Little Rose

Chapter 23

Ben's POV:

Two nightmares.

That's two nightmares in the same week. Two more than she's had this full year. She's never struggled with sleep. Ever. It's her favourite time of the day but I'm scared she won't like it anymore. She's always loved nap time. She loves how her dreams are extraordinary and how it's way better than real life because she can have as much candy as she wants without anyone telling her off.

I'm afraid if these nightmares continue at the rate they're going, she won't want to sleep.

She didn't speak about her first nightmare and she doesn't want to talk about this one. I just need to know what they're of so I know how to help her.

I hate feeling so helpless.

It genuinely shook me to the core when I saw her face paper white, drenched in sweat. I don't ever want to see that ever again.

Alex texted me before we were done for the day asking how Everly was and if there was anything he could do to help. I don't even know how to help her myself. What can I possibly do?!

Derek also texted me. He told me how Zola had woken up and saw Everly crying in her sleep. The only other people that know about David is Derek and Richard. Simply because I've trusted the two of them the very day I met them. They've been there for me no questions asked.

"You have to have another slice of pizza honey." I heard Elijah say to Everly immediately bringing me back and away from my thoughts.

"But I'm so full! I'll become a whale!" She whined as she pushed her plate away.

"Pretty please. Or the shark will come eat you!" Elijah teased as he pulled out a shark stuffy.

Her reaction was unexpected.

Instead of squealing like she usually does, she screamed.

"Get that away from me!" She cried as she leaped out of her seat, knocking her special purple chair over and ran into my arms.

The four of us gave each other a confused look as I held her trembling form as close as I possibly could.

"What's wrong baby?" I asked softly as Elijah put away the toy.

"I don't like sharks Benny." She sniffled.

"Why not sweetheart?" I asked as I rocked her back and forth.

"Because it tried to eat me." She sniffled once again as she chocked back on a sob.

"You're funny kid. Stop whining you little troll." Aiden said with a chuckle as he stood up from the table with his dishes in his hand and walked out.

Before I could question what she meant, she let out a loud sob as she held onto my shirt tighter than before.

"I'll be back." I mouthed to both Elijah and Austin who gave me a confused look before turning back to their phones.

Once I made it to my office, I sat down on my chair with Everly still in my arms.

"What's wrong honey?" I asked her softly. The last thing I wanted right now was for her to be scared to even tell me anything.

"There was a shark in my nightmare." She sniffled.

"And it tried eating me." She said with a hiccup.

"I was all alone in the ocean and there was this famililar voice speaking and shouting at me." She sobbed as she buried her face further into my chest.

"It's okay honey." I said softly was I patted her head.

"It wasn't real, and I'll make sure a shark never eats you and you're never alone. I'll always be with you." I whispered as I rocked her back and forth.