Through Pain We Survive

Chapter 8

The next class, Gwen sat in the same front seat again. Damien seemed very amused with her interpretations and seemed to not pay attention to anyone else who tried to state their observations.

After class, Damien motioned for Gwen to go to him. After packing up, she met him at the front.

"I just couldn't wait to show you these." He handed her his first two published works.

Gwen flipped through them quickly, scanning a couple pages. "These look great! Do you mind if I take them home and read them?"

"Not at all. That's why I brought them. Take your time. The others will be waiting when you're ready." He smiled at her.

Gwen put the books in her bag. Starting to leave, he stopped her.

"How about we get another cup of hot cocoa? I'd love to pick your brain on what ideas for a novel you have."

"Oh. Umm, well I—"

"Strictly platonic, I promise. You have such a brilliant mind, I'd love to get to know you better."

Thinking about the book she does want to eventually write, she gave in. Hearing tips from a published author would be a good start to getting her own book published.

"Okay. I won't be able to stay long."

She sent a text to AJ letting him know she was going to get a cocoa with Damien again.

After ordering, he reached around and paid for both of their drinks.

"You know, you don't have to do that."

"I want to. It's my privilege."

She grabbed her drink and they both sat down.

"Okay, so tell me all you know about getting a book published."

Damien smiled, knowing he had her distracted.

After an hour, she checked her phone. "Oh, my! I need to go. I have to work tonight. Thank you again for everything!" Gwen gathered up her notes, storing them in her bag, and grabbed her trash and threw it away. She then walked out to her car and went home.

Unbeknownst to Gwen, he made note of her car make, model, and license plate.

Gwen walked into AJ's office. "Hi Baby. I'm sorry I'm so late. We just got to talking and I didn't notice the time slipping by." She leaned over and gave him a kiss.

"It's okay, but we'll have to really push these scenes. Try to hit your marks and lines on the first go."

"You do know who you're taking to, right?" She giggled. Gwen was known for her bloopers. "I will try." She became more serious when she saw the look AJ gave her.

"Okay, you get changed then head to the garage and we'll get started."

After a good shoot night, Gwen got ready for bed. Knowing AJ would be working on edits for a while, she got out the first book Damien gave her and started reading.

Before she knew it, she was finished with the book. AJ had yet to come to bed. She decided to try to sleep.

Hearing a noise, Gwen jolted awake. Looking around, she didn't see anything. AJ was not in bed yet. She got out of bed and walked to his office. The door was shut. She listened in, and did not hear anything. She opened the door, but the office was dark.

Closing the door, she turned and walked towards Nate's room. She knocked, but there was no response. Not wanting to invade his privacy, she turned and went downstairs.

Maybe they're up together talking. She looked towards the kitchen to find it empty. Then to the living room. She saw a figure sitting on the couch.

"Miss Gwendolyn."

She froze. She walked over to the figure. "Damien? What are you doing here? How do you know where I live?" She looked frantically around for AJ, for anyone else, but to no avail.

"I wanted to come see you." He looked over to her.

"What? Why?"

"Don't you know why, Miss Gwendolyn?" He stood up.

"Okay, you need to go, now. Get out of my house." Gwen started backing up.

"You are a very lovely woman." He started approaching her.

"Get OUT!"

"Why, Miss Gwendolyn, you don't know who I am fully, do you?"

Gwen reached for the phone. There was no dial tone.

"You don't know the power I have. You don't know the people I know. I can MAKE you do things you don't want to do."

Gwen ran upstairs to get her phone. She slammed the door shut to their bedroom.

"There will be no hiding from me! I will always find you!" Damien was coming up the stairs.

Gwen went to her phone and looked at it. It was dead. "What the—" she looked over to AJ's side of the bed. His phone was plugged in there. She grabbed it and looked at it. It was also dead. "How—" she looked to the door. Damien was banging on it loudly.

Gwen closed her eyes and crouched behind the bed. This can't be happening! Where is AJ? Where is Nate? They would have heard something by now.

The door burst open. "Where are you, lovely?" Gwen waited for him to check the closet and she darted out the door, down the stairs and started heading to the front door. It wouldn't open.

She turned and went to the kitchen and tried the sliding back door. It wouldn't budge.

Panicking now, she turned towards the garage and tried that door. It would not move either.

"Gwen! Come on Gwen!" Damien was getting closer.

"No! Get out! Go away!"

"Gwendolyn, come on!" He kept approaching.

"Get away from me! Leave now!"

"Gwen! Wake up!"

Gwen's eyes shot open and she sat up. Frantically looking around, she saw AJ sitting beside her on their bed. He put his hand on her cheek. "Honey, it's okay. I'm right here."

Gwen blinked a bit and centered herself. She was in bed. She was safe. AJ was right here with her. She let out a shaky sigh.

"Come here." He gathered her in a hug.

Tears started falling down her cheeks. She gripped onto AJ even tighter.

"Hey, it's okay, you're safe."

Holding on to AJ she was able to calm down. Once calm, she sat back. "I'm sorry. I read a murder-mystery novel before bed, and I must have dreamed about that and mixed it with people and places I knew. Damien was chasing me around the house, I couldn't get out. I couldn't call to anyone. It was just bad. With the book I read, it's understandable where the concept of the dream came from."

"That does make sense. Well, if you want, you can keep me company while I edit. I still have a little while to work. I know after nightmares it's hard to get back to sleep."

"Okay." She followed him into his office and sat there listening to him and watching his editing process.

Once he was done, he stood and stretched. Gwen stood with him.

"Ready to go to bed again?"

Gwen was apprehensive, but nodded. Maybe with AJ next to me, it won't happen again.