After (Wolves of Mercy Falls Fan Fic)

Chapter 23

I didn't want 5 pm to come around. Not after everything that had happened today. Luckily, Lila didn't have school the next day do to inservice so Rose agreed to let her stay for one more night. Only one. I still had school so we were in bed by ten.

Lila was out cold by 10:01. My thoughts clouded my mind and refused to let me rest. Instead, I played with Lila's hair or her shirt. She refused to wear anything other than my shirt to bed again. She kept the collar close to her nose even though I was two inches away. I think she was planning on stealing it.

I picked up Lila's hand and kissed her wrist to see if she was awake. Whenever I did this to her when she was awake she'd giggle as if it tickled and look away bashfully. It had been a while since I'd done it last. She didn't stir now.

I sighed and waited for her to do something in her sleep. Anything. And got nothing. Eventually, I blew on her nose, just enough for it to clench up and for her to turn over. Lila stayed like that long enough for me to get bored again. I groaned and flipped to my back, hoping I woke her up. Nothing.

I remembered I hadn't taken my meds. No wonder I couldn't sleep. I glanced at the clock. Midnight. Too late now.

I sat up and looked down at Lila. She was laying on her stomach with her legs slightly separated. The shirt came up enough that it just barely covered her bum. I pulled the blanket up to her waist and laid back down. I sighed, bored.

I sat up again and looked at the clock. 12:15. This was going to be a long night. I started drawing on Lila's back. It always seemed to sooth her and me.

I started between her shoulder blades but as the picture got bigger, I had to pull the blanket off Lila so I could get to her lower back. She didn't like that too much so she flipped to her side and pressed her back against me. When she did, her shirt came up to her waist.

I looked back to her face. She was still asleep. I sighed as I pulled the blanket back over her. I stopped. I could see one of the scares peaking out from under the fabric of her shirt.

Carefully, I pulled the shirt up more (just to look at the scar, nothing more). Lila's skin was covered with puffed up lines and bumps from bites. They were ghastly things. I traced one that went from her waist and disappeared somewhere under her bra. This disturbed Lila's sleep enough for her to turn over so she was facing me. I kissed her wrist again to make sure she was still asleep. She was.

I continued my search on this side; it was just as bad, if not worse. I counted twenty bites just from one attack, not to mention older ones. I let my hand linger on a bite on Lila's hip. I couldn't believe anyone was this cruel. I leaned down and kissed her hip ever so lightly. This made her stir again. She moved to her back, her arms holding her stomach. Her beautiful face still faced me, peaceful, still asleep.

I kissed her lips lightly with my hand laying on top of her stomach. I pulled away and ran my fingers over more of her scars. It was until I hit a scar just above her underwear that Lila got defensive. I think she was still half asleep when she started clawing at me.

I trapped Lila's wrists in my hands and pinned them beside her head. She continued her attack by lashing out her legs. I pinned them down with my knees. I was completely over her now. Lila still thrashed and didn't stop until I had to say, "Lila, wake up!" very sharply. Her eyes shot open at the sound of my voice, but it took a second for her calm down.

"Lila, it's okay. Breathe," I commanded gently. Her breaths were ragged, but she obeyed. I climbed off her and pulled down her shirt. I said nothing about my exploration. She sat up next to me, pulling the shirt to cover her knees.

After a few minutes (so I knew Lila was okay), I laid down and pulled Lila with me. I played with her hair when she moved her head to my chest. I decided not to tell her about tonight as she fell asleep in my arms. Too many things could come out wrong. I kissed her forehead and finally fell asleep with only a few hours to spare.