Getting Her Back

Chapter 22

Hannah

I jolted awake in bed, soaked with sweat.

Another nightmare.

They'd come back even worse since the incident with the cake. I tried not to let it bother me, but it did. And the fact that Damien was no closer to finding my dad made everything worse.

He's out there. Watching me. Watching us.

I knew I wouldn't be able to fall asleep again, so I went downstairs to get some hot chocolate to soothe me.

I made the sweet drink in a purple mug I found in one of the cabinets. It was clearly hand painted by a little kid and it had a big heart on the front. It was adorable.

I blew away some of the steam rising off of my hot chocolate and took a sip, walking over to the couch.

On the way over, though, something caught my eye. A glimmer in the window.

Squinting my eyes, I peeked through the window and screamed. The forgotten cup of hot chocolate fell from my hands and shattered on the ground.

Footsteps thundered down the stairs and soon Bradley was in front of me.

"What's wrong?" He asked me frantically.

I was too shocked and scared to say anything. I shakily pointed a finger at the window. Bradley went over and looked out, scanning the area.

"There's nothing there, Princess."

"H-he was th-there."

He was. I know he was. I saw him. I did.

My breaths came quick and shallow as panic set in. He was there. He was there. He was there.

My eyes burned with tears and my lungs desperately tried to take in oxygen.

"Breathe, Hannah," Bradley instructed, lifting me into his arms. "Breathe."

I buried my face into Bradley's neck and let him rock me. He whispered sweet words into my ear and slowly I began to calm down.

"He was here," I whimpered.

"Shhh," Bradley cooed, kissing my head. "He's gone."

For now. He's gone for now.

But he's coming.

____________________________________

Bradley

An ear shattering scream woke me up and I bolted across the hall to Hannah's room, thinking she was having another nightmare, but she wasn't there.

Fearing the worst, I thundered down the stairs and nearly collapsed in relief when I found her standing in the living room.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

My Princess had a haunted look on her face as she pointed a shaky finger at the window. Confused, I went over, being careful to avoid stepping on the shattered mug with my bare feet.

I looked out the window, scanning back and forth. There was nothing there.

"There's nothing there, Princess," I said, confused.

"H-he was th-there," she stuttered out. I instantly knew who she was talking about.

I looked out the window again, but I still didn't see anything. When I turned back around, Hannah was clutching at her throat as she hyperventilated.

"Breathe Hannah," I instructed as I pulled her into my arms. "Breathe."

I rocked Hannah in my arms gently while she calmed down.

"It's ok Princess," I whispered in her ear. "I'm right here."

Eventually, Hannah calmed herself down and looked up at me with wide, teary eyes.

"He was here," she whimpered.

"Shh," I cooed. "He's gone."

I carried Hannah up to her room and set her down gently on the bed.

I turned to go and clean up the hot chocolate mess, but Hannah reached out and grabbed my wrist. Looking up at me with fearful eyes, she begged, "Please don't go."

I smiled down at her and kissed her forehead. "I won't."

I climbed in next to her and pulled her into my chest.

I'll just clean up tomorrow.