I Belong to Her

Chapter 13

That night I learn about Ryujin's nightmares.

After the shower, she joins me in my bed, her toned body curving around me from the back, one heavy arm draping over my torso. I stiffen at first, unsure of what to expect, but all she does is go to sleep while holding me close to her. I can hear the even rhythm of her breathing as I stare into the darkness, and then I gradually fall asleep too.

I wake up to a strange noise. It startles me out of deep sleep, and my eyes fly open, my heart pounding from an adrenaline surge.

What was that? For a moment, I don't dare breathe, but then I realize that the sounds are coming from the other side of the bed from the woman sleeping beside me.

I sit up in bed and peer at her. It looks like she rolled away from me in the night, gathering all the blankets to herself. I'm completely naked and uncovered, and I actually feel a little chilly with the air-conditioning running at full blast.

The sounds escaping her throat are muffled, but there is a raw quality to them that gives me goosebumps. They remind me of an animal in pain. She's breathing hard, almost gasping for air.

"Ryujin," I say uncertainly. I don't really know what to do in this situation. Should I wake her up? She's clearly having a bad dream. I recall her telling me about her family, that they were all murdered, and I can't help feeling pity for this beautiful, twisted woman.

She cries out, her voice low and hoarse, and flops over onto her back, one arm hitting the pillow only a few inches away from me.

"Um, Ryujin?" I reach out cautiously and touch her hand.

She mumbles and turns her head, still deeply asleep. If we were anywhere but on this island, this would be the perfect moment for me to try to escape. As it stands, however, there's really no point in going anywhere, so I just watch Lisa warily, wondering if she's going to wake up on her own or if I should try harder to wake her.

For a few moments, it seems like she's settling down, her breathing calming a bit. Then she suddenly cries out again.

It's a name this time.

"Ruby," she rasps out. "Ruby . . ."

For one shocking second, I feel a hot tide of jealousy sweeping over me. Ruby . . . She's dreaming of another woman.

Then my rational side reasserts itself. Ruby could easily be her mother or her sister and even if she's not, why should I care that she's dreaming of her? It's not like she's my girlfriend or anything.

So I swallow and reach for her again, suppressing the residual pangs of jealousy. "Ryujin?"

As soon as my fingers touch her arm, she grabs me, her motions so fast and startling that only a small gasp escapes me as she pulls me toward her. Her arms around me are inescapable, her embrace almost suffocating, and I can feel her shaking as she holds me tightly against her, my face pressed into her shoulder. Her skin is cold and clammy with sweat, and I can hear her heart galloping in her chest.

"Ruby," she mumbles into my hair, her fingers digging into my back with such force that I'm sure there will be bruises there tomorrow. Yet somehow I don't mind because I know she's not doing this on purpose. She's in the grip of her nightmare and she's seeking comfort and I'm the only one who can provide it right now.

After a while, I can hear her breathing easing. Her arms relax a little, no longer squeezing me with such desperation, and her frantic heartbeat begins to slow. "Ruby," she whispers again, but there's less pain in her voice now, as though she's reliving happier times with her, whatever those may be.