Shark Strike Survivor

Chapter 7

"L-lyric, c-can I-I s-stay at y-yours?" I mumble against his neck.

"Of course you can, Lark," he murmurs against the top of my head. "I have already called dad to tell him you are staying at mine. Do not worry, I did not tell him why though."

"Thanks. Can we go now? I am sure tired, my leg hurts, and I have a pounding headache," I mumble as my eyes flutter shut in exhaustion.

"Of course we can," he softly replies, lifting me up to carry me like a child to his truck.

He buckles me into the seat with a soft smile before he shuts the door to walk a few feet away to speak with Mason. I stare at the glove box in front of me with a blank expression as I wait, and try not to sob. I think I might have scared Mason away with my panic attack. I know I should have told him no about coming here, but there is nothing I can do about it now.

Eventually Lyric climbs into the seat on his side of the truck, buckles himself, places the gear shifter into reverse since he left the engine running when he arrived. Once he has backed into the street, he shifts the truck into drive, and heads toward his place.

"I am sorry you had to come and pick me up," I mumble a few minutes into the drive as I fight off the impending sleep I need after my panic attack. "I told Mason to call either you or dad."

"Hey, you never have to apologize for asking to be picked up," Lyric instantly replies. "I do not mind picking you up for whatever reason, or whenever you need. You are my little brother, and if I can help, then I will."

"Thanks, I appreciate that," I murmur through a yawn as I snuggle down further into the seat as my eyes flutter shut.

I do not even wake when we arrive at Lyric's home, when he carries me inside to his spare bedroom, or when he tucks me under the covers after he removes my prosthetic and covers off of me. Around 2 a.m., I wake from a nightmare with a yell. Breathing heavily while lying back on the bed again as I try to calm my ragged breathing. The bedroom door quietly opens to let Lyric and Alyssa inside the room with sleepy expressions. They silently climb onto the bed on either side of me with Lyric lying on his back, and pull me to his side. Settling comfortably on my right side, I throw my left leg between both of his, draping my arm over his stomach, and resting my head on his shoulder by his neck.

Alyssa lies on her side behind me to spoon me from behind, resting her arm against mine to run her fingers through my hair. This sweet, yet simple gesture breaks the dam within me, and the silent tears pour down my face. Between the two of them, they calm me down enough for me to fall back sleep, a dreamless one, for a couple of hours. When I wake again, Lyric is still with me, and we are cuddled together, but Alyssa is gone. Slipping free of Lyric's warmth, I quietly make my way to the bathroom to relieve my bursting bladder before searching for Alyssa. I find her in the kitchen, starting the coffee maker to brew a full pot of coffee.

"Mornin'," I mumble with a raspy voice from sleep and crying.

"Morning Songbird," she greets me with a fond smile over her right shoulder before turning to fully face me.

Giving her a tight hug, I whisper to her before gently kissing her on the top of the head since she is a little shorter in height than me. "Thanks for this morning, and I am so sorry. I love you."

"Love you, too, Songbird," she murmurs, lightly tightening her hold around my waist for a second before loosening her grip again. "You do not need to apologize for that since you cannot control your nightmares."

"I should be able to because I speak with a therapist biweekly, and it has been six years since the attack," I grumble lowly with a sniffle as tears spring into my eyes.

"Eventually, those will become less, and maybe one day the nightmares will be gone completely," she murmurs, and I am not positive if she is right or not.

I hope she is right, but dammit, I want to have a panic attack and a nightmare now.

Softly sighing as the coffee maker beeps, signaling the coffee is brewed, and we separate. Lyric stumbles into the room with a grunted 'mornin' to Alyssa and me as he wipes the sleep from his eyes with both eyes. He kisses Alyssa on the lips in greeting with a hug before he takes down three coffee mugs for us to have coffee.

"Mason asked if you would give him a call or text to let him know how you are doing? He was, or should I say, is worried about you after what happened. He feels absolutely guilty over the entire situation."

"It is not his fault since I did not tell him I wanted to do something else," I admit to them both sheepishly. "He offered to do something else, but he thought I would like going to his beach house since I mentioned being at the beach before. I forgot to mention to him that I only like being comfortable at the water with my family. I should have told him this, so what happened is my fault."

Alyssa and Lyric slightly frown at me as Lyric replies; "Larken, you are too sweet to be mean to anyone, even if the activity will make you uncomfortable."

Sighing as I take a careful sip of the coffee, I mull over his answer; "I do not want to screw up a possible friendship with Mason, despite my reservation about us becoming friends. I do not think he should be saddled with my baggage."

"Larken, yes you have some issues because of the attack, but it does not mean you should deny yourself a new friendship, or even a possible romantic relationship," Alyssa murmurs with a deep frown.

Giving her a tiny, one sided, closed mouth smile in appreciation at her response, and I give her a hum in acknowledgment of her words. They drive me home a couple of hours later, and I take a nap after they head out an hour later after visiting.

"Hey, are you okay, son?" dad asks when I come up from the basement, entering the living room after my nap, and I just nod in reply.