Through Pain We Survive

Chapter 66

***TRIGGER WARNING- Violence mentions***

Sitting at her sewing machine, Gwen was finishing up a dress she was making. She had her headphones on, trying to drown out the thunderstorm outside. She also was trying to drown out any thoughts of Damien and Sara and what all they had done and still were doing.

Removing the dress from the sewing machine, she pushed herself away from the desk and put the dress on her dress form. Seeing a couple places she still wanted to tweak it, she grabbed her pins and marked those places.

Hearing a crash in the other part of the house, she froze. "Baby? Are you okay?" Gwen set the pins down and took off her headphones. "AJ?"

She walked towards the living room. Looking to the kitchen, she saw the back glass door broken. "AJ? Where are you?" She went into the kitchen carefully, as not to get glass on her feet. Rain was pouring in sideways. She turned to the laundry room to get a towel.

Setting it down, she tried to mop up some of the rain that had already come in. "AJ? Baby, where are you?"

Hearing a strange sound, she turned to the living room. She saw AJ curled up on the couch.

She headed over to him. "Baby, I don't know how you can sleep—" she froze, seeing the huge gash across his throat. Frozen, terrified eyes stared up at her, not seeing anything anymore.

The guttural sound that came from her was unnatural. Gwen had never made a sound like that before. "No! No, no, no, Baby, no!" Tears flooded down her cheeks.

"I told you I would find you." A figure stepped out of the shadows.

"You—you monster! You killed him!"

"You have no reason to run from me now. I always get what I want in the end."

Anger flashed through her. "You killed him. I will kill you!"

Gwen grabbed the knife sitting on the coffee table and lunged for Damien.

Behind her, he laughed. "You missed. I'm over here now."

She ran towards him again, knife held out.

"Over here!" He was in the dining room.

"You monster! I'll kill you!" She lunged towards him again.

Manic laughter ran all around her. "You can't catch me! I, however, will always find you!" Damien's voice echoed, however he was no longer there.

Gwen dropped the knife. She fell to her knees and sobbed.

"Please, don't let this be real! This can't be real!"

"Gwen?"

Gwen looked up and saw AJ's ghost.

"Gwen, Honey, listen to me. It will all be okay. Don't worry about me. Keep yourself safe. I love you."

"Baby, no! I cant go on without you! Don't leave me!"

"Gwen, Honey, it's okay. I'm right here."

"Baby, don't leave me!"

"Honey, I'm right here. You're okay. You're safe."

"But you're dead! I don't want to go on if you're dead!"

"Gwen, my love, it's time to wake up."

"What?"

"Gwen, wake up Honey."

"But it's not a dream! You're dead!"

"Honey, open your eyes for me. Wake up."

Gwen slowly opened her eyes. AJ was looking at her. She was laying in his arms on the couch. They had fallen asleep watching a movie.

She sat up and looked around. "Baby? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Are you okay? What happened?"

Gwen sighed. "A horrible nightmare." Gwen told him about the nightmare she just had with tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Oh, my Love. You're safe. I'm safe. I'm right here." He held onto her tightly and kissed her head.

She closed her eyes. Maybe this is getting to me more than I realize. She burrowed further into AJ. I know I'm safe with him though.

Gwen sighed and let the tears flow. She was so scared in the dream. It was something she never wanted to imagine- AJ dead. However, with Damien and his influence out there, who knows what else could happen.

"I'm not dreaming now, am I?" She looked to him with pleading eyes.

He leaned into her and kissed her slowly, yet passionately. Once they broke apart, he wiped the tear tracks on her cheeks. "You tell me. Are you?"

She smiled a bit. "No. Thank you."

He kissed her again. "My pleasure."

She burrowed back into him again. He hummed softly to her, stroking her back.

She sat up and kissed him. "I am going to go up to bed. I love you."

"I love you too." AJ turned the tv off and set the remote down. "I'll come up with you."

She took his hand and lead him upstairs.

The next day Gwen was at lunch with her sister.

"I was terrified, Jess! I mean, no one wants to have to think of that, let alone live through it. This whole thing Damien has done..."

"Aww, you poor thing! I'm sure it was scary, even if it was a dream! I know Damien has hurt you all, and now he's affecting you mentally. Maybe you just need a break."

"Well, with him finally in jail, that's at least one less thing we do have to worry about. We are still working on this months musical. We need to have it out by the end of the week. Then we can take a short break."

"Don't work yourself too hard, Sis. You don't want to wear yourself down."

"I'll be fine." Gwen took a drink of her water. "How have things been going for you guys?"

Jess updated Gwen about what all had been going on with her since they last talked. Having some sense of normalcy helped Gwen not think of the nightmare and Damien.

After lunch, Jess walked Gwen to her car.

"You know if you ever need anything, I'm here for you, Gwen."

"Thanks Jess. I appreciate that."

"It's what big sisters are for." She gave Gwen a hug.

After pulling away from the hug, Gwen looked around. A man across the street was staring over at the pair. Gwen tried to focus on who it was.

"You okay?"

"Umm, yeah." She turned to Jess and smiled. Jess gave her a look. Gwen's smile faded. "Okay, okay. That guy over there just keeps staring at us. I thought he looked familiar, but I can't tell from here."

Jess turned and looked, but didn't see who she was talking about. "I don't see anyone."

Gwen looked again, and didn't see the man. "I'm probably just being paranoid. But anyway, I'd better get back before AJ sends out a search party for me. Thanks for having lunch with me!"

"Thanks for inviting me. Be careful going home! Love you!"

"Love you too!"

The gentleman watched the two ladies get into their respective cars and drive off. Damien then smiled to himself. He knew it was risky, but he wanted her to know.