Saving Calen

14.

Aylah's POV

The running water of the shower helps soothe my running mine. While he cleans himself I quickly strip out of my disgusting clothes and bury them deep in my hamper. My underwear are stained with blood.

A deep shudder wracks through my body.

I quickly throw on sweats and a T-shirt. The running water stops so I quickly jump in my bed and pull the covers up.

The door opens and he steps out in a towel wrapped low on his waist. His body is hard and unforgiving. Scars of all shapes and sizes litter his torso. I finally make my way up to the brands and wince.

"It's okay." He says, unfurling a shirt from his suitcase along with a pair of  sweats. He throws them on quickly. He goes to put the towel in the hamper but I jump up before he can.

"I got it." He give me a weird look but doesn't argue as he heads to the door.

The thought of being alone about eats me alive and the words are flying from my mouth before I can even register it.

"Stay with me." Calen freezes at the door and turns around.

"That's not smart, Aylah."

Pure exhaustion is evident in his posture. His shoulders slump forward and he slightly braces himself against the wall, eyes half lidded.

"You need sleep, in a bed."

"I won't sleep anyway." He replies, stifling a yawn.

"Calen Riot, I order you to sleep in the bed tonight."

He bites back a smile and closes his eyes.

"Yes, ma'am."

He carefully slips into the covers, grunting the whole way.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"Fine." He grits.

I take one of the many pillows on the bed and wedge it under his armpit, trying to take some strain off of the wound.

He sighs in contentment as he stares up at the ceiling.

"After something like today, my whole body aches. Head to toe." He murmurs.

"I can see why," I reply. "Can I ask something?"

He nods.

"Who was that today? It didn't seem like the Calen that's laying right here."

He looks at me a beat before answering.

"I don't know, honestly. My mind just goes calm. Nothing in it except for what's at hand." He says.

"Sounds peaceful."

"It strangely is, but not so much after everything has settled down. I don't want to hurt people. They're just serving whoever has control over them." Self loathing enters his eyes.

"Then why'd you do it?" I ask.

"For you. I'd do it 10 times over if it meant you'd be safe."

A heavy blush crawls it's way onto my face as I look anywhere but him. I man up and turn to him, reaching out and resting a hand on his face, lightly skimming over the bruise on his jaw.

"You're loyalty will get you killed." I whisper.

He looks in my eyes. "I'd happily die for you, Aylah." Nothing but truth rests in his.

The air between us grows so thick that I have to look away, withdrawing my hand.

"Goodnight, Calen."

"Goodnight, Aylah."

...

Calen's POV

I watch her sleep fitfully.

She tosses and turns relentlessly. I was doing the same thing, so I gave up on sleep hours ago. I debate waking her up, as it's always thrown me straight into a panic attack.

My thoughts are interrupted by a sharp scream. Aylah's chest rises and falls too fast as tears start to stream down her face.

I push my hesitance to the side and grab her small frame with my good arm, dragging her into my body.

"Wake up, sweetheart. You're having a nightmare."

Her eyelids shift rapidly as she scans whatever is haunting her tonight.

"Aylah."

She snaps awake and sits up straight, trying to catch her breath. I sit up with her and wrap my arms around her.

"Hey, hey. It's me."

She turns towards me apprehensively.

"I'm sorry," she says, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, "did I wake you?" Her breathing is shaky and unstable.

"No, I wasn't sleeping." I answer.

She places her head between her hands.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I attempt.

She shakes her head. "Never." I nod my head.

"I have some 'never' memories too. I get it." She stares at me a second before taking a deep breath.

"Will you hold me?" She whispers.

The question comes as a complete surprise to me. Not 5 hours ago, she watched me murder a dozen men, but she still feels safe?

"Always." I whisper back. She carefully puts her head on my chest as we lay back down. The pressure hurts something awful, but for once I'm grateful for my ability to mask pain.

She reaches her hand over and places it right over the brand.

"You are worth so much more than this, Calen. Don't ever forget that."

With that, her eyes flutter clothes and she finally falls into a restful sleep.

I find it impossible to tear my eyes from her.

Kinda hate this chapter