In Her Sleep

One Sweet Couple

"What are we doing here?"
Layla stops and frowns at the beautiful entrance to an exquisite bridal shop. The place is crawling with girls wearing wide smiles and walking about excited as they stop to look at the many gowns on display.
"Brides" she assumes.
Once upon a time she had wanted to be one of those girls but that seems like so long ago.
Her eyes drop to her ring finger. The exquisite piece of jewellery sparkles, but instead of excitement she looks at it with a heavy heart. She never imagined it would be right back on her finger, not after she decided to move on.
"What are we doing here?"

"Dress shopping of course." Simon snakes his arm around her waist happily and she freezes.

"W...what are you doing?" With him so close her legs refuse to work and she just stays rooted on the spot.

"I feel like showing off my fiancèe." He grins before leaning in and she panics.

"And unless you want me to carry you bridal style inside, I suggest you get your pretty little feet moving." He ends up whispering to her and she doesn't need to be told twice.
She gets moving all too quickly as more feelings of panic set in after almost being kissed by him. She's been praying for him not to rekindle that part of their relationship. But at this rate it won't be long before he decides he does.

"Aaah...That's my girl." Simon coos.
"But not so fast baby." He holds her back forcing her to match his steps.

When he told her they'd be going out she felt a wave of relief and panic at the same time. She thought maybe, just maybe she might get a chance to make a run for it but with him deciding to stick to her like glue that plan just went down the drain.
Not to mention the dark figures following them in the shadows that Layla knows would grab her in a heart beat if she ever decided to run.
That and Gen, the maid who she can clearly tell is more than a maid or is not a maid at all.
She looks back and finds her there, quietly walking behind them.

"Why didn't you just get a wedding planner like last time." Her voice is shaky as it dawns on her that there is nothing she can do to escape him. Atleast not by herself.
"Besides don't I have a dress already?" She tries to pull herself free or to have some space between them, but he's holding on tighter than she expected. Even though, she bets it appears like a loving embrace judging by the many faces that are smiling and looking dreamily at them.

"I thought you preferred shopping for yourself, so I wanted to give you that this time." His smile irks her more than he knows.
"And besides that months old dress is obviously out of fashion and figured you needed something totally new."
"To new beginnings baby." He is carrying on like everything is fine and that they are one sweet couple.

"I probably don't need to say this, but I'll say it anyway." Simon stops and turns to her. His earlier charming face just got replaced with the scary one that she has come to know over the past weeks.
"Don't even think about getting away from me baby." He cups her cheeks a bit roughly with one hand and the other he grabs hold of her hand.
"Because if you do, our reunion which I assure you will definitely happen won't be pretty."

"You are hurting me." She whimpers. His grip on her hand is beginning to burn and the pain is getting too intense for her to bear.
"Simon please..." She pleads with him only then does he let go, surprising her too.

"I guess that's clear then." He moves back but still keeps her close.
"Now what do you say we get shopping?" He chirps like nothing happened and she just walks alongside him like a zombie.

"Smile baby, after all you are getting married." He says excitedly as they walk through the doors of the bridal shop but all she wants is her freedom. She may be outside but she's as good as being locked up high in a tower.
Tears sting her eyes as she hesitantly puts one foot in front of the other.