Hex

Chapter 16

     That night, I was too wine drunk and emotionally exhausted to dream. However, the next night, I was back in Finn's house. I could smell the cigarettes in the air, and I could hear a fly buzzing around an old pizza box. His dad slithered in from around the corner. I looked around for my friends, but I was utterly alone. "Hm, the pretty little girl came back to see me?" He walked like a drunken sailor, ambling over to me, and his voice was scratchy and guttural.

     I headed for the front door, but it was locked, and I couldn't open it. He got closer and closer to me, and I could smell whiskey on his breath. "You better behave, you know what happens to bad girls." I pushed my back against the door, trying to get as far away from his as possible, but he pressed up against me, his hand right on my waist. I opened my mouth to scream, and he raised his hand to slap me again. Just before his beefy hand made contact, I sat straight up in bed, chest heaving and tears running down my face. I tried to catch my breath, but I couldn't stop shaking. I knew it was crazy, but it felt like he was in my room with me. I looked around wildly, positive he was going to slither out of some dark corner, just like he had in my dream.

     I knew I would hate myself in the morning for this, but there was no way I was going to be able to fall back asleep alone. I was terrified. So, I got out of bed, wary to keep my ankles out of under-the-bed-grabbing distance, and crossed the hall. I knocked lightly, but there was no answer, so I cracked the door open and peered in.

     Bishop was shirtless and passed out in just a pair of boxers. One of his arms dangled off the bed, and I was pretty sure I saw some drool on his pillow. I cracked a smile through my tears, before gently shaking him. "Bishop?" I whispered.

     He awoke with a start and pushed himself up on his elbows, blearily rubbing his eyes. "Vienna? What's wrong?"

     "Who says there's anything wrong? Can't I just be paying you a visit?" I guffawed, waving him off. "You know, in the middle of the night?"

     "What's wrong?" He asked again, rolling his eyes and laughing.

     I didn't think this far ahead. Tears started to build in my eyes again. I knew I was being a baby about this, but I couldn't help it. I remembered how comforting he was to me the day before, how calm he made me feel, and I wanted to feel like that again. I felt like he could protect me from anything. "Can I-" My voice broke a little, "Can I sleep here?" I spoke so quietly that I wasn't sure he even heard me.

     "Uh, yeah, of-of course," he said, without hesitation. He opened up the covers for me, and I climbed in next to him. I laid on my side, my injured cheek exposed. Bishop rolled over to face my backside. "Is this, you know, about this?" He asked, running a finger down my jawline carefully. I bit my lip and nodded, a couple of tears falling. "Did you have a nightmare?" I nodded again.

     "I know that it's stupid, but-" I started, but he cut me off.

     "Sh, it's not stupid. You're still shaking." He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, before dropping his head down to the pillow behind me. There was about a foot of space between us. "Do-do you want to come here?" He asked softly.

     I slowly backed up in to him, and he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. I closed my eyes, but all I could see was that man's awful face. I inhaled sharply, before turning around and pressing my face into Bishop's chest.

     "Hey, hey, it's okay. I've got you," he said, stroking my hair. I slowly nodded but didn't move away from him. Eventually, I fell asleep, but I'm not sure if Bishop ever did. When I woke up the next morning, we were still in the same position, and he was still playing with my hair, even though late morning sun streaked in through the blinds.