Enchanted Forest

Chapter 11: Realization

( Third Person’s POV)

Lee was jolted out of his seat when Ellie let out an ear splitting scream wrenching through the silent night. Definitely not a good way of waking up someone. 

He turned towards her, she was located half a meter away from him, hands in her head as she continued to howl in some unknown agony. 

What the hell? He thought, silently walking over her hunched form.

“ Kitty?” pagtawag niya dito, slightly unsettled as she continued to scream.

“ Hey, snap out of it!” He gave her shoulder a soft shake, frowning when she merely shrugged him away.

Dammit! Anong problema niya?

Her eyes were dull, staring ahead, unseeing, with tears streaking down her face. 

Those tears nor those dull eyes. He decided, he doesn’t like it.  Hindi bagay kay Ellie. He used to seeing her so stubborn and defiant, not like this, a crying heap of mess.

“ Ano ba, Ellie!? Wake up! It’s just a nightmare!” Sinubukan niya ulit itong hawakan but once more he was shrugged away. 

His eyes narrowed in suspicion. This isn’t a mere nightmare. Someone’s messing with her head.

Mas lalo pang tumaas ang pitch ng pagsigaw ni Ellie when Lee tried to ignore her, hoping that she’ll calm down on her own. But to no avail she continued screaming, heightening the risk of being found.

“ Shit! What am I supposed to do?!” Tanong niya sa sarili niya, crouching stupidly in front of her and silently praying that Ray would pop out of nowhere to take care of his problem at hand.  Ngunit walang lumabas na Ray, they were alone in this forest in a middle of the night where different creatures lurked in the dark. Different creatures that could be on their way now because of her screaming.

Even Jeanne could be on her way now. Dammit!

Mentally berating himself for not realizing this sooner, he racked his brain for a solution that would silence her long enough for him to discover what was wrong.

He was actually contemplating of covering her mouth with ice but... that will probably result some violent reaction from her and definitely lack of air.

Wait. That can be—-No shit.

Her shoulders twitched convulsively as her face continued to voice whatever pain is going through in her head.

Fuck, I’m going to regret this.

Slowly, he lowered into a kneeling position in front of her, wincing slightly ng mailapit ang ingay sa tenga niya.

He reached his arms towards her and gathered her into an embrace, making sure not to hurt her while holding her secured enough so that she couldn’t escape or lash out. He whispered some calming, nonsense words into her ear, freeing one of his hand so that he could rub soothing circles on her back.

This is the technique he had used on his two brothers when they were young.

Then after five minutes the howls and screams finally fading away, replaced by the sniffles and gulps of sobbing. Niluwagan ni Lee ang pagkakahawak niya kay Ellie ng maramdamang nagrelax na ito kahit papano, and only to notice that somewhere along the lines she had snuck her arms around him and was now clinging to his shirt like her life depended on it.

Eventually, the sobs faded, leaving only damp tracks that trailed down Ellie’s face. Her baleful puffy eyes gazed up to him with a mixture of embarrassment and apology. Temporary na nawala ang pagiging mataray nito. Awtomatikong binitawan siya ni Lee na para bang nakuryente ito.