Page 12 of Cultivating Caden
“Uh, no.”
“Okay.” He bent over and retrieved the glass, then sat back and sucked down the contents.
“So you can talk to doors.” It sounded insane the minute he said it.
“I can talk with most things. They like it when I talk to them, because they’re very lonely. Of course, they have to have been alive at some point. I can’t talk to, say, this glass or anything.”
“No, silly me. Why would I think you can talk to glass if you can talk to a door? What the he…” Caden stopped himself, not wanting to swear in front of a kid. “What were you doing in my room?”
Ten’s gaze dropped. “Your dreams were hurting me.”
“You said that before, but how couldmydreams hurt you?”
“I work here in Sanctuary with the doctors to deal with patients have bad memories. I can’t get rid of them, but I help people lose the pain associated with them. I’ve been working with you since you got here last night.”
“Working with me how?”
Ten’s face scrunched up. “I’m not sure how I can explain it. I pulled the memories out so they stopped having power over you. When I met you, your psyche was torn apart. Too many bad things had happened to you. I took them, rolled them into a ball, and put them in a box, then locked it away in your mind. They’re still there—you’ll remember them, but eventually they won’t be as bad. When that day comes, the box will dissolve and you’ll have them back.”
Caden wondered why he’d been so calm. He didn’t even believe in the supernatural—not like Kieran—but the kid and the things he knew was living proof.
“While you were sleeping, I also told you some stuff about us so you wouldn’t be afraid. It’s why Mr. Martin doesn’t make you afraid.”
No, he pissed Caden off was what he did.
“I can stop if you want. I’m sorry if I scared you, but the pain was unbearable. I thought I had it under control, but it looks like you need more help.” He leaned forward and touched Caden’s temple with his right hand. “I can try again, if you want.”
It wasn’t even something Caden needed to entertain. The dream had been bad enough for him, but to have it causing Ten pain? No, that wouldn’t do at all. And if Ten somehow kept it from morphing into crippling fear, he’d take what help he could get.
“Yes, please.”
“Good. It’s easier when you’re awake. Then they’re not the fragments of memories I see in dreams.” Ten smiled as he stood up, then reached out and put his left hand on Caden’s other temple. As he watched, Ten’s silvery eyes rolled back in his head. Caden’s face warmed, like he was sitting out in the sun.
The images flashed through his mind again, but as quickly as they appeared, they were whisked away.
“Ten….”
The warmth grew, becoming almost uncomfortable. Caden wanted to pull away, but the residual fear of the dream diminished, becoming a vague unease and then nothing but a distant memory.
When the heat became unbearable, Ten stumbled away, his skin chalk-white. Caden reached out to help him, but Ten brushed him away.
“No, don’t touch me. It’s too soon.”
“What do you mean?”
Ten collapsed onto the couch, his body rigid. “I need to purge the memories first. I can’t be touched until I get rid of them. I should go.” He got up, swaying as he stood.
“Sit down, Ten,” Caden growled.
“But—”
“Sit. Down. Now.”
Ten didn’t sit, he collapsed, dropping back onto the sofa, his head lolling from side to side.
“You had so much pain. I never tried to help anyone like you before. I’m sorry I couldn’t take it all away.”
This boy, thischild, was apologizing because Caden had been brutalized and he couldn’t help him get over it. Ridiculous. Caden went to the chair, careful not to touch Ten, knelt down, and spoke softly as to allow him to rest.
