A Taste of Darkness

Chapter 9: A Little Longer

Julio

Scarlett's screaming. Scarlett's crying.

I don't know why I suddenly feel this feeling creeping up in my throat. Once it reaches the very top, I feel it, like a heavy weight, dropping all the way down to the pit of my stomach within a second. This feeling of. . . panic? Worry? I don't know. But I did know that I didn't like the feeling. In fact, I never want to feel it again.

Is she in danger? Did somebody break in? Is somebody hurting her? Somebody hurting her. . . I didn't like the feeling that came with that thought either. It's boiling my brain.

It isn't possible. Somebody couldn't have broken in, the security I installed in this building is too reliable and thorough. I had it down to a science at this point. Somebody couldn't be hurting her either then because it's almost impossible to break into this place, and I know that not one of my most trusted members would dare to do that. But I didn't have time to think of the possibilities, I needed to see what was going on. Right now. My legs seems to have a mind of there own as they run out of my room and into the hallway.

Faster than I can blink, I find myself in her room. She's in bed, there's no one else in here. That's a good sign. But as I looks closer, I see a waterfall of tears streaming down her face whilst she sleeps, in a way that is the complete opposite to peaceful. There it is, that feeling again. However, this time I feel it in my heart, like a sting, one that I want to be rid of but can't. She's saying something in between her cries, but I can't understand the words, I'm too far away. I have to be closer. A little closer won't hurt.

Taking a couple steps forward, I stand right beside her bedside, tilting my chin downwards to get a better look at her. I can now see that her skin has turned a shade of red. Her skin has puffed up slightly from crying. She no longer wears her fierce red lip shade, it's the first time I've seen her without it. She does looks quite. . . beautiful, her raw self. I find myself in almost a trance-like state, studying her features, her movements, her way her lips open slightly every time she takes a breath- until I see a small strand of hair fall onto her face. I have this. . . this itch to brush it behind her ear, but I tell myself that I won't. It isn't right. I can feel it on the tip of my fingers, my fingers that are now twitching forward, as if there's an imaginary rope wrapped around each one of them tugging them forward in order to get closer to her skin. My jaw clenches in utter annoyance that the urge won't disappear no matter how hard I try to resist it, at my lack of self-control.

So I give in.

I brush the strand of raven hair behind her ear carefully, slowly, as if I wanted to stay there and prolong her moment. It's done now. I can't take it back. I should probably leave-

"No! Please stop!", she suddenly cries just as I take my hand away from her face. Is she awake? Did she say that to me? I take a closer look at her. . . no, she's still sleeping. Is she having a nightmare? She must be.

"Please, please, I'm begging you..." Even more tears are rushing down her face now, her eyes still shut. No matter how much I try to turn around and walk out the door, I can't bring myself to. This incapability is starting to really get on my nerves. I thought I didn't care enough to want to be in her presence. I don't. But I can't leave her like this.

Soon enough I find myself carefully slipping into the bed, laying next to her. The itch comes back and now I unexpectedly also see my arm wrapped around her, pulling her to my chest. She seems to subconsciously think that I'm the mattress because she turns around and lays on my bare chest, face down, and clings to me. I can feel her tears soaking my chest, but I don't mind.

"Don't touch me!" she screams in between sobs. What nightmare is she having? I want it to end. She's suffered enough, but I don't know how to make it stop. Was she having a nightmare about something that happened in the past? Did someone hurt her? It would certainly make the most sense judging by what she's screaming.