Page 26 of The Woodcarver's Model
“I guess they figured I was your girlfriend or something and thought that might shock me into telling them where you were. Where the hell are you, by the way?”
“Never mind that. Do me a favour—when I hang up, erase the call log on your phone. Will you do that?”
“Robby, you’re starting to scare me.”
“Oh, you want me to scare you? I think I’m falling for someone. It feels…real.”
Rob was nearly deafened by the scream on the other end of the line.
“I’ll be in touch,” he said, smiling as he hung up.
Rob came back in and sat beside Mitch and Rufus.
“Is everything okay?” Mitch put his arm around Rob’s waist. “You’re so tense.”
“Just some new people wanting a piece of me.”
“Well, they can’t have any. I’m using all of you right now.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
Rufus fussed about, trying to find a more comfortable position, and Rob took Mitch’s hand in his as they both stared off into the fire.
* * * *
He lay there on the couch, surrounded by people he couldn’t quite see. They were laughing and talking, but he couldn’t make out a word.
“Hey, beautiful.”
It was a man’s voice, he thought. A body joined him on the couch, snuggling beside him, pushing him into the back cushions.
“You feeling any better?”
The person started stroking the side of Mitch’s face.
“I’ve got just what you need to make you feel better.”
Mitch tried to call out. “No. No. Not now,” he tried to say. He begged the person, crying. He wanted it to stop.
“No more!” Mitch yelled out.
Rob jumped out of a deep sleep to see Mitch, sitting upright in bed, soaked in sweat, yelling into the darkness.
“Hey,” Rob said softly, hoping not to startle him. “Hey. Wake up.” Rob reached out to rub his back. Mitch gasped and spun around, looking at Rob but not seeing him. He was gasping for breath.
“Wha…?”
“You were having a nightmare, but you’re safe now. I’ll protect you.”
Mitch collapsed. Rob put his arm around him. He could feel his heart pounding.
“What were you dreaming about?”
Mitch said, “I…don’t remember. There was this guy. I’ve dreamt about him before. I think he was trying to kill me.”
Chapter Ten
It was pitch black outside, a good time to sleep, which was what Rob was doing until a hand touched his shoulder.
