Thegood memories it holds are wonderful andIwant to be with the girls.Iwant to have experiences with them especially since they’ll be graduating and we’ll be living our separate lives.Whoknows where we’ll all end up?”Itake a shaky breath and continue my confession.

“Buthow amIever going to heal and move on from this before next semester?”Ichoke, the words getting stuck in my throat.

Rubbingmy back,Emmettnods. “Blair, it’s okay.Youstarted attendingBlackwoodas a twenty-year-old freshman, you can take a year off.There’sno allotted time for this, you know that.Ifyou’re worried about the scholarship, simply don’t.Wheneveryou choose to go back,I’dgladly pay for your education.Youknow that.Whetherit’s back atBlackwoodor somewhere closer to home.Youwill not do any of it alone.Unlessyou ask me too and even then,I’dfollow you at a discreet distance.”Hechuckles. “Youwon’t ever be alone again,Blair.”

Lookingup at him my heart swells inside my chest.Lettingout a small giggle,I’mthankful he was able to ease my anxieties for now.Thenotion of adoration feels like it could seep inside of me and swallow me whole.Reachingforward,Igrab his face and bring his lips to mine.Hehesitates for a moment before pressing his body harder against me.Hishand goes behind my head and cups it while he shifts his weight to hover above me, causing me to lay back on the bed.

Littlefleets of panic try to bubble up inside of me.Igrab the front ofEmmett’sshirt and ball it in my fists, both to keep him close while subconsciously pushing him away.Iwant to do this.Ido. “You’llnever,” he kisses the corner of my lip and down along my jaw. “Be,” he trails lower to my neck, kissing the skin there, “Alone.”Hetrails opened-mouthed kisses along my erratic pulse, “I’llalways be your shadow, little obsession.”

Withhis hand still cupping the back of my head, he tilts it back and brings his mouth back to mine.Hissoft kisses have turned rougher, more passionate.Itfeels different from any other time we’ve been together.Iopen my mouth for him, allowing himto glide his tongue inside.Hiships lower andIfeel his already hardened cock, rub against my pussy through the thin layers of our pajamas.

“M-more, please,”Iwhisper against his lips.Iwant more.Ineed more.

Emmettpulls back from me and looks down into my eyes, “Areyou sure you’re ready?Idon’t mind waiting, there’s no pressure, baby.”

Inod my head and whisper, “I’mready.Ineed to feel you inside of me.Ineed you to erase the darkness that’s threatening to consume me, to erase his touch.Iwant to be devoured by you and your love instead.Please.”Tearswell in my eyes andEmmettdips his head, kissing their trail as they drop from my lashes.

Withall the confirmation he needed, his lips are back against mine.Nippingand licking.Heholds himself up with one hand while using his other to push down his sweatpants, letting his cock spring free.Ireach down and grip my pajama shorts, butEmmettgrabs my wrist, preventing me from moving.

“No.Youjust relax.”Hestates while grabbing the waistband of my shorts and gently pulling them down and off of my body.

Emmetleans back for a moment, reaching behind him to pull his shirt off, then removes mine, trailing kisses along the exposed skin as it comes off.Beforethe clothes hit the floor, he's pressed back against me, his lips devouring my own.

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