Blade

Chapter 55: An addict

Blade

I jolt upright in bed, eyes wide as I scan the darkness of my room, searching every shadow for him.

A shaky breath leaves my lips when I realize I’m alone. No trace of his presence, no silhouette lurking in the corner. Just me. Just the nightmare. I wipe the sweat from my forehead and grab my phone. 2:35 a.m. Great.

Barely an hour of sleep before the memories came burrowing their way back again. Each night they grow sharper, more merciless. The images are clearer now, the sounds louder; the screams, the chaos, the helpless terror. I can see it all as if it’s happening again, and I can’t move.

The weight of it presses on me until my chest tightens. It’s all too much.

I tilt my head to the side, trying to ease the tension crawling through my neck and shoulders, then make my way toward the bathroom. Cold water splashes against my face, but I refuse to meet my reflection in the mirror. I already know what I’d see—tired eyes, a hollow stare, a mess. I don’t need a fucking reminder.

Peeling off the only thing I had on, a pair of black sweatpants, I pull on a white T-shirt and gray shorts before stepping out of my room.

Crossing the living room, I head straight for the bar, grab two bottles of beer and a pack of cigarettes, then move toward the pool. The air is still, the water calm, the quiet wrapping around me like a fragile kind of peace. It’s the only place my mind can breathe, and I’d rather drown in my thoughts out here than close my eyes and face another nightmare.

I sit at the edge of the pool, a shiver running down my spine as the cold tiles press against my skin. My legs move lazily through the water, creating small ripples that shimmer in the faint light of dawn. The early morning air is crisp, brushing through my messy hair while I set the bottles of beer beside me and light a cigarette.

Tilting my head back, I exhale a slow stream of smoke and watch it curl upward before fading into nothing. My lips are dry, and when I lick them, the taste of tobacco lingers. I try to push the thoughts away, the ones that scrape at the back of my mind, but they keep pulling me under, reminding me of everything I’ve tried to bury. The feeling is heavy, almost suffocating.

I’ve lived with the pain, guilt, and resentment for years, but I wonder how much longer I can. How long before I can take a breath without that familiar boulder pressing down on my chest?

I don’t even know anymore.

I reach for the bottle of beer beside me and take a sip, the cool liquid sliding down my throat as my gaze drifts toward the water. A faint ripple catches my attention, and I frown slightly, narrowing my eyes at the familiar figure breaking through the surface. She pushes a strand of wet blonde hair behind her ear, water glistening down her skin.

A small gasp escapes her lips when her blue eyes lock on mine.

Sienna crosses her arms over her chest, the water barely concealing her, and looks away with flushed cheeks.

That’s when it hits me... she’s completely naked.

A slow grin spreads across my face. “Baby, are you trying to seduce me?”

“You really need to snap out of your insane fantasies and help me with the towel over there.” She bites her lip and tilts her head toward the corner where her clothes lie scattered on the floor beside a white towel.

“Do you actually swim naked?” I ignore her request, my gaze lingering as I lick my lips at the sight of her pink nipples peeking through the space between her crossed arms.