Secrets | TMR | One

3:0

A/N Mention of self-harm and mental health. 
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Adeline wakes with a start, the upper half of her body launching up until she is in a sitting position. She clutches the edge of her bed with one hand while the other one grips onto the top of her t-shirt.

The girl frantically twists her head in all directions as her mind works on focusing back in to reality.

While her nightmares fade, her breath remains unsteady. Her heart is still racing, beating so harshly it feels as though it is about to rip through her skin. The sweat beads, collecting her hair in wet clumps on her forehead and at the back of her neck. She keeps her right hand firmly planted against her chest while her left hand moves on top of it, applying pressure in the hopes that it will calm her down. 

Glancing over to the sleeping form of Nick at the other side of the room appears to help the girl. Manages to fill her body with relief - something which it did not know it needed. 

A feeling of safety begins to wash over her, cutting away every branch of fear and kicking away every twig of trepidation that lays on the ground in her mind. 

''You're okay'' she mumbles to herself, forming an 'o' shape with her mouth and slowly inhaling and exhaling, keeping her eyes glued to Nick's side of the room. 

Twisting herself around on her bed, Adeline allows her feet to dangle off for a moment before pushing herself off the wooden frame completely, making sure to softly land on her tiptoes so that she does not wake the leader.

She quickly grabs a hold of the lamp from the drawers in between the two beds and quietly sneaks out of the room. Her shoulders rise and her head hunches down slightly while she closes the bedroom door behind her, as though this action will somehow prevent her from making any noise. 

Adeline then scurries out of the Homestead completely, stopping just on the top step and inhaling another deep breath, finally allowing her lungs the fresh air they have been craving. 

Feeling something trickling down her right thigh, the girl glances down, immediately letting out a huff and throwing her head back when she notices the damage. ''Every fucking time.''

The girl begins to trudge towards the bathrooms, stumbling slightly as she concentrates on pulling the bottom of her shirt down and using it to wipe some of the blood away.

Upon entering the bathroom and closing it behind her, she checks the lock. Double checking, triple checking to ensure that there is no way that anyone will be able to enter. 

Taking a step towards the sink, she places her lamp on the left hand counter while using her right hand to push the plug into the drain. 

Adeline then lifts her baggy shirt, pulling it up and over her head, chucking it away to the other side of the bathroom, leaving her in nothing but a strappy top and a pair of shorts. She lifts her right thigh slightly, squinting her head down to look at how bad her leg is. Bringing her head back up, the girl glances around the room until her eyes land on a cloth rested by the sink next to the one she is at. 

Leaning over, she yanks the cloth towards her, throwing it into the sink and turning on the tap. She sniffles harshly as memories of her nightmare begin to cloud her mind. But she stays focused on her task, using her hands to scrunch the cloth up under the water, making sure that every inch of the fabric is dripping wet before pulling it up and pressing it down on her leg.

She watches the blood and water glisten in the reflection of her lamp, merging together and turning pink as they trickle down her leg, down the side of her knee, creating a tiny puddle on the right side of her foot.